11/28 Finding Main Ideas

• Whenever you need help, please ask for it.
• Please write your homework in your assignment book.
• Please review the goal and agenda for the day (posted in the classroom).

Today in class you will

• Explain how to find main ideas.
• Find main ideas.

Why?

• To develop your reading skills.
• To develop your ability to summarize.

DIRECTIONS

  If you are ever waiting for a direction, please use PlaceSpotting or Google A Day. (Don't search for the question or use a Google A Day answer site.)

1.  Discuss with someone near you what you will be doing in class today and why (see above).       1 minute

2. Take the passage from the back desk.       1 minutes

3.With one person next to you, do the following:           25 minutes

• Read a paragraph out loud.
• Discuss which are the three most important terms in the paragraph and circle them.
• Do the same for the other paragraphs.
• For the first paragraph, go back to it and discuss how to weave the three terms together to create a main idea sentence. 
• Write the main idea for the paragraph below the article. Your main idea sentence should not be identical to your partner's.
• Repeat the last two bullets for the next paragraph.

4.  Choose to do one of the following:       10 minutes

• Practice finding main ideas at this link.
• Practice finding main ideas at this link.            

6. Think about the thought process it takes to determine main ideas. Write a list of the thinking steps you need to take in order to identify a main idea.        10 minutes.

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Parents: Instead of Asking Your Child,

"What Did You Do in School Today?"

Ask them.......

• Explain how you determine main ideas.