EFFECTIVE COMPREHENSION INSTRUCTION
Comprehension
Instruction
Strategies
Text Structure
Vocabulary
Background
Knowledge
READING COMPREHENSION ROUTINES
In order to improve reading comprehension this year we will learn and begin using
five strategies in our English Language Arts class. The strategies will include:
1. Main Idea Skills
2. Top-Down Topic Webs
3. Two-Column Notes
4. Summarizing
5. Question Generation
MAIN IDEA SKILLS
Main Idea Skills include:
1. Identifying and stating
2. Categorizing
3. Paragraphs
4. Text Structure
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS TOPIC, MAIN IDEA, AND
TOPIC SENTENCE?
Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing.
Topic: A broad statement that is often explained using just a few words. Example: the topic of
this section is main idea skills.
Main Idea: What is being said about the topic, often explained in a phrase or sentence.
Example: the main idea of this slide is the deference between the terms topic, main idea,
and the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence: The sentence in a paragraph that includes a statement of the main idea.
Often, but not always, the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. Example:
the topic sentence of this slide is Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic
sentence can be confusing.
PRACTICE WITH MAIN IDEAS
Provide an example from your day to day experience of how you use main idea skills.
Example: How are the the songs arranged on your MP3 player? How do you
organize your video games?
STEPS THAT HELP IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA
Identify the details (or categories)
Compare the details to determine what they have in common
Use your own words to paraphrase what they have in common
CATEGORIZING
Categorizing a list of words: The words are the details. They are compared and a
common category is identified, which becomes the main idea. For example, family
members or relatives are examples of main ideas for the words wife, brother,
father, niece, grandmother.
Practice with these words:
Apple asparagus banana broccoli donut grape orange pear spinach string bean
chocolate
Now create your own list of words on a sheet of paper, cut the words out, and see if
your partner can categorize them.
OTHER EXAMPLES
Identifying paragraph main ideas: The sentences are the details. They are compared
to determine the main idea, which can be stated as a phrase or a sentence. In
most paragraphs, the main idea is embedded in a topic sentence, but the main
idea may also be implied.
Identifying the main idea of a section of expository text: The paragraphs are the
details, and they are compared to determine the sections main idea. The main
ideas are the details that are compared to determine the main idea of the entire
chapter. In longer reading selections multiple levels of main ideas can be
organized into a hierarchy, which can be represented in a top-down topic web.
OTHER EXAMPLES
Identifying main ideas in narrative text: The details in the story are compared to
determine main ideas related to characters, setting, theme, and other literary
elements.
Use Goldilocks to evaluate your main idea:
Is my main idea too specific?
Is my main idea too general?
How can I change it to make it just right?
MAIN IDEA STATEMENTS
Bacteria help humans in many ways. Bacteria are involved in the production of food,
fuel, medicines, and other useful products. Some are used in industry processes.
Others help break down pollutants, which are substances such as waste
materials or harmful chemicals that dirty the environment.
Main Idea Choices:
Bacteria break down pollutants
Bacteria
Bacteria help humans in many ways
Too Specific:
Too General:
Just Right:
PRACTICE FINDING MAIN IDEA
Read the first paragraph from any story found in your text book and then write down
the main idea.
Share each persons main idea with a partner and then decide if the main idea is
Too Specific:
Too General:
Just Right:
Is the main idea stated or inferred?
PRACTICE USING CATEGORIZATION AND TOP DOWN TOPIC WEBS
Directions for using the web site for top-down topic webs can be found at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TP62aNlVu0
The web site for top-down topic webs is:
https://bubbl.us/
1. Using the top-down web created on a sheet of paper where you organized
something in your own life create a graphic top-down topic web using bubbl.us
2. Next use the information from the categorization exercise and create a second
graphic top-down topic web.
3. Last, create a top-down topic web using a story from a book that you are reading
or from a story in your literature book.
4. List and define the words that you do not understand from your story.
5. Using your top-down topic web write a summary of your story.
MAIN IDEA PRACTICE
Use Story Work sheets
No topic statement = inferred
Topic statement = stated
TICKET OUT THE DOOR
How does using categorization and top-down topic webs help you with reading
comprehension and writing?
MAIN IDEA
Discuss and review worksheets from last week using Goldilocks.
Too Specific:
Too General:
Just Right:
THINKING OUT LOUD, DISCUSSION, AND TEXT STRUCTURE
Good readers think actively and engage in a process to make sense of what they
read.
This is called meta-cognition – meaning a reader’s awareness of himself as a reader
and knowledge about the use of comprehension strategies. This is also defined
as thinking about thinking.
Students can develop this skill through think aloud activities that allows them to be
involved in the discussion of text meaning.
The discussion involves generating and answering question and summarizing while
reading text.
THINKING OUT LOUD, DISCUSSION, AND TEXT STRUCTURE
Think aloud includes:
1. Categorizing
2. The thinking process of finding the main idea
3. Goldilocks
4. Labeling the bucket
5. Self-cuing
6. Identification of stated and implied paragraph main ideas
7. Use of story maps and graphic organizers to represent text structure
8. Use of text heading and sub-heading
TEXT LEVEL
Narrative v. Expository text
Narrative text usually includes basic literary elements such as setting, characters, a
problem and its solution, a theme, and a series of events. Main ideas in narrative
text tend to be main events that can later be used to develop a plot summary.
(Story Maps)
Expository text is always nonfiction and explains information. Expository text is the
structure most often found in textbooks. It is usually structured around a
hierarchy of main ideas, ranging from broad topics represented by chapter and
section headings to paragraph-level main ideas. (Top-down topic web)
PRACTICE
Read the first two stories under our theme: Science Fiction v. Science:
As you read complete the story map and the review the structure activities.
We will discuss this work in tomorrows class.
Ticket Out the Door:
How do story maps help with reading comprehension?
PRACTICE
Read “Zoo”
View "People Are Alike All Over”
Discuss story map
Think out loud exercise
WELCOME TO FRIDAY’S BOOK CLUB
Use a Story Map to share your book with the rest of the class.
TWO-COLUMN NOTES
Bell Ringer:
In your notebook describe how two-column notes can be used as a tool to improve
reading comprehension in all subjects.
TWO-COLUMN FORMAT
When you take notes comprehension is enhanced as you process, organize, and
restate information in your own words.
Taking notes from reading is much easier than taking notes from lectures because
you can read portions of text several times at your own pace. With practice you
can increase your note-taking skills.
To take notes, you must identify main ideas and key details, paraphrase them using
as few words as possible, and record them in a structured format. You practiced
these skills through categorization, story maps, and top-down story webs.
TWO-COLUMN NOTES
To begin, a page of two-column notes should have a vertical line drawn down the
length of page and a horizontal line intersecting near the top (to form a “T”
shape). The vertical line is approximately one third of the way across the page
from the left border.
This two-column format provides clear visual distinction between main ideas (to be
listed in the left column) and key details (right column). A heading of topic should
be noted at the top of the page.
The two-column format is also a helpful study tool. The details in the right column can
be covered as you read the main ideas and quiz yourself on the detail. Also, the
left column can be covered as the student uses the details to test main idea
knowledge.
TWO-COLUMN NOTE PRACTICE
Language Arts Story
Section from:
Social Studies Book
Math Book
Science book
TWO-COLUMN NOTES
Write out how to set up a two-column note’s page.