Teaching students to summarize can provide another option for solidifying their reading comprehension. This strategy can be used in all primary classrooms.

Too often students think summarizing is retelling. Retelling has more details, whereas, summarizing keeps it short and sweet.

Like a short stack of pancakes. One was to get a quick summary is using the SOMEBODY… WANTED… BUT… SO… AND technique.

I first used this technique with my kindergarten class. 

We were addicted to Magic Tree House Books (that’s another post for another day) and we started practicing our summarizing after each chapter. 

I made a poster with the 5 words on it as a reminder. 

We did not write down the summaries…we only practiced the summaries orally.

Once this technique is practiced, kindergartners can contribute to a whole group chapter summaries.

Depending on reading level, this technique can be written or oral. Use cards with each word on them and distributes one card to each person.

They have to work together to make a summary.

My older students practice writing summaries using a SWBSA form and a partner, eventually moving to individualizing the summaries written in paragraph form.

We have used summaries with read alouds, independent reading by levels (typically after level E, and with independent reading).

It has become an option in their Reading Response Journals.

I have previously blogged about summaries in a blog about Paint Chips and Using Mentor Texts.

summary – and…

Here’s a Summarize FREEBIE download. There is an anchor chart, a summarize SWBSA form and bookmarks.

Click here for the FREE Summarizing poster.

Click here for the Summarizing Set in my store.

Click here for the Reading Comprehension BIG BUNDLE.