If you have anything to do with the education of primary school age children then you will soon find yourself enlisting the help of a notable collection of story books. You will need a considerable quota of additional resources to put to work alongside the story books so you will without doubt save a considerable amount of time if you use specially prepared early years teaching resources. It is entirely possible to find complete story sacks but you can put together your own with considerable ease using story resources.
The vital component of a quality story sack is the main book that the story sack is based upon. A good quality story that captures young children’s imagination and fosters their enjoyment of books and reading is a must. Authors of children’s books have produced prize winning stories that have become favourites for many generations of children. The actual storage of the resources that support the story are often stored in a sack made of a soft fabric. They can be stored and hung with a drawstring and are easy for young children to handle. The contents of story sacks vary but the main resources that should be included are soft toys, puppets, games, a story tape, DVD, photographs, books closely associated with the main title and perhaps a CD of resource materials that can be used for teaching. Factual books associated with the main book should also be included.
You will find that story sacks are used within most infant and early years settings. Story sacks are a great learning resource as they promote creativity in young children’s learning. Children soon gain in confidence with texts that are appropriate for their maturity and are age appropriate. Regular use of a variety of well chosen story sacks will enhance young children’s development in language skills. Speaking and listening skills are developed alongside an enjoyment of books and becoming an early reader.
Story sacks are not readily available in book shops and in the High Street. You will need to do some research and find story sacks for sale on-line. The research that you carry out is important because there are a vast selection available and they vary widely in the quality.
Teachers and people working with young children often spend hours preparing resources to support a story. Creating displays and activities that go alongside a book can take hours so choose a story sack that has a great variety of activities included in it. Practical resources, ideas and activities in a guide or a CD of teaching resources that can be printed, laminated and used alongside the story can save you hours of preparation time. Cross curricular ideas help to bring sense and meaning of the world to young children.
Story sacks can help towards producing some of the most lively creative teaching and learning in early years settings. They are fun and make positive learning links for young children. Neil Griffiths, a Head Teacher from Swindon, first started developing the idea of story sacks for young children. He recognised that story sacks could help the story teller, whether this was a parent, grand parent, teaching assistant or teacher. Story sacks can be shared in a lively, positive,creative and non-threatening manner to help young children foster an interest in books.
You will find that the concept of story sacks is being used more widely than just in schools. Many settings that work with families and young children have realised the benefit that good quality story sacks can have upon parental /child relationships.Story sacks can also be used with children that may have more specific needs in socialising or delays in language development. Many groups such as libraries, therapists, hospitals, after school clubs etc will have access to story sacks.
One of the most positive sides to story sacks are the opportunities that they give to young children to use them independently and in small groups. Once the child is familiar with the story and the contents of the sack they are able to explore the story and re-tell it using the supporting props. This helps to develop their independence, sharing, taking turns, and will help develop their confidence and language skills.
Some of the best suppliers of story sacks also provide a CD of materials, activities,colouring sheets,tracing, writing scaffolds and early maths activities and resources that can be printed out and used whenever the need arises. You should look out for suppliers that also provide materials on their CD’s that can save hours and hours of preparation for display purposes.
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