Classroom Extensions
Storytelling/Story Acting easily lends itself to many classroom extensions. Many teachers have had children illustrate pictures that go with a story. A collage could also be used to represent a child’s story. With a teacher’s help, children could make individual small books illustrating their story over many pages.
Family Involvement
STSA as a practice lends itself readily to making home to school connections. A great way to introduce families to STSA is through a newsletter with a guide or short video. Family-teacher gatherings such as an open house, family breakfast, or similar event, is an opportunity for the teacher to demonstrate STSA with family members as the audience and actors. Showing families how easily STSA can be done in the home or anywhere else, is a great way to engage children in telling narratives at home and expose them to additional writing.
Many families may have experiences with storytelling in their homes and communities. This storytelling experience could be celebrated in the classroom and with the children and their families. Inviting parents and family members in to tell stories, fiction or nonfiction, in English or in other languages, is a great way to engage families and to reinvigorate STSA inspirations for students.
