So, there I was, in the midst of the usual classroom buzz, when G, one of my students, bounded up to my desk with a spark in her eyes. Chromebook in hand, she exclaimed, "Look what I made!"

Curious, I peered at her screen. It was her score on the central idea test - an 84. Now, let's put this into perspective: G's been on a journey, often finding herself in the 50s-60s zone and grappling with concepts. So this 84? It was like hitting a jackpot!

Her grin was infectious. "Mrs. Kepley, central idea is just so easy!" she said. And there it was, the moment every teacher lives for. My heart did a little happy dance, maybe even grew a size or two.

I couldn't help but smile back, offering a congratulatory side hug. "You nailed it because you worked for it," I told her. She had taken our class strategies and truly made them her own. Talk about a teacher's proud moment!

Now, here's why I'm sharing this story. If you've got students wrestling with the concept of central idea, I think I've got something that could help. It's a strategy that turned the tide for G and my other students, and I'm excited to share it with you.

How to Teach Students to Find the Central Idea:

1. Kickstart with a Mini-Lesson: First things first, I run a mini-lesson on the central idea (check out the mini lesson here). It's crucial that students get what we mean by 'central idea' before they start exploring texts.

2. Make it Relatable: We begin with a super short article about the movie 'Frozen'. Why 'Frozen'? Because who doesn't love a bit of Disney magic? Plus, it's a great way to practice on a smaller scale.  We read it together, and here comes the fun part…

3. #HashtagIt: After each paragraph, students jot down hashtags that summarize the big idea. For example, for the first paragraph, they might come up with #Disneyblockbuster or #excitingprincessadventure. It's amazing how asking students to come up with hashtags can make the concept less daunting than asking students, “What’s the key concept of the paragraph?"

4. Comparing Hashtags: For the final paragraph, we read it together and then I have students brainstorm hashtags in small groups. I tell them I want to see if their hashtags will match mine. 

After three minutes, we compare theirs with my intentionally off-the-mark hashtags that focus on small details (like #lionkingisbetter). It's a great laugh and a learning moment when they correct me with more apt hashtags like #moneymaker.

5. Crafting the Central Idea Statement: Now, for the main event! We transform these hashtags into a central idea statement. I break it down into manageable steps:

• Identify the topic 

• Jot down what's being said about the topic.

• Write the central idea statement using this structure: [Title of Article] + [Summary Action Word] + [Central Idea]

With the Frozen article, it looks like this-

• Topic: Frozen Movie

• What’s being said about the topic: It was a successful movie for Disney

• Central Idea: The article 'Frozen' describes how the animated movie was a success for Disney.

6. Celebrate: I make a big deal about how easy that was since we followed those steps! 

7. Small Group Practice: Next up, it's practice time for the students in small groups. I hand them an article with a similar format to flex their new skills.

As each group finishes, they signal me, and I review their work. I check their hashtags, the topic they've identified, their insights into what the article is conveying, and the central idea statement they've formulated. If they demonstrate a good understanding, I introduce a longer, more challenging passage. 

This approach not only reinforces the concept but also builds their confidence step by step.

Resources to Help You

🌟 Exciting News! If you have students who could thrive with this structured approach, I've got a special treat for you - The Central Idea Starter Pack! 🎁

Inside, you'll find the short 'Frozen' article, a practice article for group activities, and a helpful slide outlining the steps to write the central idea statement. Simply fill out the form for instant access to the Google Slides.

ELA Unlimited

Need more central idea resources?

Head over to the central idea section of ELA Unlimited, where you'll find these resources along with comprehensive central idea assessments, engaging bell ringers, eye-catching posters, practical exit tickets, test prep materials, a mini-lesson, an interactive escape room, and a plethora of application activities and articles!

Central Idea Mini Lesson on TpT

Need just the mini-lesson to jump start your lesson?

You can purchase all of the slides and articles on TpT.