WELCOME
Start the Story
1
H ELLO, AND WELCOME to the very first issue of Start The Story, the
new bi-monthly newsletter designed to get kids reading and
writing. Each issue will be crammed with writing tips, lesson
plans, book reviews, author interviews and much, much more.
Issue 1 , June 201 2
THE N EWSLETTER
P UBLISHED BI -MONTHLY, S TART THE S TORY IS
AIMED AT TEACHERS , PARENTS AND ANYONE
ELSE WITH AN INTEREST IN GETTING KIDS
EXCITED ABOUT READING AND WRITING .
WRITTEN
AND PRODUCED BY TWO AWARD WINNING CHILDREN ' S AUTHORS , S TART THE
S TORY IS PACKED WITH TIPS AND ADVICE ON
HOW TO MAKE STORY- WRITING ENGAGING , PLUS
BOOK REVIEWS , AUTHOR INTERVIEWS AND
MONTHLY WRITING COMPETITIONS .
We'll have competitions with prizes ranging from book tokens to
visits from top authors. We'll recommend great reads for
everyone in your class - from the most enthusiastic readers to the
most reluctant. And we'll use our experience in teaching creative
writing to ensure you have everything you need to get your
children starting stories of their own.
E DITORIAL S TAFF
This month, we're thrilled to have an interview with Ali Sparkes the winner of the Blue Peter Book Award - who will also be
sharing some of her writing tips. We review the excellent Warrior
Number One by Andy Briggs , and give you a lesson plan to run
after reading it. Plus, find out
how your pupils can plan
their stories like pirates,
create compelling characters
and choose the perfect
graphic novel to read.
AS WELL AS HIS SCREAM STREET
SERIES TOMMY DONBAVAND WRITES
EXTENSIVELY FOR STRUGGLING
AND RELUCTANT READERS .
"...ensure you
have everything
you need to get
your children
starting stories
of their own."
BARRY HUTCHISON IS THE AUTHOR
OF OVER 50 BOOKS INCLUDING
THE AWARD - WINNING INVISIBLE
FIENDS HORROR SERIES .
issu e 1
rt th e S tory
S ta
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J u n e 201 2
In This Month's Issue
Ali Sparkes
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If you enjoy this issue of
Start The Story, you can
subscribe to receive further
issues for just £36 per year. When you subscribe, you'll receive
the PDF version of the newsletter, plus a printer friendly Word
Doc version. Each issue also comes with a pupil workbook filled
with book-related activities, ready to print off and use in class.
Story Treasure Map
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Graphic Novels
4
Book Reviews
5
6 of the Best
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Not enough? OK, How's this... The first 1 00 subscribers will go
into a draw to win a FREE SKYPE AUTHOR VISIT by either
Barry Hutchison or Tommy Donbavand (the choice is yours!) and
£1 00 worth of books for their school.
Ultimate Author Visit
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Warrior Number One
Lesson Plan
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So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to our website,
www.startthestory.co.uk and subscribe to receive great writing
and reading advice in your inbox every month.
Five Tips For...
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Suggested Reading
10
Let's start our story together!
Story Starters
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Subscribe
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Tommy & Barry
June 201 2
@startthestory