Abstract of

Teaching Tips
Getting the Big Idea: A Neglected Goal for Reading Comprehension

Sean A. Walmsley

The premise of this article is that while “big ideas” permeate fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, too frequently they are not emphasized in teaching reading. The article defines big ideas, articulates why they are important, and suggests a number of ways in which teachers can profitably engage students in them.

This article is also the source for a Class Acts podcast. Download “Understanding the big idea” from

• www.reading.org/resources/podcasts/index.html

Abstract from Walmsley, S.A. (2006, November). Getting the Big Idea: A Neglected Goal for Reading Comprehension. The Reading Teacher, 60(3), 281–285. doi: 10.1598/RT.60.3.9