How to create a language experience story

Creating language experience stories is a practical way to teach that reading and writing are like talking. It helps learners understand that what they think about and say can be written, and what is written can be read.

There are many variations on creating language experience stories. The following steps are the most common.

Here are some guidelines to follow when you create a language experience story:

• Write the story on a chalkboard at first so that it is easy to edit.
• Have learners begin to write the stories themselves as they progress in their reading and writing skills.

1. Have the learner dictate an experience or story to you.
2. Write down what the learner says.
3. Read back to the learner what you wrote to be sure it is correct.
4. Decide with the learner what changes to make, if any.
5. Read and reread the story together, tracking as you read.

1. Arrange a language experience activity .
2. Invite learners (one at a time) to dictate a sentence about the experience for the story.
3. Write on the chalkboard exactly what they say.
4. Read the story back to them, then decide with the learners what changes to make, if any.
5. Read and reread the story together, tracking with a pointer.

• Task module: How to create a language experience story
• In task module: Using a language experience approach activity
• In task module: Developing literacy skills, by Martha A. Lane (contributor), Delle P. Matthews (contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Anne Klaassens (editor), and Trudy K. Stewart (editor, contributor)
• In task module: Teaching people to read and write, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 25 January 1999

© 1999 SIL International