• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

develop strong reading skills early: skimming vs reading

home / reading / comprehension / develop strong reading skills early: skimming vs reading
710 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

strong reading skills skimmingI realized something recently that I should have noticed way before now.

Actually, I had an idea about it, but I wasnโ€™t really for sure for sure.

One of my children has a tendency to move quickly through tasks, working hard to get anything she’s doing finished–but not really paying super close attention to detail.

And this has transferred to her reading: she does a whole lot more skimming while reading than actually reading while reading.

Yes, she can read.

I know that. In fact, she loves to read.

But sheโ€™s โ€˜readingโ€™ so quicklyโ€”moving through books so fast nowโ€”that I am worried sheโ€™s falling into some really poor reading habits, and Iโ€™m out to stop it asap.

Hereโ€™s the skinny.ย  . .

  • Develop Strong Reading Skills Early– Skimming vs Reading: Many nights Maddy goes to bed with a pile of booksโ€”books that she loves and has read and re-read many times.

Iโ€™m fine with that because I want that time before bedโ€”and after weโ€™ve read togetherโ€”to be purely

pleasurable reading time, all for her.

But lately Iโ€™ve questioned the speed with which sheโ€™s reading some of her new books on her own; she had been moving really quickly through books that should have taken a bit longer, and she admitted that she wasnโ€™t passing her Accelerated Reader tests at school.

develop strong readers early: skimming vs reading

Eggs, water, and oil were ready.ย  But something was missing.

This was the real eye-opener for me.

When I asked her how sheโ€™s reading so fast, she said, Mommy, I like to โ€˜skim readโ€™. That way I can get to the good parts faster.

Hmmm. Lovely argument.

Her response made me wonder how much my rush, rush, rush tendencies have rubbed off on her.ย  Though sheโ€™s able to delay gratification with other thingsโ€”saving money vs spending, claiming that she eats her sandwich at school before her cookiesโ€”why was she rushing through texts, and how could I show her that by doing so, sheโ€™s missing some really important pieces?

How could I show her that skimming is okay–and suggested!–for some texts but not for others?

develop strong readers early: skimming vs reading

Ahhh, the mix. Yes, the mix.

This weekend, when she asked if she could make quick pumpkin bread on her ownโ€”without my helpโ€”I thought it could be an absolute perfect time to show her that skimming is not always a good idea.

And it was.

I told her Iโ€™d let her goโ€”from start to finish–solo, but she called for help early in.

Whereโ€™s the teaspoon thing? I canโ€™t find the teaspoon for the oil part. It says โ€˜2 teaspoons of oil.โ€™

I looked at the box.ย  It said tablespoon.ย  And the tablespoon measure was right there staring up at her from the drawer.

Check again, Maddy.ย  Make sure youโ€™ve got it right before we go scouring the kitchen for lost utensils.

It says right here (pointing to the box) 2 teasp–.ย  Oh. Wait. Okay, so tablespoon. Two tablespoons.develop strong readers early: skimming vs reading

Right. Good eye, and Iโ€™m glad you double-checked. If you didnโ€™t add enough oil, your cake would be really dry.

She grabbed the tablespoon, poured in the oil, and was on her merry way.

A few minutes later: Mom, somethingโ€™s not right. I added the eggs and water and the oil but whereโ€™s the like cake part?

It says, โ€˜mix eggs and oil and waterโ€™, but is that right?

I looked at the box.ย  It didnโ€™t say โ€˜mix eggs and oil and waterโ€™; it said, Combine: Mix, oil, eggs, and water. ย She was skimming and missed a biggie.

Maddy.ย  Check again, Sweetheart. Make sure you are correct in reading the directions.

She looked at the box.ย  It says right here (pointing to the box again) Mix, oil, eggs, and water.ย  So whatโ€™s wrong? Iโ€™m supposed to mix this stuff together.

Look again, Maddy, and pay close attention to all of the words and the punctuation. Itโ€™s all there for a reason, Honey.ย  From commas to colons, itโ€™s all included for a reason.

She read again, this time throwing in โ€˜combineโ€™:ย  See? Combine mix, oil, eggs, and water. Ooooohhhhhh.ย  I thought that the โ€˜mixโ€™ was telling me to mix everything, not that it meant the stuff in the boxโ€”the cake mix.

Right. Biiiiig difference, right? So skimming on recipe-reading could mean huge problems for your cake-making. You must move more slowly, take some time, and read every single thing on the boxโ€”itโ€™s all important.ย  By skipping over โ€˜Combineโ€™ you misunderstood some pretty simple instructions.

You can do this. ย Start from โ€˜Combineโ€™, read closely, and letโ€™s get this cake in the oven.

And so she did.ย ย  I only helped hold the heavy bowl as she poured it into the cake batter pan, and later on we all enjoyed some fabulous, warm pumpkin bread thanks to Maddy.

develop strong readers early: skimming vs reading

Once she got rolling, she had. Solo.

It was a learning experience for both Maddy and me. I saw first-hand how sheโ€™s skimming, and so did she.

We talked later, at bedtime, about the difference between skimming and reading and what happened earlier in the afternoon with her pumpkin bread.

Thereโ€™s definitely a time for skimming, I said.ย  But you need to figure out when itโ€™s a good idea to skim and when you need to read closely, making sure you understand what youโ€™re reading.

I know, she said.ย  I know.ย  But no skimming recipes.

