Retelling

Retelling is a crucial skill for young readers as they begin to comprehend what they are reading. With my first graders, we have been focusing on our retellings. We are working on the key elements of a fiction retelling versus a nonfiction retelling. Well...let me introduce you to the retelling glove!

For our fiction retellings, we make sure to include the setting, characters, problem, events, and solution. For the nonfiction retellings, we focus on the main idea and supporting details. With the very bottom of the glove, we are always working on making connections!

We are still in the beginning stages of retelling. I have done a lot of modeling using the retelling glove during our guided reading time, and then students have begun using the glove as we work to retell stories together through guided practice. The kids love putting that thing on. It is just a gardening glove from Walmart that I wrote on with permanent marker!

In addition to our retelling glove, we also have an anchor chart that we reference. The pictures are great visual reminders as we continue to master our retellings. Since retelling fiction and nonfiction are so different, I feel like it is very important to be explicit about what is required of each type of retelling. I think the visual reminders and the concrete retelling glove are really having a positive impact. If you would like a copy of the anchor chart, click here!

How do you help your students with their retellings?