From a speech pathology perspective, the main idea refers to the central message or theme of a communication or speech. It is the primary point or concept that the speaker or communicator intends to convey. In speech pathology, understanding and identifying the main idea is crucial for assessing and treating individuals with speech and language disorders. It helps speech pathologists work on improving communication skills, language comprehension, and overall speech and language development in their clients. Identifying the main idea in spoken or written language is a fundamental skill that individuals with communication challenges may need to work on as part of their therapy.
EReading Worksheets: Are you looking for main idea worksheets and resources? This page features a collection of high-quality worksheets and a PowerPoint lesson! Many students have difficulties identifying main ideas in nonfiction texts. I hope that these resources will help.
Readers must be able to identify the main thoughts in order to fully enjoy a story or be swayed by an argument. The general format of the worksheets helps students learn how to find the main idea of extended passages. Some are in multiple choice format, but the majority are open responses since many students will have different, but acceptable answers. We do our best on the answer keys to indicate about what the answer should be for the open response problems. The following collection of worksheets gives students short reading passages and asks them to identify the main idea, central theme, and cause using context clues.
K12Reader: Main Idea Worksheets- The main idea, also called the central idea or main point, is the primary concept of a passage. It represents the essential point that the author is trying to convey. The main idea may be clearly stated as a sentence. The main idea is usually reinforced by a series of other points or details which support the premise of the main idea. These are called supporting ideas and may also be stated or implied. Please use any of the printable main idea worksheets below in your classroom or at home. Just click on the worksheet title to view details about the printable PDF and print or download to your computer.
K12Reader: Topic Sentences Worksheets- Topic sentences are a vital part of paragraph writing. They state the central focus of the paragraph and provide cohesion for the paragraph. It’s important for students to learn to write clear and concise topic sentences. The worksheets below are aimed to help your student become a master at recognizing and writing topic sentences. They are free for you to use at home or in the classroom.
Quia: Rags to Riches Game- Answer questions in a quest for fame and fortune. Main Idea: Read the paragraphs and choose the best main idea. The main idea is the most important thing about a story.
Quia: Main Idea/Supporting Details- Multiple Choice Game: Choose the main idea of the paragraphs. Remember to make sure the main idea is covers the entire paragraph, not just one sentence.
ReadWorks is built on the science of reading to ensure students can steadily expand their background knowledge, vocabularies, and reading comprehension—helping them become the confident readers they deserve to be.
TeAchnology: Main Idea Worksheets- Read all the passage and find the main idea for us. This is a pivotal skill at all levels.