Standard 2: Reading and Writing Process

Students will use a variety of recursive reading and writing processes.

READING: Students will read and comprehend increasingly complex literary and informational texts.

Understanding 

Objectives 

Approaching 

Students can identify the main idea and textual details to support the main idea.

Students will locate the main idea and supporting details of a text

Developing 

2.2.R.1

Students can identify the main idea and look for details that support the main idea.

2.2.R.1

Students can identify the main idea with guidance.

2.2.R.2

Students can identify some genres using defining characteristics.

2.2.R.2

Students can identify common genres and begin to compare and contrast their characteristics to determine genre with guidance and support.

2.2.R.2

Students can begin to compare and contrast textual characteristics to distinguish genres*.

2.2.R.2

Students will begin to compare and contrast details (e.g., plots or events, settings, and characters) to discriminate genres.

2.2.R.3

Students can begin to identify major events in a text and sequence. 

2.2.R.3

Students can begin to identify conflict and  summarize major events in a text using sequencing, with guidance.

2.2.R.3

Students can begin to summarize major events and conflict in a text.

2.2.R.3

Students will begin to summarize events or plots (i.e., beginning, middle, end, and conflict) of a story or text.

 Instructional Guidance 

•  Before reading, review characteristics of genres.  While reading, ask students to identify genre characteristics in text with support. After reading, use characteristics to identify genre.  Use genre studies to focus on new or troubling genres.
• Read short, simple texts, providing support as students identify details and/or events. Discuss the importance of details and events identified.  Use think-aloud to model identifying the main idea using important details and/or events. Provide students opportunities to identify the main idea and supporting details with guidance.  Model using picture cards and transition words to retell stories.  Provide many opportunities for practice sequencing by to acting out or retelling events in simple stories with guidance and in centers.  Use short texts or single paragraphs to practice identifying the main idea using important details or retelling.  Students may use highlighters or Post-It tags when locating supporting details or events on copies of text passages or within a text.

• Review characteristics of different genres (post characteristics of covered genres).  Furnish texts to explore from different genres.  Provide students opportunities to identify characteristics of text to match to appropriate genre with support.  Use genre studies to focus on new or troubling genres.    

• Reading simple texts with students, ask students to identify the main idea.  Use think-aloud to model finding supporting details. Provide students opportunities to locate supporting details.  Students may use highlighters or Post-It tags when locating supporting details on copies or in texts.  Use short texts or single paragraphs to practice identifying the main idea and finding supporting details with guidance.   

• For additional ideas on teaching main idea, use ReadWorks.org.   

• After reading a text, ask students to identify important events and write on paper strips.  Have students sequence sentences providing support as needed.  Add transition words (e.g. first, next, then, last) to the beginning of the sentences.  Read sentences in order with transition words to create a summary.  Provide guided opportunities for students to practice summarizing by sequencing event sentences and adding transitional words.

• For more summarizing activities, go to Reading Rockets - Summarizing or Read, Write, Think.

• Review characteristics of different genres (genre posters).  Furnish texts to explore different genres.  Provide students opportunities to identify characteristics of text to match to appropriate genre.  

• Using grade-appropriate texts, provide practice identifying the main idea and locating supporting details.  Highlighter, Post-It tags, and graphic organizers may be used to support students work.  

• For additional ideas on teaching main idea, use ReadWorks.org.  

• After reading a text, ask students to identify and sequence important events using transitional words to create a summary.  Provide opportunities for practice summarizing texts.

• For summarizing activities, go to Reading Rockets - Summarizing or Read, Write, Think.

Deeper

Acquisition 

•  Remove the title from text passages.  After reading a passage, have students identify the main idea and create a title for the passage.

• Using a DVD of a school-appropriate movie, use the scene selection feature to locate a specific scene to play for students.  While watching, have students record details.  Use details to identify the main idea then create a title for the scene.

• Ask students to use headings and subheadings for text sections in their science and/or social studies books to identify the main idea of the section.  Students may make notes on Post-Its and place in their textbooks to aid in comprehension.  

• Students may practice genre identification by writing and performing a skit. Afterwards, the class identifies characteristics and genre of a skit.   

• Students may use foldables to creatively present the main idea and supporting details, genre characteristics, or summary of a text.