I recently watched an amazing Ted Talk by children's author Mac Barnett about how good stories can open the door to a world of suspended disbelief and wonder and it got me thinking about how his creation of fictional yet almost believable worlds could support children with SEN with writing and language development.
At the front of Barnett's book 'Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem' there is an advert that invites children to apply and own their own blue whale. This resulted in letters and phone calls from children all over the country inquiring about and talking to Blue Whales. What a great way to engage children further with a story and get them writing and talking about it!
It got me thinking about possibilities for the classroom...take a favourite such as The Hungry Caterpillar wouldn't it be great to introduce the story by children walking into a cocoon made out of cardboard boxes, or by being personally invited by the caterpillar to a feast? Or with Oliver Jeffers book ‘The Way Back Home' the children could strike up a pen pal relationship with the alien friend, maybe receive a phone call from the alien...
Extending stories into the real world can make them so much more relevant for children and could inspire comments, creative writing and a way to express their imaginations.
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