How to Increase Your Reading Skills (And Get Better Grades)

In an earlier article, I talked about how you need to plan your reading using a proven three-step process. In this article we'll expand on that process.

First, let's recap the three steps to follow whenever you have a significant amount of homework reading:

1. Skim through the entire assignment.

Get a general idea of what it is about.

2. Read the assignment rapidly.

Remembering what you discovered in step #1, search for key ideas as well as an understanding of what the author has written. Now you are studying while you read.

3. Read for exact meanings.

Having fitted the big idea and the information together, associate these precise meanings with larger items in the general outline. This linking of ideas is not only a sound learning plan but is basic in training your memory.

In addition to this, the sensible thing to do is to make short notes, in your own words, of points you feel are important.

Write these notes in a notebook, write them in the margin of the book, but write them clearly and in an orderly manner somewhere so you can refresh your mind before exam time without a complete re-reading of all of the material. This writing in your own words is practice for what you will be called upon to do later on tests and reports.

The above suggestions may sound time-consuming rather than time saving. What makes them more efficient than many other techniques is the fact that they are based upon sound principles of learning and remembering. Give them a fair trial and you too will find that they not only work but save time as well.

The following anecdote shows what can be gained by substituting these habits for less efficient ones.

Stephanie had a familiar tale of woe. Her habit was to read her economics lesson three or four times. She went through and underlined what he thought were the most important sentences. Just before tests, she outlined the materials in each chapter. The result of all this work was a grade no higher than "C." We agreed that it wasn't enough reward for so big an effort .

Stephanie's repeated readings had followed an identical pattern that brought nothing new to light. They were little better than a single reading would have been. Her underlinings left the author's ideas in the author's own words, robbing Stephanie of needed experience in expressing the idea for herself. Stephanie hadn't learned that underlining should be used mainly for those rules or definitions that must be memorized in the exact words of the textbook.

Stephanie's method of outlining followed the pattern of the textbook completely. Chapter headings and paragraph headings as well as important statements were literally copied from the book.

Unfortunately, Stephanie was getting no practice in organizing materials through this process. She was neither learning nor preparing her memory for exam day.

Certain improvements in Stephanie's reading habits were suggested, including the three-step reading plan outlined at the beginning of this article.

It was also suggested that Stephanie start talking to herself. This idea startled her for sure. She was assured that it would not mean that she was going off the deep end.

It was pointed out to her that it's a habit, consciously and purposefully employed, that would help her clarify her thoughts.

Fact is, talking to yourself forces your brain to digest an idea. If you cannot put it into words, you don't understand it - or at least you won't be able to prove to the teacher that you understand it. Verbal expression is the test of fire. By the way, Stephanie eventually worked her way up to an "A."

CONCLUSION

Obviously, there is a good bit more to the business of reading than being able to devour the pages of the book rapidly. Good reading is an organized undertaking requiring preparation, purpose, discipline and drill. Keep improving your reading skills through conscious effort.

Imagine, for a moment, that it's 6 months from today...

• School has stopped being all work and no play.
• You're able to finish exams before time runs out.
• You're able to cut out the sloppy mistakes that used to kill your grades.
• You've cut down on reading and study time.
• You've lost that nagging feeling that you're missing stuff that everyone else gets.
• You've got more time to do what you WANT to do, not what you HAVE to do.

If this picture appeals to you, check out get better grades website and find out how you can make it happen for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2490812

The Current state of Philippine education in the concept of globalization

Disclaimer: This post is originally taken from here: http://allpsychedup.hubpages.com/hub/The-Current-state-of-Philippine-education-in-the-concept-of-globalization. I find it interesting and relates to my blog, so i just want to share this to my readers.

The term globalization is referred to a lot of different contexts like economic, technological, sociocultural, political, and so and so forth.

Throwing a leading question for this matter, what is the stand of education anyway? Since education is the sole building block of an individual in order to rise from the crucial stages of human development up to the different contexts mentioned earlier, it supplies not only the knowledge but as well as the in-service trainings needed to be exposed to those different fields. A person cannot just master or be an expert of his craft without passing through the stages of education. Ergo, connecting education to the present globalization condition, education is now pressured with a lot of expectations in bringing up an individual who will not only be suitable but as well as flexible in the different functions of different orientations.

So how is this development process being applied and measured in education since the present globalization condition is erratic and it changes by just a spur of the moment? Seeing though different cultures, different countries of the world have their own way of addressing this concern, Most invest their biggest share of the budget on education, some on technology that will aid education in its developmental process, others create new laws that bring out the best legislative demands for education, develop effective methods and strategies on how to expand proficiency and efficiency through researches, and maintain social welfare at least to its average. Using these addresses as reference, it seems that education plays a major role on all orientations and even serves as a intersection of all areas of influence. Though, these mostly happens to first world countries. So, how about the third world countries like the Philippines for example.

We can still enumerate the same as what I have mentioned, however, due to culture indifferences, different types of child-rearing, diverse manners of inculcating discipline, and sometimes individualism, Philippine education lies distant from the expectations of generally aiding an individual to feel competent or even feel confident in entering the globalization era at present. Just to itemize a few.

• The Filipinos view education with utmost importance and the completion of reaching the tertiary level is a must and for them is one of their greatest achievements in life, plus they do not only display this character at school but as well as in the training grounds and work areas they are at, and that includes other countries.
• The Filipino teaching strategies, I must say, is very promising. You can visibly see the resourcefulness and dedication of the mentors in their profession and sees through achievements not in their selves but on their products, their students. They feel the biggest deals of their lives seeing their learners walk their way through their own podiums. The richness of the Filipino literature, arts, originality , and perseverance exhibit that Filipinos are fast learners inside and outside the school premises.
• The literacy level of the Filipinos, compared to a lot of countries is way too high, as well as the talents, making the Filipino one of the most demanded skilled workers in the world and stand out when it comes to love of work.

On the contrary, the present condition of the Philippine education is full of challenges and struggles. Based on the 2008 achievements, the percentages of the figures presented as achieved were mostly positive although it is said to be minimal, leaving the target date of the unachieved percentage unknown. Sad to say that all unachieved percentage was due to unavailability of funds provided by the government. With poverty and corruption of the government, the Phillippine education would lie as is or improvement may just be as steady as it is today for the two major challenges hamper the other factors that help out education status to progress.

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