Text Re-ordering

Sentences or paragraphs of a text are jumbled. Students reconstruct the original order through discussion — attending closely to meaning, cohesion, and discourse markers.

Procedure

1. Select a text with clear logical or chronological flow.
2. Give the first sentence as an anchor; jumble the remaining sentences.
3. Students work individually to order them, then compare in pairs/groups.
4. Groups read out their versions; class discusses discrepancies.
5. Teacher reads or displays the original text.
6. Optional extension: predict what happens next, or continue the story.

Variations

• Paragraph-level: Jumble whole paragraphs for discussion or argumentative texts.
• Student-created: After studying a text, one group jumbles it for another group to re-order.
• Partial reveal: Give a few sentences in correct position as scaffolding.

Tips

• Different from strip story in that it focuses on whole-text cohesion rather than sentence-level sequencing.
• Discrepancies between groups generate the most productive discussion.
• Give the text's opening sentence to reduce frustration and provide a starting point.