Locate graded piano music. Piano sheet music is ideal for working on your sight-reading abilities because music sheets often come in three levels: easy, intermediate and advanced. Find a song that comes in each of these levels. You can find graded piano music at a music store that carries pop or classical music in each of these levels. Select a song you enjoy to begin honing your sight-reading skills.
Begin by reading the easy arrangement. Easy piano arrangements stay with easy note values, such as whole, half and quarter notes, and use only notes on the basic five-line music staff. You'll encounter an occasional note above or below the staff, but primarily the notes will be basic. Play through the song without rehearsing it first. You want to avoid committing it to memory. The goal is to be able to play as you read. Start slowly and increase your tempo as you increase your note recognition. At this level, focus only on the note names and not the rhythm of the notes. You're aiming for note recognition. When you feel you can recognize the notes easily, then play through and focus on playing the note time values as well.
Play the same song in an intermediate arrangement. The intermediate arrangement will contain many of the same notes from the simplified version, but will add notes written together, as opposed to single notes. Intermediate will also include more notes written above the music staff and below it. Play the intermediate, focusing on trying to recognize the new additions to the piece. As you play a note, try to look ahead two or three notes. This will help prepare you for what's coming up and allow you to transition smoothly from one note to the next.
Introduce yourself to the advanced version of the same song. Advanced will add more notes. The full range of the song will be included. Chords will be fully notated. After having gone through the first two levels, you should find the advanced piece easier to read, though it will look daunting. Focus on those elements that weren't introduced in the first two levels by reading ahead as you play. The elements you're familiar with should come to you at a glance, allowing you more time to focus on the new notes.