Skimming recipes is great when youโ€™re making a grocery list, but not while youโ€™re making the food, right? I asked.But there are some times when skimming is okay.ย  We can talk about that tomorrow. For now, how about you enjoy your book and turn the light off in five minutes?

I didnโ€™t want to push too much or make her feel uncomfortable, but we develop strong readers early: skimming vs readingwill carry on this conversation for sure–another time.

I like how Tamim Ansary puts it in her article, How to Read (and Not Read) a Book. Though sheโ€™s talking about speed of reading, she also talks about skimming:

With reading . . . you can set your own pace. You can skim for an overview, zoom in for details, slow down for deep stuff, soar again to see big connections โ€” there may be an upper limit to your speed, but it’s elastic.

She goes on:

In fact, reading for information may entail reading at many speeds, in many ways: skimming whole chapters, crawling through others while painstakingly reading every word, scanning for particular facts, and jumping from later pages to earlier pages. If you’re doing research, the book is a forest; you’re a hunter stalking game. What the author put in is less important than what you intend to take out.

But read a novel like that and you’ll surely miss what the book has to offer. In fact, nothing said about reading applies universally. . . It’s not just that there are many ways to read. It’s that reading is many different activities.

I love how succinctly she puts it.

Self-monitoring during reading is something Iโ€™ll definitely practice with Maddy the next few days and weeks, but until then, Iโ€™d say that this recipe-reading-skimming was a pretty solid learning in the every day experience.

Do you have any tips or ideas for handling โ€˜skimmersโ€™?ย  I’m always up for learning more–please leave ideas in the comments and let me know!

 

fyi: This blog post is part of an incentivized online influencer network for Momโ€™s Homeroom. Momโ€™s Homeroom is brought to you by Frosted Mini-Wheats.

You May Also Like...

  • Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
    Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
  • Virtual Summit for Educators: Navigating the Online Classroom & Beyond
    Virtual Summit for Educators: Navigating the Online Classroom & Beyond
  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:national book festival 2012: why families need to go
Next Post:keeping families safe while driving: safely go

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
Today, tomorrow, and forever. 
โค๏ธ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ–ค๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿฉท

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ = @missjohnstonsjourney 

#pridemonth #youarelovedโค๏ธ #pridemonth๐ŸŒˆ #teachersofinstagram #parentsofinstagram
View
Open
Thank you @upliftyogaolney for a fun and joy-filled afternoon of yoga with goats! ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ

#goatyoga #marylandyoga #sundayworkout #motherdaughtertime #yogawithgoats #ourfaves
View
Open
loved our first @saltvinemd experience 

cannot wait to return!
View
Open
Had THE BEST dinner at Olneyโ€™s newest restaurant, @saltvinemd โ€”

Our hostesses were kind and welcoming, our server was THE BEST, and food was delivered to our table by SUPER food runners. 

Everything we ordered we LOVED. Cannot wait to return. 

(Swipe to see what we ordered!)

#saltandvine #mocoeats #mocofood #marylandeats
View
Open
What a DAY!! 
Any book festival is a great festival, but @gburgbookfest KNOWS how to put together a celebration of books and authors!!

Loved meeting 
@evascreativity 
@zigzagzeph 
@jackieadrian_art 
@nomoreblankpageskids 
@palavergames 
@jessicadallauthor 
@keanstrategies 
@gurkirtsinghvirk 
@teegarner 
@lincolnhartlaub 
@jadesocoby 

and so many others! And loved hearing @authoralexandrarobbins speak!

#gaithersburgbookfestival #gburgbookfest #bookfestival #readingteacher #featuredreels #marylandlife
View
Open
still peaceful

#yogapractice #peaceful #sheepadoodle #bigfuzzydog #yogaeverydamnday
View
Open
The must-have guide for every woman:  The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs is officially out in the world today! 

Congratulations to my pal @laura.tremaine ! 

This book WILL:
๐ŸŽˆEncourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
๐ŸŽˆFill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
๐ŸŽˆOffer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
๐ŸŽˆGive you space to mourn the friendships that are over
๐ŸŽˆOutline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
๐ŸŽˆHelp you name the type of friend YOU are on other peopleโ€™s Life Councils 
๐ŸŽˆInspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million This book WILL:
๐ŸŽˆEncourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
๐ŸŽˆFill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
๐ŸŽˆOffer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
๐ŸŽˆGive you space to mourn the friendships that are over
๐ŸŽˆOutline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
๐ŸŽˆHelp you name the type of friend YOU are on other peopleโ€™s Life Councils 
๐ŸŽˆInspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million conversations.

Laura, I know it will. Love you, girl. 
#TheLifeCouncil #happybookbirthday
View
Open
I was in #annapolis today demanding our lawmakers take meaningful action on gun safety. 

Are you fed up with lawmakersโ€™ inaction, too? 

Join me & turn your anger into action with @MomsDemand by texting FED UP to 644-33. #FedUp #MDpolitics 
#notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice
View
Open
I started my teaching career at @hcpss_wlhs โ€” a place packed with really awesome educatorsโ€” and @eric.ebersole.for.maryland was one of them!

LOOK at us now! Delegate Ebersole is moving mountains in Annapolis! 

It was so cool to run into my friend while Iโ€™m here with @momsdemand โค๏ธโ™ฅ๏ธ 

Want to get involved? YOU NEED TO. 

Please text FED UP to 644-33 to find an event near you and make your voice heard!

#FEDUP #notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice #bethechange #momsdemandaction

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 2
710 shares