Ashwin's+Reading+Page



Hi my name is Ash, I enjoy reading.

I would describe myself as a person who can easily concentrate on topics that i like. When it comes to things which i don't really enjoy reading like science things i often get really bored and distracted. My favourite books that i like to read are the Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling, Extreme Adventures by Justin D'ath, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The twits, Witches, The Glass Elevator, James and the Giant Peach and The Jack Stalwart series. I read max 20 minuets a night. I read nearly every night. I enjoy reading action, crime, fantasy, sport and adventure books. These are my favourite genres. I like to read in quiet places. In my room or outside by a tree where i can ust look at the sky and enjoy the cool breeze and outdoor atmosphere when i read. I think about different books that have been on the same topic.I also try and guess the plot before i read a book by reading the blurb and giving it some thought. Sometimes my inner voice says this book is really boring. I don't think that because i read the blurb and it sounded good. I then realise i have only read 20 to 30 pages. Then decided to read the rest of the books when that happened and then about 15 pages later the main story came up and it became more lively and interesting. I often think about what the author was thinking when they wrote the book. How they were imagining their story as they wrote it. I think about how their charasteristics and personalities actually are. I find reading at the dinner table very hard. With the news on and my parents cooking, washing and other backround noise. I hate it when other people walk in to the kitchen and just start talking to another family member becuase i lose trak of where i am and i am not actually absorbing the words and understanding them. It just ends up being me reading the same page repetitively and not knowing what is actually going on. My favourite place to read is outside because all you can hear is the wind blowing and your own thinking. I have only gotten to read outsie 3 or 4 times. When i am reading, the main problems for me are that words are unfarmiliar, I dont understand the sentence or I just read repetively like a robot not taking anything becuase of distractions. A quick solution that i would suggest would be as soon as you have decided that is reading time make sure before you evern open the book you make yourself comfortable and in a place that you can read without any possible distractions. The solutions that our class came up with these ones are the ones i used. I started using them and they are actually very helpful to me. I use for unknown words I use the dictionary. When i am reading a book i normally make a list when i am reading of all the words i don't know the meaning of. I check them up and try and remeber the meaning. Then after i have finished the book i test myself to see if i have learnt the meaning or not. If I haven't then i keep re reading the definition till I remember. Then the next time i write a narrative i try and include those words in sentences to show I know the meaning. I have learnt not to ask people most of the time if they know what the word that i don't know the meaning of is. I have come to realise that the human being's lifestyle is very busy. During a 24 hour period our minds take in alot. When we hear the definition from others you wont remeber. A dictionary is always better. Another thing is always double check with the dictionary anyway because the person could possibly be wrong. When you don't know an entire sentence i back up and re read it over and over like revising a textbook untill i understand. In the book Hardy Boys-Top Ten ways to die there is a passage explaing how Joe and Frank narrowly escaping death. I learn't two new words from that. The boulders came tumbling down and Frank and Joes deftly dogded them as they carefull rolled down the steep hill. A bystander exclaimed what talent you have, those were dextorous moves. Deft and Dextorous mean skillful. The stratergie i used was back up and re read and use the dictionary. I read the passage about 4 times and still didn't understand the meaning. So I used a dctionary and once i knew what the words meant it was much easier to understand.
 * How would you describe myself as a reader?**
 * What are my favourite books?**
 * How often do you read?**
 * What do i enjoy reading?**
 * Where do i like reading?**
 * My picture is of a tree:**
 * What happens in your head when you read?**
 * What does your inner voice say?**
 * What inner conversations do you have while reading?**
 * Do you face difficulties and distractions?**
 * What are some of the stratergies you use when meaning breaks down?**
 * Examples of stratergies that work for you?**
 * My tips on how you can improve yourself as a reader?**

1. When you arn't really enjoying a book and you have read the blurb or have been recomended a book dont just stop reading it. If you are only in the first 20 to 30 pages dont give it up. Normally those are the introduction pages. If the book isn't as action packed as you expected don't give it up. Most good books start getting good towards the 50 page mark. If a book is still boring after 50 pages and you don't like it give it up. There is no point wasting your time reading something that you find boring.

2. When you don't know the meaning of a word the best option is to look it up in the dictionary. Make sure when you ask someone that you always check after anyway to make sure they know the defintion. The dictionary is more trustworthy then your friends or parents.

3. When you come across a passage or a sentence that you dont understand any of make sure you back up and re read untill you understand. The other alternative if that doesn't work is that you ask someone read it for you and help explain what it means. Otherwise if some of the words you don't know are causing the problem then just look the words up in the dictionary.

The main thing I have learnt this semester are the helpful tips that our class came up on when meaning breaks down. Especially when a whole sentence or passage doesn't make sense.
 * What have you learnt about reading this semester?**