SEC – STRENGTH TRAINING for READING
Another way to approach reading is use the SEC Strength Training for Reading Approach. It
involves these steps – Skim, Outline, Ask Questions, Read, Answer, Mark, Say Aloud, Go Over,
Review. These steps are useful with serious materials and can be modified for easier types of
reading.
The steps take time to use but better prepare you for class, tests, projects,
presentations and give you deeper knowledge. The steps are divided into 3 stages of an
exercise regimen - Stretch first, Exercise, then Cool down
S t r e t c h (warm up)
– E x e r c i s e (do the work) – C o o l D o w n (let it set)
Skim, Outline, Ask Questions – Read, Get Answers, Mark – Say Aloud, Go Over, Review
* Optional – these steps can be skipped in certain types of readings – literature, light reading
Skim – Skim chapter headings, paragraph titles, bold/italicized/underlined words/phrases; look
at graphs, pictures, diagrams; see table of contents; important persons, places, events – to see
overview of chapter
* Write an Outline – of the information you skimmed & previewed – chapter material and the
table of contents. Writing helps your memory and the outline/skeleton helps you understand the
ideas you read or study
Ask Questions – based on what you understand to this point. Ask good questions you need
answered, are important to or may be asked by this teacher. Even if you don’t get all the
important points, asking the questions gets your mind ready to be open and pay attention to
what you read and keep you interested. Write questions on the side of the page, on notepaper
or a 3 x 5 cards.
Read – Read the material at a moderate rate and more slowly in hard, complex or difficult parts.
Look up words you don’t know, keep a list of new words and definitions to remember them
easily later.
If you don’t understand certain ideas, ask others for help to understand and
comprehend it.
Get Answers – As you read, when you find answers to your questions, write them next to the
questions you wrote. You’ll think of more questions you could have or should have asked.
Asking good questions gets easier with practice. You can compare your questions with those
asked at the end of a chapter but you must still ask your own not just copy the book questions
so this process works for you. You have your own view and your teacher/professor focuses on
certain material so your questions will be different from the book writers. This is why you ask
questions – to clear up what you don’t understand, to test your view, to get more information
from the teacher or professor, to see what else is in the idea.
Mark – Mark & underline important words, phrases & points that pertain to the questions you
asked, what you do not understand and other important ideas. Underline, put slashes, question
marks or other marks that help you notice significant or confusing ideas.
* Say Aloud – Speak aloud the chapter notes & summary, important phrases, words and points.
The more senses you use, the more that the ideas impact your mind and the easier you
remember them. Reading and seeing what is written helps the visual part of your brain; hearing
what you say aloud helps the auditory part of your brain or listening to someone else explain
some ideas can help too (friends, classmates, brothers or sisters, parents, tutor, etc.)
Go Over – Go over your notes, the material or summary again, skimming it briefly for 5 – 10
minutes within 24 hours of study time. Take note of what you still don’t remember or know well.
* Review – Go over the chapter summary & notes once a week until your next test, presentation
& to find answers to what you don’t understand. This helps you understand and imprint the
ideas to your mind and connect these ideas to what you know to give it meaning. See how the
ideas fit in the outline/skeleton.
© Larry C. Alvarado, MA - SLS System – 2006