Retelling and Rereading

My students and I are often talking about being good readers.  I expect them to be reading at home and to be bringing their book when they meet with me.  I love to hear about what they are reading...I usually write down all the new books I hear about from my students!  We have talked about how important it is to be a good reader when reading at home.  One thing students have to do when they are reading independently is to think about their understanding as they read.  It is important for them to stop and think about what they have read.  If they can retell what they have read and feel that they understand the story, then it's okay to go on reading.  If they can't retell what they have read and aren't sure they understand the story, then it's important to reread. 

Being able to retell is a great way to check to see if you understand what you have read.  When I ask students to retell for me, I ask them to include story elements from the book they read.  The story elements are the different parts of the story:

Character - who is in the story?

Setting - where is the character and when?

Plot - what is the characters problem 

and does he or she solve it?

Good readers are able to identify all of these parts of a story.  Usually, I ask students to retell by telling me about these parts of a story based on what they read the night before or the last chapter they read.

Here is an example!  I just started reading A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup and this is how I would retell what I have read so far:

Saffron, Barton, and Crandall live with their dad-Mr. Cheeseman-their dog, and Crandall's sock puppet Steve.  They are actually living in a house they like when their dad announces it's time to pack everything up and move.  Their dad and mom invented a very important machine before she died.  There are mean people who want the machine so Mr. Cheeseman and his family are always trying to escape from them.  This time, just as they are leaving the house, the bad guys are coming down the street.  Luckily, Mr. Cheeseman invented fancy headlights that freeze them in time so they can get a way.

Can you find where I talk about the characters, the setting, the problem, and the solution?  I haven't read the whole book, I'm just telling you what I have read so far.  I'm excited to read more about their adventure as they try and stay away from these bad guys!  Being able to retell is one of the first steps in being a good reader.  This is a way for you to make sure you understand what you are reading.  

What do to if you don't feel like you can retell the story?  Then it's time to reread.  Good readers reread when they are confused.  If you reread and still don't feel like you understand, then you might want to talk to a parent or a teacher about the book and check again if it's a just-right book for you.  

If you can come to school and tell me about the three story elements, then you will receive one sticker towards a reading reward!