SUMMARIZING
Research has shown summarizing to be one of the most effective reading comprehension strategies. "Summarization, which builds on the organizational strategy of determining main ideas and supporting details, improves comprehension and increases retention. It is also a means of monitoring, through which students can evaluate their understanding of a passage which they have just read," (Gunning, 2010, p.326.)
VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTIONS:
We may learn and practice summarizing in a variety of ways, to keep the students interested. Follow the steps used in the teaching example below (5 Key Steps), and you should be able to successfully adapt to any summarizing activity we are performing as a class. If you are introducing and modeling a concept to students, be sure to speak in terms they can understand about what you're doing and why. Ask students lots of questions during the guided practice portion, and watch them carefully during independent work, to check for understanding. Encourage and assist the students to the best of your ability, and never be afraid to ask me for help!
TEACHING EXAMPLE:
1. First, I would introduce the idea of summarizing to the students with wording such as, "A summary is a brief explanation of what a paragraph, article, or book is about. A summary includes the main point of the text and some of the details that help tell about that main point. Giving a verbal or written summary after you read a paragraph or section of a book is a great way to see if you understood what you read, and will also help you remember what you read better. Today, you're going to read some paragraphs and learn to write short summaries of them. But first, I will show you how."
2. Next, I would display a paragraph on the SMART board for all the students to see, and read it aloud to them. (If I were working with individuals or a small group, I may just have them follow along over my shoulder as I read a paragraph aloud from a book or magazine.) I would "think out loud" as I went through the process of asking myself what the paragraph is saying, what details support that main idea, and formulating a brief, concise summary. I would then write the summary down for them to see, and leave it up as an example.
3. For guided practice, I would display and read another paragraph, this time having the students help me work through the process and come up with a summary.
4. Finally, the students could be asked to summarize paragraphs on their independent of my help, alone or possibly in pairs. I would walk around the room, observing and helping the students if necessary.
5. If any students appeared to be struggling, I would provide extra attention, returning to the modeling and guided practice to help re-teach the strategy for them.
Research has shown summarizing to be one of the most effective reading comprehension strategies. "Summarization, which builds on the organizational strategy of determining main ideas and supporting details, improves comprehension and increases retention. It is also a means of monitoring, through which students can evaluate their understanding of a passage which they have just read," (Gunning, 2010, p.326.)
VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTIONS:
We may learn and practice summarizing in a variety of ways, to keep the students interested. Follow the steps used in the teaching example below (5 Key Steps), and you should be able to successfully adapt to any summarizing activity we are performing as a class. If you are introducing and modeling a concept to students, be sure to speak in terms they can understand about what you're doing and why. Ask students lots of questions during the guided practice portion, and watch them carefully during independent work, to check for understanding. Encourage and assist the students to the best of your ability, and never be afraid to ask me for help!
TEACHING EXAMPLE:
1. First, I would introduce the idea of summarizing to the students with wording such as, "A summary is a brief explanation of what a paragraph, article, or book is about. A summary includes the main point of the text and some of the details that help tell about that main point. Giving a verbal or written summary after you read a paragraph or section of a book is a great way to see if you understood what you read, and will also help you remember what you read better. Today, you're going to read some paragraphs and learn to write short summaries of them. But first, I will show you how."
2. Next, I would display a paragraph on the SMART board for all the students to see, and read it aloud to them. (If I were working with individuals or a small group, I may just have them follow along over my shoulder as I read a paragraph aloud from a book or magazine.) I would "think out loud" as I went through the process of asking myself what the paragraph is saying, what details support that main idea, and formulating a brief, concise summary. I would then write the summary down for them to see, and leave it up as an example.
3. For guided practice, I would display and read another paragraph, this time having the students help me work through the process and come up with a summary.
4. Finally, the students could be asked to summarize paragraphs on their independent of my help, alone or possibly in pairs. I would walk around the room, observing and helping the students if necessary.
5. If any students appeared to be struggling, I would provide extra attention, returning to the modeling and guided practice to help re-teach the strategy for them.