Used both as a reading comprehension assessment technique and a comprehension startegy instruction shown to improve scores on comprehension measures.

Oral retelling and short answer retelling can give you as a teacher a quick snapshot on students understanding.

When teaching summarizing of a narrative text focus on the story structure. As a teacher think aloud and point out temporal words, like first, second, and last.

Use graphic organizers to help identify story elements such as: setting, characters, problems, sequence of events, outcome, and theme.

When summarizing narrative text you focus on the elements of plot: problems, sequence of events, outcome. As a teacher can do this by asking students questions about the story structure.

PreK-K

• Listen to stories
• Link real life events in order
• Explicitly use words “beginning, middle, end and first, second, and third”
• Focus on event listening and retelling events in sequence

K-2

• Model the retelling of key plot events and details
• Assist students in oral retellings
• Have students illustrate story frames

2-4

• Require students to summarize plot
• Retell and write key events in sequential order
• Explain how other story elements impact key events of the plot