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Kathleen - Teachers.Net welcomes author, educator, storyteller Sherry Norfolk. Sherry has nearly 2 decades of experience as an elementary school teacher and children's librarian as well as her work as a storyteller in the book, The Moral of the Story. Sherry, there is another name listed with yours as author. Who is Bobby Norfolk?
storyed - Bobby is my husband and one of the most dynamic storytellers in the country (I'm a bit prejudiced, but it's true). He's also a leader in the Character Education/storytelling community.
Kathleen - What hands-on experiences have you had in using folk tales and storytelling for instruction?
storyed - I teach storytelling residencies all over the country with ages 4-19, and have done so for the past 3 years. It's marvelous to see kids wake up to the beauty and simplicity of the old tales, and to see them "get" the message!
Kathleen - Sherry, tell us about your storytelling residencies. What does a residency consist of?
storyed - Not only do I teach kids to tell the tales, I teach them to find the message in them -- and they also write their own tales based on folk tale models. In most residencies (each one is tailored to the particular needs of the school) I work with a core group of students, teaching them to tell the old stories using facial expression, vocal expression, body language, gesture, etc. During the process they have to listen respectfully to each other, provide positive peer feedback, and supportive audience behavior.
Kathleen - How does a school acquire an artist in residence?
storyed - Many schools choose to focus on a specific theme; for instance the middle school I'm working in right now has chosen the theme "only the best is good enough" The kids are writing their own stories based on a folk tale model and then will learn to tell it.
storyed - Schools can contact an artist directly or work through their state arts council, which has artist rosters and often matching funding available.
Kathleen - Sherry Norfolk is co-author of The Moral of the Story published by August House. Information about the book can be found at http://www.augusthouse.com/0-87483-542-9.htm
Kelly/1st/MO - Sherry, Can you tell us about how long you work with a school - and if it might be appropriate for first graders? I love your book.
storyed - Kelly, I usually work in a school for 1 - 3 weeks, depending on the number of groups that the school wants to reach and the budget of course. I do work with 1st graders often -- they respond to a little bit different model which is based on three modes of learning and peer practice. Thanks for getting the book!
Kathleen - The Moral of the Story will help you see that storytelling is an important teaching tool, and that you need not be an artist to implement it effectively in the classroom. It provides specific activities to implement immediately . It is a teacher friendly book. :-)
Linda/2/CA - What are some other themes you have done? And how often do you meet with the groups?
storyed - Linda, i meet with the "core groups" every day for approx. one hour a day for the entire week. Core groups are chosen by the teachers, and themes are always developed in cooperation with the teachers. Some themes include overall character education; Georgia history; how and why stories in general; how and why stories about the stars; how and why stories about the sea; environmental awareness; body parts (yeah, really!)
Kathleen - Sherry, is your residency meant to model actions and activities so that a school faculty member can take over and lead the effort in subsequent years?
storyed - Kathleen -- yes, the residency is a model for the teachers to build upon. I also provide a staff development workshop during each residency to help teachers recognize the ways in which storytelling can be applied throughout the curriculum and can be used to integrate character education into all parts of the curriculum
storyed - The teachers can learn to tell stories right along with the kids -- in fact, they sometimes perform too on the last day!
Karen - Hi Sherry. I am out of the country so cannot take advantage of the services you offer, unfortunately. As teachers in my school, we incorporate oral storytelling daily. We often try to create our own stories around current social issues in the school. A colleague and I are currently trying to create a story dealing with bullying. Any tips? It never occurred to me to have children creating stories around these current themes. Would your book help with this?
storyed - Karen, bullies seem to abound in the folk literature. Coyote, in the Native American literature, is a great example of a bully who teaches through negative example. In the book, we don't talk too much about how to get kids to write the stories based on the models. but we do provide a rap version of the Three Billy Goats Gruff (that Troll is a bully!) and a story called Bibi and the Singing Drum about another bully!
