What is it?

Summarizing teaches students how to determine the most important ideas in a text, how to ignore irrelevant information, and how to integrate the central ideas in a meaningful way.

Why is it important?

Teaching students to summarize improves their memory for what is read. Summarization strategies can be used in almost every content area.

What can I do at home?

1. Begin by reading OR have students listen to the text selection.

2. Ask students the following framework questions:

• What are the main ideas?
• What are the relevant details necessary for supporting the ideas?
• What information is irrelevant or unnecessary?

3. Have your child use key words or phrases to identify the main points from the text.