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Article
Can storytelling really make kids smarter? 
Ruby Joe and Juk download, plus two pictures to colour in. 
Trolley Dolly, is a novel in development, it explores themes of bereavement and change. After the death of her dad, 13 year old Dolly and her mum are forced by financial circumstances to relocate to Yorkshire from the south of England. Dolly has to get used to village life, a new school as well as trying to deal with bereavement.
This is a story for older KS2/KS3 students, and whilst it covers a difficult issue, it does contain hope and humour. I hope Trolley Dolly will get people talking about bereavement, a subject that affects us all at some point in our lives. If the story works for enough people then I will continue it. Just let me know. Richard
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This page was inspired by the Sleepy Story below and as teachers and parents have asked for more. We'll keep adding them as soon Richard creates them, for like all of his other works they are complete originals. There is also something for secondary and older pupils, including the acclaimed 'Late one Night in London.' *There is a new collection of monologues and pieces for older students on the way along with a Romani detective... The Christmas Box story was inspired by the over- commercialisation of Christmas brought home to Richard when visiting schools in October and finding children already counting how many presents they would be getting. Aided by TV and other media being full of adverts, causing many parents to start to worrying about the cost, and not to mention how much extra work for Santa Claus. The Christmas Box is a lovely cautionary tale about too many expensive toys and how to enjoy the simpler things, like the humble cardboard box. Enjoy!
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Late one night in London
Is a short story about two year 10 boys who have the opportunity to go on an all expenses paid weekend to London. All they have to do is pick up a holdall en-route. Their fantastic night out in London with the well connected Dex, soon turns into something neither of them want.
Late one night in London is great for discussion and for creating what next-follow up writing.
Should the boys have been more careful about what they were getting into?
What happens next?
Is a short story about two year 10 boys who have the opportunity to go on an all expenses paid weekend to London. All they have to do is pick up a holdall en-route. Their fantastic night out in London with the well connected Dex, soon turns into something neither of them want.
Late one night in London is great for discussion and for creating what next-follow up writing.
Should the boys have been more careful about what they were getting into?
What happens next?
| late_one_night_in_london2018.pdf |
| late_one_night_in_london_-_a4_graphic_novel_last_page.pdf |
The story of a sleep story
Whilst on a residential arts course attended by a number of teachers and key stage 2 pupils, Richard was motivated to finish a story he’d started a few months previously. For many of the children it’s their first time away from home, and with that and the combination of the excitement of the course, it often means that at least for the first two nights of their three night stay they get very little sleep and as a consequence neither do the teachers. One teacher mentioned this to Richard after his session on the first day so he quickly put the finishing touches to his new story ‘Don’t Wake the King’ a tale about sleeping, or not as the case may be. The teacher read this story to her pupils that night and success! Much needed sleep came.
The next night the same sleeping success again, but this time teachers from other schools were reading the story to their children, resulting in happy teachers and happy and attentive children during their arts sessions the next day, and thus happy artists.
In addition one teacher was so impressed not only with the sleep enhancing quality of Richard’s story but also reported that after the first hearing one boy from her school could repeat the full story, Something he’d never shown much interest in before. Richard was later informed that the boy delivered it at a school assembly (something else he’d never done) and was given an award. However Richard did forget to ask if the story sent the teachers and the pupils to sleep, but as the saying goes that’s another story.
If you’d like to try out the story for yourself with your children, then we’ve made it available free to download and print off. Do tell us if it works for you.
Happy sleepystorytelling.
Whilst on a residential arts course attended by a number of teachers and key stage 2 pupils, Richard was motivated to finish a story he’d started a few months previously. For many of the children it’s their first time away from home, and with that and the combination of the excitement of the course, it often means that at least for the first two nights of their three night stay they get very little sleep and as a consequence neither do the teachers. One teacher mentioned this to Richard after his session on the first day so he quickly put the finishing touches to his new story ‘Don’t Wake the King’ a tale about sleeping, or not as the case may be. The teacher read this story to her pupils that night and success! Much needed sleep came.
The next night the same sleeping success again, but this time teachers from other schools were reading the story to their children, resulting in happy teachers and happy and attentive children during their arts sessions the next day, and thus happy artists.
In addition one teacher was so impressed not only with the sleep enhancing quality of Richard’s story but also reported that after the first hearing one boy from her school could repeat the full story, Something he’d never shown much interest in before. Richard was later informed that the boy delivered it at a school assembly (something else he’d never done) and was given an award. However Richard did forget to ask if the story sent the teachers and the pupils to sleep, but as the saying goes that’s another story.
If you’d like to try out the story for yourself with your children, then we’ve made it available free to download and print off. Do tell us if it works for you.
Happy sleepystorytelling.
| dont_wake_the_king.pdf |
