JRN+4

==As an obvious English major and avid reader of varying texts, I would classify myself as a rather intellectual reader. That being said, I know that I have many areas in which I truly struggle. I have trouble with remembering what I have read or being able to draw from it later on. I will think, "Oh! I remember reading something about that" but will not be able to actually pull from it. I know that I oftentimes find myself skipping whole sections just to get through the text rather than actually acknowledging and appreciating what I spent reading. I know that doing that can obviously be a common result from all of the required reading that English major's are expected to do, nevertheless, I know it is lowering my reading capabilities. I just finished our ENG course where we learn strategies of good readers and I sat in class the entire semester thinking, why didn't anybody teach me these strategies?! I can only hope that I provide my students with half of the knowledge our Professor taught us. I think that we underestimate what our students could and will gain in the long run from learning these methods and strategies. I know, or would like to think that I know, that if I were to have understood and took advantage of the strategies of being a great reader prior to entering high school, and college especially, that I would have been able to better understand certain texts. Sometimes I feel like it is just a constant stream of consciousness when I read and everything blends together. I have learned that a way to better understand is to slow down and actually think about every word, every line, every idea that the author is presenting. == ==Characterizing myself as a specific type of reader is difficult to do. As previously stated, the level of intellect I have per text varies depending on the topic, theme, etc of the text. That being said, I know that I can continue to strengthen my reading capabilities as I learn more strategies to enhance my reading. This will not only help me in my future academia, but will provide me with better knowledge for my future students. ==