This workbook is designed as a tool for parents and teachers who want to give a child in grades 3 though 6 the opportunity to learn the abstract concept of main idea in a concrete and progressive manner. Main idea is the cornerstone of comprehension, yet how to get the main idea is seldom explained and modeled in a way a child can grasp its meaning and use it when reading. This workbook is a step-by-step instruction on how to get the main idea in a paragraph, in a layered difficult paragraph, and in a multi-paragraph essay. The child will learn to use the "tools" of text structures (topic sentences, details, parts of an essay---introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) to get the main idea. Instruction moves from a paragraph to a multi-paragraph essay, and to essays with more than one main idea. The child will also learn to distinguish the most important details and to explain how details support the main idea. Having learned these key elements, the child will use them to write a concise summary. Opportunities are provided for the child to take tests that mirror state tests. These tasks help prepare the child to be successful on school assignments and on high stakes tests that measure the national Common Core State Standards.
