Storypath: A Practical Approach
for Culturally Responsive
Instruction
Margit E. McGuire
Seattle University
[email protected]
http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/mmcguire/web/
Washington Association of Bilingual Education
Yakima, 2010
Storypath uses the components of story-setting, character and plot--to organize
curriculum into meaning and memorable learning
experiences.
It is more than reading a story, it is living the
story guided by the teacher as learners create the
setting, become the characters and solve the
problems presented through the plot.
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Storypath is based on humans’
innate ability to remember and
make sense of their world
through stories.
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Student
engagement
Memorable
through the lived
experience
Student efficacy
Problem solving
Use of academic
language in context
Storypath…
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provides rich exposure to English;

structures experiences so they are
comprehensible to students;

provides scaffolding to support language
acquisition;
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provides opportunities for meaningful interaction;

“levels the playing field;” and
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affirms learners’ contributions.
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Families in their Neighborhoods
Storypath
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Episode 4:
Episode 5:
Episode 6:
Episode 7:
The Neighborhood
Families
Understanding Families
Finding the Way
Litter in the Neighborhood
Speeding Cars
A Neighborhood Celebration
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Students create the setting by
completing a frieze (mural) or other
visual representation of the place.
Students create characters for the
story whose roles they will play
during subsequent episodes.
Character Biography
Character’s name
 Family role
 Age
 Place of birth
 Job
 Fun things character likes to do
 Favorite foods

Assessment:
The biography is appropriate to the family.The figure
of the character matches the biography.
Episode 3:
Understanding Families
Family Crest Activity
Family Name(s)
What families do together
Holiday celebration
Family heritage/tradition
Family values
Episode 4:
Finding the Way
Episode 5:
Litter in the Neighborhood
Episode 6:
Speeding Cars
Imagination affirms that each student has
something to contribute.
• Each student has an experience that connects
to the story.
• Students come together to work on a common
problem.
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The narrative structure of the Storypath—setting,
character, and plot—provides scaffolding for
learning in a way that is meaningful to students.
They are the story.
Their involvement taps into multiple ways of
knowing—social interaction, role-play, visualizing,
kinesthetic experiences, and the accompanying
language activities.
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Story-making is compelling; it helps us remember
and make sense of our world. .
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The story has purpose. What will happen next?
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Students have to decide what to do and consider
the consequences of their choices. They do this
together.
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Storypath experiences include:
 “sandwiching” known expressions with new
academic language;
 using word banks, labeling;
 using visuals and manipulatives;
 using interactive activities to foster
conceptual understandings; and
 role-playing events to understand scenarios
and use academic language in context.
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Choices engage children dramatically in “realworld” dilemmas; they work together to solve
the problems.
•
They come to school asking, “What will
happen in the Storypath today?
•
“Outsiders” become insiders when they offer
ideas important to the community.
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The structural components of setting, character,
and plot set the stage for developing all kinds of
themes.
 Problem tackling as a cooperative endeavor
promoting the values of trust and respect for
differences. We see problems differently and
through the problem solving discourse, we can
appreciate each other’s contributions.
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“[Children] with a high sense of selfefficacy are likely to approach
achievement situations with
confidence and engage in tasks
willingly and persistently.”*
*Jere
Brophy. Motivating Students to Learn. (Boston:
McGraw Hill, 1998), 57.
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All children deserve a content rich
environment.
 They deserve instruction that supports
their learning and the belief that they are
capable.
 The Storypath experience supports
acceptance of all children in the
classroom community so essential for
their future learning.
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