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How to Teach Main Idea and Supporting Details

Jul 17, 2024

How to Teach Main Idea and Supporting Details

Introduction

  • Instructor: Bri
  • Purpose: Teaching teachers how to teach main idea and supporting details
  • Applicable Grades: 3rd grade and up
  • Personal background: 3 years of experience, tested in 3rd and 5th grades
  • Resources: YouTube channel, podcast, email list, book club, Instagram

Resources

  • TPT product: Linked for purchase, includes lesson plans
  • Other Resources: Teaching writing videos, writing packs

Day 1: Introduction and Anchor Chart

  • Materials: Printable pages for anchor chart
  • Anchor Chart: Represents a circle map, main idea in the center, supporting details as sprinkles
  • Definitions:
    • Main Idea: What the text is mostly about
    • Supporting Details: Sentences that describe or explain the main idea
  • Sentence Stems: For collaborative discussion
  • Activity:
    • Kahoot or Quizzes to distinguish main idea vs. supporting details

Day 2: Initial Practice with Informational Text

  • Texts: Three informational texts provided (Germ Hot Spots, Defending Against Germs, Germs 101)
  • Materials: Donut graphic organizer, sprinkle cutouts, main idea and supporting details questions
  • Process:
    • Number paragraphs
    • Clean read through text, circle unknown words
    • Discuss and define unknown words using context clues
  • Example: Defending Against Germs

Day 3: Detailed Practice and Modeling

  • Process:
    • Read first sentence, model thinking aloud to identify supporting details
    • Cite paragraph numbers
    • Partner work for further practice
  • Goal: Identify supporting details and cite paragraphs
  • Activity: Cut and paste sprinkles onto donut graphic
  • Example: Defending Against Germs

Day 4-5: Question Practice

  • Process:
    • Answer questions using circle maps
    • Restate-Answer-Cite-Explain (RACE) method for comprehension questions
    • Optional: Additional short text for more practice

Assessment

  • Options:
    • Circle maps and questions as assessment
    • Independent work on new text
    • Grading on ability to find details and cite paragraphs

Moving Forward

  • Advanced Practice:
    • Use more complex texts
    • Incorporate circle maps into writing projects
  • Resources:
    • Larger bundles available for purchase with informational texts

Conclusion

  • Feedback: Positive response from students
  • Additional Resources: Linked how-to videos and playlists on teaching methods

Additional Links

Full transcript