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I've been studying hard in the last couple of weeks and one of the required readings is on the effectiveness of using stories to teach a variety of topics (so not just as an English novel). The unit I'm studying is Literature Across the Curriculum, and how teachers (and librarians) can use literature in subjects other than English.

A point that really got me thinking is how providing students with story structure instruction improved their ability to comprehend not just narrative stories, but many other text types. I find it challenging to read slabs of text from textbooks and journal articles, whereas when the information is provided as a story which connects to my own experience I find it easier to assimilate the information. I'm currently looking into story structure instruction and I wonder if anyone has actually participated in this post-stroke? Has it made a difference?

I remember my Mum helping me out after the speech therapist stopped seeing me (I had developed a stutter and she felt I needed to deal with that through a psychologist before I would make any progress with her). Mum tried to help me remember and understand words (or relearn them) by encouraging a story approach. For example:

"Remember when we went to OT last week, we left the hospital and then we ate our lunch... (she wanted me to remember the words "in the park")". She would follow it up with questions like "what did we do after we had lunch in the park?" and "what did we eat for lunch?" or "where were we sitting when we ate our lunch?".

It would take a while for me to recall all the details, and find the words I needed to express myself, but I did. It was more effective than writing out lists of words anyway.

I have faced many challenges returning to study this year, and I notice I make more sense of the information if it's presented in anecdotal form or accompanied by an example or story. My lecturers often mark me down, because even though I get it, I can't access the academic literature as easily and don't include it as much as I should. I totally understand why I get the lower mark, and it's completely justified. The one assignment I got a distinction in was a practical-based task, where I had to show what I'd learned through the creation of a series of teaching materials. I didn't have to refer to too many academic texts in order to achieve a good mark. I know once I finish the course I'll be able to secure a job because on the practical level, I can do the work.

Maybe if I can access story structure training, it will improve other areas of my academic reading. Just a thought.

Hi Katrina

Interesting information on your experiences regarding your studies. Story structure - when reading your examples about what this involves, I think I have done this who story strucutre thing my whole life!!

Where you have written your have been marked down because even though you "get it" your access of academic literature and including this in your assignments was not as developed. Well again - you have just again touched on something for me which has been my experience all along, again working hard always to put myself out amongst life to immerse myself and gain that feeling of belonging.

It's not much fun being constantly left behind because of the inability pull out information that you know - just can't access but is there- somewhere, buried deep.

Your articulation of this truth is awesome!!

Sue xxoo

Hi Katrina,

Academic writing and reading ... this is my world. Like you I found it incredibly hard to understand articles that I was using for my recovery. But, I knew what I had to do if I wanted to go back to the classroom, that is, use functional language, the same material my students use in the classroom.

If you are interested in this, I can send you a lot of good and useful materials that helped and still help me with my students. My students don't realize what they are learning about writing and reading, is that I am using them and my classes as my rehab.

In my blog, I try to use two or three types of functional writing and reading, so to your question, yes, they make a difference both reading and writing. If you are interested about text types and functional writing, please send my your emal. I can't send my materials throught EnableMe.

Best,

Marcus

Thanks Marcus, that would be fantastic! I'll try to work out how to send you a private message with my email address.

Hi Katrina, As an ex-primary school teacher I often used literature to teach across the curriculum. There are so many good books that can be used to teach so many things. Best wishes with your study Toni