Determining Importance
Determining Importance is simply a comprehension strategy in which the reader decides what is most important out of the text. Doing this means "ignoring" details that do not support what the author is really trying to say or convey. It is really a matter of determining the most important and least important parts of the text, and focusing in on the most important. This type of comprehension strategy is most effective for reading nonfiction or informational texts, because there is so much information being thrown at the reader (Allen & Reeeson, 2008). It is also important to note that combining this comprehension strategy with another strategy such as Cornell Note making would benefit the reader even more so.
When determining the importance of details in a text, the reader must ask questions to help them engage deeply and come to a conclusion on what truly is important (Miller & Veatch, 2011). There isn't really a best practice way to integrate this strategy into the classroom, but for younger students just beginning or struggling ELL students this is one method.
1) Bring in a bag full of items you may find in a kitchen used to cook with.
2) In that same bag, place some items that don't belong.
3) As you pull out the items, students will begin to see a trend.
4) Talk to them about the items that don't belong, and identify it as least important.
5) Relate this to reading a text, and determining importance of the information.
When determining the importance of details in a text, the reader must ask questions to help them engage deeply and come to a conclusion on what truly is important (Miller & Veatch, 2011). There isn't really a best practice way to integrate this strategy into the classroom, but for younger students just beginning or struggling ELL students this is one method.
1) Bring in a bag full of items you may find in a kitchen used to cook with.
2) In that same bag, place some items that don't belong.
3) As you pull out the items, students will begin to see a trend.
4) Talk to them about the items that don't belong, and identify it as least important.
5) Relate this to reading a text, and determining importance of the information.