Several years ago I discovered a storytelling approach with children that is based on Vivian Gussin Paley's
The Boy Who Would be a Helicopter: Uses of Storytelling in the Classroom. Here is a link to a website that describes the storytelling approach.
https://www.makebelievearts.co.uk/helicopterstorieslettingimaginationflyIn this straightforward method, a child dictates a story to a teacher, who writes down the story word for word. Once the story is told, the teacher reads it, making sure that the child's story has been recorded accurately. Later, the children gather around our stage marked by masking tape to see and hear the story acted out by volunteers. The author chooses whether or not to be
in the play and decides which character he/she wants to be in the play. Without rehearsal, the teacher begins to read the story: as the story is told, children are invited to become princes, monsters, kittens, and even
inanimate objects such as caves, castles, and playgrounds. The brief story is acted out, the audience claps and the class moves on to another child's story
. Part of the magic of this approach is due to the fact that children are the owners of thecontent, free to explore themes of power, friendship, tragedy all in ways that feel safe to them. Their questions, explorations, fears or sense ofadventure and hope are explored through the world of play. This storytelling curriculum is a blend of literacy practice, dramatic play, and
involves the willingness to take risks.
I would love to hear if anyone has used this approach with children.
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Hilary Laing
Teacher
Orono Discovery Center
Orono MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 07:05 PM
From: Tonya Satchell
Subject: Storytelling and Literacy
A study from 2017 shows that strong oral storytelling skills in preschool lead to better reading scores for Black boys as they progress through elementary school, while for Black girls proficiency in oral storytelling in preschool has the strongest effect during their first years of school but is less important later on.
The study, entitled "Different Tales: The Role of Gender in the Oral Narrative-Reading Link Among African American Children," was published in the journal Child Development.
Do you use storytelling as part of your literacy program? Tell us how.
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Tonya Satchell
Columbia MD
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