Raising Voices

JUDY SIMA, Media Specialist for more than 30 years, is the Michigan State Liaison to the National Storytelling Network.KEVIN CORDI, the first full-time high school storytelling teacher in the country, is co-chair of the National Storytelling Networks Youth Storytelling Special Interest Group. His program has received the National Service Award from the National Storytelling Network.

Anyone who wants to start a youth storytelling group or troupe will find a wealth of practical information and inspiration in this guide. Written by two veteran storytellers and storytelling group leaders, this book takes you step by step through the entire process of planning, starting, managing, and growing your storytelling group-even up through taking the show on the road. Complete instructions for teaching storytelling skills and performing are accompanied by dozens of reproducible activities and practical tips-from how to recruit members and how to adapt stories for telling to what to wear when performing, and fundraising ideas. Storytelling is a powerful teaching and learning tool. It increases literacy and language skills, builds creativity and imagination, instills confidence, encourages cooperation and collaboration-and it's great fun for everyone! Share the gift of storytelling with young people and watch them grow. Grades 4-12.

ContentsList of ReproduciblesixAcknowledgmentsxiStoryteller###8217;s PledgexiiiIntroductionxvSection I:Getting StartedChapter 1:Initial Preparations3Defining Your Goals and Objectives3Finding a Time and Place to Meet6Recruiting Students7Organizing the Space11Gathering Supplies12Chapter 2:Let the Meetings Begin15Creating a Safe Environment15Establishing Rules16Structuring the Meetings17Choosing a Name for Your Group20Establishing a Schedule21First Meeting Agenda21Meeting Formats25Section II:Growing Your Storytelling GroupChapter 3a:Teaching Storytelling Skills: Getting Ready to Tell Stories33Storytellers###8217; Bingo33Storytelling Scavenger Hunt42Hello Bingo45Meet My Friend48I Am, I Can, I Like, I Hope50Academy Awards Acceptance Speech51###8220;Me###8221; Story Bags52Partner Storytelling54Hot Seat57Toy Stories59Magic Key61Chain or Circle Storytelling61Chapter 3b:Teaching Storytelling Skills: The Story Learning Process65Step 1. Choose It: Choosing a Story to Tell68Step 2. Read It: Reading the Story Aloud70Step 3. Picture It: Drawing, Outlining, or Mapping the Story71Step 4. Imagine It: Visualizing or Imagining the Story75Step 5. Practice It: Rehearsing the Story76Step 6. Tell It: Telling the Story to an Audience77vvi ContentsChapter 4a:Strengthening Storytelling Skills: Advanced Activities83Rotation Station83Virginia Reel85Exaggeration Station87All Hands Down88Emotions Circle89Pass the Mask91Excuses, Excuses92Tall Tale93Good News-Bad News94To Get or ###8220;Mother May I###8230;###8221;95Drawing from a Description96Chapter 4b:Strengthening Storytelling Skills: Activities for Adapting and Creating Stories101Crafting Adapted and Original Stories for Performance102Bare Bones Fables103Five Times Three: Audience Participation106Telling Your Own Story111Personal Encounter with an Animal113Point of View114Crazy Mixed-Up Fairy Tales116A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words117Chapter 5:Coaching: Guiding the Youth Storyteller121What Is Coaching?121What Coaching Is Not122The Rules of Coaching123The Atmosphere of Coaching124Three Styles of Coaching125Developing Your Coaching Skills126Chapter 6:Nurturing the Group129Keeping Students Motivated129Levels of Achievement130Finding Role Models and Coaches133Dealing with Problem Situations134Section III:Performing and BeyondChapter 7:Telling the Tales141Are We Ready?141Using a Microphone142Field Trip/Performance Checklist142Rules of the Road148Silent Signals149Then Let###8217;s Get Set151Dressing the Part151Choosing Stories151Group Chant152Contents viiPuppets, Props, and Instruments154Warm-Up Exercises155Master of Ceremonies (or Maestro)156And Off We Go!157Public Performances157Places to Tell160Gift of Reading161Youth Storytelling Exchange162Family Storytelling Festival164National Storytelling Youth Olympics165Home Again166Evaluating the Performance166Thank You Letters167Wrapping Things Up168Planning For The Future170National Youth Storytelling Pegasus Awards171Chapter 8:Creating a Traveling Troupe173Creating a Troupe Identity174Initiation into the Troupe175Scheduling Separate Meetings175Assigning Leadership Roles175Provide Storytelling Opportunities176Troupe and Leadership176Chapter 9:Raising Funds While Telling Stories179Establishing Rates181Taking the Show on the Road182Telling for Civic Service Groups182Schools and Day-Care Centers182Country Fairs or Special Community Events182Conferences and Conventions183The Public Library183Retirement Homes and Senior Centers183Camps and Outdoor Programs183Bringing the Audience to You184Tellabration and Youth Tellabration184Special Programs to Promote Literacy184Storytelling Festival184Renaissance Dinner185Ghost Story Program in a Haunted House185Ethnic or Cultural Festival185Additional Programs to Provide Funding185Mime-a-Thon185Book and Story Drive185Story Delivery Service or ###8220;Story-A-Gram###8221;186Personal Story Program186viii ContentsSection IV:Storytelling ResourcesBuilding a Storytelling Collection187Bibliography188Categories189Storytelling Theory, Practice, and How-To Guides189Storytelling Collections193Single Stories206Sources for Puppets, Props, and Instruments214Audio and Videocassettes215Storytelling Web Sites216Storytelling Organizations217Publishers and Distributors Specializing in Storytelling Books and Tapes219Appendix:Youthful Voices221Index233About the Authors241