Educators agree that the ability to extract important ideas and key information from text and content is an essential skill in every content area, yet this remains one of the most daunting and difficult tasks for readers of all ages and levels. This presentation explores demystifies the processes involved in extracting the central thoughts from literature and content area text.

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

4. RE defining Reading Teaching for BIG Ideas

12. Where Are Big Ideas Located?

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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