Story Champs Program

The Story Champs program is a structured, evidence-based intervention designed to improve the narrative and storytelling skills of children, particularly those who may be experiencing difficulties in this area. Developed by Dr. Melissa Randi and Dr. Gail Gillon, Story Champs is widely used in educational settings to help children develop their oral language abilities, narrative comprehension, and storytelling proficiency.

Key features and components of the Story Champs program include:

1. Target Age Group: Story Champs is typically designed for children between the ages of 4 and 9, although it can be adapted for older or younger children as needed.
2. Narrative-Based Approach: The program is centered around narratives, storytelling, and comprehension of stories. It helps children understand the structure of stories, including the beginning, middle, and end, as well as the characters and events.
3. Evidence-Based Strategies: Story Champs incorporates evidence-based strategies for improving narrative skills. These strategies include explicit instruction, modeling, and guided practice.
4. Oral Language Development: The program places a strong emphasis on the development of oral language skills. Children learn how to use descriptive language, vocabulary, and sentence structures effectively to express themselves.
5. Small Group Sessions: Story Champs is often delivered in small group settings, led by trained facilitators such as speech and language therapists or educators. This allows for interactive and collaborative learning.
6. Structured Sessions: The program includes structured lesson plans and activities for each session. These activities may involve reading stories, discussing story elements, and engaging in storytelling exercises.
7. Comprehension Skills: Story Champs helps children develop comprehension skills, enabling them to better understand and interpret the stories they encounter.
8. Retelling and Sequencing: Children are encouraged to retell stories in their own words and sequence events in the correct order. These skills are essential for effective storytelling.
9. Creativity and Expression: Story Champs fosters creativity and expression by encouraging children to use their imagination when creating and sharing their own stories.
10. Assessment and Progress Monitoring: The program includes assessment tools and measures to assess a child's narrative and storytelling skills at the beginning and throughout the intervention. Progress monitoring helps adjust interventions as needed.
11. Parent Involvement: Parents are often encouraged to be involved in their child's learning by practicing storytelling and narrative skills at home.
12. Cultural Sensitivity: The program is designed to be culturally sensitive and adaptable to the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of the children and families it serves.
13. Outcome Measures: Story Champs typically includes measures to assess the program's impact on children's narrative and storytelling abilities.

The Story Champs program is a valuable resource for educators, speech and language therapists, and parents who are looking to support children in developing strong narrative and storytelling skills. By providing structured and evidence-based interventions, Story Champs helps children enhance their language comprehension, communication, and creative expression through storytelling.