Boy's storytelling method puts 'joy' back into literacy

Gabriel, an 11-year-old boy from Cheltenham, has found a unique way to make storytelling and writing more enjoyable for children. Together with his mother, Kate, they developed a method called StoryQuest. This approach involves Gabriel narrating his stories aloud while Kate takes notes. These stories are then transformed into books, such as their first one titled The Adventures of Gabriel. Gabriel feels proud that StoryQuest is inspiring other children to create their own imaginative tales, often involving exciting adventures like battling dragons or encountering UFOs. This method is helping to bring joy back into literacy and writing for many young learners.

Thomas Hirst, a teacher at Dixon Manningham Primary School in Bradford, has introduced StoryQuest to his Year Six students. Many of these pupils usually struggle with writing, but Thomas has noticed a positive change. The method encourages children to share their story ideas with classmates and write them down on special sheets. This process allows students to focus on enjoying their imagination rather than worrying about writing perfectly. Thomas explains that many children fear the blank page and often shut down when asked to write stories. However, StoryQuest has helped them find pleasure in writing, making the classroom a more joyful place.

Kate describes her role in the storytelling process as being Gabriel's 'ghost writer. ' She listens carefully as Gabriel narrates his stories, writes them down, and then reads them back to him for feedback and edits. This collaboration results in a polished story that Gabriel can proudly call a book. Since creating StoryQuest, Kate and Gabriel have been leading sessions across the UK, teaching other children and learning groups how to use this method. StoryQuest not only improves writing skills but also builds confidence and emotional literacy among pupils, making storytelling a fun and meaningful experience for many children.