Story Studio: Constructing the Learning Space
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 09, 2024
I am so excited to be here today to talk about one of my very favourite spaces in our school – the Story Studio! In a previous post I wrote all about what the literacy framework of Story Studio is. Also, I discussed loose parts, how the studio is structured, and benefits I have noticed with my learners since implementing this strategy. Today I am here to write about the construction of the permanent Story Studio we set up at our school.
Tips for story studio construction
Constructing our studio has definitely been a labor of love. However, thanks to some successful grant applications and the help of some ambitious staff members, we have been able to create a space that is a joy to both teach and learn in. Over the next few days I will be posting additional information about Story Studio. This will include tips and tricks for constructing your own studio. In addition, I will discuss essential tools needed to get your studio up and running. Be sure to check back!
Building a story studio from scratch
I am lucky enough to teach at a relatively small elementary school. Our building is quite new. It has a lot of extra space to eventually meet the needs of our growing population. However, for the time being, that means that we are blessed with some extra classrooms and spaces that are not currently occupied. This is a very rare thing in our district!
Behind our stage, we had a large room that was not being used at all. Sometimes teachers would bring their classes down there when they needed a large open space for drama or art activities. However, for the most part, the room was really only used for storage. It was crammed full of extra desks and random bins of teaching tools. As a result, it was not a very usable area. Also, it was really not a very pleasant space to teach or learn in.
Researching the Idea of story studio
The year before, I was part of a district innovation grant team focused on Story Studio. Being part of this awesome grant opportunity meant that I was able to meet with a group of curious teachers a few times during the year We used this time to research and discuss all things Story Studio. We spent a lot of time looking at the Opal School in Portland, and the Hive in Delta, BC, to see the exciting learning that was going on in their spaces. If you haven’t checked out these schools before, and are interested in Story Studio, they are well worth a google!
Our grant team was also awarded some money to use to put towards Story Studio resources for our classrooms. I picked up a variety of loose parts. Immediately, I set to work to implement different Story Studio activities in my classroom. I quickly fell in love with this framework. Engagement was high, and the writing that it inspired from even my most reluctant writers was impressive in both its creativity and volume.
Presenting the Story Studio Construction Idea
The following year, after a visit to the empty room behind our stage, I brought an idea to our school principal. What if we cleared out the space and turned it into a giant Story Studio that all teachers and students could use? Our principal was as excited about the idea as I was. Armed with renewed enthusiasm, I spent the evening applying for different district based grants. I hoped I would be able to find a way to fund our vision.
Constructing the Story Studio Space
A few weeks later we were given some great news – both of the grants I had applied for had been approved! This would give us enough money to fully stock our studio. We set to work almost immediately.
With the help of a very helpful staff member who spent hours hunting through thrift shops for the perfect pieces for our studio, as well as her dad who actually built a bunch of our furniture, we were able to have the studio up and running by February of last year.
Does your school have a Story Studio? Do loose parts have a place in your classroom routine? I am very curious how other teachers are incorporating these ideas! Leave me a comment down below!
Interested in more information on Story Studio?
Check out some of my previous posts!
Loose Parts: Essential Tools for Story Studio
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