A rich library of original titles to engage students of all ages and create unique teaching and learning, as well as providing reading, comprehension and performance opportunities.
These classic tales have been re-told by Ellie Hallett as read-aloud playscripts. The pleasure is in the sharing of the drama and fun of these famous stories that are not only a part of out cultural inheritance, they are timeless and have been enjoyed by children (and remembered by adults) for generations.
Each story can be used in many different ways:
- as a teacher reading to a group or class
- for out-loud partner or small group take-it-in-turn reading. The rows of text make this easy.
- read silently or performing for an audience.
Vintage illustrations add to the enjoyment of each book, and lend themselves for not only impromptu discussions, but also they can model the art of illustrating that will encourage children to emulate these styles in their own drawings.
The format and retelling by Ellie Hallett has been done in such a way that each reader not only feels the emotions of each character, but most importantly, has equal reading time. This avoids the problem that many plays have where there are major and minor roles.
Free Worksheets
Free downloadable collaborative worksheets have been written by Ellie for 15 of the stories. Click above for ZIP file of all worksheets, or follow this link for individual worksheets.
Each worksheet is different in style to energise the learning and to avoid predictability. Creative thinking, partner or small group discussions, individual decision-making and self testing and marking are involved in the worksheets to stretch learners to a higher level of learning rather than keep them on a static one.
Teachers just have to quickly scan, check, comment and sign the completed and already marked worksheet.
Each student will need a project book, ideally with a lined page on the right and a blank page on the left. The worksheets are pasted on the left side and the right is for written answers that don’t fit on the worksheet.
Oh, and every story is suitable for performing to an audience.
OUTCOMES
Social education and well-being benefits
This shared reading model provides the opportunity for children to experience the enjoyment and benefits of getting to know each classmate as a friend and collaborative partner rather than as a competitor.
Repetition
Teachers could explain to the class that professional actors rehearse the same story many times over to improve fluency and expression, and as budding actors, the readers of these stories will find that at each repetition it enables the story to continue to grow in power and impact. The children will also realise that changing the starting reader adds to this growth.
Struggling readers will be determined not to miss the fun and will do their utmost to improve their reading skills by listening to and learning from their partners. This is peer teaching at its best. All readers will soon begin to add their own flourishes of vocal expression and physical gestures when word knowledge and looking ahead of the voice is automatic.
Teacher involvement is minimal apart from reading each new story to the class so that they hear and visualise the finished product. Unlaboured teaching and learning is both the aim and the outcome.
Because these stories are active rather than passive, each reader is in the story rather than being a bystander. Repetition will happen all by itself because children will want to experience the drama and humour again and again. Children should be encouraged to change characters (in scripted plays) or just change the starting person which gives everyone a turn to be every character.
This format results in a lot of positive emotional bonding occurring, including between children who may not have previously got on very well. I call this the bedtime story effect, where the story is the bonding agent, working its magic in a classroom setting.
