Use Post-It Notes:

A great way to help readers identify key ideas in reading material is to hand out small sticky notes (5-10 per kids, depending on the length of the material) and have students mark places where they:

1. Have a question

2. Found an answer

3. Need help with a word

4. Have an observation or comment to make

Marking text in this way helps students:

1. Interact with the writer’s message and meaning

2. Hold their thinking

3. Remember what they’ve read

4. Return to important ideas

5. Read with a purpose