6th Grade Reading

6th Grade Reading focuses on developing critical reading skills, comprehension strategies, and a love for literature through diverse texts.

Basic Concepts

Understanding Main Ideas and Details

Finding the Big Picture

When you read a story or article, it's important to recognize the main idea—the "big picture" the author wants you to remember. Supporting details are the facts, examples, and explanations that help you understand and believe the main idea.

How to Identify Main Ideas

  • Look at the title and headings.
  • Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph.
  • Notice repeated words or ideas.

Why Details Matter

Details make the main idea clearer and more convincing. Think of the main idea as a tree trunk and the details as branches and leaves.

Practice Makes Perfect

The more you practice spotting main ideas and details, the easier it gets to remember what you read and explain it to others.

Examples

  • Reading a news article about recycling, the main idea is that recycling helps the environment, and details include facts about plastic waste and how recycling works.

  • In a story about a lost dog, the main idea might be about friendship, while details describe the search and the bond between the characters.

In a Nutshell

Learn to find the main point and supporting details in any text.

Key Terms

Main Idea
The most important point the author wants to make.
Supporting Details
Facts or examples that explain or prove the main idea.