Retelling

One of the things that we ask our kindergartners to do early in the year is to retell a story that we have read many times. The ability to retell a story orally tells us about a child's language development. When a child realizes that letters make sounds and that sound make words and when they can retell a story in a way that sounds like they are reading it, even though they can't read any of the words yet, we know that their oral language has developed enough so that they are ready to begin reading words. Below is an example of a child that is retelling the very popular Three Billy Goats Gruff, a story that we have read in class many times and a story that we have acted out in many different ways. Listen to the way that he changes his voice when he talking like the littlest billy or when he is roaring like the mean and ugly troll. Much of the change in this voice sounds exactly like the teacher has read the story in class. This is exactly what we want each of our children to be able to do.

Untitled from dayle timmons on Vimeo.

So far in our class, we have read and practiced,

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Caps for Sale








Where the Wild Things Are










Goldilocks and the Three Bears










Make sure to ask your child all about his favorite story!