Mini-lesson Connection Girls and boys, we've just spent the last month or so becoming strong at reading the words in our books. All of you know where to get your Jjust-right books, and you've been doing a great! job at reading with smooth voices. And I can tell you’re excited by your reading power because I’ve noticed that you are just devouring books. You're reading one book after another without even taking any time to breathe! So I got to thinking that it’s time to remind you that there is more to reading than just devouring the words in books. I’m going to spend the next few weeks teaching you how readers don’t just read the words but also think| and talk about the story. I thought we could start with the kind of thinking and talking readers do when they’re done with a book.or so becoming strong at reading the words in our books. All of you know where to get your just-right books, and you've been doing a great job at reading with smooth voices. And I can tell you're excited by your reading power because I’ve noticed that you are just devouring books. You’re reading one book after another without even taking any time to breathe! So I got to thinking that it’s time to remind you that there is more to reading than just devouring the words in books. I'm going to spend the next few weeks teaching you how readers don’t just read the words but also think’ and talk about the story. I thought we could start with the kind of thinking and talking readers do when they're done with a book.Instead of going right to the next book, readers think about the one they just finished, and one way they can do this is by retelling the story to themselves or to someone else. Today, I'm going to teach you how to retell your book when youre done with it because I think you're ready to do this big thinking work. Teaching point and demonstration Watch me as I retell Birthdays to you guys. [Birthdays is a familiar Big Book.] I'm going to pretend that I just finished it and it’s time for me to meet with my reading partner. You guys are going to be my reading partner, okay? Listen really carefully for how I retell this story. I retell the Big Book, leaving out a big part. The children clamor to remind me of what I“forgot.” Did you notice how I retold the stuff that happened in the book? When I forgot that one part, you helped me out. Thanks! What a great partner you are! Well, now I want you to try it. Iwant you to practice retelling to your partner right now because that’s going to be your work today during work time. Active engagement Right now, turn to your partner. One of you is going to be the reteller and the other is going to| be the helper. Decide that now. Okay. The retelling partner will retell Birthdays, and the helping partner will listen in and help out if necessary, just like you did for me. Okay? Go ahead.I listen so that I can share back to the class and get a quick assessment of what their retelling sounds like. You know, I noticed that you guys did a really good job retelling. I love how you remembered the important parts and included them as you retold the story. That was smart thinking because when you retell, it’s important to include the important parts. Link to ongoing work So, readers, whenever you finish a book, before you jump right into the next one, take a minute and retell the book to yourselves. Then, when you meet with your reading partners,one of your jobs will be to retell the story to each other. Retelling is something that careful readers do, and we're going to learn how to do it well over the next few days.