What is the first step an ESL teacher should take to teach students outlining skills for content-area reading?

Modeling the outlining process by thinking aloud with a sample textbook passage is a foundational step in teaching students outlining skills for content-area reading. This approach allows the teacher to demonstrate the thought process involved in creating an outline, which includes identifying main ideas, supporting details, and the organizational structure of the material. By verbalizing the thought process, the teacher provides clear examples of how to analyze the text and distill important information into a structured format.

This method helps students understand not just what outlining is, but also why it is necessary and how it can enhance their comprehension of the material. Furthermore, modeling before expecting students to practice independently ensures they have a solid grasp of the outlining techniques, which increases their confidence and effectiveness in applying these skills to their reading tasks.

While providing a blank outline or encouraging collaborative outlining can be beneficial practices, they are more effective once students have an initial understanding of how to create an outline independently. Assigning outlines without prior modeling could lead to confusion or frustration, as students may not yet possess the necessary skills to fill out an outline effectively. Thus, modeling the process first lays a critical foundation for subsequent learning activities.