Storytelling in Schools and Museums

"Pupils should continue to have opportunities to listen frequently to stories."

     ...one of the best bits from the 2014 National Curriculum for Primary Schools!

Teacher's Feedback:

"A unique and extremely valuable learning experience. The children rushed back to their classes and immediately instigated a full-on whole class discussion about you, the stories, the music and how they had been inspired to incorporate ideas from the session in their own stories or to write new stories based on your session. Thank you!" M. Preston, Applecroft School, Oct 2013, written evaluation

Here's more:

" [Your visit] was useful for aspects of speaking and listening – a literacy area which I believe is so important to life and in improving writing standards." Written evaluation from Welwyn St Mary's Primary School, by permission.

What happens in a school storytelling session:

• I play music as the children come in.
• I tell stories from the oral traditions chosen to suit the group, and its age range.
• Sometimes music is woven into the story, sometimes it frames the story, sometimes it's simply there to enjoy between stories, to allow a change in concentration.
• ... and that's it!
• ... but it's not just that at all. The children listen, they listen actively, and in depth; and the adults often forget to be there as adults and they listen too.

Autumn 2012: "Can you come again, please? We've never known [child] to sit so quietly for so long, ever!" Teacher's verbal feedback

• The stories are always told, never read. The listening audience is a vital part of the telling, and their reactions influence how a story comes out.

"The children listened intently and it was magical to watch them getting ever closer to you as they became more involved in the story."

• Storytelling for literacy and language skills
• Storytelling for listening skills
• Storytelling to inspire spoken language work
• Storytelling to inspire creative writing
• Storytelling for theme work
• Storytelling for feasts and seasons in the school community
• Storytelling for historical themes
• Storytelling just because

 

There's more about storytelling and the Curriculum here

How long?

Session length depends on age-group: Reception class sessions are usually about 20/25 minutes, by year 4 or 5 they're regularly happily listening for an hour.

"Children were fascinated throughout the session" - Kate Reneerken, Loddington CEPrimary School, Northants.

"Children seemed totally unaware that they had been sitting still for almost an hour." Mrs. J Keefe, Applecroft School, Herts.

Themes

I can link stories to themes in the curriculum, and am always developing more. Some are listed below. Many of these themes are the result of schools' requests. For some, such as Robots, there may not appear to be many traditional stories, but you'd be surprised! Some are more suited to certain age groups than others: please ask me.

I can tell stories for historical themes, with music of the period played on appropriate instruments to give real flavour – I'm an experienced historical musician, having performed in many famous heritage sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Castle for "Time Team", the V&A, The British Museum, and more English Heritage properties than I can remember!

• Medieval period
• Tudor period
• Victorian period

Requirements and preparations for Story sessions... very few!

• At least one teacher in the room at all times with even the smallest group; with anything over 30, at least two;
• A quiet room, not a thoroughfare, to enable the children to listen and concentrate;
• Either carpet, floor mats, or an arc of chairs so they can sit comfortably;
• A clock which I can see while telling;
• No special technology needed - no PA, projectors, nor special lighting, it's all live.

And that's it...
... until afterwards, when the opportunities for your follow-up work are great!

MoreTeachers' feedback:

"The children were really engaged ... My colleagues and I were delighted ..." " All the children I spoke to were buzzing afterwards!... Please come back again!!" "Definitely a useful educational experience... [afterwards, the children] were able to relay it to their class teacher."

  "Children... inspired to write/tell stories" Children's feedback was "All very positive" "Fantastic."   "Loved the instruments"   "Very good value for money... Thank you for a super day. We would definitely like you to visit our school again."

Where?