Kathleen - One section of the book presents a child development chart that will help you in selecting tales that are age appropriate. Another guides you as you help children become storytellers. The book closes with a very complete bibliography full of additional sources for stories by character trait and theme.
storyed - Stories about monsters, trolls, etc., are really stories about bullies -- creatures who use their brawn rather than their brains to get what they want. The folk tales feature protagonists who can out-trick those bullies just using their brains and creativity!
Kelly/1st/MO - Sherry - Is Bibi the same one I know as Bimwili?
storyed - Kelly, you got it on the first try! We found lots of variants and then just played with it and had fun.
Linda/2/CA - We have some trouble with students who have "smart mouths"--yes this is in 2nd grade. Do you have any tips in your book for dealing with this problem?
storyed - Oh, Karen -- August House http://augusthouse.com will be publishing an audio cassette of Bobby and me telling 6 of the stories from the book. It's coming out this spring! That's one way to get us in your school.
storyed - We deal with that in the section on teaching kids to tell stories -- it's all about teaching kids that they must be respectful in order to receive respectful treatment from others. We absolutely will not allow kids to diss each other -- and they MUST say positive things. Those are the only rules we enforce, and when they find out how pleasant it is to be in a "safe" environment, it's amazing how supportive even 2nd graders -- and middles schoolers -- will be.
Linda/2/CA - Our staff is under a lot of pressure from standardized testing. This has led to a lot of bickering among the staff regarding methods, etc. Do you have anything geared toward adults?
storyed - Linda, I truly believe that folk tales are for every audience -- and adults can benefit just as much as kids. Try looking for stories on problem solving, where many different solutions can all be right -- or tell any story up to the point where the problem needs to be solved and open the floor -- they'll be able to see the results for themselves.
Kathleen - Sherry, Are older kids more inhibited about doing oral activities? How do you loosen kids up for participation in storytelling? Or does it happen easily?
storyed - I love to tell a story like 3 Billy Goats, for instance, and then sk everyone to figure out a way the goats could've gotten across without violence. There a 100s of right answers to that. It proves that everyone's method should be respected and at least heard out.
storyed - Kathleen, you're right. Older kids, usually starting around 5th or 6th grade, begin to get self-conscious about being in front of others, That's why the idea of creating a safe environment - one where they are guaranteed to be told positive things and to be listened to attentively and to be applauded, is so important. But we've seen miracles happen with kids supporting each other -- even in detention centers -- and self-esteem soaring as a result.
Kathleen - Sherry, I love your Gingerbread Man rap! For those who don't have the book yet, it opens with: There once was a dude who was made of dough--Gingerbread if you want to know. He was cute and tasty but he didn't wanna be! He wanted, he needed, he had to be free. So he took off one day, away from his woes. He ran away, straight to his foes. Here's the tale--it's sad but true-- And the very same thing can happen to you If you run and hide instead of face up...etc. Kids would love learning it, and it teaches an important lesson.
storyed - Thanks, Kathleen. The Gingerbread Rap has turned into a favorite. Bobby put in on one of his new tapes, Timeless Tales.
nette - storyed? can you name a couple to address that?
Kathleen - Children would also enjoy reciting the Three Billy Goats Gruff rap, pointing out the fatal flaw in the troll, "He should've learned not to be so greedy, He should've learned to help the needy." There are 10 other tales, one in the form of a play script.
storyed - nette, I think you may have wanted the problem solving stories. Most stories qualify, but I've found ,the simpler the better for the purposes I was mentioning. One I really like to play with is The Gunniwolf -- also in the book -- where I ask the kids to create their own story based on that framework. They will automatically create a new problem, then they have to come up with a new solution to it. And it MUST be non-violent (they usually say BUMMER, but hen come up with great solutions!)
nette - I like that,yes..that is exactly what I am looking for. thank you
Kathleen - Sherry, I note in your book that it is not important to memorize every detail of a folktale. How close to the original should students and storytellers remain when they make the story their own?
storyed - Kathleen, I don't require anyone to stay mired in the words or the plot -- they tell the story that's important to them. And in telling that story, they learn and teach others. Teachers often think they have to memorize but that turns into a barrier to telling any stories at all. Just tell it in your own words -- you'll remember the most important parts.
