Press Play to hear this interview that was recorded as livel on 12/04/2007 with storyteller the Yellow Springs Tailspinners and Brother Wolf discuss how to effectively start and form a storytelling group.

I spent an hour talking with my local yellow springs Tale-spinners about how we function as a closed storytelling group. We are fairly successful at supporting each other and building on our past successes. I think you will enjoy the conversation.

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Press Play to hear this interview that was recorded as a conference call on 11/27/2007 with storyteller Elizabeth Rose and Brother wolf discuss how to empower teachers to Use Storytelling in the Classroom.

Elizabeth Rose writes…
In this podcast, Elizabeth shares her ideas on how to use storytelling in the classroom in a realistic way in order to help teach the mandated state curriculum. Many of the skills that teachers are held accountable for can be taught with the use of storytelling. Children respond to stories in the narrative form. Many teachers do not believe in their own storytelling abilities. More teachers need to be empowered to test their storytelling skills with their classes; the rewards are great.

Children also have the capability of becoming great storytellers. So many skills can be learned through storytelling such as plot, sequencing, vocabulary, story structure, characterization, point of view, figurative language, listening skills, the list goes on and on and on. Elizabeth will discuss the value of having youth storytelling clubs and educating more people about the opportunities for youth storytellers, such as the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. Continue Reading »

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Press Play to hear this interview that was recorded as a conference call on 10/02/2007, Rachel Hedman, Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance appeared on the Art of Storytelling with Children to talking about child storytellers speaking out: what they wish adults storytellers knew.

One of the most touching storytelling interviews I have done to date. I love the passiona in Rachels voice and storytelling as she tells the story of Black socks. I hope you are inspired in your work with child storytellers.

——-Rachel writes…

Child tellers often have silent wishes regardless if they attend elementary, middle, or high school. When given the chance to speak, these are the top three wishes:

1. Wish to meet other child tellers
2. Wish to have friends rather than coaches
3. Wish to be leaders

Perhaps you will be the one to help grant these wishes.

Wish to meet other child tellers
Children are lucky if they attend a school that has a storytelling club. Sometimes “storytelling club” comes under such guises as 4H groups, Forensics (public-speaking contests), or theatre. Storytelling may not be the pure focus of these Continue Reading »

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Interviiw with Ethnohtec; with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang recorded on Tuesday, July 24th, 2007.

What does Vision and Purpose have to do with being a storyteller? How does one find a vision and why is it important? What would a storytelling career look like if the artist in in alignment with ones purpose? On a practical side, once the storyteller has clarified their mission in life, indentified a community to serve and method of storytelling to serve them, how does one approach the nitty gritty of running a business as a storyteller?

Eth-Noh-Tec with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang explored these issues of the professional touring storyteller during this interview. Whether you are semi professional, a novice or seasoned storyteller, come listen to the challenges of the world of storytelling. Eth-Noh-Tec, now in it’s 25th year of storytelling talks about their humble Continue Reading »

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Interview with Eric Wolf and Steve Otto recorded on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007.

Each level of development that storytellers go through has it’s pitfalls and limitations. How can we as storytellers avoid the pitfalls that have befallen those who gone before? In this discussion Eric Wolf and Steve Otto explore how we as storytellers can go to the next level in our practice as storytellers.

From beginners to experts, performers to marketers what are the most common ways that we accept our limitations instead of challenging them? How have others successfully risen to successful practice of storytelling? These are some of the questions that we look at in this hour long episode of the Art of Storytelling with Children Podcast.

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by Kevin Cordi interviewed on Tuesday at 7 PM EST, June 12, 2007.

Nationally known Professional Storyteller and Story Teacher Kevin Cordi invites you to join with him and Eric as we discuss, challenge, and encourage discussion concerning how we can provide a voice for children with storytelling and proven storytelling practices. Kevin is the co-author, with Judy Sima, of Raising Voices: Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes and according to the National Storytelling Network, “the first full time high school storytelling teacher in the country.” He has a Masters Degree in “Using Storytelling as a Primary Means of Educating Students” and is currently a PH.D Candidate in “Dramatic Inquiry and Narrative Storytelling” at The Ohio State University. He also has led a successful award-winning youth storytelling troupe called Voices of Illusion for 11 years and is the founder of both Voices across America Youth Storytelling Project and the Special Interest Group now called Y.E.S. (Youth, Educators, and Storytellers.)

What is most important is that when he was a teenager he found his voice with storytelling. For awhile he was alone in his pursuit to be Continue Reading »

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By Kevin Cordi

As you continue to work with students they will to come to you to help them with their stories At this point you take on the role of the student’s “coach.” However, unlike a football or volleyball coach where he or she is concerned about the team, the storytelling coach gears their session based not on a group’s need, but the teller. The term coach can also in some cases illicit bad memories of someone who berated another for their inability or inexperience. This is not the role of the Storytelling Coach. A Storytelling Coach assists the teller in finding Continue Reading »

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Post written by Zayanne Thompson, Ellyce Cavanough and Kate Fox. These camp directors were interviewed on Tuesday June 5th, 2007 Missed the call? Don’t worry - you can listen right now by clicking the play button.

How have you used storytelling in camp settings?
Zay Thompson Answers - Stories are a natural for camps. Camps offers an opportunity to create a meaningful and memorable connection to the outdoor environment. Educational research suggests that this connection to the outdoors creates a highly charged environment that facilitates learning. This emotional value of the camp experience opens the gateway for Continue Reading »

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Post written by Stephen Hollen interviewed on Tuesday May 29nd at 7 PM Missed the call? Don’t worry - you can listen right now by clicking the play button.

Improvisational storytelling is a teaching tool that is a cross between storytelling that I have been doing for years and improv techniques I learned in my college days. Instead of aiming at oral tradition, it goes into the creative writing classroom to put “meat” on the three “Ps” - Person, Place and Problem plus one “P” of my own - Props.

By using these 4 “Ps” I help children in 3rd-5th grade unlock their creativity and develop the basics of Continue Reading »

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Post written by James Flanagan to be interviewed on Tuesday May 22nd at 7 PM Missed the call? Don’t worry - you can listen right now by clicking the play button.

To tell a story, you must write it down.

Before you tell it, you must have a point of reference, an outline, and hen scratching a script.

After you tell the story, you refine, and you refine your written story too.

Writing a story leads the teller to be able to see if the tale flows, if it makes sense,

The writing defines the beginning, middle and end. You look at the words and play with the vocabulary and the phrases. You see where in the story, you will have to add emphasis. (You might even insert the directions to change your voice)

I would suggest you read it to someone, they act it out. This acting helps you see what you left out or the jumps in the story.

You tell the story and see how it relates to the written tale. If you revise or change a part put that into the written story. Continue Reading »

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