Real Stories
Real Stories motivates middle and high school students to read, think, explore ideas, and form values outside the classroom. Even teens who “hate to read” will be drawn in by Real Stories, a new afterschool and summer curriculum that uses stories written by teens and young adult novels to engage teens in a wealth of activities – including role plays, experiential games, debates, and more – that make it fun for teens to read the stories and explore the themes.
Real Stories uses true stories written by teens, young adult literature, and hands-on activities to promote reading, discussion and reflection. It helps teens recognize their strengths, form values, build strong relationships, and make smart decisions.
Each session focuses on a theme and includes:
- An opening activity to introduce the theme;
- Reading a true story by a teen (or an excerpt from a young adult novel) with facilitated discussion;
- An experiential learning activity that helps participants connect the themes in the story to their own lives;
- A closing reflection
What do you get?
Professional development
Staff training workshops cover a range of topics including utilizing the Real Stories materials, facilitating successful group activities, discussing sensitive topics and incorporating youth development activities like service learning, media production and the arts.
Coaching and technical assistance provide programs with ongoing support in effectively implementing Real Stories.
Materials
The Real Stories anthology (26 stories by teens, plus excerpts from three young adult novels)
The Real Stories Leader’s Guide (full text of every story, detailed lessons, teen-tested discussion questions)
Young adult novels from the Bluford Series
You can customize the materials to meet your needs. A typical kit includes:
- 3 Leader's Guides
- 20 anthologies
- 20 copies of each featured young adult novel
- 2 full sets of the entire Bluford Series of young adult novel
— About the Trainer |
