Instructional Strategy

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Build a Summary

Grade:

K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, UNIV

Type:

Summarize & Synthesize

/ Read Actively

20-30

Minutes

When:

During reading

Materials:

Whiteboard or display, writing utensil

Description

The Build a Summary strategy helps students actively monitor their comprehension by pausing to summarize text as they read, fostering metacognition and engagement with the material. This approach enhances memory retention, deepens analysis, and improves overall comprehension while also teaching students to craft effective summaries in sections.

Procedure

Students read or listen aloud to a paragraph or section of the text, independently or with a partner.

Students think about and discuss the main idea of that section.

Students write a sentence in their notebook or orally summarize that section.

Students continue reading, pausing to write a one-sentence summary after each section of text.

After completing the text, students read through their sentences for a summary of the entire article, editing as needed to make the sentences flow together.

Differentiation

Picture-Talk-Draw Summary: Use picture books with supportive images to help students understand the text. Students engage in oral summaries and incorporate drawing as part of the summarizing process, rather than relying on written summaries. This multisensory approach supports learners by leveraging visual cues, verbal expression, and artistic representation to reinforce comprehension and recall of key story elements.

Subheading Question and Answer: Conduct a preview of the text with students, noting the subheadings. Working as a group, turn each subheading into a question. After reading each section, ask students to answer the question using information from that section. Record the answer in one sentence. Repeat for each section of the text. When finished, read through the sentences for a summary of the text.

Summarize in Response to Supporting Question: Working independently or with a partner, students identify one of the lesson’s supporting questions. At the end of each section, students pause and write a sentence that answers some or part of the question using information in that section. After reading the full text, students combine the sentences into a one-paragraph response to the question. This enables students to summarize the article while using higher-level critical thinking skills to answer the supporting question.

Variations

Jigsaw Build a Summary: Split students into groups and invite them to divide the text so that each person is assigned a section. Have students follow these steps to complete a collaborative summary:

Each student reads their section and writes a one-sentence summary.

Students return to their groups and take turns sharing their sentences.

After each person has shared, the group writes a collaborative summary of the article.

Using the Strategy with a Video or Podcast: Use the strategy to help students distill the main ideas of a video or podcast. Screen the video or podcast once all the way through. Upon playing the video or podcast a second time, strategically stop and invite students to summarize the section they just watched or listened to. After students have taken summary notes on the entire video or podcast, invite them to combine their sentences into a complete summary, editing as needed to make the sentences flow together.

Instructional Strategy

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Build a Summary

Description

Procedure

Differentiation

Variations

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