Sep 29, 20235 min read

Adults CAN improve their reading ability - here's how

"I'm just not a good reader."

Ever heard that? Maybe you've said it yourself. There seems to be an accepted falsehood that adults who are bad readers will never improve. Or that some people have simply missed the boat on the essential uses and joys of literacy.

Yet, the research suggests this idea doesn't hold up. Good readers are made, not born, which means anyone motivated to do so can improve their reading abilities at any age.

What Is A "Good" Reader?

Many adults consider themselves "bad" readers because they read slower than they think they should or because they have a learning difference that makes reading more challenging.

As a teacher, I would argue any definition of a "good" reader should be driven primarily by comprehension. If you understand the content and message of a text, you read it well. The higher the text complexity you understand, the "better" you are reading.

Everything else falls secondary. How fast you read the text, for example, is not nearly as important as your understanding of what you've read. Speed, ease, and enjoyment will come naturally as you develop reading strategies that work for you.

How Can Adults Become Better Readers?

Once we accept that "good" readers understand what they're reading, it makes sense to focus on how adults can improve their comprehension of increasingly difficult texts.

Whether you are naturally inclined to love words, struggle with a learning difference, or hate reading, there are strategies that improve your ability to decode and understand words.

Here are the top strategies I've found to improve adult reading comprehension. Check out the suggestions for further research section for the full list of articles and their strategies.

General Strategies for Adult Readers

Choose a book within your current reading level that you actually want to read.
Commit to reading. Make the time to read and actually do it. Keep your books easily accessible in natural reading spots, like your couch or bedside table.
- ****Major asterisk here. If you hate the book, put it down and choose another. If you're reading for pleasure, there's no need to force through something you aren't enjoying.
Take your time while you read. Don't rush.
Try different formats until you find one you like (ebooks, hardcovers, paperbacks, or even an audiobook)
Read with friends. Try a book club and/or read the same book as someone you enjoy chatting with so you can discuss it together. Check out #Bookstagram.
Balance easy and difficult books. Avoid diving into five challenging books in a row - You'll exhaust yourself and probably hate reading more. Give yourself easy, enjoyable reads to fall into between the tough ones.
Choose good books. Take recommendations from people with similar tastes, or at least read reviews before selecting a book. Focus on what reviewers actually say instead of their star ratings. Star ratings are too general to provide much value, as everyone has different tastes.

Strategies for Understanding Complex Texts

Take notes summarizing the big ideas of pages or sections of your book. Use the margins, sticky notes, or a notebook. Try organizing concepts graphically (ex: a chart or diagram) if your brain processes ideas more effectively that way.
Ask yourself questions as you read.
- What was the gist of the last section?
- How does the author want me to feel right now?
- Do I agree with what the author is saying?
Read with a purpose. Know what you are looking for in the text, and set out to find it. For example, this could be a message, facts, or an author's opinion.
Relate new ideas back to things you already know. Find connections between what's in the text and your life, experience, or specific expertise.
Break it down. Chunk your reading into smaller sections. For example, instead of reading an entire chapter and then asking yourself: What was the gist of that? Stop every few paragraphs to check for understanding.
Try reading out loud when you are stuck on comprehension. Sometimes hearing the words spoken can help you make sense of what the author is trying to say.
Skim first, then deep read. This can be especially helpful when reading dense nonfiction. Skim through a few paragraphs to find the gist, then read them again for the details. Identifying formatting clues can help you find the gist quickly, such as bold, highlighted, or italicized sentences.

Strategies for Improving Your Reading Level or Ability

Practice, practice, practice. If you want to be a better reader, read. It really can be that simple. Like anything else in life, the more you read, the more you'll improve, and the more strategies you'll discover work for you.
Challenge yourself with a more difficult book outside of your comfort zone.
Pay attention to how well you are reading. Track unfamiliar words to memorize. Catch yourself when your attention wanders or you cannot summarize something the author said. Read it again.

Helpful Tools for Adult Readers

Here are a few links that can help you on your journey to be a better reader:

Check your current reading level with the Oxford Reading Level Checker.
Check the reading level of a book you want to read by entering the ISBN on Lexile.
Check the reading level of an online text with the Hemingway Editor .

Notes on Learning Differences

People sometimes assume that they cannot enjoy the world of reading because of their learning differences. As a teacher, I wish I could impress on everyone the inaccuracy and damaging nature of this attitude.

If you have a seemingly reading-defying learning difference, try exploring different reading methods, strategies, and book formats. There is more awareness and research conducted on neurodivergence now than ever before, and there's so much information out there (and professional consultants) to help you achieve your academic goals.

For example, many adults with dyslexia threw in the towel long ago without realizing there are now proven strategies that can help them. For another, certain book formats, line and character spacing, or fonts might better suit the way you learn, think, or read.

Teaching in the NYC public schools, I watched students overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties in achieving literacy and other academic feats. The primary difference between the ones who beat their odds to surpass their goals and those who did not? Motivation, ability to prioritize their academics, and time spent putting in the hard work to learn the strategies that work and how to implement them.

No matter your age or situation, if you want to improve your reading abilities and make written works part of your life, I believe you can.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Interested in more info? Check out the following links:

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