After learning how to use the SQ4R strategy to comprehend informational texts, I have found it very useful. This was beneficial to me, especially when we had to read Kucer's article because it helped me to recognize things that I was looking for in the text. By writing little notes and questions in the side margins, I am able to remember things and see what I have written in my side notes and comprehend the subject better. Many of these dense and lengthy articles make it hard for me to understand what I am reading. So, when I learned the SQ4R code strategy, it helped me to understand the key points. When completing the Moodle posts for this course, the SQ4R strategy decreased the time it took me to find the information that I was looking for. Without these side notes and questions, I would have been searching and flipping through pages to find the answers I was looking for. Sometimes, when I read a lengthy article, I lose track of what I am reading, cannot stay focused, and have to go back and read the paragraph again. This strategy helps me to recognize what I have read and remember where to find the information.
One area I think I could improve on is to take more notes than just simple questions about the heading. When we first learned the SQ4R strategy, I just looked at the headings of each section of the article and asked a basic question about it. However, when completing my discussion posts for last week, I realized that I needed to take more notes in the margins so that I could recall information quicker. Once I went back to the Kucer article and did this, it made answering discussion posts much easier. Looking at my more in depth notes helped me to remember information during the reading and even comprehend it better. Moving forward, I will definitely use this strategy, but make sure to not just write down one quick question from the heading, but to jot down some more in depth notes to help me remember what I am reading. This is a perfect strategy that I can use in my other classes when I have readings to do. There are often lengthy chapters that we get assigned and after so many pages, I tend to lose focus and not really comprehend what I have read.
Ah! Some good thinking here Amanda C. I appreciate that the questions one might pose when initially surveying a text might not drive the type of deep and principled thinking you want to do when working to understand an author's ideas. This week I am going to introduce you to another strategy that I ask students use along side SQ4R. I think you might find the questions posed during the four stages of close reading might help you accomplish exactly what you were sharing in this reflection.
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