Main Idea and Supporting Detail Understanding Checker

Are you teaching your class how to find the main idea and supporting detail when reading? Are you looking for a quick and easy way to check for understanding of this topic? This variety of exit tickets is the perfect way to check your students have grasped the concept of the main idea.

These exit tickets include the following questions and incomplete sentences:

• What is the main idea?
• How can you find the main idea?
• What is the supporting detail?
• How do you find the supporting detail?
• Why is the main idea important?
• Why are supporting details important?
• You can find the main idea by reading the ______ of the text.
• The main idea of a text is supported by ________________ in the paragraphs.
• The main idea can be summed up in one ___________.

How to Use Exit Tickets in the Classroom

Exit tickets are a valuable tool for teachers to assess student understanding and gauge the effectiveness of their instruction. These exit tickets have been carefully constructed to provide targeted questions aligned with the learning objective. When distributing exit tickets, ensure students have enough time to complete them without feeling rushed. While they are called exit tickets, they mustn’t be given to students as they exit, and they have to write down their responses to get out and play quickly. Students will write something to get out the door in this scenario.

Once collected, review the responses to identify common misconceptions or areas of strength. This feedback can then inform future lessons.

Download and Use Today

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slide version of this resource. Each page includes one exit ticket four times, print enough for your class and have them pre-cut out so you focus the time on completing each of the questions on the exit tickets.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.