Providing examples of well-written summaries works well for my advanced students. However, my reluctant readers and writers often remain confused, even after seeing these models. For these students, I’ve found that writing 20-word summaries on topics connected to their prior knowledge is most effective. Here’s why: Students summarize things in their everyday lives. If I ask how their day or year has been, they naturally give a brief summary. Likewise, when asked about a movie … Continue reading 20-Word Summaries