Reflection on podcast:
Understanding the big idea
- Thinking about the important ideas in texts can help reading comprehension
This podcast was about identifying and understanding the big idea or theme of a reading selection. Choosing the right reading material for the classroom is important. You want to make sure that when students read, they become fully engaged with the text and get something more out of it.
It is important for students in the lower grades to develop their skills at identifying the big idea of a reading selection, as this will help them in the upper grades when the reading material becomes more complex. When students can identify the bigger picture, it helps them to make more connections with the text. If the big idea is discussed before reading, it may help readers make connections and become fully engaged with what they read, aiding in comprehension. As students read the passage, they will have a deeper connection to smaller details that point to the main theme. Developing the ability to identify the big idea helps us to identify ‘the moral of the story’ of a movie, book, newspaper article, etc. Instead of interpreting the literal meaning, the reader/viewer has a better understanding of the deeper meaning intended by the author/director, etc.
Discussing themes and big ideas with students can help them make connections to their own lives. For example, a teacher may prompt students to discuss an event in their lives when they or someone they know was persistent or ‘never gave up’.
Perhaps one classroom strategy could be to have a ‘theme week’, wherein the reading selections, video presentations, and other curriculum-based activities are consistent with the theme. Themes: persistence, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, anti-bullying. Teachers can find a number of different books with the same theme or big idea. After reading, students can be prompted to compare and contrast the different reading selections.
I liked this podcast because provided specific strategies I can employ in the classroom using ‘research-based classroom tested strategies for reading and writing’. The podcast also provided names of specific authors, guiding teachers to literature that will help engage their students with texts containing big ideas, and help develop higher order thinking skills.
This sounds like a very interesting podcast. Like you said, it is extremely important for students to be able to locate the big picture or main ideas of a story, article, or other piece of text. Once they have practiced finding the main idea, they can more easily locate the supporting points or details which could also contribute to the writing and public speaking skills.
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom, I would have students, as an ongoing exercise, locate the main ideas in all texts, films, or other media that we come across in class. This could model for students that it is important to find the overall picture in all forms of writing and media.
This podcast reinforces what most teachers do from pre-k to higher education. In the lower grades, teachers examine a book and question students to determine or predict what the story is about. After the story has been read by the teacher or the students, the "main idea" is examined by the teacher questioning students about their thoughts of the book; What was the book about? What did you learn from the book? etc.
ReplyDeleteSince this is hopefully started in the early years of school, many students should have some strategies of how to determine the main ideas of a story. I think teachers may help students further by using the words "main ideas" or "theme" in the lower grades to expose students to the language they will need in their future. Incorporating these words repeatedly strengthens students knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills needed for higher order thinking skills.
Hey Ed, You are right, this podcast did provide specific strategies to use. It was very explicit and to the point. I also like your idea of theme week. That will definitely keep students engaged and interested in learning.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the strategies provided by the podcast, and that is key. I think as new teachers it is important to arm ourselves with techniques to facilitate literacy. Our textbooks are helpful, but hearing case studies and strategies is really helpful.
ReplyDeleteI think in the emergent reader stage getting the big idea is actually easier than later reading. The pictures and titles help young students identify themes. Later in reading, lack of clues means the student needs strong comprehension skills.
Ed,
ReplyDeleteSeems like a great podcast to choose!!! Theme week would be a great idea for the younger students. I certainly agree with you that they must learn and how this a great idea to help them obtain such skills at such a young age. Great themes to; especially cyber bullying.
John