Storytelling across the Primary Curriculum

Starting from the question ‘what is a story?’ Storytelling Across the Primary Curriculum leads the reader through the theory and practise of storytelling as an educational method – a method taught by the author over the last ten years through Primary English teaching programmes.This practical book gives teachers the skills and confidence to use storytelling and the spoken word in new and exciting ways in the classroom. It will also give teachers the confidence to ‘put down the book’ and trust themselves to tell, rather than read, a story. It provides a wealth of examples of cross-curricular teaching opportunities, including a section on the ways in which the teaching of phonics can be embedded in the 'real' language of story. Storytelling Across the Primary Curriculum is ideal for trainee and practicing primary school teachers who want to develop their classroom practice within the field of storytelling. Students on BA Primary, BEd, and PGCE courses, particularly those specialising in English, will also benefit from this book’s stimulating and intuitive approach to teaching English language and literacy.

This short book is a lively read and a valuable resource for both the primary and the English teacher. Daniel’s scholarship is secure and convincing whilst his approach is consistently practical and enticing; tempting and daring the reader to take up the challenge and realize some of the benefits and the impacts of telling rather than reading stories in the classroom.Mick Connell, University of SheffieldEnglish Drama Media Magazine (NATE), June 2012

Alastair K. Daniel has more than twenty years' experience in education as a teacher and storyteller. Having previously taught Primary English at Kingston University, he is now Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy in Education at London Metropolitan University.