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

Summarizing is a critical reading skill.  Knowing strategies to help make that process easier builds confidence!  Inspired by a popular social media platform, #summaries provide a “snapshot” of key ideas from the text.  Students will love the high-interest text, and this summarizing format is a great way to capture important concepts! 

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

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

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

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

Session 3: Reread section three together, then create #summary for the third section.  Read fourth section of text together, highlight key words/phrases, and create #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 #summary. Reread entire text together.  Review the #summaries for each section, then collaborate with classmates to narrow down the words that should be included in a final #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.