How does Story Tools address some of the current issues that teachers face?

Inspiring disengaged learners

It can be challenging sometimes to inspire children in the middle and upper grades, particularly those who may not have a lot of confidence in their writing abilities, or who might feel uninspired to extend themselves beyond their usual 'comfort zone'. Our resources will help you overcome this and get your children writing more than you’ve ever seen them write before!

Connecting authentically to the world around them

With the involvement of well-known authors and illustrators, children get to see the real-world application of the skills and concepts they are learning about. The activities in each lesson have been specifically designed to be as creative as possible so kids are motivated to engage with the focus of the lesson, and to try out some new strategies and techniques.

Hearing firsthand from creatives on their experience will resonate with some, if not all, young writers.

There are even a few 'behind the scenes' publishing-focused lessons, such as Series 2 Lesson 11: The Book Factory, which provides your young creators with a fascinating glimpse into how books are made, while giving them context and the 'bigger picture' for their own creative work.

No time!

Story Tools is a flexible resource that can be used to support your current literacy program. You may prefer a 'pick and mix' type approach of selecting lessons that best fit into what you’re doing/focusing on. There's no planning involved because we've done the hard work for you!

Diversity and Individual Needs

Story Tools caters to a diverse range of learners, and there are opportunities for children to discover different reading genres, which in turn, helps extend their reading preferences. It also fosters a sense of belonging in a program that promotes kids to see themselves in these stories. There are so many literacy programs out there that make kids feel like they don't belong, or they don't see themselves, or feel that they can celebrate who they are in the stories they hear and read. We want to change this and ensure all children feel - and are - included.

What does this look like in the Story Tools program?:

• Series 2 Lesson 1: Plotters and Pantsers - Children are encouraged to recognise that there isn't a one size fits all approach to writing, and in doing this, explore and reflect on their own writing style and processes.
• Series 1 Lesson 1: Story Sparks - Kids create a list of their favourite things, then choose one to apply a 'What if' question to, that they can then build a story from. 
• Series 1 Lesson 12: Reading Stories - Children carry out the fun and engaging 'My Shelfie Quiz' to help them reflect on what they love in books. They then use this information to help them identify other books that they might like to read. 

Reluctant learners

We really want to give ALL children an 'in' to the world of storytelling, especially those 'reluctant' readers and writers – so the next few lessons are all about exploring different kinds of story forms, from non-fiction to audio fiction and zines. We think these particular genres will help connect, engage and ignite a passion for literacy.