As I read this research I began to realize how much I have missed out on storytelling. I know when I talk to friends and/or family I can retell an event, but I don't know that it would necessarily fit in the genre of storytelling. I don't know that my students even know how to really "tell" a story. They can retell the events, but not necessarily in story-like fashion. The sad thing is that I wouldn't even know where to begin. I don't consider myself a great writer which is definitely related to telling a story, so I'm not sure I would be a great model for storytelling.
I do think it is true that you might see more storytelling in an environment that isn't as fast paced as ours in America. One of the boys pointed out that now that he is in America he doesn't tell stories as often because there is work to do. I think this is sad. Just think of the family time and closeness you could get by setting up a storytelling enviornment at home or even in your classroom. I wonder though . . . what would I tell a story about. If you take into consideration the traumatic life these boys lived through, I could definitely see that they would have a story to tell. I don't want to take away from the great life that I have lived, but I can't see that it would make for great storytelling.
I find it fascinating that these boys know they need a great education to be successful in America. One of the boys even made the connection to earlier education being one of the reasons he was able to finish college on time whereas other students that started when he did are still being remediated. I also found it interesting how the purpose of storytelling changed as these boys came to America. Before the stories were told to keep their culture going throught the younger generations, but as these boys came to America they told their stories in hopes of a change. Because these boys were already so familiar with stories through storytelling, they were easily motivated to work with stories in print.
I wonder . . . is storytelling easier for those who have been through more hardships? Would we find storytelling in most cultures that have suffered extreme hardships? They seem to have such a story to tell. These celebrities that live such a lavish life and live through so many experiences seem to have quite the story to tell. My grandparents who have lived through so many of life's experiences definitely have stories to tell. So, will this storytelling just come easier to me as I have more stories to pass down and live through more of life's experiences?
Angie Sigmon
Comments (6)
Dear Angie,
I think that storytelling is a craft that needs to be practiced and perfected. I think that other cultures who aren't as fast paced as ours and have different (sometimes better) priorities than us share stories with each other for the purpose of passing down important information and history as well as to form close bonds. This gives the younger generations their sense of identity. I believe many of our youth feel lost and without a sense of identity because of our lack of communication and traditions. My grandma still tells me stories of things that happened in our family history and I'm grateful for that. I think that even people that live ordinary lives still have a great story to tell and sometimes those are the best ones.
Reshawna Greene
Posted by Reshawna Greene | June 16, 2010 7:15 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 19:15
Angie,
I do think that it may be easier for those that have experienced hardships to tell their stories. Some of the best works of literature are of the tragedies, and hardships of culture and war (Night by Eli Wiesel, the story of the Holocaust). However, I also think that stories of ordinary experiences should be told. One of my favorite stories told by my mother is how my grandmother and grandfather met and were married. I think that experience plays a major role in the story that is told, but when discussing storytelling, one may also consider what makes a good story? Do stories that are told and passed down always have to be of true experiences?
Posted by Katie Johnson | June 16, 2010 10:28 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 22:28
Angie,
You make a great point when you talk about how students now a days can retell a story but not tell a story. I think that what we need to do is invite people into our classroom who have great stories to tell. We need to give our students many opportunities to listen to stories. I think if we listen to stories we will be able to tell better stories. I try to allow my students to tell or write stories about anything. I do not think that we have to have been through hardships in order to tell great stories. I try to teach my students that they can tell stories about what they did last weekend, or about the time they went to the story with their mom. So storytelling is a great art and we need to work hard to make sure it is not lost.
Posted by Natalie Enns | June 17, 2010 6:22 PM
Posted on June 17, 2010 18:22
Angie,
To answer your question,I do think great storytelling is often accompanied by strife and hardship. Storytelling is not a material item that can be destroyed or taken by someone. It belongs to the individual. So those who have little or who are in terrible conditions can create, practice, and share their stories. This is not to say that those who have 'easy' lives cannot value stories and be great storytellers. I just think it is less common.
Laura Corbello
Posted by Laura Corbello | June 18, 2010 1:04 PM
Posted on June 18, 2010 13:04
What an interesting thought...storytelling being easier for people that have suffered more hardship in their lives. I can remember my great grandparents telling some fantastic stories about what life was like when they were growing up. They went to school for what was typical of the times, but they also had to work their family farms/gardens and take care of their assigned chores. I think a difficult life could make someone a storyteller but I dont think that all storytellers have suffered. I think that some people just have a way with words and sharing. I know in years past their used to be a fieldtrip that classes could take in Catawba County to listen to different storytellers. That might be something to look into so that you could teach about the art of storytelling and students could hear someone that was considered successful in the art of storytelling.
Posted by Erin Whisnant | June 18, 2010 3:20 PM
Posted on June 18, 2010 15:20
A few years ago my school invited a storyteller to come. He told stories for an hour. The kids were in a trance. They listened and participated with the story. The students could retell the stories for along time afterwards.
My last two years teaching second grade I had the students tell their story orally to their writing buddy before they began to write. As time went on the writing buddy learned to ask the storyteller questions. The questions were usually to clarify a certain piece of information. I believe the students had easier time writing and the quality of the writing greatly increased.
Everyone has a story to tell. They just need an audience.
Posted by Zandra Hunt | June 18, 2010 7:26 PM
Posted on June 18, 2010 19:26