True Story Training for K-12 Teachers: Introduction and Overview

Welcome to Module 1, The Story Engine, of True Story Training for K-12 Teachers.

What to do

1. Watch the video above. You can pause and replay the video if you need to. The information in the video is also summarised below.
2. Complete the task (below). Note – this task can be viewed, but only completed once you are enrolled in this course.
3. Spend a few moments familiarising yourself with the layout of the course pages. On desktop, the course contents appear on the left. On mobile, they appear below. Your profile button – which includes a link to the private class forum – in located in the top right corner.
4. If you have any questions or you need help, please post them to the Q&A topic in the forum, or contact [email protected] – I am here to help you. Please feel free to answer any questions your classmates have posted to the forum.

What You Will Learn

This Lesson introduces the content, philosophy and learning outcomes for the entire True Story Training for K-12 Teachers course.

Module 1: The Story Engine

Nobody can analyse and write effective narratives without knowing how great stories truly work. In this module, you will review the education science and story industry expertise, and analyse examples of children’s fiction. This will enable you to understand and teach the defined and proven elements that combine to make great stories.

Outcomes

Confidently apply the practical methods you will use in the classroom. Teach your students to both comprehend and plan effective narratives. Your students will do this by using rules proven to both authentically engage audiences and be easy and engaging to learn.

Module 2: Boost Engagement and Confidence for Writing Success

Did you know that many researchers believe that writing confidence is a better predictor of long-term writing success than writing outcomes? Review and practice evidence-based methods to boost writing confidence and enjoyment.

Understand the simple, repeatable building blocks that authors use to create compelling stories of any length – and how your students will use this knowledge to more easily comprehend and create great stories.

Outcomes

Teach your students how to confidently write, rewrite and edit their stories like real authors do – stories that are meaningfully structured to engage audiences.

Apply proven methods to boost writing engagement and confidence.

Module 3: How One Method = a Million brilliant Stories

Learn how one method equals a million brilliant stories – regardless of genre or form, or your task, test, topic and curriculum requirements.

Review the research on these narrative writing methods, which have been proven to make writing easier for young, unengaged, non-confident writers, and those with learning difficulties and English-as-a-second language.

Outcomes

Adapt this one simple, proven story method to all your narrative task, test, topic and curriculum requirements, regardless of story genre or form. This means your students will have the freedom to create the stories they want to write within the context of their learning requirements. It also means they will have one set of proven rules for comprehending the point, purpose and deeper meaning of most stories they read.

Why is this important?

So that you understand the scope and the schedule of the True Story Training for K-12 Teachers – and therefore what to expect in Module 1, The Story Engine.

Items to Note

• The task below is to be completed in the course forum.