Reading as An Aid to Learning

Written By Group 2 (two) :

Syahrani Dewi
216110032

Azwar Arfah
218110006

M. Nur Ikhsan
218110010

University of Muhammadiyah Parepare

2019
 PREFACE

Praise be to God Almighty for the blessing of his grace, and that we were
given the opportunity to be able to compile a working paper entitled “Reading as
An Aid to Learning” is properly and correctly, also on time.

This paper is structured so that readers can know what is the importance of
reading specially as an aid to learning. This paper was compiled with help from
various parties. Both parties come from outside as well as from parties concerned
itself. And because the aid and help of God Almighty, these papers can be finally
resolved.

The reason why the writers created this paper because it was one of
assignment given by Mr. Sudarmanto as the lecturer in Literal Reading subject. To
pass the subject, the writers have to completed the assignment.

Hopefully, this paper can give a broader insight to the reader. Although this
paper has advantages and disadvantages, so all critics and suggestions from readers
needed for us to make better paper with better refference in the future. Thank you.

Author

12 May 2019

1
 Table of Contents

PREFACE................................................................................................................1

TABLE OF CONTENT...........................................................................................2

CHAPTER I.............................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................3

1.1.Background of The Paper...................................................................................3

1.2.Purpose of The Paper..........................................................................................3

1.3.Problem Formulation..........................................................................................3

CHAPTER II............................................................................................................4

THEORY AND DISCUSSION................................................................................4

2.1. What is Reading to Learn...................................................................................4

2.2. The Importance of Reading...............................................................................5

2.3. Reading Strategies.............................................................................................7

CHAPTER III.........................................................................................................10

3.1. CONCLUSION...............................................................................................10

3.2. SUGGEST.......................................................................................................10

BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................11

2
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1. Backgroud of The Paper

In today’s world, reading is basic to everyday life. As children we learn to read,

and as adults, we read to learn. We read to learn about the news, to learn about
rules, and to learn about how to do things.

Reading to Learn is one of the world’s most powerful literacy programs. It is

designed to enable all learners at all levels of education to read and write
successfully, at levels appropriate to their age, grade and area of study. The
strategies have been independently evaluated to consistently accelerate the
learning of all students at twice to more than four times expected rates, across
all schools and classes, and among students from all backgrounds and ability
ranges.

The program has been developed over ten years with teachers of primary,
secondary and tertiary students across Australia and internationally, to integrate
reading and writing with teaching the curriculum at all year levels. The
strategies apply cutting edge research in classroom learning, and language
across the curriculum, in a form that is accessible, practical and meets the needs
of teachers and students.

1.2. Purpose of The Paper

a. Knowing Reading as An Aid to Learning
b. Knowing The Importance of Reading
c. Knowing Reading Strategies

1.3. Problem Formlation

a. What is Reading as An Aid to Learning ?
b. What is The Importance of Reading?
c. What is The Reading Strategies to Learn?

3
 CHAPTER II
THEORY AND DISCUSSION

2.1. What is Reading to Learning

Reading to Learn or R2L is a set of strategies that enable teachers to support all
the students in their classes to read and write at the levels they need to succeed.
The strategies vary according to the needs of students, their year levels, the
subject area, and the kinds of texts they are expected to read and write. But the
aim is for all students to be reading and writing at the levels they need to succeed
in their grade and subject areas.

Early Years

In the first year of school, the strategies support all children to become
independent readers and to write successful texts. They use the illustrated story
books that teachers read with their classes, to teach all the skills involved in
reading and writing, such as comprehension, word recognition, spelling, letter
formation, sentence construction and story writing. Because these skills are
learnt in the meaningful, engaging context of shared reading books, children
can acquire them much faster than through traditional early years activities such
as alphabet, phonics and sight word drills.

Primary School

In the primary school, the strategies support all children to engage in reading
and writing stories for pleasure, to learn from reading and writing factual texts,
and to evaluate texts, issues and points of view in their reading and writing.
They use texts in the subject areas that the class is studying, to teach skills in
reading and writing, at the same time as learning the content of each subject
area. They support all students to read and write texts at the same high level,
rather then giving them texts at different ‘ability levels’. In this way they ensure
that all students are ready to succeed in secondary school.

4
 Secondary school

In the secondary school, the strategies support all students to learn the content
of each curriculum area through reading and writing. They use the texts that
students are expected to read in each subject area, to guide them to learn through
reading, and to demonstrate what they learnt through writing. They enable
teachers to balance the curriculum demands for ‘covering the content’, with
teaching the skills that students need to independently learn the curriculum from
reading and writing. They are designed to ensure that all students are well
prepared for further education after school.

