Text mapping strategy

Teachers, have you done text mapping with your students? This strategy can definitely help students comprehend what they are reading.

Things you will need for text mapping

• Text
• Red pen
• Blue pen
• Green pen
• Black pen

How to use the colored pens

Students will use a blue pen to circle the topic of the text. Then they will use a red pen to underline the author’s claim. Next, the students will take a green pen to underline supporting detail sentences. Finally, they will use a black pen to write their explanations and transition words or phrases.

After the student are finished mapping the text, they have to use that information to develop an outline. This will allow them to easily write paragraphs with the information from the outline. 

Example of an outline for main idea

First the students should read the entire text. Next, they have to circle the topic of that text in blue. Then they should underline the main idea in red. After, the students have to search for the details that support the claim and underline them with a green pen.

When the text is fully mapped, ask the students to transport that information to their outlines.

Let’s say they read the article, “What’s for Dinner after Dark?” by Loriee Evans, here is what their outline would resemble.

Topic and main idea (blue and red) - Nocturnal animals. These animals use their senses to find food at night.

• Detail #1- Raccoons use their flexible fingers to get food at night.
  

• Detail #2- Raccoons use their sense of touch to gather food.
  

• Detail #3- The nerves in their fingers help them to find hidden food (crayfish/acorns).
  

Topic and main idea (blue and red) - Nocturnal animals. These animals use their senses to find food at night.

• Detail #1- At night, bats discover their prey through echolocation.
  

• Detail #2- Echolocation is when bats release high-pitched sounds.
  

• Detail #3- After the sounds bounce of its prey, they know where to hunt for food.
  

Remember, if students are mapping multiple texts, make sure they put the author’s name or the title of the text. This way the students can keep track of their information.

With a completed outline, your students are ready to write paragraphs. Remind the students to use their black pens to elaborate on the details from the text. 

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