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Scan through the piece of music and mark (if you can) any key changes, tempo changes, or change in dynamics. When you first begin sight-reading, you may attempt to count every beat, divide every rhythm, and tap maniacally to the beat. Relax! Every piece of music has hundreds of notes and trying to count and identify every single one can be exhausting and impossible. Instead, divide the piece into bigger chunks of music and try to read it that way. Cut each measure into 2 parts, and note where the downbeats are. This is a method of interpreting the music in a more relaxed, musical way. Now you can look at 2 beats, or even an entire measure, at a time. This is a lot less chaotic than attempting to count each and every beat. While each piece of music you encounter is beautifully unique, there are certainly repeating patterns that you'll continuously encounter. Purchase sight reading practice materials. Children get better at reading words by reading multiple books. Musicians get better at reading music by sight reading multiple pieces. Try going online to sites like Piano Marvel to gain access to sight reading exercises and music pieces you can practice reading. Also look online for free sheet music websites. Ask your music teacher if they have extra music they'd be willing to let you copy. Practice often. The best sight readers are musicians who are relaxed and confident in their skills. Becoming an experienced sight reader can take years, but implementing good practice habits is something you can do right now. Try to practice your sight reading for at least 15 minutes every day. Write down what you practiced and how long you practiced in your journal. Practice sight reading slowly. You can always pick up the pace after you feel more comfortable with the music. Not only will practice drills help you recognize certain patterns and memorize note types, key signatures, and time signatures, it will also help you become a more confident musician. Websites like TheSightReadingProject.com allow you to practice for free online. Grab a cheap music book, flip to a random page, and start sight-reading something. Just like with any skill, the more you sight read, the more confident and proficient you will become. As you feel more comfortable with the basics, you can start fine-tuning your skills.
Look for any obvious changes in style, key, tempo, or dynamic. Divide music into large chunks. Look for familiar rhythms. Keep a practice journal. Use drills to improve.