Finding the Main Idea and the Post-it® Note Strategy

Sara Keener

Why Main Idea? Think-Pair-Share

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least important and 10 being the most important, rate the importance of main idea.

Think about the question. Turn to the person next to you and

share your answer. Share with the group.

(Sedita, 2000)

Why Main Idea?

In order to help students become active learners, the most important thing that they must learn is how to identify the main idea of what they are reading and to place it in their own words.

Identifying the main idea is the base that will help students learn to summarize, categorize and take notes.

(Sedita, 2000)

Main Idea in the Social Studies Classroom What it looks like now:

Main Idea box at the beginning of each section. The Main Idea is directly stated.

Telling the main idea will help some students, but our struggling readers will not understand the main idea by only directly stating it. The main idea will have to be introduced in a way that will help the students comprehend what they are reading.

(Sedita, 2000)

Implementing Main Idea

How can we make sure that the students understand the main idea? We should:

Scaffold a strategy that will assist them. Chunk the text into sections. Give them a way to organize the

materials.

(Sedita, 2000)

The Post-it® Note Strategy

The Post-it® Note Strategy, in conjunction with main idea, will assist the students in comprehending a text.

When using this strategy, the text will be chunked, the students will have a way to organize the materials and it will be scaffolded in a way that will help the students learn.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy Together, we are going to practice the

strategy with the sixth grade Social Studies textbook.

The lesson is on The Rise of Rome (chapter 8 – section 1).

You each need: 7 Post-it® Notes. Sixth Grade Social Studies Textbook. Pen/Pencil.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

Please set up your Post-it® Notes like this:

Topic Main Idea

Big Main Idea

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy As we work through the strategy, I will

model each step prior to completing it. You should do the same with your students until they have mastered the strategy.

We are going to stop after each paragraph under The Origins of Rome.

When we stop after the first paragraph, I will explain the topic and main idea. We will then copy the topic and main idea onto the top set of Post-it® Notes.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

First Paragraph Topic: Appearance Main Idea: Italy has a very distinct

appearance.

Any questions?

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

This time, when we have finished reading the second paragraph, I would like for you to come up with the topic and I will give you the main idea.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

Second Paragraph How many of you had:

Topic: Landscape (or something similar)

Main Idea: Settlers in Italy were not separated by mountains and their soil was better for farming.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

This time, when we have finished reading the third paragraph, I would like for you to come up with the topic and the main idea.

When you have written down your topic and main idea, turn to the person next to you and share what you have.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

Third Paragraph Topic: History Main Idea: People started to settle in

Italy as early as 1500 B.C., because of the landscape.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy Big Main Idea

The big main idea will include information from each section, but it will not be a listing of facts. The students will have to combine and reword some of the information.

Big Main Idea for the Selection: Although recognizable on a map, people

began to settle in Italy as early as 1500 B.C. because of the rich soil and mild climate.

Practice with the Post-it® Note Strategy

Remember, you may need to scaffold the entire process several times for your classes depending on their ability.

Reflection and Application

How would the use of the Post-it® Note strategy work with the lesson you are teaching currently?

Do you have any questions in regard to the strategy and the importance of main idea?