Since 1981, I have been telling stories in schools. Since the "no child left behind" initiative, schools no longer want entertainment but a term called edutainment. At first glance, it might appear that storytelling is nothing more than a nice way to pass the day. But a closer look at the advantages to listening to a story well-told will uncover a myriad of reasons to include storytelling in the classroom. (see Why Storytelling????? and the NCTE position on Storytelling). And now schools must meet or exceed the standards set by the states to qualify for funds.
State-mandated standards are across the United States. The following website will list those standards for each state: Academic Benchmarks
Not only does the site list the standards, it gives thousands of lesson plans to implement the standards.
Keeping in mind that each state differs slightly in wording and numbering systems, I have identified the following Illinois State Standards for pure and simple storytelling with some comments:
Third Grade: These goals are listed for reading, but also apply to listening to stories:
GenresFiction: Identify/Materials
The learner will be able to identify fiction reading materials. (Often students ask if a story is real or not. This leads to a discussion about truth, fantasy, and fiction)
Literature: Societies/Time Periods/Ideas
The learner will be able to read and comprehend literature representative of a variety of societies, time periods, and ideas (Stories take the students on a magic carpet ride around the world. Storytelling is the best, IMHO, introduction to a new culture.)
Literary/Art Genres: Interpret
The learner will be able to interpret a variety of literary works (Especially when the storyteller tells stories from authored books - Jane Yolen, Rudyard Kipling, Mercer Mayer, et al.)
Language Arts Processes:Communication: Oracy/Situations
The learner will be able to demonstrate effective listening and speaking skills in a variety of situations (Storytellers come to classrooms, gyms, and libraries)
Behaviors: Attentively/Eye ContactThe learner will be able to listen to a speaker attentively, including making eye contact with the speaker (And the storyteller makes eye-contact with the students!)
Behaviors: Attentively/Face Speaker
The learner will be able to listen to a speaker attentively, including facing the speaker (See my paper on "Manners Matter" that I send to schools)
Directions: Follow/OralThe learner will be able to follow directions given orally (Many stories for primary grades include participation that the teller demonstrates before the story)
Presentation: Formal/Informal
The learner will be able to listen attentively in both formal and informal presentations (Study guides give ideas for presenting the story in a variety of ways - puppet shows, skits, drama choir, poetry, rap, etc.)
Summary: Paraphrase/Information/Oral
The learner will be able to paraphrase information delivered orally by others (Study Guides give the teacher a ready-made summary and Q and A's concerning the story.)
Critical Thinking: Fiction/NonfictionThe learner will be able to distinguish between fictional and non-fictional accounts (Often the storyteller will tell the fictional folktale but also true story so the students can discriminate between the two)
And, this is just for third grade. Many, many more standards are also met when the teacher adds some of the suggested activities or presents stories in conjunction with existing lessons in Social Studies, Science, and Art.
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