Retelling a story is an important reading comprehension skill for first graders. Students need to learn how to identify the most important parts of a story, put events in order, and identify the central message or lesson.
In this post, I’ll share how I teach retelling stories in first grade.
1. Introduce the Retelling Stories Standard
I start by introducing the retelling standard in kid-friendly language. Students need to be able to retell a story using important details and to show that they understand the story’s central message or lesson. Retelling doesn’t mean telling every single thing that happened. We review the important vocabulary words: characters, setting, and events.
This is also a great time to introduce the idea that many stories have a problem the characters are working to solve. Identifying the problem and how the characters respond to it helps students recognize the important events they need to include in a strong retell.
2. The Anchor Poster
I keep our anchor poster on our easel and review it at the beginning of each lesson for the standard. We talk about the lesson or central message as “what lesson can the story teach us or what we can learn from the story.” This is where I bring up some stories that we’ve already read and we talk about lessons such as: keep trying, help your friends, be kind to others.
This poster becomes an important tool while we are working on the standard. We review it before our lessons or activities to reinforce the vocabulary and expectations and it’s posted on the board for student reference throughout the unit.
⭐ You can get the 1st Grade Anchor Posters here!
3. Retelling Anchor Chart Made with Students
My anchor charts vary depending on what we’re working on. Sometimes, we create a general chart about the standard, while other times we create one together based on a specific story we’ve read.
4. Oral Retelling Practice
As with most activities in 1st grade, we spend plenty of time practicing orally! After a read-aloud, students turn and talk with a partner to retell the story using the chart to help tell things in order. I break it down into smaller pieces when we are first starting, such as “Partner A, tell the main characters in the story. Partner B, tell the setting.”
I also like to use retelling bracelets as a hands-on reminder of what to include. Each part of the bracelet represents an important story element and our chart helps them with the order. Students touch each part of the bracelet as they retell the story to a partner. This gives them a simple (and fun) structure to follow. After a few days of practice, students take their bracelets home to continue practicing their retelling skills!
5. Independent Practice
The retelling bracelets are a great tool for students to use when they are practicing independently. I also have our anchor chart and poster up as reminders for my first graders.
My students have independent reading time each day, so that is when they can practice this new skill on their own. You can read about how I teach independent reading in 1st grade at this post.
6. Standards-Based Worksheets
Toward the end of the first week, I introduce our first standards-based worksheet. We do our first one as a whole group discussion. I read the questions and the passage. We work on retelling the story and also look at the questions that go with the passage. For the first one, especially at the beginning of the year, I let students work with their literacy stations partner to complete the work page and I move around the room, assisting as needed.
During the second week, students complete a worksheet independently (for a grade). I still introduce it and read through it at our meeting spot and assist students with reading as needed.
⭐ If you are in need of reading passages for this standard, check out my Retell Stories and Central Messages pack.
7. Standards-Based Assessment
At the end of the unit, we take an assessment focused on the standard. Each assessment is two pages that I copy front to back. I post the assessment on my projector and read through it. Students complete the assessment independently, without additional help. Later in the year, I read less of the assessment, but I always post it and go through directions to be sure they understand what is asked of them.
I recently made a free pack of 1st Grade Standards-Based Assessments if you’re in need!
💗Some of my favorite books for Retelling Stories…
You may already have some favorites that you want to use! Here are some of my favorites. I don’t always use the same books each year and I’m always looking for great new books to fit the standard!
- Knuffle Bunny By Mo Willems
- Shortcut By Donald Crews
- A Chair for My Mother By Vera B. Williams
- Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse By Kevin Henkes
- Jabari Tries By Gaia Cornwall
- The Bad Seed By Jory John
- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes By Eric Litwin
- Those Pesky Rabbits By Ciara Flood
- Strega Nona By Tomie dePaola
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Teaching!
Jennifer ~ Practical Primary Teacher 🍎🍏
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How I Teach “Ask and Answer Questions” in First Grade
