1. Stories for Malaysian Kids
Presentation for MELTA 2012, in Kuching, by Ruth Wickham and Azlinda bt A Aziz
MELTA 2012, Kuching

2. Training Fellow Ruth Wickham
MEd TESOL (Wollongong Uni), and BEd
English Language Training Fellow, IPGKDRI, K Terengganu
20 years’ teaching Australian primary schools
12 years a field linguist in the Torres Strait
6 years teaching and managing ESL courses in China, Turkey, UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Bio for Ruth Wickham

3. Lecturer Azlinda bt A Aziz
Language lecturer at Institut Pendidikan Guru, Kampus Dato’ Razali Ismail in Kuala Terengganu
Bachelor of Education (TESL)
Master of Education (TESL) degree from UiTM
15 + years teaching English in Primary schools
Research interest Language Learning.
Bio for Azlinda bt A Aziz

4. This is a WORKSHOP YOU will be working. Let’s write some stories!
This is a workshop – you are going to do some work. So … Let’s write some stories
Let’s write some stories!

5. The Elements of our Story:
Let’s write a story. The first element we want to consider is the setting. In this case, our setting is Malaysian Primary Schools.
Setting: Malaysia, Primary Schools

6. The Elements of our Story:
The characters in our story are the school children in these primary schools.
2. Character(s): Malaysian School Children

7. The Elements of our Story:
The problem that our story addresses is that these children need to read in English … and this is both difficult and boring.
3. Problem: Reading in English …

8. The Elements of our Story:
Our story introduces a possible solution – the “Stories for Malaysian Kids” project. The purpose of this project is to create some stories for Malaysian school children to read.
4. Solution: Stories for Malaysian Kids

9. They WANT to read Because they are CURIOUS.
These children want to read because they are curious about what is in the book. Their curiosity will help them to overcome the difficulty that it is in English and not Bahasa Malaysia.
Because they are CURIOUS.

10. They WANT to read Because it is ABOUT THEM.
They want to read the story because it is about them, or someone they know, or just someone from their area or country, someone who is like them … someone they can relate to.
Because it is ABOUT THEM.

11. Create stories that Malaysian kids want to read.
We are hoping people will join this project and help to create stories that Malaysian schoolkids will want to read.

12. 1. Know your students
How well do you know your students? Do you know what really motivates them? Can you help them to dream?
Do you know their hopes and wishes, dreams and fears …?

13. What Super Power would you like to have?
There are some questions you can ask them. Such as what super power they would like to have, if they could.

14. If you had 3 wishes …
There are a lot of stories about people being given three wishes. What would they wish for?

15. Tell me about something … embarrassing
Have they had experiences – even something small and seemingly insignificant – that had an impact on them?
funny
happy
sad
frightening

16. 2. Plan Your Story Setting
Setting is more than just a place. Think of it in terms of all five senses … and include an element of time.
Setting

17. 2. Plan Your Story Character(s)
Can you describe your main character – boy/girl, physical characteristics (size etc.), character traits … so that they can recognise themselves, but not feel embarrassed or hurt. To increase interest, their friends can also be part of their story.
Character(s)

18. The Plot: Problem ⇢ Solution
2. Plan Your Story
True or imaginary, based on something that actually happened or on their hopes and fears, real life or fantasy.
The Plot: Problem ⇢ Solution

19. The Moral of the Story
Reading is
fun!

20. You will receive 3 pieces of paper:
1. Participant’s notes
2. Participant’s worksheet
Fill it in and hand it in
Read it and keep it
3. A blank sheet of paper
Make a Little Book and keep it

21. Let’s make a Little Book

22. You need: pens/pencils scissors A4 or A3 paper
All you need is a desk/table or flat surface to work on, a piece of paper, a pair of scissors (briefly!), and writing or drawing materials.

23. Step 1: Fold the paper in half
Firstly, fold the paper neatly in half, and crease the fold.
Fold the paper in half

24. Fold the paper in half again
Step 2:
Secondly, fold the paper again, being careful to make sure the edges line up neatly, and crease the fold well.
Fold the paper in half again

25. Fold the paper in half a third time
Step 3:
Thirdly, fold the paper one more time. At this stage younger students may need assistance to make sure they can complete a neat fold.
Fold the paper in half a third time

26. Unfold as far as the first fold
Step 4:
Unfold as far as the first fold
Now, unfold back to the first fold.
Take the scissors and cut from the folded edge to the fold mark half way through. Again, young children will need extra supervision at this point.
As this is the only cut (unless you are making pop-up books), in a classroom situation a few pairs of scissors can be passed around and then removed.
Cut down to the fold mark
from the fold edge

27. Unfold, and re-fold the other way
Step 5:
Fold
Cut section
Open the paper, and re-fold it the other way – keeping the same side of the paper on the outside. (Remember this can be done on re-cycled paper and the used side needs to stay inside.) If students open the paper and fold it outwards the other way then the next step will not work.
The paper is now folded longways, with the small cut section at the top as shown.
Unfold, and re-fold the other way

28. Hold the two ends ... ... and push them together.
This is when the ‘magic’ happens. Hold the two ends and push them together as shown. The cut section will open a hole in the middle.
... and push them together.

29. Push until the paper folds right up into a little book
Push until the paper folds right up into a little book. Bring the outside pages around to form the covers, and press the folds neatly into place.
And there it is!

30. Use your little book to plan your story
Think of a title

31. Use your little book to plan your story
Setting
Problem 1 2

32. Use your little book to plan your story
Solving the Problem 3 4

33. Use your little book to plan your story
The Results 5 6

34. 3. Illustrations
Use kids’ drawings

35. 3. Illustrations
Draw like a kid!

36. 3. Illustrations Use photos of your students
(maybe they could pose to fit the story)

37. 3. Illustrations
Draw your own from photos

38. 3. Illustrations Use Clip-Art and photos
* As long as it will not be published widely.

39. 4. Publish Your Story
Include it on the Stories for Malaysian Kids website.
(We can check and edit it for you first.)

40. Print Booklets for your students to read right away
4. Publish Your Story
Print Booklets for your students to read right away

41. 4. Publish Your Story
Self-Publish with ‘Lulu’, ‘Blurb’ or ‘Create Space’

42. 4. Publish Your Story
Look for a publisher

43. Let’s Get Started
1. Keep the notes – especially take note of the website.
2. Keep your little book – remember how to make one
3. Fill in the worksheet and hand it.
We’d like to keep in touch.

44. Participant’s Worksheet 1

45. Participant’s Worksheet 2

46. Participant’s Worksheet 3

48. How to stay in touch Go to the ‘Stories Blog’ page of the website.
Click on RSS feed and receive news as it happens.