Studying with summaries

Summarising an expository subject text is a key activity at school because it enables you to actively re-process information so that you can understand and remember it better, and to develop a series of abilities which constitute the study method. Summarising is however a complex skill which must be taught by providing precise instructions and specific procedures.

This book presents a methodological approach and a practical model for teaching pupils how to summarise expository subject texts easily and effectively, with help which is calibrated according to the actual needs of each pupil. This approach, in line with what can be defined as normal inclusive didactics, guarantees good quality teaching both addressed to students with disabilities, SLD or other special educational needs, and to those without.

The practical programme provides

• a practical help model
• progressive preparatory exercises to learn the following abilities:

–          reading or listening to and understanding a text

–          dividing a text into meaningful chunks

–          identifying the key points of each text unit

–          giving a brief heading to each text unit

–          summarising each text unit

• materials and worksheets to use in class: summaries to complete and to make with gradual help
• specific material for summarising texts taken from the Internet and for making collaborative summaries in class.

The book targets primary school teachers (years four and five) and lower secondary school teachers.