Retelling for Reading Comprehension

Marilia PhillipsREED 663

Dr. Sharon PitcherFall 2010

Retelling provides an opportunity for readers to process what they have read by organizing and explaining it to others

Research has shown that retelling increases both the quantity and quality of what is comprehended

Retelling can be used as a strategy to help teachers assess comprehension and increase silent reading fluency

Retelling. (n.d.) Retrieved from http:// classrrom.jc-schools.net/read/Retelling.pdf

Retelling as a Comprehension Strategy

I worked with a group of four ESL students during a fourth grade guided reading lesson

The lesson took place over a course of four days with a guided reading book on the students’ reading level

The book used for this lesson was called “A Gift to Share” by Barbara Swett Burt. This book is about a little girl named Mattie that wanted to buy a birthday gift for her Aunt Debra. Mattie did not have enough money to buy a gift for her Aunt so she asks for some gift ideas from some of her family members. Mattie learns that the best gifts come from the “heart”.

Introduction

For this lesson, I had students preview the book and make predictions about what this book would be about

Students took a picture walk and discussed what they thought was taking place in the pictures

I asked students to read the first couple of pages in the book; and told them they would be writing what happened in the beginning and middle of the story on Day 1 on their yellow sticky notes

Day 1

Day 1 My Example

Day 1 My Example

Day 1 Student Example

Day 1 Student Example

Day 1 Student Example

Day 1 Student Example

Gradual Release of responsibility was shown on this day when students read the end of this book and retold events from the end of the story on yellow sticky notes with using the example I had shown from Day 1 Most students had no difficulty with continuing

the activity with my example from Day 1 However, one student was confusing events

and retelling from his story and said “I need more help to tell this story”

Day 2 Gradual Release of Responsibility

Day 2 Student Example

Day 2 Student Example

Students used story maps to retell their story orally

The yellow sticky notes provided as “support” for students to help them “fill in” the information in their story map

Day 3 Story Map

Day 3 Story Map (Student Example)

The lesson concluded with the students taking their story map retelling and writing their retold stories on lined paper

I wanted my students to use the story map to help them retell the story on lined paper because it helps children create “ownership” and “pride” that they can write in their own words

Day 4 Our Retold Stories

Day 4 Our Retold Stories

I discussed my project with one of my colleagues in the ESOL department at my school

I used direct quotes from my colleague regarding her suggestions for how to use story maps for retelling

“I’ve only used a story map for retelling in conjunction with the 5-finger retell”.

“That way, the kids have the story map (blank) to look at while they are orally retelling the characters, main events, problem, solution, etc..”

Colleague’s Reaction

The gradual release of responsibility for my lesson could have more scaffold for students that were having difficulty with their retelling

For example, I could have had “mini conferences” with students to guide them more in their thinking

The story maps were effective to help my students transfer the information onto their lined paper writing

For future lessons, I would have students create story maps that included setting, characters, problem, and solution to further their understanding of details in retelling a story

Conclusion

Burt, B. (1998). A Gift to Share. Austin: Steck-Vaughn Company.

Retelling. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://

classroom. Jc-schools.net/read/Retelling.pdf

References