Retelling For Comprehension*

*not just for elementary folks

What is Retelling For

Comprehension?• helps students to focus on their understanding of what they read, see, or hear and challenges then to communicate what they have learned to others 

• can come in the form of oral presentations or a written assignment.

Story Retelling Rubrics--includes rubrics for core areas

Any story, fiction or non-fiction, can be retold:

• fairy tales• news reports• biographies• science texts• historical texts

Any event can be retold:

• play• movie• dance• concert • science exhibit or

experiment• historical re-enactment

Retelling is when a reader tells the story in his/her own

words with great detail.

Elementary Retelling Activity Sheet Template

Retelling provides an opportunity for readers to process what they have

read, seen, heard, smelled, or touched by organizing it and explaining it to others.

Retelling can occur at anytime

[pre, during, post]to test the student’s comprehension of

the text or the event.

Comprehension can also be reinforced when students retell

a story or a piece of text using drama. A teacher may have students

act out parts of a textbook or a passage in a short story.

R5

a unique, structured independent reading block

that encourages students to

Read, Relax, Reflect, Respond, & Rap

. . .and “read” can be changed to Watch, Listen, Touch, Smell, or Do

Purposes of R5

• Build motivation to read• Increase retelling proficiency• Enhance metacognitive awareness• Improve active listening• Promote a wide spectrum of reading/activities• Support the use of Comprehension Strategies

making connections prediction questioning visualizing summarizing

QuIP chart *

*Questions into Paragraphshelps in the deconstruction process by breaking down or synthesizing the content into a new form

that requires answering with the same content in a new form

How do you Retell for Comprehension?

•First, you retell what happened in the story or event in order. •You include the setting and the characters. •Your retelling should answer the 5 ws: who, what, when, where and why.• Include the problem and solution

(if applicable).

rubistar.4teachers.org

. . .so, how can retelling for comprehension be assessed?

You can create a rubric quickly, easily, and specific to each

assignment at:

Have you heard this story from the

Seattle Special Olympics?

For the 100-yard-dash there were

nine contestants, all of them so-

called physically or mentally

disabled. All nine of them

assembled at the starting line and at

the sound of the gun, they took off.

But one little boy didn't get

very far. He stumbled and

fell and hurt his knee and

began to cry.

The other eight children

heard the boy crying. They

slowed down, turned around

and ran back to him -- every

one of them ran back to him.

One little girl with Down's

syndrome bent down and kissed

the boy and said, "This will make it

better." The little boy got up, and

he and the rest of the runners

linked their arms together and

joyfully walked to the finish line.

They all finished the race at the same

time. And when they did, everyone in

the stadium stood up and clapped

and whistled and cheered for a long,

long time.

People who were there are still telling the

story with obvious delight. And you know

why? Because deep down we know that

what matters in this life is more than

winning for ourselves. What really matters

is helping others win, too, even if it means

slowing down and changing our course

now and then.

Assessment Card Specimen

Name_________________Selection _______________ Told what the story is mostly about. Told the main ideas in order. Told the most important idea learned. Told how the reading changed what the teller believes and how the reader will act . Used good ExpressionProper Mechanics were followedTOTAL:

Let’s apply retelling strategies to

non-fiction

Creditshttp://classroom.jc-schools.net/read/

RETELLING.pdf

http://voicethread.com/share/512083/

Misty of Chincoteague