Just to add to First, Next, Last ideas

Some students have a hard time getting started or motivated, so to help them get started I 'take turns' with the retelling. I lay out 5 cards depicting the sequence. I will start by saying "First, you need to get...", I will give them the cue card "then..."( it is their turn), I will say "Next..."( my turn), give them the cue card, "then..."(their turn), and "Finally...or...lastly...."( my turn).

For older or more adept students you could:
Try hilarious add-libs for those hard to motivate, they are really fun. These little booklets are easy to find in the book section of stores such as Walmart and Extra Foods, or find them on the Net ( ask.com/add-libs). Generate a list on the board- first person names a noun, next person a verb, then an adverb, adjective and so on. You could have "Parts of Speech" lists on the board already to draw upon.

For a group/class lesson, divide the kids into equal groups and give each group a cue card..First, next, then, after....last. Have the kids generate the story following the add libs they listed previously on the board as you travel through each group. Have the students draw classmates names from a bucket to add some silliness to it!