Dee - a: Hi Sherry...could you tell us what the main components would be of a folktale. I'm really looking for a framework to describe to the students before they write.
storyed - Dee-- a true folktale is a story that has been passed down through the oral tradition for generations. There's no one pattern, but you might want to look at some of the most common patterns, such as trickster tales or how and why tales. Do those interest you?,
Dee - Yes...I usually try to read a good model to the class before they start. You mentioned the Gunniwolf. I like that story. Could you recommend a good trickster model?
storyed - The best wy to get the kids writing, in my experience, is to tell them lots of stories. Then chose one that has a very simple storyline and then ask them to create their own characters, setting, motivation, etc. Gunniwolf works because it is so simple: a child is warned about danger, is led into danger, meets up with it and gets away. They can do wonders with that!
storyed - Dee, simple trickster stories like Anansi and the moss-covered rock or Anasi and Turtle or Brer Rabbit's Thanksgiving dinner are good models.
Kelly/1st/MO - Sherry, How would a school (or teacher) contact you about storytelling - simply through the Arts and Education Council or whatever?...or is there a more direct way?
storyed - Kelly -- and everyone -- you can reach me directly at shnorfolk@aol.com or (404)627-7012 or write to 888 Vera St, Atlanta, GA 30316. Please do!!
Linda/2/CA - Can you tell me the difference between a folktale and a fairy tale?
storyed - Linda--A fairytale can be either a literary tale (one with a known author, like Hans Christian Andersen) or a folktale. It will have an element of magic if it is a true fairytale.
Kathleen - Sherry, have you and Bobby participated in Tellabration, the worldwide storytelling weekends?
storyed - Kathleen, I don't think that Bobby has ever been in a Tellabration - weird, huh? I've been in the one in Atlanta and the one in Jekyll Island, GA.
Kelly/1st/MO - Does Bobby still "do" the Gateway Arch here in St. Louis?
storyed - Kelly -- Bobby will always do the Arch -- he was a ranger there for 10 years, and is very loyal to it. He'll be there in late February for sure.
Kathleen - Those interested in this discussion may wish to read transcripts of past sessions with storyteller Laura Simms and author Sheldon Cashdan (The Witch Must Die, which discusses how fairy tales shape our lives) in the Teachers.Net Archives at http://teachers.net/archive. This transcript will be there in a few days.
storyed - Kelly -- I'll be featured in the St Louis Storytelling Festival this year. Bring a class!
storyed - Kelly - the Festival is the first week of May. Incredible -- tens of thousand of kids attend!
Kathleen - Tellabration is a celebration of storytelling, people tell stories during I think 2 weekends each year.
storyed - The Storytelling Magazine is a good source, too. It's the journal of the Nat'l Storytelling Network.
Kathleen - Sherry Norfolk, author of The Moral of the Story, thank you for consulting with Teachers.Net tonight. You've inspired us to further experiment with using stories and tales with our students for pleasure and instruction.
storyed - Kathleen -- thanks for inviting me to do this. It was great fun!
Kathleen - Sherry, then let's do it again, with Bobby too. Goodnight!
storyed - Goodnight!
Kathleen - Storytelling Magazine: http://www.storynet.org
Kathleen - Internet collections of stories and tales:
Kathleen - Internet collections of stories and tales: Bookwire Reading Room http://www.bookwire.com/links/readingroom/readingroom.html - Bubbe Back Porch http://www.bubbe.com - The Moonlit Road http://www.themoonlitroad.com - Tales of wonder http://members.xoom.com/darsie/tales/index.html
Kathleen - Bilingual story Internet source: http://www.mercado.com
Kathleen - Tellabration website: http://members.aol.com/tellabrate
Kathleen - August House, the folktale and storyarts catalog: Post Office Box 3223, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72203-3223 or e-mail: order@augusthouse.com. Their url: http://www.augusthouse.com
