Nearly 100% of the teachers surveyed believe reading and storytelling enables children to be more creative writers. Despite reading levels actually improving, attainment in writing is not progressing as strongly, largely because of children’s inability to re-tell a story. Children who are read tales at home build up a store of patterns and ideas which can be vital in developing their own stories.
Pie Corbett, literacy expert, former primary head teacher and inspector, and educational advisor to the Government comments: “To develop children as writers, reading is absolutely essential. Every teacher knows the best writers, the most proficient writers, are always readers. It not only gives children language, it also develops their imaginations. Storytelling is also hugely important, as the ability to tell a story is developed by building up a bank of well-known tales to draw upon. Those who struggle may not yet have built up that storehouse; for example, if they are not read to at home, they are unfamiliar with the language patterns. It is not to do with being ‘unimaginative’ or ‘unintelligent’. Narrative is a necessary, primary act of mind and natural to all human beings – we are all story-makers whether we like it or not.”
With children’s writing skills being a major concern for many years, teachers have found the Talk for Writing initiative, launched by Pie Corbett and the Primary National Strategy in 2008, to be enormously beneficial in improving writing. Indeed, Talk for Writing, the dynamic approach to children’s creative writing, has been proven to double the rate of success of writing in children. Evidence shows that if children are able to tell a story, they can begin to write one. Pie Corbett comments: “The Talk for Writing storytelling approach was used as a basis for improving writing in a teacher research project in Lewisham, titled 'Stories to tell, stories to write'. Research carried out in Lewisham Local Authority found strong evidence, 100% of the children made expected progress and 80% made better than expected progress. The project concluded that the approach should become a key focus for raising written standards in Lewisham schools.”
Supporting the growing success of Talk for Writing, Oxford University Press has worked with Pie Corbett to launch Stories for Writing, a primary teaching resource for Key Stage 1 children. Stories for Writing combines classic children’s picture books, including Dogger by Shirley Hughes and Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins, with Pie Corbett’s inspirational Talk for Writing storytelling techniques. These carefully chosen classic books by award-winning, best-loved authors and illustrators, including the Children's Laureate Anthony Browne, immerse children in a rich reading experience in a simple yet powerfully imaginative way. This enables children to explore and use their imaginations through repeated reading, story mapping and oral storytelling in order to develop creative writing skills.
Interactive page-turning technology also brings the stories to life on screen.
Jane Harley, Head of Primary Publishing at Oxford University Press, comments: “We are delighted that we can bring Pie Corbett’s expertise and the incredible impact of Talk for Writing to some of the best-loved children’s story books. Undoubtedly Stories for Writing will unlock every child’s potential and is set to improve writing skills in Key Stage 1 pupils across UK primary schools. Writing is an essential skill and not just an educational issue. Children need it to participate fully in today’s society.”
