Identifying the Main Idea of a Nonfiction Text: 7 Strategies That Work!

Today’s episode is the second of this month’s Reading Comprehension Skill Series and will be focused on main idea. More specifically, finding the main idea in nonfiction texts. I remember when I used to teach my students by using an elaborate lesson and telling them they needed to do the same. What I realized was that after all the time I spent, I wasn’t showing my students how to find the main idea themselves.

Instead of showing them what I had done, I realized I should have provided them with the strategies to do it themselves. I’m sure I’m not the only one guilty of this! That’s why I’m walking you through the roadmap to use in order to teach your students strategies to find the main idea. Once you have these tools, your students will be able to find the main idea on their own. As the Reading Comprehension Skill Series continues, please head over to my page and let me know if you’re enjoying these mini-series as much as I am!

In this episode I share:

• The difference between comprehension skills and strategies

• Mistakes I made while teaching main idea and what I learned

• 7 Strategies to teach students how to find the main idea

• Why it’s important to teach multiple strategies

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Stellar Teacher Reading Membership

• Main Idea Nonfiction Task Cards

• Main Idea Nonfiction Reading Passages with Comprehension Questions

• Nonfiction Main Idea Differentiated Reading Passages

• Nonfiction Main Idea Reading Response Activities and Worksheets

Related episodes and blog posts:

• Episode 46: The Dos and Don’ts of Teaching Students How to Make Inferences

• Episode 10: Using Task Cards to Boost Student Comprehension

• Episode 4: Effective Comprehension Strategy Instruction

Connect with me:

• Join my newsletter

• Join the Upper Elementary Reading Teachers Facebook group

• Shop my TPT store here

• Instagram: @thestellarteachercompany

• Facebook: The Stellar Teacher Company

More About Stellar Teacher Podcast:

Welcome to the Stellar Teacher Podcast! We believe teaching literacy is a skill. It takes a lot of time, practice, and effort to be good at it. This podcast will show you how to level up your literacy instruction and make a massive impact with your students, all while having a little fun!

Your host, Sara Marye, is a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world pass on their love of reading to their students. She has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. Sara has made it her mission to create high quality no-fluff resources and lesson ideas that are both meaningful and engaging for young readers.

Each week, Sara and her guests will share their knowledge, tips, and tricks so that you can feel confident in your ability to transform your students into life-long readers.

Tune in on your favorite podcast platform: Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review, and follow!

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