Literacy Development: Home Reading and Retell
One strategy for developing reading for second language learners is called Home Reading and Retell. This is a multi-step activity that helps to teach reading skills, while building connections to students' identity formation within the target language and culture.
Overview of steps for Home Reading and Retell:
1. Students read a story at their reading level. Each student should read a different story. Or, the class should at least read 2-3 different stories.
2. Students complete the reading and retell (RR) template appropriate to their level of oral production (which is usually lower than their reading comprehension).See template examples below.
3. Students practice reading the templates in order to remember what the story was about.
4. Students select 1-3 pictures from the story to help retell the story.
5. Students find a partner who has read a different story.
6. Student A tells the story to Student B using pictures from the story and following the template. Student A should NOT read the template.
7. Student B listens to the story and then completes the checklist/feedback sheet.
Change roles.
8. This process repeats regularly (1-2 times a week, if possible) over several years until students complete all levels. Let students decide when they are ready to progress to another level.
Home Reading and Retell Templates