Mindprint Toolbox

Search Results

Please wait...

Stop & Summarize

Tags

ELA: Reading All Ages Strategy

Skills

Working Memory Attention Verbal Reasoning Verbal Memory

Stop & Summarize

If your student often forgets or misses key details while reading

Instruction And Practice

  1. Objective: Students will summarize or restate, in their own words, as they read to help them understand and remember it better.
  2. Practice with students the steps for effective summarizing. a) Stop at the end of each paragraph and summarize it in your own words. If the paragraphs are short, you might stop at the end of 2-3 paragraphs. b) Ask yourself: What is the main topic? What are the most important details? Successful summaries identify the main ideas but also exclude unimportant or repetitive material. c) Draw comparisons (similarities and differences) to information you have learned or read before.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Summarization or restating in different words ensures students are taking in and understanding new information. If students can effectively summarize, they can be sure they understand. Summarizing gives students important practice in not only actively thinking about the meaning of the material, but also thinking about varying ways to express and simplify the idea. Over time students will grow more comfortable accessing new vocabulary and adding their own personal style to communicating information.