Sparking Student Motivation with Reading Roll and Retell

This week as many of you know was our state ELA testing.  In our middle school after the testing is over, we still have all of our class periods.  I spent time in my ELA class watching The Lightning Thief because we are going to be writing an argument essay between the book and the movie.  Before we took our ELA test, I did some fun review that practiced citing text evidence using our novel.

Do you use Roll and Retell in your classroom?  I first saw the sheet on Pinterest,
I believe it is from Fun In First.  I loved the idea, but the questions were a little too basic for my Smarties in the sixth grade, so I created an upgraded version.  My students loved being able to sit in groups and play.  We did three different rounds using the myths we have been focusing on with our Lightning Thief books:  Promethius, Medusa and Athena, and then our novel.
I put a die in these cool containers that I had purchased from Staples in August.  I like using them because my dice don't go flying all over the room.
I increased the difficulty as we played, first asking them to cite one piece of evidence for each roll, and then as many as 3 pieces when we got into the novel.  I loved what I was hearing from groups!
They were talking, they were arguing their points, and they were enjoying group discussion.      I couldn't ask for anything better than that!  I'm linking up with one of my BBBs, Joanne over at Head Over Heels for Teaching to share this fun activity.  If you are interested in the Roll and Retell, you can get a copy of it {HERE}, it's free. 
Have a great weekend!

6 comments

  1. Love this idea. I know your kids did too. Way to customize it for your students.

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  2. Thank you for a middle grades version of this fun activity. I'm off to download it now!

    Mary
    Fit to be Fourth

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  3. I love how you adapted this activity for older kids! Great idea!

    Rebecca
    Ladybugs Lounge

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  4. Such a fun way to engage students in discussion! I have something similar, but I love your upper grade version! Promoting those critical thinking skills in a sneaky way! Thanks for sharing Michele!
    Joanne
    Head Over Heels For Teaching

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  5. Thanks for the freebie! I also like the idea of putting the dice in a container. I swear my students spend half of their time chasing dice around the room! :)

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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  6. Thanks for the freebie. My students love the dice - but I have not been as smart as you and put them in containers - instead I let them go flying. That will be changing pronto!!

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