A Guest Blog by Gwyn McCormack Director of Positive Eye Ltd UK
The model of a Sparkly Story Time Show: Bringing literacy to life for children with complex learning needs in a virtual world
HOW DID THE STORY TIME SHOW EVOLVE?
Can you imagine the joy for a family of participating in a virtual Story Time Show inclusively of their child with complex learning needs… and with SUCCESS?!
This is what happened last year….
There was a small woman called Gwyn. Gwyn ran a small company from a small village in the United Kingdom. Normally Gwyn delivered courses about children with complex learning needs, but suddenly COVID struck and everything stopped. Gwyn decided to take action.
From her big cupboard of sparkly things Gwyn found her story character, Marvin and wrote the adventures of Marvin, a kind and helpful little boy who loves to meet new people and make new friends. Gwyn positioned the adventures within the model of a unique Story Time Show. Gwyn took her Show and went LIVE on Facebook, performing 60 + shows. From around the world families of children with complex learning needs discovered the show and a wonderful community formed.
Twenty-two months later, a Story Time Show embedded in teaching and learning practices which supports a multi-sensory approach to literacy for children with complex learning needs continues to positively strengthen literacy outcomes for100’s of children in the USA. The outcomes have quite literally surprised everyone.
Here’s a short clip of the Story Time Show
WHAT COMPRISES A STORY TIME SHOW AND HOW IS LITERACY STRENGTHENED?
Each highly colourful, lively show starts with an engaging, rainbow wheel welcome to draw the children in. High contrast, glittery cardboard characters enact Marvin’s adventures. Children are encouraged to join in with the show’s catchy songs. Highly energetic, enthusiastic storytelling, ‘shout-outs, rhythms and funny voices all combine to maintain the children’s focus and attention. Children respond warmly to Marvin’s mid-show chat, a moment enhanced by each having their own Marvin doll to interact with. Live captioning and two interpreters ensure an accessible show and families are given materials to make the fun crafts demonstrated live.
The approaches adopted promoted literacy access skills
Concept development
Fine motor
Tactile discrimination skills
Auditory and language development
Visual skills (Visual attention, tracking, scanning etc)
Book and story skills
Smell and taste
Model making
Imaginary play
Music, singing, rhythm
Ready to go LIVE on the Story Time Show
Using rainbow wheels to spin and go ‘WHEEEE!”
Cheerleader pompoms – huge ones for maximum effect
High contrast outfit against blackground
Fun engaging characters designed and painted at Positive Eye using acrylic paint, glitter paper and grey board.
Homemade high contrast hats, red lipstick, black eyeliner to ensure high contrast face
In action on the Story Time Show with Bryan the American Sign Language Interpreter
and Dr Donna Carpenter the State wide Coordinator for the Kentucky Deafblind Project who saw the huge benefits of this work and opened the door to make it happen! The shows are all fully captioned.
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN?
‘This snapshot of parent’s comments is worth a thousand words.’
This one perhaps sums it up
In summary….
The Story Time Show has made a huge difference to literacy at home for their children with complex learning needs. It’s both strengthened the literacy outcomes for their children but also strengthened their own confidence to present stories to their children in a new and different way. The Story Time Show Expands literacy
Builds confidence and support for home: Increase the child’s literacy and language skills while having fun.
Creates and builds an accessible home library
Creates fun for the whole family
Increases attention, concentration, vocalisation, engagement in other story times, understanding of books…..connections have been increased
Finally a presentation by Gwyn McCormack (Positive Eye UK) and Dr Donna Carpenter (Kentucky Deafblind Project, USA) at the SPEVI Conference, Australia, January 2021 about the Story Time Show https://youtu.be/9P0wCtI0iaE
Positive Eye has launched a new app and it is FREE to download
Positive Looking To Go is a comprehensive collection of skills, activities and resources for teachers, teaching assistants and parents to help educate and develop children and young learners with SEND and VI. The App is packed with ideas and information to help in the classroom or at home.
The app will be updated regularly with new resources, activities, and Marvin Adventures so keep an eye up for updates.
Find them in the App store for iPhone or on Google Play Story Time Shows for your school or organisation
Please contact me to discuss a Story Time Show for your school or organisation.
Website: www.positiveeye.co.uk
Email: gwyn@positiveeye.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pos_eye/
Bio of Gwyn McCormack
Gwyn McCormack founded Positive Eye in 2008, her mission being to provide practical courses, consultancy and a bespoke product range of resources for practitioners working with children and young people with vision impairment (VI). Positive Eye has developed to work nationally in the UK and internationally. Gwyn uses her many years of experience as a Qualified Teacher of VI (QTVI) and Head of Service to deliver imaginative and creative approaches, within easy to use frameworks, equipping the front line practitioner with the practical skills they require to support children and schools. Her work has included taking the lead role in delivering the two year QTVI course at the University of South Wales, contributing to the University of Birmingham QTVI course, participating in European projects; the most recent on developing educational resources for professionals working with children with CVI.
She delivers workshops, presentations and keynote addresses at many international conferences supported by her range of creative resources which are shared with enthusiasm and passion, inspiring practitioners with new ideas and approaches.
Children are at the heart of Gwyn's work and creativity is one of her key strengths. She is currently collaborating with the South East States and Midwest States Deafblind Projects (USA) to bring Sparkly Story Shows to 100’s of children and their families. The Story Time Shows are strengthening the literacy outcomes for children with complex learning needs and the positive feedback from this work is immeasurable.
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