College Board
The Departure
Scholars learn about the Hero's Journey as they read Ray Bradbury's "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh." They analyze the story's structure and narrative techniques. Finally, they write summaries of the text's central idea and use their...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: "Seven Strategies to Teach Text Comprehension" by c.r. Adler
In this article, "comprehension strategies" are explained. Supported by research, these strategies are divided into seven different steps, including the following: monitoring comprehension, metacognition, graphic and semantic organizers,...
Other
Reade International Corp.: Rhenium (Re) Metal & Rhenium Powder
Summary of information on the chemical and physical properties of Rhenium. It also includes a table summarizing its properties.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Summarizing Worksheets and Activities
In this instructional resource, students will learn more about summarizing texts. Worksheets and PowerPoint lessons are provided to reinforce understanding about ways to summarize nonfiction texts and to identify main ideas. This module...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Snowball Note Making and Summarizing
In this lesson, students will engage in this post-reading strategy for a nonfiction or a fiction piece. Each student will take notes on a four-square square graphic organizer about something they already knew, something they found...
Education Development Center
Tv411: Strategies for Better Reading: Activities 3 of 3
Use these eight multiple choice passages to practice summarizing the main idea of a paragraph.
Other
Ncrel: Reading Strategies: Before, During, and After [Pdf]
This page provides a detailed chart to aid students' understanding of texts. It goes through the steps of pre-reading, during reading, and after reading, outlining what students should be thinking about as they interact with a text. This...
Colorado State University
Colorado State Writing Center: Critical Reading
In-depth instructions on critical reading with lots of links to more reading guides and activities. A good site to help improve reading skills to become a better writer.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Novel Study Independent Reading
Students will choose a novel from a teacher-created reading list. After reading their choice novel, students will prepare a 1-1/2 to 2 minute multimedia presentation to "sell" other students on the novel. In addition, students will...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Critical Reading: Summary Skills
This lesson focuses on how to write a summary including strategies for annotation, paraphrasing the thesis statement, distinguishing major ideas from minor ones, and picking appropriate quotes. It also provides videos including "How to...
Education Development Center
Tv411: Summarizing Activity 2
This activity asks students to differentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
BBC
Bbc Skillswise: Reading and Understanding
Tips on how to check understanding of text for adult learnings.
NWT Literacy Council
Nwt Literacy Council: April Raintree: A Multi Level Novel Study [Pdf]
"April Raintree" was written by Beatrice Culleton Mosionier. This novel study is intended for adult learners at several stages in their acquisition of reading skills. The novel is about the experiences of a First Nations Metis child....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Choosing One Word Summarizing Shel Silverstein?s ?Sick?
Contains plans for two 50-minute lessons that ask students to identify the most important word in a piece of writing. Shel Silverstein?s poem ?Sick? is used as an example. In addition to student objectives and standards, this...
Other
Literacy Design Collaborative: Partner Retelling of Narrative Text
For this lesson, the teacher reads a story aloud and learners work with a partner to retell the story using sentence starters. Includes downloadable poster.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Reading Literature: Determine Theme/central Idea
A definition of theme or central idea along with a link to a practice activity. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Dewey Decimal Classification System Mural
Students will select a book from an assigned section in the non-fiction area of the library. After reading the books, students will write a paragraph that summarizes the content area of the book. Students will illustrate the book that...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy [Pdf]
This is a one-page nonfiction excerpt from JFK's Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes underlining the most important...
Quizlet
Quizlet: Ccisd 4th Grade Main Idea Test
Reading comprehension terms (nonfiction) are included on this test. This test assesses the following words: topic, main idea, supporting details, summarizing, conclusion, point of view, author's perspective, author's purpose, details,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Aunt Chip and the Triple Creek Dam Affair
In this activity, students will read and summarize the book by pages. After publishing, students will use their slides as sequencing exercises. This lesson plan can be adapted for any grade level or book.
Quia
Quia: Rags to Riches Summary
Read a short text and then choose the best summary in this Rags to Riches learning game.
CPALMS
Help Pick Your Class Pet
[Free Registration/Login Required] During this MEA simulation, kindergarten students will be given the power of slelecting a classroom pet. Students, working in collaborative groups, must collect data about different potential classroom...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill: Informational Text: Determine Central Idea and Supporting Details
To understand a text, you must understand the central idea of the story. Learn how to recognize the central idea and supporting details with this article. Click the links at bottom right.