Dr Catherine (Kitty) O’Reilly

In step 1, the children are engaged in story listening. The children sit together on a story mat and their educator tells a traditional oral story using voice, tone and gesture. For this project we do not use text, visual image or props. Instead, we focus on the connection made between the teller and the listeners. It is this connection, where the storyteller uses eye-contact and expressive language, that can capture the interest and imagination of the group.

In step 2, story thinking and talking, the educator uses inquiry-based pedagogy to help children think deeply about the story. During this stage, the storyteller may ask, ‘Why did the Little Red Hen now share her corn?’. This question provides the opportunity for children to share their insights or suggest other ways the characters could have solved specific problems. It is during this step of the project that children’s thinking is challenged and they are encouraged to come up with new ways of thinking about the story.

In step 3, story drawing, the children are invited to represent their understanding of the story by drawing a picture. When children draw they have the opportunity and time to think and reflect on what happened. When the drawing is complete the children verbalise what is happening in their picture. At this stage, children who may have chosen not to talk about the story with the whole group will have a second opportunity to tell the educator on a one-to-one what the story meant to them.