Teaching main idea can be tough. Some students get it right away and others, well the just don’t. Sometimes students get so caught up in the details that they just can’t see the forrest from the trees. However, being able to not only find but communicate the main idea is an important skill our students need.
When I need to change things up a bit I jump over to my favorite visual search engine – Pinterest. I did a search on Pinterest, and found some great main idea anchor charts. I found a chart similar to this one, decided on a few changes, and then created it.
This new anchor chart made teaching main idea a little easier. I like that the chart gives students specific places to look for the main idea, rather than just asking what the story is mostly about. I also like that it provides them with specific questions to ask themselves, thus teaching them to think like a reader. Knowing specific strategies such as these can truly help students become better readers.
After creating the anchor chart I displayed it in my classroom. As we began reviewing the concept of main idea we went through the chart as a class. We talked about each of the 5 things listed and I modeled what it might look and sound like if I was doing it. The students really loved practicing this skill together and I was very proud of how they began digging a little deeper.
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