Planting the Seeds of Learning, One Story at a Time

Dr. Mike Lockett, The Normal Storytellerwww.mikelockett.com

Illinois TESOL ConferenceHeartland Community CollegeNormal, IL 4/20/2012

The Grain of RiceFather left on tripGave daughters grain of riceMystery of rice?What did daughters do?

Rice Ideas LearningPlant and Nurture them in order to enjoy the harvest.

By 2030, 40% of students will be English Language Learners (ELLs).* Improving Achievement of English Language Learners in Reading Comprehension, Jones, Janet. 2011Fastest growing population in America are Hispanic most who speak little EnglishChina, South Korean Taiwan are among many nations requiring learning English as a Foreign Language.More nations recognize the need to be bilingual to be competitive.Need to Explore New Ways to Teach EFL

Storytelling may be method ofteaching you wish to try.I travel to plant the seed of using storytelling to help improve learning one story at a timeI support the use of storytelling to teach EFL based on:33 years as teacher and administratorOver 3000 successful programsPrograms in 27 states and 14 countries19 American Awards for 5 CDs, 1 DVD and first six childrens booksThe love I receive from all who hear my stories.

Facts about Storytelling*Storytelling has been a method of instruction since the beginning of time.Stories touch the heart and feed the listeners desire for experience and have great appeal.Stories are easy to remember. (Hearing is the first of the senses developed in humans even before birth.)Stories work for all ages of listeners and for all levels of education.Stories provide knowledge and a means of recall.

Wisdom of Ancient Times was Learned from StoriesThe Gift of Stories The Caliph of BagdadSocrates and Plato told stories to teach wisdom, truth and stimulate thinking.Confucius told stories to arouse the desire for better conduct. Buddha told stories to help people seek enlightenment.Jesus told parables to awaken beliefs and illustrate principles.Panchatantra Tales (5 books of 87 tales filled with animals and magic were written to impart knowledge to royalty.

Einstein was asked by a mother how to help her child become a great mathematician or scientist like Einstein.

Tell your child folktales, said Einstein.

What do I do then? asked the mother.

Tell your child more folktales!

What do I do after that? asked the mother.

By that time, your child should be old enough to read folktales and stories on his own, said Einstein.Are Stories Important in Modern Times

Planting the Seeds of LearningWe are here to plant seeds of learning one story at a time.Play with storiesShare researchLearn to tell a story

The Giant Pumpkin - A Story that Works in the Classroom * Interactive * Humorous * Maximum Involvement * Draw from Prior Knowledge * Use to introduce Other Books

Benefits of Telling Stories Improves Reading ComprehensionImproves Vocabulary ScoresImproves Listening ComprehensionImproves Math Applications (story problems) ()Improves Reading in ALL Content Areas Mike Lockett, 1992, 1992 See Dr. Locketts Handouts for still more benefits of telling stories to students.

Engle (1995) Children learn storytelling years before logic, persuasion, writing, and other forms of information delivery. Hanson (2004) "Storytelling is at the least as effective as reading aloud for language arts development." Mello (2001) Storytelling enhances literacy. "Storytelling was an effective learning tool that linked literature to content and experience." Schank (1990) "Storytelling has demonstrable, measurable, positive, and irreplaceable value in teaching." Snow and Burns (1998) "Recently the efficacy of early reading and storytelling exposure has been scientifically validated. It has been shown to work. Tannen (1999) Images created through stories are more convincing and more memorable than either fact or abstract propositions. Taylor (2001) "Storytelling is a valuable resource for developing critical thinking skills."

Brain Research SaysChildren Need Storytelling

Three Essentials to StorytellingThe StoryYouThe AudienceIf you control the first two, it follows that, all things being equal, you will control the third. * *Ethel Barret in Storytelling Its Easy, 1960We will start with stories then move to YOU then move to managing the audience to bring them into the story

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Selecting Good Stories to UseFind stories that you like

It is important to like stories you tell.

