Sequence
Teaching story retell and sequence writing
Overview
(All pictures courtesy of www.creativecommons.org)
What is Sequencing?
Sequencing is when components of a story or event are identified.
- Beginning
- Middle
- End
Sequencing is also when you have the ability to retell events of a text and the order in which they occurred.
Why is sequencing important?
Learning sequencing is an important skill for reading and writing. It is important to make sure that early readers are able to identify the important events of a story. Sequencing helps with comprehension and understanding of the text.
As readers move to more advanced texts their sequencing skills will be useful. Adults use sequencing skills when they are using a new recipe or changing a tire in a car. There is an order that you need to follow when doing those tasks. Sequencing is important in reading in writing because students learn to identify what happens first, next, and last. As reading and writing improves there can be more added in the middle. Sequence writing can be used in all subjects. Prompts can be given for concepts that are more difficult.
Story retell and Sequence writing
Story retell and sequence writing work together. After a book in the classroom the teacher may ask students what they thought about the book. This prompting question will get students to think about the book and try to recall things that happened. The next thing that the teacher will ask is what happened at the beginning of the story. These questions will get students to think about retelling the story and what happened in the story. After the story has been retold students will get a chance to work on sequence writing. It is important for students to write what happened in order, they do not want to say the last thing was the first thing that happened.
Example of Sequence Writing
I know how a pumpkin grows. First a seed is planted. Next leaves and flowers grow on the vine. Then a small green pumpkin begins to grow. Finally the pumpkin turns orange and is ready to be turned into a jack-o-lantern.