MAIN IDEA and SUPPORTING DETAILS
Let’s face it, teaching kids to find the Main Idea and Supporting details can be challenging reading skill for any elementary ELA class. Main Idea and Supporting details lesson plans and activities for Back to School for can also be hard to find, so I created my own. My students and many other teachers, love them!
Whether it’s third grade, fourth grade or fifth grade, when students are trying to learn the reading skill of finding the Main Idea and Supporting details, it’s a skill that can be improved with lots of practice. I had great success when I started with an easy (+ FREE!) Main Idea lesson plan and demo, on a high interest topic for them, like this one. It can be seen either on a white board, as a whole group, or learn about in small groups, as part of a reading skills lesson. Main Idea and Supporting details lesson plans and activities for Back to School don’t have to be dry and boring!
Main Idea lessons must be taught with high interest topics and passages, like these. If you can get the kids excited about what they are reading, they’ll be engaged in the Main Idea lesson and in learning that skill. Main Idea lessons and practice activities don’t have to be boring. My students have enjoyed mastering the Main Idea lessons and sharing their knowledge with their classmates who need help.
Reviewing, or teaching for the first time, the skill of finding the Main Idea and Supporting Details should be something you start the year off with in your ELA lessons, Teaching the Main Idea lessons are a great way to dive into Reading Skills that will likely be on your state’s reading tests in the spring. While you’re getting your class into a great routine for your ELA block, why not get started with your more challenging reading skills, If it’s September, you can start your Main Idea lessons in conjunction with your Hispanic Heritage lessons! The first set is here, and here’s a follow up set, due to popular demand from so many happy teachers! Kids love to learn from, and review their work, by using a student-friendly rubric. Here’s one that’s perfect and saves teachers tons of time!
While you’re teaching your classroom expectations, routines, and procedures, early in the school year, it’s a great use of your time to gauge the level of your students with more complex reading skills, like finding the Main Idea and Supporting Details. Your students will be so grateful in the spring, during testing season!
LINKS to MAIN IDEA Lessons and Practice Activities:
FREE Lesson for Main Idea and Details
Back to School Main Idea Topics for Main Idea
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