Dean Excerpt 1.pdf
Story Frames for Teaching Literacy
Enhancing Student Learning Through the Power of Storytelling
by Carolee Dean, M.S., CCC-SLP, CALT
Word Travel LLC Denver, Colorado with invited contributors
Contents
- About the Downloads .vii
- About the Author.viii
- About the Contributors.ix
- Acknowledgments.xi
- Introduction.xiii
- Story Frames Analyses of Picture Books.xx
- Story Frames Analyses of Chapter Books and Novels.xxii
Section I Your Story Frames Toolbox .1
- Chapter 1 The Story Frames Approach: Introduction and Tools .3
- Chapter 2 The Twelve Elements in Depth .15
- Chapter 3 Getting Started With Story Frames .31
Section II Using Story Frames to Build Literacy Skills .45
- Chapter 4 Understanding Narrative Development .47
- Chapter 5 Oral Retells: Vocabulary, Sequencing, and Grammar .65
- Chapter 6 From Speaking to Writing: Sentences, Paragraphs, and Stories .85
- Chapter 7 From Story Writing to Expository Writing: Bridging the Gap With Narrative Nonfiction .111
- Chapter 8 Toward a Deeper Understanding: Questioning and Comprehension Skills .
Introduction
Stories existed long before books. We use stories to connect, to learn, to persuade, and to teach. Storytelling is an essential human skill that most people understand on a superficial level. Some turn it into an art form, but others struggle with its application. Educators know the power of stories and use them often, not only in language arts but in science, history, mathematics, and sports. Educators do not always understand the deep structure of stories, though, nor the full potential of their application.
How Story Frames Evolved
The use of story grammar to improve comprehension has a long history. In 1979, Stein and Glenn introduced a story schema they created based on their study of children's stories and fables. They described their work as a "...first approximation in the attempt to delineate the distinctions people naturally use" and admitted that their definitions might need modification over time.
| Story Frames | The Writer's Journey |
|---|---|
| Ordinary World | The Ordinary World |
| Call and Response | The Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call |
| Mentors, Guides, and Gifts | Meeting with the Mentor |
| Crossing | Crossing the First Threshold |
| New World | Tests, Allies and Enemies |
| Problems, Prizes, and Plans | Approach to the Innermost Cave |
| Midpoint Attempt | The Ordeal |
| Downtime Response | Reward |
| Chase and Escape | The Road Back |
| Death and Transformation | |
| Climax: The Final Test | The Resurrection |
| Final Reward | Return with the Elixir |
Figure I.2. Story Frames icons for the 12 elements, for use with all ages.
Helping Students Grow as Readers and Writers
The story analysis explored may be implemented by teachers, librarians, and SLPs, either in collaboration with other educators or when working alone. With the Story Frames approach, readers and writers discuss and analyze stories by highlighting the following elements:
- Beginning: Ordinary World; Call and Response; Mentors, Guides, and Gifts; Crossing
- Middle: New World; Problems, Prizes, and Plans; Midpoint Challenge; Downtime Response
- End: Chase and Escape; Death and Transformation; Climax; Final Reward
How to Use This Book
There are two approaches for handling the material presented in Section I of Story Frames. Those who want to jump into story analysis with their students or who may have little preparation time may use Chapter 1 to acquaint themselves with the approach, tools, and techniques, including use of storyboards and pictography, and then skip ahead to Chapter 3.
ISBN-13: 978-1-68125-454-8
ISBN-10: 1-68125-454-9