1. Step #3: Skim, Read, and Select Skim: Before you read, look at your “T-Chart.” What information do you need. Get an idea of the big ideas. Read through selection, find and mark the paragraphs likely to contain details which will help you. Read: Read carefully the parts of the text which you have highlighted. Circle big ideas. Underline details which support the big ideas. Select: Place circled and underlined portions of the text into notes. NOT necessary to copy out entire sentences. Click to go Home Click to go to the Next StepClick to Learn More

2. Watch Me Try December Days Are Short December days are short, and so there’s not much time to play, the fun has hardly started when the sun has gone away. 5 Today, right after breakfast, while the sky was growing light, I ran to meet my friends outside and have a snowball fight. We began to build a fortress 10 then raced our wooden sleds, we belly-whopped and spun like tops and tumbled on our heads. We stopped for lunch, then once again threw snowballs for a while, 15 we made a giant snowman with a really silly smile. We fed some hungry pigeons and went sliding on the ice, my mother brought some cake for us, 20 a dog ate half my slice. We made another snowman and we finished off our fort, then suddenly, the sun went down... December days are short. Remember I’m simply scanning for parts of the text that might help me. Click to go Home Click to go to the Next StepClick to Learn More

3. My Chart Big IdeaDetails/Evidence Identify four (4) different things that poet says in this poem and provide an example of each. “Days are short” describes a day that is full of action and fun activities. 1.Snowball fight—ran to meet friends. 2.Raced sleds took many tumbles. 3.Made 2 snowmen—lunch was served. 4.Skating—mom shows up with cake. Click to go Home Click to go to the Next StepClick to Learn More

4. Now it’s your Turn Read the Article Found Below… Click to go Home Click to go to the Next StepClick to Learn More

5. Extra Help Skim Hints: Read first (topic sentences) and last sentences of paragraphs. Look at Bold type and headings. Look at pictures. Read Italics at beginning and end of article. Reading: Read what you’ve marked while skimming first. Look for actions Selection Hints: Remember to look for 3 details to support the Big Idea. If more than one Big Idea—3 per Idea. Click to go Home Click to go to the Next Step