What is a Language Experience Strategy?

The Language Experience Strategy is an instructional approach that emphasizes the connection between students' personal experiences and their written language skills. In this method, students narrate stories based on their own experiences, and the teacher or an adult writes these stories down verbatim. This process not only validates the students' voices and experiences but also serves as a bridge between their spoken language and written expression. It encourages engagement in meaningful discussions, aids in reading comprehension, and helps students see the practical application of language in storytelling.

This strategy is particularly beneficial in helping students develop their narrative skills and fosters confidence in their ability to communicate through writing. By allowing students to dictate their narratives, it promotes a sense of ownership over their learning and enables the integration of literacy with personal context.