Once upon an if

​Although primarily aimed at teachers working with KS2 children, there is a good deal in this captivating exploration of the art of storytelling that could be of real, practical use in classrooms at KS3 and even beyond. Peter Worley has many years of experience as a philosophical facilitator in schools and elsewhere, and is wonderfully well placed to explain and demonstrate how carefully considered phrasing, characterisation, language, pace – and especially, questioning – can turn a simple scene, fable or legend into an opportunity to develop young people’s thinking skills in new and creative directions, with a potential impact on the way they access the curriculum as a whole. Sharing stories isn’t something we grow out of; it’s a natural way for human beings of all ages to test ideas and ethics, and work out better ways of existing together… and as such, it should have a place in every good teacher’s toolkit.