Vivian Paley was as kindergarten teacher at the University of Chicago Lab School, and we have been incorporating her program here for a number of years. It involves having children dictate to us, using their narratives, which we write down "verbatim". The children then have the opportunity to dramatize their stories during our group meeting time. The benefits of this program are many. They see that spoken language can be written down, and then read. This helps them to see that the reading and writing experience can be very meaningful to them in their own lives, inasmuch as their fantasies, fears, etc., can be material for this narrative experience.
Notwithstanding the obvious benefits as regards early literacy, the greatest benefit of the program may involve the building of community within the classroom. This program provides children with the opportunity to learn about each other's fears, fantasies, interests, etc., and even participate in them (by acting in each other's stories). This helps children learn more about each other, and fosters the development of such prosocial behaviors as empathy, compassion, etc.
If you would like to learn more about Vivian Paley, she has many books in print, such as Wally's Stories, The Boy Who Would Be A Helicopter, You Can't Say You Can't Play, White Teacher, and Kwanzaa and Me.
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