- Read the story. My name is Keisha. I packed my lunch in a blue bag. I walked to school with my dad. I saw my friend Maya at the gate. I said, "Hi, Maya!" and waved. I felt happy to start my day. Who is telling this story?
Answer: Keisha
We find who tells the story. Keisha says "My name is Keisha" at the start. She uses "I" words like "I packed" and "I walked."
- Read the story.
My name is Marcus. I lost my mitten on the walk home. I looked under the bench by the bus stop. I saw something blue near the puddle. I picked it up and cheered, "I found it!"
Who is telling the story?
Answer: Marcus
We find who tells the story. Marcus says "My name is Marcus." He uses "I" and "my" to tell his story.
- Read the story.
I took my daughter Maya to the farmers market. We bought apples, bread, and bright flowers. Maya held my hand near the music. She said, "This smells so good!" I laughed and carried our bag home.
Who is telling the story?
Answer: Maya's parent
We find who tells the story. The person says "I took my daughter Maya." Maya's parent uses "I" and "my daughter."
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is told about Carlos and Maya from outside their own words. Carlos and Maya are both characters in the story, not the ones telling it. The oak tree is an object in the story and cannot tell a story. Only a narrator can share what Carlos and Maya did.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is written about Amir from outside his own words, like someone watching and telling what happened. Amir is a character in the story, not the one telling it. The slide is an object in the story and cannot tell a story at all. Only a narrator can be the one sharing what Amir did.
- Who is telling the story?
Answer: Marcus's parent
We find who tells the story. The person says "I took my son Marcus." Marcus's parent tells the story using "I" and "my."
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Fluffy the rabbit
Fluffy the rabbit says I the whole time, so Fluffy is telling the story. The birds do not speak in the story, so they are not the narrator. Someone outside the story would not use the word I to describe Fluffy's actions. A different animal in the forest is never mentioned as speaking, so that choice is incorrect.
- Read the story. Sofia and Jamal built a block tower. Sofia stacked the blue blocks on top. Jamal added two green blocks to the side. They held their breath as it wobbled. Then the tower stayed up tall. Who is telling this story?
Answer: Someone outside the story
We check who tells the story. The story says "Sofia and Jamal" and "they." Someone outside watches and tells what happens.
- Read the story.
Carlos walked to the library after school. He carried a book in his backpack. Carlos saw Maya at the door. "Hi, Maya!" Carlos said with a smile. They picked two books to read at home.
Who is telling this story?
Answer: Someone telling about Carlos
This question tests CCSS.RL.1.6: identifying who is telling the story at various points in a text. Students must determine the narrator—who is speaking the words of the story. The NARRATOR is who tells the story—who is speaking the words. There are two main types: (1) A CHARACTER in the story tells it, using 'I,' 'me,' 'my' (first person). Example: 'I went to the park' means a character is telling about themselves. (2) Someone OUTSIDE the story tells it, using character names and 'he,' 'she,' 'they' (third person). Example: 'Emma went to the park' means someone else is telling about Emma. In this story, the narrator is someone outside the story. We know because the story uses Carlos and 'he,' so someone outside the story is telling about Carlos. Choice C is correct because the story uses Carlos and 'he,' which shows someone outside the story is narrating about Carlos, not Carlos telling it themselves. Choice A is incorrect because although the story is about Carlos, Carlos doesn't say 'I'—someone else tells about Carlos. Students choosing this may have confused the character the story is about with who tells it. To help students identify narrator: Look for CLUE WORDS. If story uses 'I,' 'me,' 'my,' 'we': A character IN the story is telling it (find who says 'I'). If story uses character names and 'he,' 'she,' 'they': Someone OUTSIDE the story is telling it. Practice: 'I am Emma. I went to the park.' → Emma is telling (she says 'I'). 'Emma went to the park. She played.' → Someone else is telling about Emma (uses 'Emma' and 'she'). Ask: 'Who is speaking these words? Who says I?' Teach difference between AUTHOR (person who wrote the book) and NARRATOR (voice telling the story). Watch for: Students who say the character's name for third person when character is not narrator, students who confuse a character speaking in dialogue with the narrator, students who don't recognize 'I' means character is narrator, students who say 'the author' thinking that's who tells the story (author creates it, narrator speaks it).
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Emma
Emma is telling the story because it uses the word I to describe what Emma did, like jumping in puddles and walking home. Emma's dad is a character in the story, but he does not use the word I to tell it. The author writes the story but is not the character speaking as I. Someone outside the story would not use the word I this way either.
- Who is telling the story?
Answer: Someone who is not a character in the story
The story tells what Amir does and feels, so the person telling it is not a character in the story. Choice A is wrong because Amir is the boy the story is about. Choice C is wrong because no friend is mentioned in the story at all.
- Who is telling the story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is told about Maya and Jamal from outside their own words. Jamal is a character in the story, not the one telling it. Maya is also a character, not the one telling the story. Only a narrator can share what Maya and Jamal did.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Fluffy the rabbit
Fluffy the rabbit says I the whole time, so Fluffy is telling the story. Someone outside the story would not use the word I to describe Fluffy's actions. The birds do not speak in the story, so they are not the narrator. A different animal in the forest is never mentioned as speaking, so that choice is incorrect.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Chen
Chen is telling the story because the story uses the word I to describe what Chen did, like opening the crayons and drawing the frog. Someone outside the story would not use the word I this way. Chen's friend is not mentioned as doing these things in the story. The teacher only appears at the end, when Chen shows her the drawing.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is told about Carlos and Maya from outside their own words. Carlos and Maya are both characters in the story, not the ones telling it. The library is a place in the story and cannot tell a story. Only a narrator can share what Carlos and Maya did.
- Read the story. Keisha and Maya built a tower with blocks. Keisha stacked the square blocks at the bottom. Maya placed a triangle block at the top. The tower wobbled, and they held it steady. Then it fell down, and they giggled. Keisha and Maya started again with even more blocks. Who is telling this story?
Answer: Someone outside the story
We look for the storyteller. The story says "Keisha and Maya built." Someone outside watches and tells their story.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is written about Carlos from outside his own words, like someone watching and telling what happened. Carlos is a character in the story, not the one telling it. Ana is also a character, not the one telling the story. Only a narrator can be the one sharing what Carlos did.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Narrator
Narrator is correct because the story is told about Jamal from outside his own words, like someone watching and telling what happened. Jamal is a character in the story, not the one telling it. The dog is an animal in the story and cannot tell a story. Only a narrator can share what Jamal did.
- Read the story. My name is Keisha. I packed my lunch in a brown bag. I walked to school with my brother. At recess, I played tag with Maya. I felt fast when I ran. I smiled all the way home. Who is telling the story?
Answer: Keisha
We find who tells the story. Keisha says "My name is Keisha" at the start. When someone says "I" and "my," they tell the story.
- Who is telling this story?
Answer: Someone who is not a character in the story
The story tells what both Ben and Lily do and feel, so the person telling it is not one of the kids in the story. Choice A is wrong because Ben is a character the story is about, not the one telling it. Choice B is wrong for the same reason with Lily. Choice D is wrong because Ben's mom is not mentioned as part of the story.
