How do you teach retelling in first grade without students telling every tiny detail—or barely telling you anything at all?

In this episode of The Education Connection, we're wrapping up Part One of the Writing About Reading series with a simple approach to teaching students how to retell a story using the most important details.

I'll share how I use a four-square graphic organizer to help first graders plan their thinking before they begin writing. We'll talk about what to include on the graphic organizer, how to model retelling with an anchor chart and Smart Board, and how to gradually move students from guided activities to independent practice.

You'll also hear my simple routine:

Read. Plan. Say. Retell. Write.

Because before we expect o ...