Have you ever wondered why a story works for one group, but not for another? Have you ever had to tell to an age group where you felt uncomfortable sharing a story? Participants will discuss and list the earmarks of a good story for telling to four age groups. During the second half, participants will work in 4 groups to adapt the same story, but told to different age groups. Extensive handout is available on my website. – www.marilynkinsella.org - “Teacher-Teller” – “The Perfect Story”
This workshop is most useful for storytellers who are reticent to go a group of listeners who, age-wise, are “outside their comfort range.” It is also useful for teachers and parents who are looking for ways to judge whether or not a story (told or read) is a good choice for a particular age group.
PREPARATION
Four pieces of self-adhesive poster paper will be hung about the room - each with the title of the four age groups and a number (1-4) on top. Volunteers will write the earmarks on those papers during the discussion. Each participant will be given a handout with a worksheet to make notes, a synopsis of a folktale, and my website for the extensive paper. As the participants come into the room they will be given a number (1-4) and asked to sit in that area. This will facilitate having to separate the group later on in the workshop.
METHOD
One thing is very surprising to many – we know more than we think we know! What we don’t know is how this information can work as whole. The first part the workshop elicits from the group…what they already know. Through a series of leading questions, the attendees will volunteer earmarks and performance techniques for stories told to four age groups. The groups include: 1.) 3-5 year olds; 2.) 6 – 9 year olds; 3) 10 year olds to adults; 4.) Residents of nursing homes.
Earmarks of a good story include - content, length, repetition, plot line, complexity, etc.
Performance techniques of a good story include - animation, sitting/standing, mic use, characterization, dialog, group size, pacing, participation, etc.
For the purposes of this workshop, I will stress the earmarks of a good story. However, there is a fine line between “earmarks” of the story and performance techniques. Sometimes they overlap. My on-line paper distinguishes between the two. However, to expedite the workshop, either suggestion will be written down with an “E” for earmark and “P” for performance technique.
During the discussion the attendees will also volunteer stories that are traditionally thought of as for a specific age group. These will not be recorded, but extended bibliographies of stories for the age groups is on the website. More stories are added to these on-line bibs as suggestions are made.
The designation of the ages in the groups was an arbitrary decision. If time permitted, the groups could be divided into 9 age groups – Babies; Toddlers; Pre-schoolers,. Kindergarteners; Early Elementary; Middle School: Teens; Adults; Nursing home residents. The on-line paper makes more distinctions among the age groups.
After the earmarks are discussed, the participants will put that knowledge, as a whole, to use.
In the handout are the bones of a folktale. I often use “Little Red Riding Hood.” However, there are many short folktales that could be used. Although I normally use well-known “nursery” tales, it would be interesting to take a story traditionally thought of as an “adult” story and do this exercise.
The groups will work on the story for approximately 15-20 minutes using the earmarks to write their stories. They will designate someone to write out the story and give me the copy for possible inclusion on my website. Then, using some of the performance techniques, they also need to decide how they wish to present the story – one person, tandem or group telling. They will have additional time to prepare for the actual presentation.
PERFORMANCE
The final stage of the workshop is presenting the folktale. Each group will have five minutes. If the story needs more time, it will either have to be edited, cut off, or, depending on the time remaining, given extra time. If the group feels that no one is able to do this in such an extemporaneous fashion, they can designate someone to read the story.
Many of the ideas that I received from this workshop are already compiled on my website. It is a rather lengthy paper with new suggestions added as they come to my attention. The ideas are not just my own, but of many contributors. Permission is granted to copy and paste any of the information into one’s own files. Or, you may want to add it to your “favorites.” If you have any suggestions of your own, please contact me through the information below. To access the website type in www.marilynkinsella.org Then click on “Teacher/Teller” and “The Perfect Story”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Marilyn A. Kinsella, Storyteller, Workshop Presenter, Writer, Puppeteer
645 Pleasant Ridge Road, Fairview Heights, IL 62208
618/397-1377
Bookings: Elsenpeter Productions
217/335-3338
TEACHER TELLER THE PERFECT STORY