If you do not like a story, your audience will not like it.

Selecting Good Stories to UseFind stories that you like

Start with short stories that are easy to tell

Learn stories from familiar culture

Picture books (easy to remember) ()

Stories with lots of repetition and easy to follow plots

Selecting Good Stories to UseTraditional Folk Tales (Dewey Decimal 398.2) ( 398.2)Aesops Fables, Fairy Tales, How and Why Stories Find a hook to catch the listeners. Beginning/ending easy to understand / Look for believable characters (true to story) ()Match stories to the age level of the listeners

Sample of a Good Story that ANYONE can tell.Bark GeorgeGeorge went_________________No, George! ________s go ________.

Why is Bark George a Good Story?Fun liked by childrenFilled with repetitionCharacters are familiar at age levelSmall number of characters to rememberPicture books are easy to rememberStory has a memory hook Story has surprise ending

*Bark GeorgeAvailable from Scholastic Books

Listening attentively and with understandingSpeaking effectively to teachers, students, and global neighborhoodReading all types of genre fluently Writing with correct grammar, spelling, sequencing and organizationConfidence in interacting with othersStorytelling can impact EFL with

Example of Using a Favorite Common Story to Introduce Vocabulary*The Mitten by Jan Brett Available from Scholastic Books

HedgehogRabbitFoxBearMouse

How Can Stories Improve Literacy?Introduce stories & books to studentsAnimal Names hedgehog, rabbit, fox, bear, mouseBody Parts nose, ear, headColor Words white, red, yellowSize Words small, big, biggerPractice using expressionImproves fluency in reading/speaking

Types of Stories Decide what you want to tell - Anecdotes BalladsCrowd Looseners Cumulative Stories EpicsFables AesopFairy TalesFolktalesGhost StoriesHistorical StoriesHoliday StoriesJokesJump StoriesLegendsLiterary StoriesMythsOriginal StoriesParables, ParodiesPersonal and Family Stories Pourquoi Stories (How and Why Stories)Reality StoriesSpringboard StoriesTall tales Trickster tales___________________

Mental Tools for StorytellingImaginationFacial ExpressionsBody MovementsYour VoiceThe PauseNervousnessConfidence+ PRACTICE

Learning a New Tale for the ClassroomRead story several timesWalk around while reading the storyTell the story aloud PUSH THROUGH ITBook Ends Practice Beginning and EndingRetell the StoryAdd 5 SensesRetell the Story to FIVE PEOPLE

Read the Story The Tiger's Teacher We will start with an ordinary story that is not polished for performance.We will learn it - then learn to perform it.Stand while reading story out loud.Walk around while reading the storyPut the story down and try telling it out loud.

The Tigers TeacherTiger had trouble catching animals to eat. Tiger saw Cat was fast and graceful. Tiger asked Cat for lessons.Cat was convinced to help Tiger. Cat taught Tiger all she knew except for how to climb trees.Tiger tried to eat Cat. Cat got away.Tiger never learned to climb trees.Never stop learning all you can.

Now we will play with a polished story The Hungry Wolf Wolf was hungry and went to find some dinner. As he walked he saw a large Ram. "Mr. Ram, Mr. Ram, I am going to eat you!" said the Wolf. "Mr. Horse, Mr. Horse, I am going to eat you," said the Wolf. "Mr. Pig, Mr. Pig, I am going to eat you," said the Wolf.

Your Personal Memory HintsStart with small number of Characters.What can you see?What can you hear?What can you smell?What can you taste?What can you feel?Beginning EndingAdd VoicesAdd Gestures

Repetition - Look at the story to see if there are any parts that can be told the same way throughout the story. Sometimes, this makes stories easier to tell and more fun to listen to.

Rehearse Tell your story at least once all the way through without stopping before going back to look at the story or at your notes. ,

Practice Practice telling your story over several times to yourself.

Perform Tell the story in front of a live audience (1 or more listeners) and have fun! () Practicing the Basics!

