A top priority in reading for my primary grade-level readers is to be able to retell a story and state its most important details. The details that I want my students to be able to give after listening to or reading a story are: the main character(s), setting, problem, at least three important events, the solution, and a possible lesson that can be learned from the text.
A reading strategy that I use to help my students remember which details to include when retelling a story is “Give Me Five!” This strategy encourages students to use their hand to help them remember which details to include in a retell.
“After you listen to a book being read to you, or if you read a book yourself, you need to be able to state the most important parts of the story. I'm going to show you a trick I use to help me remember to give the most important details when writing or telling someone about a book I read. My trick or reading strategy is called “Give Me Five!” I use my hand to help me talk about the story.
Your thumb is for the setting. The setting is where the story takes place.
Your pointer finger, or index finger, is for the main character. This is the primary character. The story will focus on (or be mostly about) this character.
Your middle finger is for the problem. The problem is what goes wrong in the story. Often this is what the main character is trying to solve or fix.
Your ring finger is for the most important events in the book. An important event is something that leads the main character toward solving the problem. Stating at least three important events helps keep the interest of the reader or listener.
Your pinky finger is for the solution of the book. The solution is how the problem in the story is fixed or solved. Often this will come at the end if the story.
The palm of your hand is for the lesson of the story. This is something a character or reader can learn from the story. Some books will have several possible lessons.”
Now model the Give Me Five! Reading Strategy using a book previously read to the students. After modeling give all your students high fives. The Give Me Five! Reading Strategy Poster & Tip Sheet are available for download. I am sure your students will look to this invaluable resource frequently as it hangs in your classroom.