Support your students in retelling a familiar narrative with our The Speedy Sloth: Written Retell Booklet. This engaging resource has been designed to accompany a whole class reading of The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young and is a fantastic way to check comprehension, sequencing and story structure understanding.

The booklet includes five illustrated scenes from the story that provide visual prompts to guide students in writing their own version of the events. Each page features a blank lined section where students can write about what happened in the scene using their own words. This allows for a flexible and student-led approach to narrative writing, helping students to focus on beginning, middle, and end structure while practising sentence fluency and detail.

Perfect for independent writing, small group tasks, or assessment, this booklet gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of key elements such as character, setting, and plot. It’s also ideal for use in literacy rotations, reading response sessions, or as part of your guided reading block.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Retell the main events of a story in written form
• ✅ Use visual prompts to support narrative structure
• ✅ Identify key characters, setting and plot elements
• ✅ Strengthen sentence construction and sequencing skills
• ✅ Demonstrate comprehension through written expression

What’s Included:

• 5-page retell booklet with story scene illustrations
• Blank lined pages for student writing
• Booklet prints 2 to a page for easy double-sided assembly

Materials Needed:

• Printed booklet pages (print double-sided, flip on long edge)
• Scissors to slice pages in half
• Stapler for assembling booklets
• Pencils or markers for writing and optional decorating

How to Use:

1. Read The Speedy Sloth with your class.
2. Print and assemble the booklets using the 2-to-a-page layout.
3. Have students use the pictures to guide their writing for each scene.
4. Support students in orally discussing events before writing if needed.
5. Use completed booklets as assessment, display, or portfolio work.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a follow-up task after a shared reading session
• 💡 Add to writing rotations for independent retell practice
• 💡 Use with scribing support for early writers or EAL/D students
• 💡 Include in your assessment schedule as evidence of comprehension
• 💡 Encourage students to read their finished retells aloud to a partner

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge to A3 for Foundation students to give extra writing space
• 💛 Staple a cover to personalise the booklet as a keepsake
• 💛 Pair with The Speedy Sloth: Vocabulary Mat for word support
• 💛 Model one or two pages together as a class before releasing to independent work

Check out more amazing resources related to The Speedy Sloth in our The Speedy Sloth Book PACKAGE.