What’s the BIG Idea: Presented By Angela Maiers, 2007

The BIG Idea is: The part of a book, magazine, argument, film, poem, text, etc… that articulates the authors message or ideas about the underlying topic or theme which may or may not be explicitly stated.

The part of a book, magazine, argument,

film, poem, text, etc… that articulates the authors message or ideas about the underlying topic or theme which may or may not be explicitly stated.

Why Does It Matter? The author’s purpose for writing is… The tone of this passage is? The writer believes that… Why did the author probably write this passage? Which sentence helps convey the mood of the text? Read the passage, which passage best describes the author’s purpose ? Which writer is most qualified to say . . . The author thinks that . . . The author is believable because… The following assumptions about the author suggest… The author uses sarcasm to…. The tone of this poem can best be described as…? Why might the author recommend . . . The purpose of this is to…? What is this paragraph suggest that the authors’ believes that…?

The author’s purpose for writing is…

The tone of this passage is?

The writer believes that…

Why did the author probably write this passage?

Which sentence helps convey the mood of the text?

Read the passage, which passage best describes the author’s purpose ?

Which writer is most qualified to say . . .

The author thinks that . . .

The author is believable because…

The following assumptions about the author suggest…

The author uses sarcasm to….

The tone of this poem can best be described as…?

Why might the author recommend . . .

The purpose of this is to…?

What is this paragraph suggest that the authors’ believes that…?

RE defining Reading Teaching for BIG Ideas

Reading is like a puzzle… because GREAT READING is about putting all the pieces of information together to see the whole BIG PICTURE !

because GREAT READING is about putting

all the pieces of information together to see the whole BIG PICTURE !

How Do Readers Put the “Pieces” Together? 2. 3. 4.

2.

3.

4.

THE PUZZLE LESSON Look Cover 2. Peek Inside-Get Ready 3. Sort and Group Pieces 4. Find and Think about the Whole

Look Cover

2. Peek Inside-Get Ready

3. Sort and Group Pieces

4. Find and Think about the Whole

Where Are Big Ideas Located?

Fiction is like an apple…. Because you begin reading stories with one bite all the way to the end until the “core ” life topic is revealed. Theme Life Topic Universal

FICTION TOPICS(THEME): Universal understandings authors write about in their story growing up jealousy making friends success fear siblings romance trickery failure change overcoming injustice power arrogance death superficial love courage acceptance selfishness being ordinary moving on family relationships (beginning, ending, trials within) wealth

Nonfiction is like an orange… Because nonfiction is about reading and connecting The sections to the writers whole idea about the topic. BIG Topic Section Topic Section Topic

Big Idea Response Written Response Character Book Marks Themed Images "Darkness" Based on Return to Manzanar by Jeanne Watatsuki Houston Peace" Based on The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito by Margaret Garrigue

Assessing Comprehension KG-2: This information is really about… This story is really about… Can I say this is in my own words? 3-6 Can I connect this to something I know? Can I state this in my own words? Can I explain this to someone else? Can I explain the big idea? What is this information is really about? What is this story is really about?

KG-2:

This information is really about…

This story is really about…

Can I say this is in my own words?

3-6

Can I connect this to something I know?

Can I state this in my own words?

Can I explain this to someone else?

Can I explain the big idea?

What is this information is really about?

What is this story is really about?

THE POWER OF OUR TALK Language is the essential condition of knowing; the process by which all experience becomes knowledge. Halliday, 1992

Language is the essential

condition of knowing; the

process by which all

experience becomes knowledge.

Halliday, 1992