We just completed our second storytelling experience which required us to retell the story without the book. This experience was harder than our first assignment where we were able to have the words in front of us and did not need to rely on cues or memory to tell the story. I have included my video below.
Knowing that this assignment did require more planning, I used a lot of information from chapter 4 in our textbook, Storytelling Art and Technique by Ellin Greene and Janice Del Negro. This chapter is all about the planning process and it gives tips and strategies to help achieve a successful storytelling experience.
After reviewing chapter four, I created cue cards for the retelling of Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley. Although this is short story with repetitive text, I wanted to be prepared in case I got nervous and forgot a part of the story. I included a link to some examples of cue cards for reference or as a tool for others to use in future storytelling experiences.
Along with using the cueing technique, I also found this great video of a children's librarian and also professional storyteller giving 5 important tips for storytelling. Karrie Korroch's key suggestions are:
1. Voice- Think about your voice and pay attention to your volume and speed.
2. Content-Tell the story from your own life.
3. Know the Parts of the Story- Don't just memorize, it can easily distract you and the audience will notice it! Think about beginning, middle, and end. Try a map!
4. Audience-Think carefully about who is listening to you.
5. Prepare-Tell your story to friends, family, or anyone who will listen. The more you tell, the easier it will be!
After selecting my book and knowing the strategies I wanted to use for this experience, I searched for a few additional videos of people storytelling without books and props. I noticed that this was very difficult to find. Most videos were digital storytelling or used the book or props. I knew it would be more difficult to keep the attention of my audience without a visual aid, so I brainstormed how to make my story more engaging without these. That's when I decided to tell my story in character with a costume. I emailed my professor and asked permission and here is the result.
I think adding the costume and putting some mud on my face really helped make the story more exciting and gave my audience something to look at instead of just hearing the story. I also made sure to use voices which made the retelling more of a performance than just a reading.
Overall, I am happy with how this experience turned out. I got positive feedback from both my classmates and my instructor. It did take more preparation than the first storytelling experience, but I think that hard work showed in my video. Also, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, which really helped me grow as a storyteller. I am excited to continue this! I will end this post with a few quotes. Remember the importance of every storytelling experience!
I cannot agree more that our second storytelling experience required a little more work and was a little more difficult than the first one! I read the story I chose for mine about 3-5 times a day just to make sure I had it down pat. After reading the tips that you shared, I can see how memorizing the story can be a little distracting for the audience. I realize now that I could have made my experience a little better for my audience if I hadn't memorized the text. However, I have made a note to myself to make a note about the beginning, middle, and end for my next experience. I realize now that the kids we are sharing our stories with won't care if we mess up once or twice. The use of cue-cards is a wonderful idea! I might have to try that for my last experience. I also think it was really cool that you incorporated a costume to make your experience more interesting for listeners!
I really enjoyed hearing about the process of creating your storytelling without the book experience. I hadn't seen it last week so after reading all about your planning process of putting it together I had to go back and check it out. It was great! Your props of the clothes and mud, plus your accent, really added positively to the audience's experience. You've given me some great ideas to consider for my next storytelling experience.
I am glad that you chose to capture your Mrs. Wishy Washy experience. I really enjoyed your video when you originally posted it and think that you did a fabulous job helping to bring the main character to life without the aid of the book. I think adding a costume and some "mud" was a great touch and I could see children being fascinated by it.
I am still toying with some ideas for my storytelling experience without a book/from memory. I am thankful for such an enthusiastic and creative class to give me inspiration.
Great job again! I look forward to your future storytelling videos.
Tiffany, I did watch your storytelling experience and was so impressed, so I don't want to repeat myself too much. I like that you mentioned how much preparation this experience takes. Even if you know the book by heart, it does take time to make it "yours" and make sure to add in the "extras" to make the experience engaging and educational. There were so many suggestions in Jennifer Pyrek's: Participation Palooza article from this week's module. I also like how you included the list of steps needed to prepare, along with the video.
In preparation for my storytelling experience without props or a book, I will use your blog and experience as a roadmap!
I love that you used a costume and mud to fit the story! I’ve always really liked the idea of dressing up to match the book being read, and I think that in this scenario where there isn’t a physical book with illustrations to look at, being dressed up like you were makes it so that there is still an interesting visual element involved in the story.
Good evening Tiffany!
ReplyDeleteI cannot agree more that our second storytelling experience required a little more work and was a little more difficult than the first one! I read the story I chose for mine about 3-5 times a day just to make sure I had it down pat. After reading the tips that you shared, I can see how memorizing the story can be a little distracting for the audience. I realize now that I could have made my experience a little better for my audience if I hadn't memorized the text. However, I have made a note to myself to make a note about the beginning, middle, and end for my next experience. I realize now that the kids we are sharing our stories with won't care if we mess up once or twice. The use of cue-cards is a wonderful idea! I might have to try that for my last experience. I also think it was really cool that you incorporated a costume to make your experience more interesting for listeners!
Sincerely,
Kersten Epting
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed hearing about the process of creating your storytelling without the book experience. I hadn't seen it last week so after reading all about your planning process of putting it together I had to go back and check it out. It was great! Your props of the clothes and mud, plus your accent, really added positively to the audience's experience. You've given me some great ideas to consider for my next storytelling experience.
Thanks!
Michelle Grabiec
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you chose to capture your Mrs. Wishy Washy experience. I really enjoyed your video when you originally posted it and think that you did a fabulous job helping to bring the main character to life without the aid of the book. I think adding a costume and some "mud" was a great touch and I could see children being fascinated by it.
I am still toying with some ideas for my storytelling experience without a book/from memory. I am thankful for such an enthusiastic and creative class to give me inspiration.
Great job again! I look forward to your future storytelling videos.
Best,
Jennie Church
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI did watch your storytelling experience and was so impressed, so I don't want to repeat myself too much. I like that you mentioned how much preparation this experience takes. Even if you know the book by heart, it does take time to make it "yours" and make sure to add in the "extras" to make the experience engaging and educational. There were so many suggestions in Jennifer Pyrek's: Participation Palooza article from this week's module. I also like how you included the list of steps needed to prepare, along with the video.
In preparation for my storytelling experience without props or a book, I will use your blog and experience as a roadmap!
Great job!
~LIZ
Hi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI love that you used a costume and mud to fit the story! I’ve always really liked the idea of dressing up to match the book being read, and I think that in this scenario where there isn’t a physical book with illustrations to look at, being dressed up like you were makes it so that there is still an interesting visual element involved in the story.
Sarah Burns