Do your students have a hard time deciding what is a topic and a main idea? Well mine do! This is evident when they are researching a topic in the pre-writing stage. They come to writing conference with their web filled in with great details, but many times they're not related. Also, the main idea is very vague, which resembles a topic. So some more instruction needed to be done.
I used this activity to teach in a scaffold method. I read a non-fiction text about penguins. I used Penguins from reading a-z.com which, side note is a fabulous resource. I read with the kids because I was able to project the book on the smart board, and showed them how monitor their reading. I did this by using a note-taking strategy.
I'm not sure of the source but here's what I use: ~ a squiggle line under the word means the reader is unsure how to decode the word ? is used if the meaning of a word is confusing
! is used the fact is cool, interesting or reminds the reader of something
We've been using this in reading group as well. I just have them use the small tab post-its since they can't write in the book. It's really helped the kids monitor their reading, and creates A TON of great discussion about what their reading. At the end of the day I think talking about words, and books is what helps our kids become life-long readers, not prepping for a test.
After the think aloud, I showed them the difference between topic, and main idea, which they always seem to have a hard time deciphering. I projected the first web.