Hi Jo,

I have never used a storybook in my classes. I have used some with my private students in groups of 2 to 4 students.

Frankly, I haven't used it in class because I am afraid to. Firstly, my classes for the last 5 years heve been between 40 to 50 students - grades 3 to 5. Secondly, my students' comprehension abilities are extremely limited. Not so much by lack of knowledge, as by the way that knowledge has been introduced. They learn everything by heart from their textbooks and the moment I ask them a question which is not from their text book they have no idea what I am talking about. I put a lot of effort into bringing the vocabulary they have accumulated to life. I am not very sure how to go about it in such large classes.

I would be very grateful if I could get some suggestions.

What I have done though is write scripts for Cinderella and Snowhite and through drama teach the stories):):)::)

best, Iskra

Iskra,

 We could organise a conference arising just from the situation you  describe and the questions you ask.  There are such excellent people around who are specialists in this area, some of whom are on the Yagoogroups YL list. In November, Andrew Wright is doing a fielded discussion for us on Storytelling = not quite the same as using storz books, but closely related. Andrew's website is well worth visiting, but I am away from home and cannot quote the URL. Almost certainly, though, Mr. Google can tell you. Mr. Google knows nearly everything.

Iskra,

The name Andrew Wright rather confused the otherwise reliable Mr. Google, so I wrote to Andrew himself and here is the URL. (10,000 people have visited Andrew's site):

http://andrewarticlesandstories.wordpress.com/

Hi Jo and others intereste din using picture story books in their classrooms,

 I'm looking forward to seeing yr presentation Jo.  I'm very interested in using picture books and am also giving a talk about the word /illustration relatonship in picture books.

 I like to read the smae book over several sessions, so that children becme familiar with the language and illustrations and begin saying the words and noticing details in the illustrations.

I like to  use picture books  in as many lessons as possible, often  just for the pleasure of having a story and sharing a something we all like together. 

 I work with pre-school and lower primary children in an EFL context, so I've not used picture books with secondary students, but there are some fabulous titles which would be very suitable and challenging for secondary students, which would promote discussion and language use.  Something Else Cave K. & Riddell C., Picture Puffins, would work well.   The Red Tree Shaun Tan is a fascinating book which would  be graet for upper secondary - discussing lonliness and coping with growing up.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Tree-Shaun-Tan/dp/0734410875/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238155892&sr=8-4

 I'm looking forward to  meeting Jo and many other participants next week :-)

Sandie Mourão

Sandie,

Hi!

Iskra,

 I think it would suffice if you wrote something like - "This story is a slightly simplified version of a story by......

 Dennis

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all the suggestions and ideas!

 Teachers are encouraged to use storybooks with their VYL classes as much as possible.  We have a selection of books available at Central office and teachers come and borrow the books that they want to use.  Popular choices this year have been 'Giraffes can't Dance' by Giles Andreae, 'The Monkey with the Bright Blue Bottom' by Steve Smallman, 'Marvin Gets Mad' and 'Marvin Wanted More' by Joseph Theobald, and 'Elmer' by David McKee.

The teachers have a seminar on storytelling and I'm trying to encourage them to share their ideas and follow up / related activities so that by next year we'll have a bank of activities for each storybook.

 I like the idea of a syllabus based entirely on storybooks, rather than a specific textbook.  Has anyone tried this?  Do you think it would work?

Hi everyone

It's great to see that other people out there are using storybooks. Sandie I agree that Something Else is a wonderful book and it's great for teaching about acceptance of others. I look forward to meeting you at the conference! Opal Dunn has mentioned your name as an avid storybook lover! I'm sure most of you know who Opal Dunn is, but for those of you who don't, she is an educational consultant who specialises in early language development. She has been using storybooks for years with children and their parents. We actually did an interview with her, talking about storybooks for our first Story Seeds newsletter.Feel free to have a read.

 http://thestoryseeds.com/The Storybook News - Issue 1.pdf

Jennifer   - I think that there are so many storybooks out there that cover so many different cross-curricular subjects and that cover so much useful and authentic language that basing a whole course around storybooks can be such a rich experience for children.

Iskra - I don't believe in modifying storybooks for learners - as an aspiring (but long way off from publication!) children's writer - I know how much each word matters. I would just recommend choosing a different storybook that better adapted to your Chinese learners, remembering that thanks to the right preparation, storytelling techniques and the illustrations you'll be surprised at how much they actually understand.

I have to leave you now as I'm off to Cardiff tomorrow. I'll email as soon as possible to let you all know what's happening there!

All the best

Jo

Thanks for you message, Jennifer.

And greetings to everyone from Cardiff. I've just come in from an Indian meal with most of the members of the YLSIG committee.

Hi everyone..I've been making my list of storybooks, thanks :D !!

I love using storybooks when I teach children. I think it's a good way to improve their listening abilities. After I read a story and do some activities with them (such as drawing their favourite part or character), I always ask them to re-tell the story (with my help) and I have to say that it has worked.

My favourite stories are the Mr Men and Little Miss books and each child loves to impersonate one of them, so by the end of the year we have a Little Mr Nosey, a (many...I dare say) Little Miss Chatterbox and so on.

They are sometimes not so easy for foreign students but I believe children have unsuspected resources and it is always a good choice to set high goals. Even if they do not understand every word or paragraph at the beginning, does it really matter? The first times will be more difficult but then, without even realising it, they will widen their vocab and their grammar.

I also like using the Gingerbread Man story and then make them watch Shrek (there are a couple of scenes with Gingy).

Enjoy the congress and the city...I would have loved to be there!!!

And I love Wales!

Anna,

As far as I can see, Jo's session was not recorded - but perhaps I'm wrong.Jo?

Dennis

Hi all

sorry for the delay in writing. Nicky and I went straight from IATEFL to a book festival. I'm rushing out now to take a train but will write tomorrow evening. We will also be downloading our presentation for you all to have a look at and feel free to ask any questions.

Can't wait to read what's been going on in my absence and will tell you all about the great sessions we saw.

have a great Sunday evening.

Jo

Hi, Jo,

I'm really looking forward to seeing your session. To tell you the truth, Confusius' proverb about the fish and the fisherman doesn't work for me):):): I need to see how somebody else does it. What exactly they do. I need concrete examples. Then, after I get the picture, I can improvise)::):) Well, maybe sometimes theory is enogh too, but I really like observing how other teachers do it.

best, Iskra

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Jackie,

Thanks for posting. I must listen to the podcast at look at the other site.

Dennis