Reading Smarter: Strategies for Focus & Retention
This session helps students and families learn practical strategies to improve reading focus, comprehension, and retention—without slowing down.
Overview
Reading efficiently and actually remembering what you read is a skill students can learn. As texts become more complex and time feels limited, even strong readers can struggle to stay focused and retain key ideas.
In this 15-minute session, author and former teacher Carly Stevens shares research-backed, classroom-tested strategies that help students read with purpose. Rather than simply reading more, students will learn how to read smarter—using clear systems to identify important information, manage vocabulary, and stay engaged from start to finish.
This session emphasizes clarity over overwhelm, giving students practical tools they can apply immediately across subjects—whether tackling novels, science chapters, or primary sources.
What You'll Learn
- How to annotate strategically without over-marking or losing momentum
- How to use headings, transitions, and signal words to navigate complex texts
- Techniques for identifying key ideas and supporting details quickly
- How to manage unfamiliar vocabulary without interrupting comprehension
- Simple habits that improve retention and confidence across content areas
Speaker
Carly Stevens
Author & Former Teacher
