What does "retelling" a story help assess?

Retelling a story serves as a tool for assessing a student's comprehension and recall of key details. When a student retells a narrative, they are required to articulate what they understood from the text, demonstrating their grasp of the main ideas, sequence of events, and character motivations. This process reveals how well the student has processed the information, allowing educators to gauge their comprehension beyond mere memorization. By focusing on key details during a retelling, students show their ability to synthesize the information and convey the underlying themes of the story effectively. This assessment approach highlights understanding, interpretation, and the organization of thoughts, which are critical components of reading comprehension.