2.4 Talk for Writing: How do we tell a story?
Let’s go step by step and see how you can actually tell a story
- Choose a story that you know your children will enjoy. This is important due the amount of times you are going to be reading the story. The story may be linked to your project!
- Select one that uses repetitive words, sentences or phrases. For example, The Little Red Hen or The Gingerbread Man are good for this.
- The more children hear these words the greater the opportunity in which they will be able to internalise them and remember them.
- It seems to be quite a natural part of their development to enlighten upon a favourite story that they want to hear again and again until, in the end, they know it word for word.
Great Going! What more can you do?
- You can also start with a hook to grip their attention and curiosity – this is the launch of the story, so the more creative you are, the more you have the children’s interest!
- Be animated – use your whole body to act out the story and use facial expressions. Vary your voice and use sound effects. Act out the story!
- Use props – Finger or hand puppets are great tools along with small world objects related to the story. As children further develop their understanding of the story, a simple triangle of the teller, story and listener is all that is needed in the introduction to the story.
- Think about sentence patterns – use simple and complex sentences. Help the children to understand the meaning of the words by introducing actions.
