Retell Bookmarks

This is one of my most popular items in my TPT store and one of my most used items in my classroom!  I don’t know about you, but we practice reading aloud and retelling stories every day.  I created these because it was so frustrating getting that look from students when you tell them to retell the story.  You know which one I mean?  That look like, “You said I had to read it.  You didn’t say I had to think about it!” and “You want me to do what?”  Really, I found that most students had no idea what I wanted them to do and “retell it to your partner” turned into “did you see what Sponge Bob did last night?” 

So I created these bookmarks for students to use when retelling a story as guidance during their retell.  Throughout the year, students get better at it and don’t need the bookmarks to help them retell the story.  There are two sets of bookmarks, one that includes problem and solution and another that includes sequencing of events.  I put mine front to back with a piece of card stock in between for sturdiness.  I usually tell my students which side I want them to use but as they get better, I encourage them to include both the problem and solution AND the sequencing of events.  Mine look like this (mine were made a couple of years ago with different clipart, but same concept!):

I also made story element posters to go with the bookmarks.  Each poster has a different element that is also on their retell bookmark (with the same picture for reference).  The poster includes questions for the reader to think about when reading/retelling their story.  These are great for teaching the story elements and for students to use as reference throughout the year!

You can get your retell bookmarks and story element posters here!

Enjoy!

~Jessica