This is from Ciera Harris. Please check out her website below:
WEBSITE
YOUTUBE
Summarizing is one of those skills that sneaks into everything we do in the classroom, from reading groups to science articles to history passages. But for our students, it can feel overwhelming. Too often, they either rewrite the entire text or leave out the most important parts.
Here are five fresh, practical strategies you can try to help summarizing click for your students:
1. Shrink the Text with “10-Word Gists”
Challenge students to write a summary of each section or paragraph in ten words or less. This forces them to capture the essence without filler. Later, they can string these mini-summaries together into a full response.
2. Use a “Spotlight Highlighter”
Instead of highlighting everything, train students to spotlight only 3–5 essential details. In fiction, those are key turning points; in nonfiction, they’re facts without which the text wouldn’t make sense.
3. Flip the Perspective
Ask: If you were the author, what would you want the reader to remember most? This role-play helps students filter details through author’s purpose, not just copy sentences.
4. Build a “Too Much / Just Right” Wall
Show two versions of the same summary: one that’s basically a retell and another that’s too short. Then, let students critique and create the “just right” version. Comparing extremes makes expectations crystal clear.
5. Summarize Beyond Paragraphs
Invite students to summarize in unexpected formats: a tweet (280 characters), a comic strip, or even a quick “Google Headline.” Shifting the medium keeps it fun while building precision.
When students learn to summarize well, they aren’t just shortening text — they’re showing real comprehension. If you’d like done-for-you lessons, organizers, and practice passages for both fiction and nonfiction summarizing, I’ve created complete resources to make teaching this skill stress-free and engaging.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario