The Growth of a Storyteller

This sequel to the bestselling Princesses, Dragons and Helicopter Stories reveals the positive impact the storytelling and story acting curriculum of Vivian Gussin Paley has on young childrens literacy, communication and confidence. Telling the story of three years of classroom-based research with children aged two to seven, it shows the Helicopter Stories approach in action, capturing the childrens development as storytellers and their delight at having their stories listened to, scribed and acted out. In each chapter Trisha Lees passion for childrens unique voices shines through as she shares and reflects on the childrens stories, paying each of them the same respect as would normally be bestowed on adult writers. Exploring the importance of story in childrens lives, the book: Examines the cognitive and developmental impact of implementing a Helicopter Stories approach over an extended time period Analyses the stories told by children using the story structure of the Heros Journey, and the seven basic plot types Explores how and why stories connect with us including childrens innate ability to empathise with the hero from a very young age Includes rich case studies of children at different ages and developmental stages including those with additional needs Offering a fascinating insight into how Helicopter Stories work in practice and addressing the frequently asked questions about the benefits of using this approach, The Growth of a Storyteller is valuable reading for anyone interested in storytelling and story acting with their children.