Helpful Tips about Reading & Writing
Having trouble understanding or remembering what you've read???
Find a place to read where you won't be distracted. New information only stays in your short term memory for 18
seconds, so if you are distracted every few sentences, you will forget what you read! Work at focusing on what you are
reading: think about it, visualize the scenes, make predictions! This will help you remember and understand.
When your brain says, "What was that?" or "That didn't make sense!" --> LISTEN to it!
Go back and re-read that paragraph or section. Re-reading is something good readers often do. It will help you
remember and understand!
Notice words you don't know! If you are encountering five or more on most pages, and are confused by the text,
chances are that the book is too hard. Talk to your teacher about other options OR find Mrs. K. and ask her for ways
to work with that book!!
Writing about a book? a movie? a play? etc.?
Use a mix of characters' names and pronouns to prevent confusion.
Book Titles!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER use quotation marks!
Correct options: underline, bold, italics, or all CAPITALS
(choose one)
Also use these four options for titles of plays, magazines, movies, & newspapers
How about Spelling???
a lot - it's always two words
meant - "I meant to say that." ("ment" is only a suffix, as in amendment)
