Reading train - Improve your reading skills - I have a problem with reading books here....sort of....please look at details?

I have a problem with reading books here....sort of....please look at details?

Not really a problem WITH reading, but here it is: In school, our English teacher always gives us these books to read; as soon as we finish one, he gives us another. There are a few problems here; 1. I am a very slow reader, thus, I am always behind the class, and often need to catch up with the rest of the class. The thing with this, is that sometimes I enjoy the book, causing me to read it more enthusiastically, and understanding it, and sometimes it's the most boring piece of....work ever! 2. Other teachers also decide to give us books to read; books on Judaism, history, a story of the war, etc. The problem? I am a slow reader, so it is hard for me to get all of that reading done! 3. There are also a few books that I REALLY wanted to read! I borrowed a book from a friend recently, and have to return it by the end of the school year, and I borrowed another book from another person and I didn't even start it! I also have a choice of another book, and so little time !!!!!!!!!!!! To all of you who told me to talk to my teacher, I already asked her first thing if I could have some more time, because I am a VERY slow reader, and she said, "Oh, don't say that! I don't believe that it could take you more than 2 weeks to read this book!" And I cannot argue further or she'll dock points from my grade! Why? Because she's a !$#%#^!$#%(excuse my French please!) OK-here's the problem, I CAN'T do speed-reading, or I would have TRIED...not that I haven't...see, when you start learning to read in one language, then all of a sudden switch to another one, IT'S HARD! And at least I could do it pretty well! Though, since I've been reading English MUCH longer than I've been reading Hebrew, when I pray, it takes me HOURS more than everyone else, because I stutter while reading the Hebrew, or read it VERY EXTREMELY slowly....I actually cry during the long Shmonah Esreh on Yom Kippur, which is sort of good to do while davening, but whatever...=,'( OK, um, for that last question (REALLY no offence or anything), you see, I'm still in school, (high school), and I barely have enough time to do anything! Also, I still need my sleep, and time for homework, and time to help my mom with my brothers and sisters, etc. So life pretty much sucks for me.....thanks anyways though! =,'( Too hard to choose the best answer....I'll just call a vote...sorry!

Public Comments

The way to read the boring ones is to think they are modern day stuff. You can also ask your teacher for more time because you are a slow reader. You can also try to find a way to make it interesting. Make a game out of it. Set a goal for yourself with the reading and stick to it.
Its always little bit boring with your courses.take a word with your teachers too.If you are a slow reader then you have to work hard to improve your speed.There is no alternative to hard work.
In regards to 1.- It is boring, according to whom? Are you embarrassed to talk to your teachers about this? I know it may not be easy, but I would encourage you to confide in your teachers... There are lots of books that I have that I never even open. I sure wish I had more time to read. I think that many of us plan to read more, but don't, for whatever reason. Don't feel bad, man. Hey, you're at an advantage- there are some people who have never even read a single book in their entire lives- even grown adults. You seem to write fairly well, too- give yourself some credit, man!
Well since your not really asking a question, I can't really give you an answer. But what I can tell you is reading is like pretty much anything else you do, the more you do it the better and faster you can do it. Your mind gets better and better at recognizing words so it doesn't have to take the time to figure them out. Someone who reads fast doesn't read every word on the page. Its a learned skill that comes from practice. You want to read faster, read more. Find stuff you like to read and read just for fun. Its a good skill to have..
I think your slow reading issues are something you need to work on. I have always been a slow reader, easily distracted. And I am amazed by those who get through 400 page books in two days. For me there's always something else to do. During my high school years I was reading, hard boiled cop fiction and mercenary adventure and never seemed to have time for what was assigned. Open up to the works that are assigned to you. They are called CLASSICS for a reason. I find myself, NOW, getting to the things that I skimmed in high school and have a greater appreciation for them. Talking to your teachers may be a good idea. Maybe rather that asking for more time, a proactive solution may be better received. Ask about a head start for upcoming assignments rather then amnesty for late work. Hope this helps. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
My advice is going to go against the grain, here, but... hear me out. Life is short. In school you're going to have a lot of things rammed down your throat that you don't want to read, and you're going to have some things you run across -- as you said -- that interest you beyond belief. Go with what interests you. Read at your own pace, read the things you enjoy. If there are books you're dying to read, dude! Read them! No one here can say honestly -- NO one -- that they read all the work that was assigned to them in school. Play the game. Read what you have to for the sake of grades, in terms of the stuff that doesn't interest you. Learn to skim a book you find boring for the details you need to write your book report or whatever else, and then put it away. Your whole life will be spent culling out what's important to you and relevant, and what's not -- so learn the skill now. Be aware of the "canon" (that's the larger group of books or works everyone's read), but being a specialist is a *good* thing. Even better is being passionate. You'll do well in school -- and life -- if what you do is informed by a love of it and interest in it. Cultivate that. Read at your pace, do the minimum of work with the other stuff to keep everyone else happy -- but above all, enjoy books. Bottom line? That's what they're there for.
I have two words for you: SPEED READING Okay I lied, I have more than two. To pass your classes you are going to have to read many things that are "boring". Boring things are always harder to read, slower going. To help you might check out a speed reading course, there are several on-line just google "speed reading".
If you read slowly, you have three choices: learn to read faster, spend more time reading per day, or don't do your classwork. I really don't recommend the third option (despite what some other answerers suggested, I really have read everything I was assigned, and this is not a strange thing). You can certainly look into some speed reading courses if you're so inclined (maybe over the summer?), but for now I suggest setting aside some extra time each day to read more. My advice is this: go to bed a little early, and bring the book with you. If it's boring and you fall asleep, then you get more rest for the night and you're more awake the next day. If it's interesting and you stay awake, you finish more reading. Either way, you dream about it overnight, which helps to solidify your memory and understanding of the book. This was a great technique in college, where students are usually short on sleep and have tons of reading to do anyway :-)
1. Distribute your reading time in only ONE of the following ways: a. Dawn and dusk (4 a.m. to 7 a.m. AND 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) b. Afternoon and night (12'o clock to 3 p.m. AND 9 p.m. to midnight) 2. Give a half an hour break before getting up from sleep/nap and sitting down to read. 3. In that half an hour, just wash your face or maybe take a bath and then sit down to meditate. Note that meditation is not a very easy job. In the beginning, I would advise you to sit in a dark room with a candle and from a distance of at least four feet to stare continuously at the candle. Try to blank out your mind as much as you can. 4. Have hourly reading aims. Begin with something like "20 pages by the end of 50 minutes" and then take a short break of about 10 minutes. Usually six hours of reading - divided into 3 hours of 2 study periods - for about a month should improve your reading skills. If not, then you might want to consult some therapist to help you improve.
you neeed serious help if ya cant read.
If you are really having trouble with reading assignments, you may want to talk to your mom, and see if she can schedule a conference with your teacher. The trouble your having with reading could be the result of dyslexia. Alot of people don't even realize they have it. The only real way to "cure" your problem is to continue reading, and in the case of some the prayers, memorizing the shorter ones could be helpful.