Tall Tales Equal Better Language Skills
Question of the Week: Monday, Nov. 20,
2006
My fourth-grade daughter has a holiday to interview family members
about childhood stories then create her own to tell at a family gathering.
She will tell her story at an event at school and the kids whose stories
are voted the best will share them at a local senior center. She's excited
about this, but what is the academic value of storytelling when there is
so much emphasis on writing these days in our state testing? Where can
I find more information about storytelling to help her?
Answer:
Storytelling is the art of telling a tale through the power of our imagination,
voice and gestures. It's a terrific way for a child to improve oral language
and presentation skills. There's also a direct payoff in writing skill
development according to the National Council of Teachers of English (ncte.org).
When we teach students to write, we emphasize the value of a "rehearsal" or
pre-writing stage to gather ideas and put them in a sequence for presenting
them. Swapping stories orally is a great way to help young writers rehearse.
Storytelling also requires kids to create details about an event as they
tell it, making these details easier to capture in writing.
There are other academic benefits. Hearing good stories sharpens listening
skills and introduces learners to new language patterns, new vocabulary and
new contexts for familiar words. Storytelling can improve a child's ability
to predict events in text, a comprehension skill kids need when they start
a new book.
Storyteller Jake Warner is a grandfather who so firmly believes in the power
of a shared tale he's launched a Web site, talltalesaudio.com, to inspire
families to revive the art. "In this age of hand-held games, in-car
DVD players and iPods, kids are on the brink of losing their imaginations
to high-tech toys," says Warner. "Many families have all but stopped
talking with one another. Energizing the tradition of family storytelling
is what we're all about."
Warner says becoming a compelling storyteller isn't hard. He offers a few
tips.
Prefer action to explanations. "Take a cue from cartoons," says
Warner. "When the Road Runner escapes from the Coyote by parachuting
off a cliff, nobody asks who packed the parachute. To hold your audience,
focus on the gripping parts."
Repeat and build on themes. "Kids love to hear favorite
stories over and over. To keep yourself sane, create new adventures for much
beloved characters," says Warner. "Telling a story about two circus
kids who perform their world famous routine of perfectly synchronized back
flips through flaming rings? Expand the characters' stories as they face
new adventures. For example, they might start every new drama by performing
their world famous back-flips."
Make each character distinctive. "Your story will
be more interesting if each character has something that makes him or her
special, weird or sympathetic," says Warner. "Think about Pooh
Bear's fondness for honey, Anne of Green Gables' tendency to make terrible
mistakes or the Lone Ranger's mask."
Put the listener in the action and make every listener a star. "In
the wonderful world of a child's imagination, a ten-year-old really can dance
a lead role with the Bolshoi or hit the home run that lead to a World Series
victory," says Warner.
Create colorful details. "To inspire listeners' visual
imagination, paint a detailed verbal picture," advises Warner. For example,
it's more interesting to hear "they ate their ketchup and frog legs
sandwiches" than "they ate lunch" or "the witch got into
her old rusty pink pickup" rather than "she got into her car."
Toss in another bear! "Telling a bear story and sense
that your audience's attention is waning? Toss in another bear or two!" says
Warner. Keep up interest by building the suspense.
Become the bear. Change your voice to distinguish your
main characters. Telling the three bears? Use different tones and gestures
for a papa, mama and baby bear.
Leave them hanging. "No matter the medium, dramas
told in installments are universally popular," says Warner. "You'll
know your timing is spot on when, after a particularly exciting episode,
a voice pipes up, 'Oh, you can't stop now, you just can't.'"
Storyteller Tip
Want to start storytelling? Jake Warner tells parents to keep it simple with
young children. "A 4-year-old child will love a drama about the misadventures
of a dinosaur who tries to chew bubblegum for the first time. There is
no need to toss in a killer spider and a rocket ship to Mars. Remember
that a little practice pays off big time. Think up the broad outline of
your story in advance and practice telling it a time or two to yourself." To
hear stories recorded by Warner, go to talltalesaudio.com.
Copyright 2006, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
A-PLUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS 11-20-06
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