Story Starters: Helping Children Write Like They've Never Written Before

Stoke the fires of your child's imagination and awaken the creative writer within! Featuring a teacher's guide and 19th-century black-and-white illustrations, this rich resource boasts over 65 "story-starters": narratives designed to suspend students in the middle of a predicament so that they can pick up a pen and determine what happens next! Ages 8 to 18. 458 pages, softcover from Charlotte Mason Research.

Years ago I gave my girls a story starter. I was amazed at the results. They wrote in ways they had never written before. It was only when I gave my son a particularly exciting story starter that his creative writing, too, began to “take off.” Therefore I am happy to present you with the same kind of writing exercises in my new book. I sought to put the right ingredients into my story starters to inspire even the reluctant writer or the student who has experienced discouragement.

Why does a story starter work so well? Each story suspends the student in the middle of a predicament. He is then faced with the question “What happens next?” This is his cue to expand and embellish the story however he wants. He learns to write freely, with imagination and zest—and with far more boldness than he may be accustomed to.

The action-packed stories are especially appealing to boys. Thumb through the pages to choose whatever story catches your fancy. My large selection is meant to satisfy the varied interests of both boys and girls.

To spark even more curiosity, each story is illustrated with one or more engaging 19th-century pictures. The settings are sometimes intense, sometimes funny, sometimes sweetly domestic, but they always pose a challenge. Here is your child’s opportunity to rescue those in danger, comfort the sick, cheer the lonely, laugh with the ridiculous, tame the wild, and do battle for good. Awaken the dormant writer in your child with this lively approach to creative writing! Story Starters is a one-book-per-family, non-consumable, lavishly illustrated, multi-skill level, supplementary English course. For grades 4 through 12—with tips so younger siblings can participate. 460 pages, softcover from Charlotte Mason Research.

—Karen

Average Rating:

7 of 7 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Heather Guerrero, Homeschool Mom to 2Blessings (Corona, CA), November 17, 2009

I love this book! Rarely do you fall in LOVE with homeschool curriculum. It meets the need, and you are happy, but this... well, I am VERY pleased. Both of my children, who did not enjoy writing before, now look forward to creative writing! My daughter is in 12 grade and my son is in 5th. The concept is so great because each story gives you some meat and potatoes first, not just a simple concept like "What did you do on your summer vacation?" The art helps as well. It is so fun to see the differnt direction each of my children go with their stories. I included my nieces as well and the preschooler dictate her story to me, asking her questions along the way about the things she was telling me. By the end we had over a full page of her dictation for her to take home to her mother! It is wonderful! Thank you so much Karen, for creating this wonderful book. What a blessing!

Reviewed by cindy wade (nesbit ms), September 19, 2008

Fabulous! I cringed at the price, but just went for it anyway. My kids love this and ask for it on most days even when it runs their school day later and later. They listen intently to the stories just waiting for their chance to "pick it up" and finish it off. They love to sit under a tree outside and fill pages with their ideas of what happened and then share them all. There is lots of tips and teacher info that seems to be helpful, but I haven't really got into it all too much just yet. The pencil type drawings throughout are just enough to give a good idea, but leaves plenty for their imagination to run with. Love it!

Reviewed by Camilla Sisk (Waynesville, NC), August 06, 2008

This book has been perfect for our homeschool. My children had a great time just deciding which story to finish first!

Reviewed by Debbie George (Madison, CT), August 31, 2007

This book sat in my "wish list" box for over a year. It seemed like a bit more money than I would like to spend on something I'd not seen yet. When it arrived I was extremely surprised. First by the size of it. I didn't notice all that time that it is 458 pages long! These story starters will last us for some time. 65 stories if used 1 time/week will last for over 2 school years. Second, there my son sits almost mesmerized as I read the stories and he waits for the "cliffhanger" as he calls it. It is an excellent resource. I am using it with an 8 year old in 2nd grade and we are both loving it.

Reviewed by Yvonne Fletcher (Chesapeake, VA), August 07, 2007

What the Andreola family has contributed in the "home education resource world" our family continues to profit from immensely, so right away we sent for Story Starters. From the moment my 11 yr. old son read the first lesson, he has eagerly and very excellently created and read to us his "conclusion of the story," which we count a great blessing from the Lord!

Reviewed by Cheryl C (Appleton Me), November 16, 2006

This resource is perfect for our homeschool. I use it with multiple levels (grades 2 through 8) with eager participation. We have a creative writing afternoon each week. I select a story starter; it is often related to a field trip or experince we have just had. Sometimes I begin our session by reading a related short story or chapter from classic literature. Sometimes I use Ruth Keller's books for the parts of speech to encourage more diverse vocabulary and incorpaorate some grammar. My younger children narrate their stories. I record them and then they copy what they have created. Each child has a story notebook reserved for this purpose. The situations give the children the oppurtunity to solve the problem presented or springboard into a different plot of their own. We have fun reading these stories after dinner. It amazes me how each child creates a different scenario and conclusion. The peals of laughter attest to the creative heights to which my children are inspired. Karen includes many ideas to polish stories. One of my children is looking forward to using the pictures without starters. This will be a well used resource in our homeschool!

Reviewed by Anne Jemanden (Orange, Va), August 02, 2006

This book is advertised as adaptable for all grades-but that's unrealistic. It's written at a very simple level with simple plots that won't appeal to many older students. It would be a good tool, maybe, for elementary and early middle school students, but the characters and situations aren't going to work for a highschooler. Plus it doesn't encourage much dialogue. There are a wide variety of stories and plenty of things to choose from-just not for an older student.

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