Once Upon a Time Festival: celebrating the power of storytelling
ChatterStars founder Helen Prince joined other education and storytelling voices to create a festival celebrating story-led creativity, vocabulary and the joy of learning.
News, ideas and stories from ChatterStars.
A thoughtful archive for the people helping children find the words to understand, express and succeed.
Learning ideasFounder storiesEvents and webinarsPoetry
What is reading fluency? Top tips to develop reading fluency
Reading fluency is the bridge between recognising words and understanding meaning. Here are practical ways to help children read accurately, smoothly and with expression.
Read the featureFrom the ChatterStars archive
Stories and practical ideas collected from the ChatterStars journey.
Free vocabulary webinars: ChatterStars and Bookmark autumn series
A four-part series for schools and families, sharing practical ways to build vocabulary, reading fluency and a powerful voice.
The Art of Reading webinar
A free session exploring the human voice, expression and the deeper meaning we bring to words when we read aloud.
Not another education podcast: Helen joins Twinkl
ChatterStars founder Helen Prince joined Twinkl’s podcast to talk about reading, summer reading hacks and ways teachers can boost vocabulary in the classroom.
Free 11+ vocabulary webinar with Helen Prince
A game-packed session for pupils, parents and tutors, created by vocabulary experts to make 11+ preparation feel more confident and collaborative.
Supporting children arriving from Ukraine with Bookmark
ChatterStars collaborated with Bookmark Reading Charity on the Bookmark Box for Ukraine, bringing language, reading and play resources to children arriving in the UK.
Four free vocabulary webinars
A replayable series of sessions with ChatterStars, Poetry by Heart, Pobble and Twinkl, sharing games and resources for a powerful voice.
Our new school platform is live
ChatterStars expanded its school package with new classroom features, creating a more robust toolkit for improving vocabulary for all.
We’re in TechRound’s top 10 Startups to Watch
TechRound recognised ChatterStars as a startup to watch, supporting the mission to help children find an eloquent, brave and world-changing voice.
Welcome to our two new ambassador schools
Ian Ramsey CE Academy and St Hilary School joined the ChatterStars ambassador school community, helping us tailor the offer around children and teachers.
We’ve joined the Twinkl community
ChatterStars shared the news of joining the Twinkl community and receiving investment to help boost vocabulary and life chances for young people.
Helen contributes to the OUP report on closing the word gap
Helen Prince contributed to Oxford University Press’s Language Report, discussing the scale of the word gap and the work schools are doing to make a difference.
New vocabulary books available
Helen Prince’s Boost Your Vocabulary series, published by Oxford University Press, was created to expand students’ vocabulary and help them access more challenging texts.
Helen presents the Creative Talk webinar for OUP
Helen Prince presented a webinar for Oxford University Press on Creative Talk, sharing ideas for inspiring a convincing and compelling voice in Year 7 students.
Helen chats with Michael Morpurgo
A conversation with Michael Morpurgo about stories, reading and the role of language in helping children connect with the world around them.
Awards for the Oxford Education Podcast
ChatterStars celebrated recognition for the Oxford Education Podcast and the conversations helping educators think differently about reading and learning.
Fish by Mary Ann Hoberman
A poetry feature exploring how rhythm, repetition and playful language can open up rich conversations about words.
New word-gap podcast to be launched at half term
ChatterStars announced a podcast focused on the word gap, bringing practical conversation about vocabulary and language development to families and educators.
Charles Causley’s “I Saw a Jolly Hunter”
A poetry-led look at Charles Causley’s “I Saw a Jolly Hunter”, using imagery and sound to invite children into a richer vocabulary.
The poetic opening of Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man
A close look at the opening of Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man and the vivid vocabulary that makes a story feel immediate, strange and unforgettable.
Looking for something practical?
Browse our printable vocabulary activities, 11+ word lists and classroom ideas.