Getting to the heart of the matter may be a simple matter for some people and a very difficult one for others. Thinking and reasoning tasks are performed differently by different people, and the way one approaches learning and understanding depends on these skills. Starting from the big picture and going to the small details is one way that lets one present an idea, and it is a method that is
. favored by many. Conversely, some speakers prefer to start with a small point and to develop it into a fuller picture. Both ways are effective presentations, but the latter tends to take longer to get to the point. In each case, the speaker is trying to get to the main idea so that others may understand the points he wants to make. Identifying the main idea is essential in speaking and in reading. The Primary Education site at http://www.primary-education-oasis.com/teaching-main-idea.html provides some guidance on Teaching the Main Idea in Reading Comprehension. The site points out that the difficult part of the task may be helping a student understand an idea that is inferred instead of being explicitly stated. Some ideas for teaching the main idea are shown, including those that are most effective for different types of learning styles. The Tab Start site at http://tabstart.com/directory/education/activities-for-teaching-main-idea-686 offers free materials that one may use in teaching the main idea. Reading comprehension is a skill that is required throughout ones life, and it forms the basis for understanding in any area of study that one may choose. The site offers links to printable worksheets that can save a teacher many hours of work to create and to several other interesting sites as well. One link offers ideas for silly awards, something that may have immediate appeal for young learners. Another one of the links leads one to resources from the University of Missouri, so one may consider that these materials have received the attention of experts in the field. http://www.primary-education-oasis.com/teaching-main-idea.html or http://tabstart.com/directory/education/activities-for-teaching-main-idea-686