Further Education

In further education, including university and vocational education, the

strategies are designed to embed skills in reading and writing in teaching and
learning the curriculum content. They enable tertiary teachers to support all
students in their classes to read academic texts with comprehension, and to use
the information they learn from reading to write successful texts for assessment.

2.2. Why Reading is Important

From time to time people have wondered why reading is important. There
seems so many other things to do with one's time. Reading is important for a
variety of reasons. We will look at some of those fundamental reasons below,
but it is important to realize that struggling with vital reading skills is not a sign
of low intelligence. For example, John Corcoran, who wrote The Teacher
Who Couldn't Read, is a very intelligent man. He graduated from High School
and College, became a popular High School teacher and later a successful
business man, all without being able to read. Many highly intelligent people
have struggled with reading; although, when properly taught, most people can
learn to read easily and quickly.

Now, if a man like John Corcoran can succeed without reading, why is reading
important? A person should really read Mr. Corcoran's story to get the feeling
of shame, loneliness and fear that he experienced before he learned to read. He
was able to succeed in spite of this major handicap because he was a man of
intelligence, ability and determination. But, make no mistake, it was a handicap
that made life harder and less enjoyable.

5
1. Reading is fundamental to functioning in today's society. There are many
adults who cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a
medicine bottle. That is a scary thought - especially for their children. Filling
out applications becomes impossible without help. Reading road or warning
signs is difficult. Even following a map becomes a chore. Day-to-day activities
that many people take for granted become a source of frustration, anger and
fear.

2. Reading is a vital skill in finding a good job. Many well-paying jobs require
reading as a part of job performance. There are reports and memos which must
be read and responded to. Poor reading skills increases the amount of time it
takes to absorb and react in the workplace. A person is limited in what they can
accomplish without good reading and comprehension skills.

3. Reading is important because it develops the mind. The mind is a muscle. It

needs exercise. Understanding the written word is one way the mind grows in
its ability. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language
skills. It also helps them learn to listen. Everybody wants to talk, but few can
really listen. Lack of listening skills can result in major misunderstandings
which can lead to job loss, marriage breakup, and other disasters - small and
great.

4. Why is reading important? It is how we discover new things. Books,

magazines and even the Internet are great learning tools which require the
ability to read and understand what is read. A person who knows how to read
can educate themselves in any area of life they are interested in. We live in an
age where we overflow with information, but reading is the main way to take
advantage of it.

5. There is an old saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Ideas written
down have changed the destiny of men and nations for better or worse. The
flow of ideas cannot be stopped. We need to read and research to build on the
good ideas and expose the bad ideas before they bring destruction. Only by
reading can we be armed in this never-ending, life-and-death struggle.

6. The fact of the power of written ideas communicated through reading is a

foundational reason why some governments oppose free and honest
communication. Illiterate people are easier to control and manipulate. They
cannot do their own research and thinking. They must rely on what they are
told and how their emotions are swayed.

6
2.3. Reading Strategies

Cultivating Reading Skill

Becoming a better reader takes some effort. But reading is such an important
skill that everyone needs to learn how to do it well at some point. Putting in the
time and work now to learn how to read well and comprehend what you read
will save you energy and frustration later on. This list of reading strategies can
be put into practice before you begin to read, while you are reading, and after
you’ve finished.

Before You Start Reading

Good reading starts before you even open a book or read a sentence. Like with
so many things in life, careful preparation and up-front work make the act of
reading much smoother and simpler. The kinds of strategies you use before you
really get down to the reading itself are often called pre-reading strategies.

Find a quiet place: Good reading takes concentration, and is hard to do in a

place that is noisy or not private. Find an area where you won’t be disturbed to
do your reading. If there isn’t a place like that in your school or home, try the
library or even reading outside.

Think it through: Look at the book or article you will be reading, and think
seriously about it. What is the topic? What do you already know about that
topic, and what would you like to learn? This helps you get in the right frame
of mind to read and tells your brain to start focusing on the right topic and
subject.

Scan the headings: Take a look at the title of what you’ll be reading. Flip
through and look at the chapter titles and headings and subheadings (unless you
are reading fiction, of course). Get a feel for how the work is organized and
what it covers, so there won’t be any surprises.

