Rewrite+the+Story+(2)

Holly Fallica

**Rewrite the Story Description:** Rewriting the story is a strategy used to help remember a specific historical event or story. This strategy is usually used after a read-aloud to the entire class. After reading about a historical event or story, have the students reconstruct a chapter or portion of the story in their own words. This can be done in groups or can be done together as a whole class. This activity may depend on the teacher's goals for this rewrite lesson. One goal may be to direct students to summarize or retell the story as they heard it. Another goal may be to rewrite the story changing a major character or event, but not the entire storyline. A final goal may be to improve upon the story by rewriting it altogether (but based on the original).

**Strengths:** This learning strategy can be part of a creative lesson. One way to make it creative is by acting out the story after rewriting it. This helps the students better remember the historical event or topic based from the reading. In addition, the students have to use their imagination and creativity to get involved in the lesson.

**Weaknesses:** Some students who are seen as less creative or who cannot think of detailed ideas on his/her own may find difficulty in rewriting a story. Students might find it hard to think of ways to rewrite the story if the story is only verbally read. Also, if students are more visual learners they might struggle retelling the story and therefore rewriting it. Students might also not have understood the text, and it might be hard for them to elaborate and create an accurate rewrite of the story.

__ Mini Lesson- Rewrite the story: __ __What happened at Kitty Hawk?__

I will copy the story What happened at Kitty Hawk (Davis Chapter 5, pg. 294) onto a word document. This document will be used to read to the class and to display on the front board of the classroom.

**Procedures:** Display the story What happened at Kitty Hawk on the front board of the classroom. Read the story and have the class follow along. Clear the story from the front board after reading. Have the students "brainstorm" ideas for rewriting/retelling the story. Have the students share their ideas with a partner sitting near them. Allow for the students to help the teacher rewrite the story on a new word document. Compare/Contrast the original story with the new story. Also, look at the key ideas/details that were most important and displayed in both stories.