Comprehension Strategies
The following strategies are taken from Retelling Strategies to Improve Comprehension by Darla Shaw (Scholastic 2005)
Mock Trial: students put a character on trial. This includes jurors, witnesses and lawyers. The trial may be scripted or ad-libbed
Press Conference: Character is asked a variety of questions by the "press core"
Living Museum: Non-fiction works great for this strategy. Students decide what aspects of the reading lend them selves to "demonstration
stations." Each station involves an activity that is manned and explained by a knowledgeable student.
Book Sale: turn the retelling of the book into a book sale. The purpose is to "sell" the story to the other students so that they will want to read the
book.
Characterizations: Following a retelling of a particular character, students create a monologue that demonstrates comprehension of that
character. The goal is to make this person come alive. Have students dress the part and preform for the class.
Moving Through a Mural: Materials: long sheet of butcher paper, crayons, paint markers, craft sticks, white construction paper, other craft
materials (optional)
Method: Assign different groups to work on different parts of the setting along the butcher paper. Students are to then create
representations of characters, which they then glue to the craft sticks to create "puppets" of the characters. Students then act
out the story using the backdrop of the setting and the characters they created.
Enrichment: This could be then taken to a Seniors Lodge or Lower Grade and preformed for an audience.
Triaramas: Materials: construction paper (precut 10"X10"), construction paper scraps, glue, scissors, crayons, markers and other craft material.
Method:
Enrichment: Use to retell important parts of the story in small groups, to a partner, or in a retelling conference. Can be made independently
or with a partner, Three or four can be put together to form a multiscene, multisided display.
Mock Trial: students put a character on trial. This includes jurors, witnesses and lawyers. The trial may be scripted or ad-libbed
Press Conference: Character is asked a variety of questions by the "press core"
Living Museum: Non-fiction works great for this strategy. Students decide what aspects of the reading lend them selves to "demonstration
stations." Each station involves an activity that is manned and explained by a knowledgeable student.
Book Sale: turn the retelling of the book into a book sale. The purpose is to "sell" the story to the other students so that they will want to read the
book.
Characterizations: Following a retelling of a particular character, students create a monologue that demonstrates comprehension of that
character. The goal is to make this person come alive. Have students dress the part and preform for the class.
Moving Through a Mural: Materials: long sheet of butcher paper, crayons, paint markers, craft sticks, white construction paper, other craft
materials (optional)
Method: Assign different groups to work on different parts of the setting along the butcher paper. Students are to then create
representations of characters, which they then glue to the craft sticks to create "puppets" of the characters. Students then act
out the story using the backdrop of the setting and the characters they created.
Enrichment: This could be then taken to a Seniors Lodge or Lower Grade and preformed for an audience.
Triaramas: Materials: construction paper (precut 10"X10"), construction paper scraps, glue, scissors, crayons, markers and other craft material.
Method:
Enrichment: Use to retell important parts of the story in small groups, to a partner, or in a retelling conference. Can be made independently
or with a partner, Three or four can be put together to form a multiscene, multisided display.
