Elementary School Lesson Plan: Understanding Main Idea and Finding
Word Meaning in Context
From the classroom of Traci Jones Rottman, 3 rd Grade Teacher and
Certified Reading Specialist at North Topsail Elementary School in
Hampstead, North Carolina.
Main Goal: For students to become fluent readers who can problem solve strategically and read independently and silently.
Lesson Objective: Through a series of guided reading sessions I will reinforce the skills main idea and finding word meaning in context to enhance reading comprehension skills.
Time: Three twenty-five minute sessions while others are involved in learning centers or reading independently.
Differentiated instruction is critical to student success in reading. One way to differentiate is to implement guided reading lessons several times a week. The following guided reading lesson reinforces the strategies of understanding main idea and finding word meaning in context. Students should be differentiated with books appropriate for their reading level.
First 25-minute session:
1. Spark students’ interest by showing them the front cover of the book. Ask students to predict what the main idea is by using picture clues and the title.
2. Choose 4-5 vocabulary words that are important to the text. Students will try to guess the words and make a prediction about what the story will be about. On a dry-erase mini board, write the following with the vocabulary words:
_ _ _ _
Clue 1 is a four-letter word in this story. r _ _ _
Clue 2 is a four-letter word that begins with the letter r. (Uncover one letter at a time. Allow time for students to try to guess the word). re_ _ rea_ read
3. After discussing the vocabulary words and how they relate to the main idea, students will take a picture walk looking for the vocabulary words in the book.
Explain to students that the context of the story can be used to determine the meaning of words. Write the sentence with the vocabulary word on a sentence

strip. “X” out the unknown word. Read the sentence together leaving out the vocabulary word. Ask the students to think of a word or synonym that makes sense in the sentence.
Optional (to use with students are below level): Have students fold a paper into four squares, writing one word in each box. After using the above strategy, students will draw a picture to help them remember the new word.
4. Read the book aloud with students. Have students listen for vocabulary words as the book is read.
For the next two sessions:
Have students choose another book from their level and follow the same lesson plan. This time, have students work with a table partner. One partner chooses
4-5 vocabulary words and then uses the Clue game to introduce the words to their partner. The students use the context clue strategy taught earlier to figure out the meaning of the word. Finally, they read the book aloud together for text comprehension.