Dear Families,

In Unit 4 students will build on their understanding of informational text structure by identifying the main idea and key supporting details. Students will use close reading strategies to learn how to consider what details an author includes and how this impacts what the reader thinks is important. Students will also learn how to summarize these texts in their own words.

Family Glossary

• Stated Main Idea: A main idea that is clearly expressed or fully stated in the actual text.
• Unstated Main Idea: A main idea that is implied within a text.
• Summary: To capture all of the most important parts of the original text (including the main idea and key details) either written or spoken, but express them in a much shorter space and as much as possible in the reader’s own words.

Here are some ways you can help at home:

• Read informational texts such as magazines and newspapers
• Orally summarize articles including all the components of an informational summary (see right)
• Practice explaining ideas in conversations and respectfully listening to others' perspectives

Sincerely,

The Fourth Grade Team

What do I include in a good summary of informational text?

How do authors develop and strengthen informative/explanatory text?

How can I be an active participant in a discussion?

A good summary includes the main idea and the key details from the text.

Authors clearly introduce and develop a topic by linking the supporting details to the main idea and by using precise language and vocabulary to explain about the topic.

To be an active participant in a discussion, I listen for the major points presented and ask questions, make comments, and explain my own ideas based on what others have said.