Preview each text before you attempt to read it in its entirety. One way to avoid getting hung up on words and phrases throughout the text is to condition your mind to understand the overall context beforehand. Previewing the text involves flipping through the entire text, and reading the introduction, conclusion, subheadings and keywords if an index is provided. The entire process should take only about five minutes for a book and one to two minutes for an article.
Eliminate mind chatter by listening to audio designed to help you relax and meditate. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths before starting to read. Let the thoughts that come into your mind drift off into the distance. Once your mind starts to quiet, open your eyes to begin reading with optimal concentration.
Position your book for reading. Placing your book at an angle of about 45 degrees to your line of sight can provide you with a fairly comfortable vantage point. Positioning the text in a comfortable position for reading can eliminate distractions.
Skim the text rather than attempting to read it word-for-word. Reading the text word-for-word is one way in which fluency is decreased. Students who get stuck on one particular word fall into the trap known as regression, or going back over the same word over and over again until they understand it. Instead of falling into this trap, let your eyes casually and effortlessly skim the material quickly. Read blocks of words and phrases rather than each individual word. In order for this to work, avoid trying to say the words in your head as you go. This will limit your reading speed and fluency to the rate at which you can talk. As your mind gets used to reading more than one word at time, comprehension will increase.
Brainstorm and write down any notes that come to mind after reading your text. Jot down a few of these immediately after you finish. This will help increase comprehension and retention.