Story Impressions

Description:
The story impressions strategy arouses students’ curiosity and enables them to use “clue” words that are associated with events, characters, and settings so they can write their own versions of the story PRIOR to reading the original.  The clues words and phrases are taken directly from the reading and should be arranged on a list in the order they appear in the story.  The list should give the students an overall impression of the story that they will use to write predictions about the major events.  After reading the story, students will compare their versions with the original.  (When used with non-fiction text, its title is Text Impressions)

How to Use the Strategy:

1. Create a list of vocabulary and phrases from a text, unit, section, or chapter.  Making sure the list is long enough so all major events and subjects are covered.
   
2. Explain that the list will be used to make predictions about events, characters, and settings in the story.  
   
3. Have students make predictions about the story.
   
4. The students will then use the predictions they have made to generate their own version of the story, before reading the original.
   
5. After they finish writing their version, read the original story.
   
6. Student will then compare and contrast their story to the original. This can be discussed as a whole class, groups, and partners or done independently.
   

Resources
Download these resources to use in your classroom. 

Directions for printing Toolbox Cards
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