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Get started with structured literacy in a fun and engaging way!
DISCOVER STORY FRAMES
Contents
1 About the Book
2 About the 12 Story Frames Elements
3 Interior Features
4 Online Materials
About the Book
Aligned with the science of reading, this innovative guidebook reveals how to unlock literacy and learning skills by captivating K–12 students with the power of stories: how they’re structured, how they reflect and change lives, and how students can create their own original narratives.
Using dozens of diverse fiction and nonfiction books as vivid examples, you’ll discover how to teach 12 key story elements (Story Frames) in dynamic, fun, and highly visual ways, including Quick Draws, storyboards, and icons that make narrative structure easy to grasp.
Then you’ll get in-depth guidance on how to use knowledge of story structure to build core literacy skills—from oral language to reading comprehension—and empower students to write their own personal stories in a variety of genres.
Enhanced with more than 35 adaptable lesson plans and a complete package of online support materials, Story Frames is an accessible pathway to structured literacy that any educator can start using right away. You’ll use it year after year to strengthen your students’ skills and instill a lifelong love of reading and writing in every learner.
Meet the Author
Carolee Dean, M.S., CCC-SLP, CALT
Carolee Dean, M.S., CCC-SLP, CALT, is the founder of Word Travel Literacy, specializes in the treatment of dyslexia, other language-based learning differences, and autism. With over twenty years of experience in the public schools, she now focuses on teletherapy, consultation, and resource development.
Invited Contributors
- Amy Miller, M.A., M.F.A., ICALP
- Lesley Roessing, M.Ed.
- Paula Moraine, M.Ed.
- William Van Cleave, M.A.
- Mary Jo O’Neill, M.Ed.
- Carol Westby, Ph.D.
About the 12 Story Frames Elements
Story Frames uses the same 12-element plot structure to discuss a variety of genres, including narrative nonfiction picture books, chapter books, and novels.
The 12 Elements
The 12 elements found in Story Frames are described briefly below. Note: Whenever he or she appears generically, these terms should be considered as gender-neutral references.
- Ordinary World: The main character (MC) appears in his everyday world.
- Call and Response: Something alerts the MC that things are about to change. She may quickly embark on the story journey, or a period of reflection, argument, and defiance may follow.
- Mentors, Guides, and Gifts: Someone comes along to help the MC get started. This story element often involves gifts or information that will help the hero on his journey and motivate him to begin.
- Crossing: The MC crosses over from the Ordinary World to the New World.
- New World: The MC may travel to an entirely new location or his current world may be changed by the arrival of someone or something new. Whatever happens, a new situation will arise.
- Problems, Prizes, and Plans: A clear story goal emerges. It will start with either a Problem to be solved or a Prize to attain. The MC then makes Plans to attain the Prize or solve the Problem.
- Midpoint Attempt: Going for the Prize: This represents a major attempt to achieve a goal and the consequence of that effort. It occurs midway through the story.
- Downtime Response: The MC responds to whatever happened at the Midpoint. It may be a time of celebration or reflection. New Plans may need to be made. Some twist usually sends the action off in a new direction.
- Chase and Escape: The MC pursues her goal or, sometimes, she is pursued by an adversary.
- Death and Transformation: The MC’s life or happiness may be in peril, someone close to him might die, or what he holds most dear may be threatened. As a result, he goes through an inner Transformation.
- Climax: The Final Test: The MC must face his ultimate challenge and prove that the changes he has made are real and not just temporary. It is the Final Test.
- Final Reward: The MC gets what she has earned. There is often a celebration and reflection on what has happened.
Story Frames provides a structure for understanding stories that may be used to develop key skills for students of any ability level. The use of pictography strategies, storyboards, and icons representing the various story elements helps to make abstract concepts concrete and accessible.
Interior Features
About the Features
Story Frames for Teaching Literacy, includes a variety of features designed to enhance reader understanding. Examples include:
- Downloadable Resources
- Tips for online learning
- Chapter conclusions and teletherapy
- Sample Activities
- Tables and figures
- References
Downloadable Resources
Downloadable resources inform readers which core instructional materials they should have on hand throughout the chapter.
Sample Activities
Throughout the book, readers can find sample activities that include methods for differentiating instruction for both emerging and advanced readers and writers.
Tips for online learning and teletherapy
Each chapter includes strategies that can be implemented during lessons or therapy sessions conducted virtually.
Tables and Figures
More than 80 tables and figures reinforce important concepts and provide ways to more easily understand the material.
Chapter Conclusions
Each chapter closes with a final section that summarizes its key elements and provides readers with an abstract of the covered material.
References
Citations include review articles, reports of study findings, research findings, and other key references that can be used to find additional information.
Online Materials
About the Materials
Readers can access, download, and print the following from the Brookes Download Hub:
- Sample storyboards and templates
- 40+ handouts and worksheets
- Game cards
- Slide decks to use in instruction
- 30+ sample story analyses of books for children and young adults
- Brief literature guides for applying Story Frames to picture books and to chapter books and novels