Real Classrooms. Real Authors. Real Stories.
From California to the UK, real schools have turned writing time into something unforgettable: a chance for every student to become a published author. Whether they were dreaming of the stage, building a superhero origin story, or imagining life as a time-traveling bird, students used Build My Story to bring their ideas to life and take home a book with their name on the cover.
At Providence School in Santa Barbara, Hawthorns Primary in Redhill (UK), and Stone Creek Elementary in Madera, teachers ran the program in their own unique way. Some used it to spark future thinking. Others used it to support ICT goals and the classroom community. But in every case, the result was the same: engaged students, proud teachers, and stories that mattered.
With Build My Story, each student creates a personalized book starring themselves as the main character. It’s not just a worksheet or a writing task. It’s a full storytelling journey that blends planning, literacy, digital creation, and self-expression. And yes, they get to take their book home at the end.
Let’s dive into three of these stories and what made each one special.
Isla’s Musical Journey
In the final term of Year 5, students at Providence School were given a moment to look ahead — way ahead. Using the When I Grow Up worksheet, they imagined their lives in the future and mapped out what it would take to get there. But it wasn’t just about writing goals down. Students had to think critically: What age would they be when they achieved their dream? What three challenges might they face? What three motivations would keep them going?
Responses were thoughtful and honest. One student wanted to become a Rollercoaster Engineer and listed “study a lot” as a challenge. Another dreamed of being a footballer but knew they’d need to “practice every single day.” Some wrote about hard work, confidence, or having the courage to try again. Along the way, they built narrative structure, developed future-facing thinking, and tied their personal aspirations into creative writing, all while planning a book they’d eventually publish.
The activity hit multiple curriculum outcomes across personal development, goal-setting, narrative writing, and reflective literacy. Students used critical thinking to connect real-world goals with fictional storytelling, giving their writing both emotional and educational depth.
That’s where Isla’s story began.
Isla, 11 Years Old
Isla, never shy with a mic, declared she’ll be a musician by 23. With lungs like hers at eleven, she might just make it early. That gave her 12 years to figure it out, and her book mapped the journey. Her three challenges? Practice playing musical instruments, build confidence, and listen to a wide variety of music. Her motivations? She loves playing instruments, dreams of being a superstar, and wants to create songs people love.
Instead of writing a generic adventure or fantasy, Isla created a story grounded in her passion for music. She included moments of stage fright, scenes of encouragement, and moments of pure joy while performing. Through her book, she didn’t just imagine a character. She found her voice.
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“I loved choosing how the character looked, because it was me! And I got to write about something that really matters to me.”
For her teacher, the results were just as powerful. Every student stayed engaged, every voice got heard, and the final Author Celebration felt like more than a classroom activity. It was a milestone.
From Crayons to Characters at Hawthorns Primary
At Hawthorns Primary in Redhill, UK, a class of lively Year 2 students had one unforgettable day of storytelling. Led by their teacher, Michelle Boyd, the class kicked things off using the Story Mountain template — crayons in hand — to plan out their tales. Students thought through each part of the narrative: beginning, build-up, problem, resolution, and ending. The real magic? Each student made themselves the star of the story.
Once their ideas were mapped out, each child wrote a short summary of their story. They then jumped onto the Build My Story web app using iPads while Michelle modeled the process on the big screen. Along the way, students picked up essential tech skills: typing, spelling, navigating a digital interface, and even snapping photos to include in their books.
And the creativity? Unmatched. One student set her story in Chicken Nugget Land. Another decided to time-travel back to meet Henry VIII. The class couldn’t get enough of editing their books — tweaking images, rewriting text, and proudly showing off their creations.
What started with crayons became something much bigger: a day of learning, laughter, and published storytelling.
Stone Creek Elementary, Madera
At Stone Creek Elementary, Ms. Mendrin decided to take Build My Story in a slightly different direction — and the whole school got to see the results.
Her class created a shared book centered on their school mascot, the Sunbird, and presented it on Learning Showcase Day. It was more than just a classroom activity. It was a moment of pride. The students worked together, cheered each other on, and showed their families exactly what they were capable of.
The class mascot, already beloved, became the main character in a story the students helped bring to life. And the story wasn’t just for fun. It was a way to introduce new digital tools and teach creative collaboration in a hands-on way. These third graders didn’t just follow along — they led the way.
Class Showcase Day
After finishing the group book, each student got the chance to make their own. They logged in, used the Story Mountain template, and let their imaginations run wild. Some kept the Sunbird as a character. Others went off in their own directions, dreaming up time machines, magic forests, or bike rides. The point wasn’t to write the same story — it was to create something personal.
“My students understood the school values through a storybook. I’ve never thought of teaching something this way. It really worked!” — Ms. Mendrin
By the end of the session, every student had a story they were proud of. And when the books arrived, the smiles said it all.
Ms. Mendrin’s class didn’t just write books. They made something that mattered, and they shared it with the world.
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The photo shows one of the student planning sheets that kicked off the Sunbird story, a classroom mascot adventure that turned into a full printed book. Before heading into the Build My Story software, every student filled in their Story Mountain by hand, sketching out the beginning, build-up, climax, resolution, and ending. But it wasn’t just about writing mechanics. Ms. Mendrin tied the activity to the school’s S.H.A.P.E. values: Show Respect, Have Integrity, Actively Participate, Practice Perseverance, and Express Gratitude.
Students thought about how their characters would demonstrate each one. In this case, the Sunbird started off lazy and rude but along the way learned how to listen, be kind, participate with integrity, and help others. The story ends with the animals banding together to open schools across the state of California. That’s what we call staying in S.H.A.P.E., turning a school value poster into a published narrative.
