What’s the Difference Between Summarizing and Retelling?

[@Swifty2581998]

Relate! Your videos are very helpful. Thank you so much ❤️

[@marshahayles2568]

Thank you! Very very helpful

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Glad it was helpful!

[@heathervoyer3782]

Thank you for this video!

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Have you ever asked students for a retell or summary and they are at one end of this range - they leave out tons of important information OR they just start reading straight from the text word for word? Write “relate” in the comments if this has happened to you!

[@deniseupton6098]

Thank you for this information! It really does matter how we scaffold this teaching from very simple re-telling by looking at the pictures to synthesizing information to summarize.

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Well said!

[@heathervoyer3782]

Relate. I teach K-2 ELL. I usually ask them, "What happened in this story?" Or "What was the movie about?" (Former as part of lesson, latter as part of ice-breakers conversations.) Kids who are comfortable speaking will retell, but rarely in a reliably sequential order. Kids who are still finding a comfort zone may give me one sentence: maybe a summary, maybe a detail. I encourage both, just to get them speaking. 😉 Love the graphic organizer idea! I tried doing a comic strip approach, but they spent so much time drawing... Summarizing is soo hard for my kiddos. (Even gifted kiddos can struggle with determining what info is crucial. ADHD kids often deem all details interesting AND crucial--no differentiation.) Beach ball prompts for summary elements!!

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Sounds like you are trying so many great strategies! For those not retelling in sequential order, you can always write it down as they are saying it, each sentence on a different strip. Then, you could say it back to them in the same order and ask "Is everything in the correct order?" Hearing you say it may make them realize they need to re-order. You can have them physically move the sentences around and try the retell once more!

[@teristetson5392]

I think you are phenomenal. For this video, I would have liked a few visuals as info delivered rapidly.

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Thanks for that suggestion, Teri!

[@marshahayles2568]

Relate

[@heathervoyer3782]

Using their "own words" is so hard for many kids, even if vocab isn't a barrier. Suggestions?

[@learningattheprimarypond]

Great question. I often have students physically close the book and simply say "Tell me about this book." This helps them to feel as if it's more of a conversation. If they forget a specific part while retelling, then I have them open back the book, reread, and close it again.