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- Anchor 1 Reading Standards
- Anchor 2 Reading Standards
- Anchor 3 Reading Standards
- Anchor 4 Reading Standards
- Anchor 5 Reading Standards
- Anchor 6 Reading Standards
- Anchor 7 Reading Standards
- Anchor 8 Reading Standards
- Anchor 9 Reading Standards
- Anchor 10 Reading Standards
- Anchor RF2 Reading Standards
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Finding the Main Idea, Getting to Work on Time
Students at A level will be introduced to finding a main idea through pictures, and students with reading levels as low as first-grade equivalent will read a passage, retell it, and determine the main idea. Extension activities include practicing time management skills, including filling out a timesheet
Anchor(s)
R2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. (Apply this standard to texts of appropriate complexity as outlined by Standard 10.)
Level(s): A
Estimated timeframe: 1 hour
Activity steps
- To introduce students to the topic and prepare them to think about main idea, have them navigate to the website IXL.com and find the section opens in a new window Y.3 What is the picture about?. Students can practice together and independently. As a low-tech alternative, print one of the pictures from IXL.com or show a different picture or photo to the class. Ask students about details in the picture; how do they know the picture is “about” the main idea they identified in discussion and not these details?
- Then, direct students to the Marshall Adult Education Reading Skills for Today’s Adults website: opens in a new window http://resources.marshalladulteducation.org/stories1.htm
- Students choose the story “Getting to Work on Time.” (This is in level .7, right below “Getting to Work,” which is also applicable.)
- Students do the pre-reading activity (as a discussion), do the listening and repeated readings, and answer the questions at the end.
- Students may share written answers with a partner or the class.
- Students answer additional questions, “What is this story about?” “What is the main idea and where does the author prove the message?”
- (Answer: The main idea is: how Sai gets to work on time.)
- Reiterate that the three ways Sai prepares to get to work on time are the key details of the passage.
- Extension opportunities include:
- Lead a class discussion focused on workplace readiness questions. (Alternately, pairs or groups can discuss while the instructor monitors and provides work-appropriate suggestions as needed. You can also use these questions as the basis to generate a group composition using opens in a new window the language experience approach.)
- If you are going to be late to work, what should you do?
- How do you organize your time before work? During work?
- Guide students in filling out a time sheet such as this one available online.
- Lead a class discussion focused on workplace readiness questions. (Alternately, pairs or groups can discuss while the instructor monitors and provides work-appropriate suggestions as needed. You can also use these questions as the basis to generate a group composition using opens in a new window the language experience approach.)
Workforce readiness skills
- 1
Positive Work Ethic: focus on coming to work every day on time
- 6
Conflict Resolution: learn to call one’s employer if one is going to be late
- 8
Speaking and Listening: retell key details of a story; discuss ways to get to work on time with classmates
- 9
Reading and Writing: read sentences and short passage; write short answers
- 15
Time, Task, and Resource Management: think about ways to use time wisely
- 16
Mathematics: complete a time sheet (optional)
- 19
Information Technology: use online software to locate readings and practice literacy skills
- 20
Internet Use and Security: read a passage online