Helping Your Middle Schooler with Informative Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Central Ideas
Is your middle schooler having a tough time with nonfiction texts? Are they struggling to understand the main point or figure out what the author is trying to say? It can be frustrating for both parents and students, but the good news is that with a little practice, this skill can improve! Understanding the central idea of a text is super important, not just for reading comprehension, but also for writing strong essays and reports.
Why Understanding Central Ideas is So Important
In middle school, students are expected to do more than just read—they need to understand, summarize, and explain what they’ve read. This can be tricky, but focusing on identifying the central idea—the main message the author is trying to get across—is key. Once they understand the big picture, they can write better essays and responses.
Tips for Helping Your Student at Home
Start with the Title and Introduction: Before reading, have your child look at the title and introduction. These usually give hints about the central idea. You can ask them, “What do you think this article is about? What do you think the author wants to say?”
Look for Repeated Ideas: Authors often repeat key points in nonfiction texts. Have your child underline or highlight these repeated ideas, as they often show what’s most important.
Ask Simple Questions: While your student reads, ask them questions like, “What’s the main point of this part?” or “What’s the author trying to explain?” This will help them focus on the most important parts of the text.
Summarize What They Read: After reading a paragraph or section, ask your child to summarize it in one sentence. If they can do that, they’ve probably understood the main idea. If they struggle, they may need to go back and reread.
Use Graphic Organizers: Visual tools, like mind maps or simple note-taking sheets, can help students organize their thoughts and clearly see the main ideas and details.
Need Extra Help?
If your child could use some extra help with understanding central ideas and writing about them, I’m here to support! As a tutor specializing in middle school informative writing, I can guide your child in improving their reading and writing skills.
Sign up for my email list today, and I’ll send you for nonfiction texts. These will give your child the practice they need to get better at understanding central ideas and writing strong responses.
Together, we can help your child feel more confident with reading and writing!