In 2nd grade, our students are making the switch from learning to read to reading to learn. It is a HUGE and exciting transition. However, it comes with a huge emphasis on comprehension. Teaching students to find the main idea of a non-fiction text can be challenging, but let’s enjoy a cup of coffee together and chat about how we can support them!

I have learned that in order to teach a reading skill or strategy effectively it is important for the teacher to know the ins and outs of that content area. So we will start there!

Let’s breakdown the difference between main idea and its look-alike friends.

What is Main Idea?

In order to really focus in on what the main idea of a text is, it is important to think about the main purpose. What does the author want to answer, explain, or describe?

When teaching main idea, we commonly also touch on topic and supporting details in the lessons.

The topic is one or two words that explains the focus of the text.

Supporting details are text evidence that dive deeper to enhance the main idea.

Example:

Topic: Elephants

Main Idea: Elephants’ trunks are essential for many tasks.

Supporting Details:

• Elephants use their trunks to transport water from a river into their mouths.
• An elephant’s trunk is also used to squirt water on their bodies to keep them cool from the heat.

I always teach topic and main idea together. I have found that finding both often helps students better understand what they are looking for to find the main idea. Then later in the year when the class has mastered that, we begin lessons on finding supporting details.

2nd graders are great at finding the topic of the text. This quickly builds their confidence and interest in the skill. There is more strategy involved to help them zoom out to see the main point/ purpose. We will talk more about that later!

Theme is commonly mistaken with main idea. While MI is what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe, theme is the message the author is trying to send to the reader. When you think theme, think feelings!

For example:

Main Idea: Ruby Bridges stood up for what she believed in to make a difference.

Theme: Courage

Some common themes are friendship, think before you speak, respect, kindness, and empathy.

I find that my students have the hardest time differentiating between main idea and summarizing. It is important to emphasize that a summary is multiple sentences like a paragraph. Summaries also retell all the important details of the text to give the reader an overall understanding. In contrast, main idea is one statement that encompasses the purpose of all the other important details.

Tips for Teaching Main Idea

• This reading strategy is best taught IN CONTEXT not isolation! You should show you students how you go through the process and what your thinking sounds like with a book together, then slowly pass them the torch.
• choose the perfect mentor text to model think alouds and demonstrate implementing the skill
• prompt students’ thinking while practicing together
  • What words are repeated?- look at the heading, title, 1st sentence of paragraph
  • What do you think the author is trying to teach us?
  • What was the purpose of this text?
  • What is the one thing that you’ll remember most about this text?
• begin with finding the main idea of small paragraphs before an overall article or text
• use graphic organizers to help students practice and reinforce the difference between the parts of main idea
• practice with PICTURES! more on this below…

I have a lesson plan format to teach in this structure to use with any picture book! It is a really beneficial way to teach the skill so that students’ truly understand how to implement it on their own.

Using a sentence frame to model and encourage students to discuss main ideas is the KEY to cultivating true understanding in our students. This is where Matteo (a character in my Comprehension Crew resource) plays such a crucial role in being a concrete representation of the skill and how to implement it.  

A Fun Concrete Engagement Hook

Whenever I teach a reading strategy, I like to provide my students with a concrete experience and understanding of how we use that skill in real life. Yes, we use reading strategies in real life outside of comprehending books!!

For main idea, I like to show my class 2 movie covers, familiar books or TV shows on the same topic with different main ideas. It is important to pick two that they are familiar with so that they can participate in the mini activity.

For example, you could show the movies Jungle Book and George of the Jungle.

Both topics are the jungle or men raised in the jungle depending how specific you want to get. Each movie has its own main idea and storyline deeper than that topic that differentiates them from each other. If you are not sure what students are familiar with, show them a trailer video. That usually gives enough information to be able to discuss the two main ideas.

After creating this concrete understanding, I continue on to my concrete and engaging way of teaching reading strategies! I use a character to represent each strategy to make a meaningful connection for the students. Meet Matteo the Main Idea Finder! This way of thinking aloud to teach and practice with students works with ANY picture book and is proven to make a lasting impact on students’ ability to implement the skill successfully!

Teaching Main Idea With Pictures

I love to use photograph task cards to teach ALL reading strategies and skills. Every time my students respond with excitement, confidence, and engagement! It is really helpful to use pictures to teach/ practice topic verse main idea. Then we move on to short paragraphs to practice! These are perfect for centers, small group, or independent work. Check out these task cards in my store!

Any questions about teaching main idea? Send me a message! I am more than happy to help!

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