Scanning is a high-speed reading skill used for locating specific information. Scanning is very important and useful for all readers. When students learn to scan, they learn that they can obtain information from a text without reading every word. The students look for some information as quickly as they can. In addition, they develop their ability to visualize words in English as they scan for them. They learn that they can use scanning as strategy for speeding up their sampling of any text. The students scan when looking for specific information.

When the students are reading the students do not have to read everything with the same amount of care and attention. Sometimes the students need to be able to read a text very quickly.