What’s the Main Idea?

In our new Reading unit, Reading to Learn, we will be reading non-fiction and working to identify the main idea. Reading for the man idea requires students to synthesize portions of text, rather than be “fact finders”.  In order to read to learn, readers need to slow down and read more thoughtfully and actively. We are learning to read a chunk of text (usually a page or a section), then stop and think “What’s the main idea?”

This is challenging for many third graders! They have to consider all the details and “wow” facts that are in paragraph, and then think about what the section is “mostly about”. Sometimes the very first sentence in a paragraph will present you with the main idea – we call this a “pop-out sentence“- but not always!

Here are some strategies that students will be taught when finding the main idea:

We will also use a strategy called “boxes and bullets” to help us determine the main idea, and find details to support the main idea.

We will continue to work on this important skill in class, and you will see Main Idea practice coming home for homework. As we dive deeper in our unit, we will also continue work on  comparing and contrasting and synthesizing information from two seperate texts.

Upcoming Dates:

January 21st- No school- MLK Day

January 22nd- Grade 3 Parent Meeting 8am-8:30am in Library

January 24th- Trip to Botanic Garden-We will notify you if you are selected to be a chaperone.

Family Friday- Looking forward to seeing you on February 8th!