| What is the difference? | | | | question and listen to the child so you are sure |
| Main Idea: All stories, paragraphs, poems and | | | | they understand. |
| articles have a main idea. The main idea tells us | | | | How to teach these to concepts: To begin with |
| what the passage is about. The main idea, if | | | | explain the concept you are teaching. You can |
| stated, is also known as a topic sentence, and is | | | | actually read the descriptions I give above or use |
| usually stated in the first or last sentence of the | | | | your own words if you like. |
| paragraph, but not always. Sometimes it is in the | | | | The next step can be quite fun if you adjust to |
| middle of the paragraph, and sometimes it is not | | | | the child's interests. Do they like to fish, hunt, play |
| even stated (but implied). The other sentences tell | | | | games, help you, tell stories, or read about certain |
| more about the topic sentence. To find the main | | | | subjects? I have had students write a letter or an |
| idea, one needs to ask themselves, "What is this | | | | article, and then ask them to tell me their main |
| passage mostly about?" | | | | idea and/ or authors purpose along with other |
| Author's Purpose: Every author has a purpose for | | | | questions mentioned above. Sometimes I choose |
| writing his passage. It might be to give | | | | passages that I know they would be interested in |
| information, explain something, solve a problem, | | | | reading, and ask the same questions. While |
| sell something, persuade, or even simply to | | | | viewing a TV advertisement (or an advertisement |
| entertain. Authors support their purpose for | | | | on a cereal box) it can be fun to ask them what |
| writing with their point of view...their thoughts, | | | | they think the authors purpose is, and if they |
| feelings and beliefs. | | | | agree with it. There are numerous daily activities |
| In reading fiction, one needs to know who is telling | | | | that can support your teaching objectives. |
| the story. Is it a main character? Or is it someone | | | | Using curriculum is great too. There is some very |
| else, a narrator? It is also important to understand | | | | good curriculum out there, which can be a time |
| the tone or mood of a story (the feeling that the | | | | saver for you the educator, and there is nothing |
| author creates). Is it funny, sad, or scary? | | | | wrong with that if it is working for you and your |
| Children often have difficulty distinguishing the | | | | student. I personally use both curriculum and the |
| difference between these two reading elements. I | | | | creative methods. |
| find it helpful to teach Main Idea first, making sure | | | | Don't be intimidated. With a little information and |
| they understand before I move on to Author's | | | | the right tools, teaching children to read is fun and |
| Purpose. After they understand both concepts | | | | easy. |
| we discuss the differences. it is also important to | | | | |