Bermuda Triangle: Summarizing (Reading) Strategies ($2 Summaries!)

During this 2 week class, students will learn how to create an effective summary using an engaging multi-part text about the Bermuda Triangle.

Summarizing is a critical reading skill.  Knowing strategies to help make that process easier builds confidence!  $2 summaries require students to be very selective when determining which key ideas are most important in the text.  Students will love the high-interest text, and this summarizing format is a great way to narrow down all of the critical information in a succinct way! 

As the teacher, I will model how to create a $2 summary, encourage the students to collaborate with both me and with their classmates, and gradually release students to confidently create their own $2 summary by the final meeting.

Learners will use the chat feature/verbal discussion throughout the course to collaborate with classmates on words and phrases that reflect the overall main concepts of the text.

Session 1: Introduction to summarizing and $2 summaries.  I will read first section of text out loud, and we will highlight key words/phrases together.

Session 2: Collaboratively create a $2 summary for the first section.  Read second section together, highlight key words/phrases, brainstorm ideas for and collaboratively create the $2 summary. Read the third section of text together and highlight key words/phrases.

Session 3: Reread section three together, then create $2 summary for the third section.  Read fourth section of text together, highlight key words/phrases, and create $2 summary for the fourth section.  Read fifth (final) section of text together and highlight key words/phrases.

Session 4: Reread fifth (final) section and create $2 summary. Reread entire text together.  Review the $2 summaries for each section, then collaborate with classmates to narrow down the words that should be included in a final $2 summary, reflecting the main concepts from the entire text.  If time permits, students will reflect on benefits of using this strategy through verbal discussion and/or chat feature.