About StorySharing™
The theory of Storysharing™
The development of Storysharing™
Exemplar case study
How can I learn more about Storysharing™
References
The approach derives from research and experience in anecdotal storytelling in everyday life, where typically people co-narrate and repeat stories of their experiences. These small stories and anecdotes are often termed “personal event narratives” In co-narration, one person is the chief narrator, and the partner elaborates, comments, communicates feelings and reactions, and sometimes takes over the narrative. As the story is retold with new audiences for the pleasure of reliving the experience, narrators get more practised and fluent in their telling.
In StorySharing we teach people how to make space for a partner to join in, how to use multisensory techniques in storytelling, and how to identify roles for narrators with severe communication difficulties. For example, a pupil from mainstream may take the role of setting up the story, narrating the main events and providing the setting, whereas the pupil from the special school will show an object, indicate feelings through body language and provide the punchline through pressing the switch on a voice output communication aid. The approach allows everyone to take part in storytelling, and will help children to break down barriers and see the whole person, not the disability, regardless of the severity of a child's impairment.
These conversational interactions help us to remember and make sense of
our experiences. They are also a vital part of making and keeping friends
and socialising. As we build up a store of tales about what has happened in
our lives, we develop a strong sense of personal identity.