How to Teach Main Idea for Informational (nonfiction) Text

I love sharing topics we are currently working on (and that I'm so excited about because they are actually working!!!!). In our reading groups we have been working on actually remembering what we've read and then rereading if they have no idea. Now it's time to make it harder and go to the next step! Main Idea for informational text. 

We've been using a great strategy that I modified a bit from Jennifer Servallo's The Reading Strategies Book. It works wonders, is super simple, and really helps main idea click. 

We call the strategy What? and then BUT what about it? Main idea is so easy in younger grades/levels. You ask them, what was this book all about and they all yell trucks. The problem is some of them still just yell trucks as they get older and into harder text. 

So, to help them out we use this great strategy. We ask what was this book all about (trucks) and then we ask yes, BUT, what about trucks? Then, they are able to think a bit deeper about the topic. Even with my struggling students it really clicks. 

Once we've spoken about it we use this great graphic organizer to record out thoughts. Click HERE to get the strategy poster for FREE! Need some easy to print and use graphic organizers? Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store!