Reading

Kindergarten
10:20AM
2/24/16
SOL: K.9 The student will demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts.
a) Identify what an author does and what an illustrator does.
b) Relate previous experiences to what is read.
c) Use pictures to make predictions.
d) Begin to ask and answer questions about what is read.
e) Use story language in discussions and retellings.
f) Retell familiar stories, using beginning, middle, and end.
g) Discuss characters, setting, and events.
Content outline:
Reading: The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt
Ask questions throughout
o Wheres the mitten on this page?
o So what was the first animal that went into the mitten? Second? Third? So on...
(to keep them on track and engaged)
o So now the mouse is rethinking, hmm maybe I shouldnt have let all of these
wonderful animals in my mitten. Why do you think shes having second thoughts
about this?
o Do you see the rip here in this mitten?
o What do you think we happen if more animals are added to the mitten?
o Do you think the bear can get in?
Rationale: The student will learn that retelling a story is way of fully understanding and
comprehending a story read to them.
Objective(s) of the lesson: Students will be able to comprehend a story by using pictures of
characters to retell the story.
Today I will retell a story.
So that I can understand what was read.
I know I have it when I can retell the story to my elbow partner using a retelling bag
Lesson Opening and Connection:
There are four seasons in one year. Did you all know that? What season are we in right now? It is
winter, so what do we wear outside when it is cold? What do we wear on our hands? What is
another word for gloves? Mittens! So I will be reading a story to you today titled, The Mitten.
What do you see on the cover of this book, with a raised hand? What do you notice about this
little boy in this picture? Whats missing? Where do you think the missing glove is?

Begin reading
Instructional Strategies/Processes:
Read Aloud
Ask questions for understanding
Draw a chart or web to brainstorm characters; ask students to try to name all eight
animals that went into the mitten (use book to go back for the students if they dont
remember)
Explain to students to pay close attention to me retelling the story using a retelling bag
because this is what they will be doing with their elbow partner after I am finished.
Retell story using the bag
Instruct students to go back to their seats to color, cut, and use animals to retell the story
like I did.
Products:
Retelling bags with animals
Assessment:
Students brainstorming the animals that were in the mitten to see if they remember
Closure:
Homework: None
Materials/Equipment:
Book
baggies
cutout of mitten
cutout of animals

Self -Reflection
This lesson was a great success! I wanted the students to know exactly what they would
be learning about from the very beginning, which was how to retell a story. I felt that it was very
important for them to understand what the word retell means, so that they may be able to
connect with prior experiences of retelling a story, a movie, a cartoon, anything. The teacher
liked how I was very clear with them and what I wanted them to know. She said she could learn
from me because she was not sure that she would be as clear as I was regarding making sure the
students fully understood the term. I really appreciated the feedback because who would have
ever thought that a 20-year educator would actually learn from me.
I also felt that I was able to think on my feet and adjust. I read the story, The Mitten.
However, the teacher mistakenly gave me the wrong version of the story; the characters of the
version I read did not match the characters in the upcoming activity. However, after I read one
version to the students, the teacher gave me the other version to read on the spot. Fortunately, I
was able to adjust easily, and read the story with no issues, even though the children did get a
little restless for sitting still for so long. For the carpet activity, I had a basket to represent the
mitten and animal puppets that matched the characters in the book. I used these props as visuals
to help me model retelling the story to the students; they were going to have to eventually
demonstrate this with their elbow partners at their tables. I felt like I was very effective in
informing the students on the meaning of the word retell. Overall, I had another great lesson
with the Kindergartners.