Reading Strategies

Summarizing Strategy

A summary is a brief overview of the story as a whole. A technique called the "Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then: format is a great way to guide students to give a summary and NOT a retell.

Example: Cinderella wanted to go to the ball, but her evil stepmother wouldn’t allow her to go, so her fairy godmother showed up and used magic to give her a dress, shoes, and a carriage so she could go. Then…she met the Prince, they fell in love, and lived happily ever after.