Speech-language pathologists are charged with prevention, assessment, and intervention responsibilities. Their interventions should promote access to the academic curriculum and be culturally appropriate. This is a tall order, for sure. However, narrative intervention is an approach that can help SLPs be more efficient and effective with learners with diverse language needs. Aside from being a motivating context for language intervention, narratives are personally, culturally, socially, and academically relevant. During the implementation of a narrative intervention, children tell or retell stories while the interventionist purposefully targets specific language features. In this masterclass, Trina Spencer and Douglas Petersen will guide participants to understand the critical and effective elements of narrative interventions. Specifically, they will present 10 principles for maximizing generative language and for reducing the work required to achieve academic and social impact. Drawing from 15 years of their own research (and that of others), Spencer and Petersen will explain the science behind the narrative intervention principles and show examples from the Story Champs program. Moreover, they will guide the participants in writing stories that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for Australian children.

*Participants do not need to own Story Champs kits to attend this masterclass because the masterclass is not about Story Champs per se. However, participants are entitled to free shipping if they choose to order it (use discount code AUS105). If possible, participants should bring a tablet or laptop to the masterclass.