Speaking and Listening Through Narrative
Bec Shanks
Abstract
Speaking and Listening Through Narrative is a structured, multisensory, flexible and adaptable approach to teaching children how to tell stories. A story is viewed as the framework that people use to structure and organise that information. Teachers were also concerned about the lack of focus on developing oracy in the classroom and how this was reflected in the children’s limited ability to express their ideas on paper. The original Bercow report addressed this area of unmet need. The approach also acts as a tool for facilitating social use of language. Narrative ability is integral to our ability to create and maintain social relationships as children, into adolescence and beyond into adulthood. Academic success is one outcome of education but social competence could be considered to be just as important, if not more so. Resource packs are designed for chronological ages 3–14 years, with consistent features. Each story element has its own colour, sign and symbol.