Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

DAY
1
Introduce the 
Determine Important Information
strategy to students. Explain: In order to 
understand the main idea or message of a passage, you need to determine which information is 
the most important. It helps to read all of the information first. Then you can look for 
information that is the most useful for what you want to know or do. Direct students to read the 
instructions and study the Web page. When students have finished, have them complete the strategy 
practice activity. Then have students complete the skill practice activity. Review the answers 
together.
DAY
2
Remind students of the 
Determine Important Information
strategy. Say: This author has included 
headings and a bulleted list in a passage about childhood obesity. As you read the passage, think 
about why the author included these features. They could be clues to which information is the 
most important within the text. When students have finished reading, direct them to complete the 
strategy practice activity. Lead a group discussion about the answer to the question. Encourage 
students to back up their answers with a combination of prior knowledge and information from the 
passage. Then have students complete the skill practice activity. Review the answers together. 
DAY
3
Remind students of the 
Determine Important Information
strategy. Have students briefly study the 
community calendar. Ask: What kind of information is given on the calendar? (times, days, class 
names, instructor names, class locations) Information can vary in importance depending on a 
reader’s preferences. For example, someone who dislikes basketball would find the information 
about that sport unimportant. As you read, think about which information would be the most 
useful to you. Have students read the directions and the calendar. When students have finished, 
direct them to complete the strategy and skill practice activities. Review the answers together.