A practical guide to story language
Storytime Stories: Little Stories, Growing Language
Shared stories grow conversations about words, sentences, and the world inside a book.
Vocabulary + syntax
Explore new words and build sentences.
Sequencing + narrative
Use first, next, and last to connect events and narrative.
Characters, setting, titles
Notice characters, setting, and titles in shared book talk.
Build a story together
Start with the title, then explore the six parts of the story. Use these seven visual cues and simple gestures to help children tell it in their own words.
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See inside a Storytime Story
Take a look through Felix Catches a Fish, a Story Builder Story by Mrs. Gwen. This placeholder preview will be replaced when the final story is ready.
Felix Catches a Fish · 10-page placeholder preview
Page 1 of 10 · Placeholder story preview
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A Story Builder Story Felix Catches a Fish by Mrs. Gwen
Build story language together
Story talk builds oral language and story understanding—foundations for later reading comprehension, not a complete reading program.
Share story talk with a grown-up
Model a sentence, offer a choice, and follow the child’s lead. Shared story talk is a conversation, not a test.
Story Builders: talk, build, retell
Tools in development for discussing, building, and retelling stories. Try these five shared-story prompts.
Notice the words
Name characters, actions, places, and feeling words; add one useful word when it fits.
Build a sentence
Model a short sentence, then add who, what, where, or how details as ready.
Put events in order
Use first, next, and last to connect what happened across the story.
Talk about the story world
Talk about characters, setting, problem, and actions to connect story parts.
Retell together
Invite words, gestures, pictures, AAC, or any mix—add support instead of testing recall.
Early book awareness, one page at a time
Name the title, notice the cover, turn pages, and talk about how pictures and print work together.
- Name the title and notice the cover.
- Notice page turns, pictures, and print.
- Connect story words, sentences, and meaning.
A story collection in development
Storytime Stories and Story Builders are in development. Collection details will be shared when confirmed.