Readers Workshop Mini-Lesson Template

Mini-Lesson Topic: Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their
development over the course o the text!
Materials needed:
"rticle to demonstrate some thinkin# --- Do you think you will have your own ro$ot%
&ost-it notes
Mind map ramework
'onnection
Yesterday we learned about how to cite several pieces of
textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.
Then have you ever thought about the authors purpose of
providing the evidence? Is it randomly listed without certain
reasons or well-organized for intended purposes? Yes. There
should be two or more central ideas in a text. Today Im going
to teach you how to determine the central ideas in a text.
Teach
Mentor Text:
"nchor chart:
Themes
!hen you read an informative article you might be confused
by the intention of the author while reading some lines that
doesnt show clear purposes. "ut in order to get full
information you are supposed to figure out the central ideas of
the text. #ne way to help you determine it is to list out the
$ey words of each sentence or paragraph and ma$e a mind
map.
!hile reading you can use the post-it notes to help you
extract the $ey words of paragraphs or even sentences. %fter
the first reading you can use the $ey words to form a mind
map which points to the central idea of the text. Your mind
map can be made into any shape either your favorite pattern
or something related to the topic of the text.
"ctive
(n#a#ement
)Turn and talk
to partner*
share with
#roup+
&ow its your turn to try to use the post-it notes and mind map
to determine the central ideas. Today we will go through an
article titled with 'o you thin$ you will have your own robot
together. %nd during the reading you can thin$ about (uestions
as following. !hat should I write down on the post-it notes?
)ow to decide the $ey words from the paragraphs to form the
mind map? 'o you thin$ you will have a robot in the future?
!hat do you thin$ your robot will loo$ li$e? 'raw it and
introduce it to your classmates. 'iscuss with your partner to
draw the central idea of the paragraphs and then of the text.
Link
Today I taught you how to determine the central ideas of a
text. !hen you go off to read today and every time you read
youre going to use this method to help you get full information
from a text.
,ndependent readin# time
)conerences+
-harin# )individual* partner* #roup+