Predict: This strategy actually belongs in both this section and the next one.
Before you read, try predicting what kind of information you’ll find. Then
while you are reading, pay attention to see if what you find agrees with your
expectations. And keep making predictions about what’s coming up next. This
keeps your mind focused and engaged.

7
While You’re Reading
It is important, especially for those who wish to improve their reading skills,
not to just passively read. Instead, try reading actively, using critical reading
strategies. These involve keeping your mind and often your hands busy,
because if you are predicting what’s coming next and taking notes you avoid
the temptation to mentally check out and just skim the words half-heartedly.
And you’ll come away with a deeper understanding for and appreciation of
what you’ve read.

Read more than once: Sometimes it is best to read challenging material a few
times, giving it the chance to really sink in. Reading a book or section twice
makes it far easier to remember as well. Try scanning first and then reading
carefully, or reading carefully the first time and then scanning through again
just for main ideas.

Ask questions: Do this constantly while you’re reading. Possible questions

include not just “what’s coming next" but also “what is the author really trying
to say," “what is the main idea in this section," and “do I really understand what
I’m reading?" And answer those questions before you read any further.

Take notes: Many people think better with a pencil in their hand, and even if
you don’t it is still a way to keep your mind engaged and active. Highlighting,
underlining, and writing down information forces your mind to think about
what you’ve read more than once, as well as helping you pick out the really
important parts. If you like formal organization, try using a method like graphic
organizers or reading logs.

Pay attention to organization: In a textbook or story or article, every sentence

and paragraph is connected to every other sentence and paragraph. Sections
and chapters and scenes are organized in certain ways for a reason. Paying close
attention to the organization of a text helps you figure out things like how all
the different parts are connected and what the main ideas are, as well as what
the writer was trying to accomplish.

Reading aloud and socially: Reading doesn’t have to be a solitary, silent act.
Reading out loud to yourself can make the words and ideas clearer, and so can
reading in a pair or group. Two people have a much better chance of
understanding difficult sections than one person alone, and reading socially is
more fun and less of a chore.

8
After You’ve Finished Reading
If you want to understand and retain what you’ve read, it is best to spend some
time with the text even after your first or second read-through is done. Think
of this as studying time—using these strategies right away or soon after reading
means you won’t have to spend as much time reviewing the material later on.

Pick out the main ideas: This is something you should have been paying
attention to while you read anyway, so once you’re done try to make a list of
all the most important ideas and concepts. Think about just what the author was
trying to communicate.

Write a summary: Like picking out the main ideas, writing a summary forces
you to think about which parts of what you read were most important. Try to
make the summary as short as possible, just hitting the highlights of the piece
and explaining how it all fits together.

Consider the relationships: Whether you’re reading history, science, or a

novel, there are always relationships within a piece of writing such as cause
and effect and problem and solution. Try to understand how these written
relationships work.

Learn about context: Your teacher may provide contextual materials, but if
not try to learn a little on your own. Who is the author, and what else has he or
she written? What is the author’s background? Are there any issues in what you
read that are controversial and/or debated?

Use visual aids: If you learn well by seeing information, as most people do,
try organizing what you’ve read in a more visual way. For example, you could
create a flowchart or Venn diagram of ideas.

Games: In the classroom or with study partners, it can be helpful to come up

with reading comprehension games. You can review the reading and get others’
input, while having fun at the same time.

Connecting to real life: We remember things that are meaningful, so one of

the best ways to really make information stick is to relate it to your own life.
While you’re reading and after you are finished, be alert for ways the text
reminds you of your life and experiences you have had.

9
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

3.1. Conclusion

Reading is a core activity in most courses of study. The purpose of it is to

enable you to learn. But learning is not passive process, you don’t just let ideas
wash over you. You have to make sense of them as you read and then use them
to think with.

Reading for study purpose is not merely a matter of passing your eyes over
hundreds of words. It is a set of practices which enable you to engage with the
ideas in a text.

3.2. Suggest

We are as the writer want to apology for the shortage of this paper. We know
that this paper is far from perfect. So that we need the suggest from the reader
for the perfection of this paper. Thank you very much

10
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.readingtolearn.com.au/what-is-reading-to-learn

https://www.usalearns.org/reading-to-learn-english

https://www.learn-to-read-prince-george.com/why-is-reading-
important.html

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/literature-
and-creative-writing/reading/content-section-7

https://www.brighthubeducation.com/study-and-learning-tips/72857-
list-of-reading-strategies-to-aid-in-reading-comprehension

11