#089: 5 Strategies to Find the Main Idea in Nonfiction Text
Finding the main idea of a text is tricky for students at all levels in elementary school.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t introduce main idea in nonfiction text. While we don’t expect our primary grade students to master this concept, an introduction and practice in a whole group format is doable and appropriate.
Today is all about strategies for identifying the main idea with primary grade students.
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First off, your students need to know what a main idea is. I'm willing to bet many of your students don't know.
Explaining what the main idea is during a read-aloud and examining the difference between that and the topic of the nonfiction text you are reading is a good place to start. You will have to practice and try this out quite a bit before students can do this with a graphic organizer in partners or on their own. Give yourself and your class time to become familiar with finding the main idea in different ways.
Next, test out some graphic organizers together. If you find your students are grasping the concept, have your students work in partners to try finding the main idea of a nonfiction text you have read aloud using any of the methods you have taught them.
Moving this practice to your small group instruction time is a perfect way to continue practicing and applying what they know about finding main idea in nonfiction texts together.
Listen in to the full episode to find out:
- The difference between the topic and the main idea in a nonfiction text.
- 5 strategies for finding the main idea.
- Questions your students can ask to help them find the main idea in their reading.
Some Mentor Texts: Bee Dance; Who Has These Feet?; Big, Blue Whale; Moonshot; National Geographic Kids Readers: Spiders; National Geographic Kids Readers: Sea Turtles; What if You Had Animal Eyes?; From Seed to Plant; A Weed is a Flower; Koko's Kitten; Emergent Science Readers: What Do Insects Do?; Zebras Don't Brush Their Teeth
Listen to this episode for all the goodness [and don't forget to grab the free Nonfiction Reading Strategies Poster and check out the Main Idea Graphic Organizer ⬇️].
Teach joyfully,
H.O.P.E. Education RESOURCES you're going to L♥️VE:
Check out ALL the free printables in the Vault grab the freebie: Nonfiction Reading Strategies Poster while you're there.
Want more? You got it! ⬇️
Main Idea and Key Details Graphic Organizer
Compare and Contrast Activities
Parent Email Template System
BOOM CARDS TM: CVC Words Digital Task Cards
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Ready for more? You're a teacher after my heart ♥️! LISTEN to these Teach Joyfully Podcast episodes next!
#083: The Key to Teaching Students How to Monitor Comprehension
#084: Main Idea vs. Theme: What's the Difference?
#085: Why Your Students Need to be Writing More Than They Type
#087: How to Use Technology in the Classroom Effectively
#088: How to Begin Teaching Students to Read Nonfiction
