The Storyline Teaching Method – Encouraging Children to Become Independent Learners

On Tuesday 24th August 2010 Sallie Harkness and Steve Bell gave a presentation on Storyline as an educational approach to cross-curricular teaching at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. They were delighted to discover that there was a full house of 175 people, mostly teachers, in the RBS Corner Theatre in Charlotte Square. The chairman, Carol Woods, an educational consultant, film maker and member of the organising committee introduced the session explaining that she had experienced Storyline as a young teacher and was convinced of its value. Steve began by describing how teachers could design a storyline topic in partnership with their pupils. Sallie then explained how book-based Storylines had been developed, quoting from picture and chapter books, and showing examples of classroom work.  Audience questions followed but all too soon time was up. The United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) minibook “Storyline – Language across the Curriculum” was on sale in the Festival Bookshop so the evening finished with a book-signing which enabled further discussion with members of the audience.