About this resource
Stories have a structure. This builder uses picture prompts for the main parts of a story: who, where, when, the problem, feelings, what happened and the ending. Children use it to plan their own stories or retell stories they have heard.
Purpose
To support children to tell and retell organised stories.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Speech pathologists. Also relevant for educators and school support staff.
Client or participant group: Children aged about 5 to 12, including those with language difficulties.
Practice setting: Speech pathology sessions, classrooms and home practice.
Suggested uses
- Retelling stories after reading
- Planning oral or written stories
- Speech pathology sessions
- Classroom literacy
Instructions for practitioners
- Model with a familiar story first.
- Use the picture prompts as cues.
- Gradually fade the prompts.
- Record the child's stories to track progress.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Fill in each box.
- Tell your story using the pictures.
- Add more detail.
Accessibility considerations
Children can draw or use pictures in each box.
Scope and limitations
A learning activity. It does not assess language.
Research basis
Parent-implemented language strategies and interactive shared reading support children's language development.
- Mol, S. E., Bus, A. G., de Jong, M. T., & Smeets, D. J. H. (2008). Added Value of Dialogic Parent–Child Book Readings: A Meta-Analysis. Early Education and Development, 19(1), 7–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409280701838603
- Roberts, M. Y., & Kaiser, A. P. (2011). The Effectiveness of Parent-Implemented Language Interventions: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(3), 180–199. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2011/10-0055)
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Symbols are original line drawings created for Practitioner Plus.
