Resource to Teach Main Idea

Reading Passages That Build Comprehension: Main Idea & Details 


Main Idea Resource

by Linda Ward Beech                                                              

• Grades 2-3

• 35 reproducible pages

• High interest non-fiction reading passages

• Targets main idea skill

• Mini-lessons

• Teacher tips

• Can be used at home and school

• Pre and post assessments and answer key

As a teacher I know the importance of teaching main idea to students. At the same time it can also be a difficult reading comprehension skill for students to fully master. It is our responsibility that students understand this skill because it is tested on state standardized tests. Also, understanding the main idea and details will help children better understand the story. Here is one resource that you can use in your classroom while enforcing main idea and supporting detail skills.

Grades 2-3

This book is targeted for 2-3 graders; however, it can be used in upper grades such as 4th and 5th if you have students whose reading level is low.

Assessments

Before you start teaching the main idea there is a pre-assessment that will help you see what your students understand about main idea. Towards the end of the book there is a post-assessment as well.

Teacher Friendly

This book published by Scholastic is very teacher friendly. It has a mini-lesson at the beginning of the book. First it shows you how to introduce the concept. Afterwards it explains how to model your thinking when introducing the concept. Next, the author, Linda Ward Beech helps define the skill on teaching main idea and details. Finally, the author gives the students an opportunity to practice the skill with main idea reading passages. Ms. Beech also provides a record-keeping sheet that you can use to track your students’ progress as each reading passage is completed.

Student Friendly

When teaching main idea you want materials that will keep your students’ interest. The main idea exercises use high interest non-fiction passages such as a short passage on Mount Rushmore. There’s also child-friendly clip art in the main idea reading passages instead of those boring black and white photographs that seem to be geared more towards adults.

Conclusion

Reading Passages That Build Comprehension: Main Idea & Details by Linda Ward Beech is a great resource under $10 that you can use in your classroom during your guided reading block. This book is also great for parents to use at home in reinforcing main idea skills.