Vocal Techniques for StorytellingTone or Pitch high or low - Speed or Rate of Delivery fast or slow - Volume loud or soft Vocal Mimicry sound effectsanimal soundsdialects *

Animal MimicryCow Mah Ooo Eee Hands for echoLion Snore Oww Add Pitch changesJaguar Err Oww Higher PitchChicken Book Book Change to Buck Change to Buh-Yook Buy-Yook, Book BookRooster Er Er Er Change to Er-Er-Er- Er-Er Raise pitchFrog Ribbit, Ooh auk with lower voice Monkey Owl sound Suck sound back in In and out with hoo, In and out with hah, take air in with raised mouth to add hee sound

Using Gestures with a StoryEmphatic Gestures strong gestures

Suggestive Gestures pantomimed actions

Head and Facial Gestures looks and expressions

Prompting Gestures for audience participation

Audience Asides more advanced technique

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Storytelling Basics Stage Presence Decide where to tell your story. Take a good breath Walk to your spot. Stand or sit up straight. Make eye contact with the audience. Pause for breath. Speak clearly and loudly. Introduce yourself and your story. Tell your story. *

Learning is Not Always ComfortableMorning Glory Seeds

Some seeds easy to germinate soak in shallow dish of water.Some seeds tough and hard to germinate. Nick the seed Make it uncomfortable to start the germination process.

Morning Glory LearnersWhen we see the beauty created by small discomforts we are more willing to try new methods of learning.

Learning is Not Always FastAmaryllis Bulbs

Sometimes can take 3-4 years to bring amaryllis to grow from seeds to full bloom.First Growth is sometimes slow.You can nurturing and giving them special care to speed up the process.

Amaryllis LearnersStudents who sit quietly and observe but who do not interact

When forced they may be like the flower that blooms only once.When nurtured they can continue to blossom and grow more beautiful in their learning year after year.

Learners Are Not Always Motivated Chestnut TreesWiped out by blight in many areasEnvironmentalists and even children replanting them for the sake of the environmentRoots need more room to growNeed more nurturing at early stages of plantingMany forests now restored

Learning made harder by Effects of PovertyLack of English skillsDifferent backgroundLow reading skillsLack of confidenceLow writing skillsSocial isolationUnqualified teachersOverworked teachersPoor attitudes Over Emphasis on Standardized tests

Learners Need NurturingKorean licorice mint Known as one of the most important medicinal herbsUsed for centuries to treat a variety of medical conditions.Best started in warm nurturing environment.Stories Nurture Your StudentsThey will serve others well because of your stories

Overcoming problems of planting seeds of learningFertile soil (encouragement + positive attitude)Room to grow (few limitations no one right answer!)Protect from pests (limit criticism)Good materials (Constant care by lessons and stories)Knowledgeable caretakers

That is why you are here!

Start Small One Story at a TimeStarting Large Batches of Seeds is hard.Too many different seeds in containers get mixed up.The seeds may not get the care they needConsider starting one at a time to give each the best care.

Try learning one story. Tell it until you know it well.Then learn another.

Keep a Story LogKeep track of the stories that you learn and tell.Written copies or recorded stories allow you to take less time to tell the same stories at a later time.*

Sources for Storieswww.mikelockett.com

Sources of Taiwan FolktalesFolk Stories of Taiwan - Culture Committee, Houston Taiwanese School of Languages and Culture.Tales of the Taiwanese - A wonderful sampling of more than 20 Taiwanese tales that appeal to all agesfrom how and why stories, humorous tales, and animal tales to stories that demonstrate Taiwanese values and ethics.Folktales from Taiwan by Jessie Huang published by Bookman, Excellent book of

*More Sources for Stories

New Books in 2012Sky FoodAs Retold by Dr. Mike LockettIllustrated by Chung Yi-RuWhy Spiders Have Big BottomsSky Food Why Clouds Are in the SkyWhy Spiders Have Big BottomsHumpty Dumpty and the Great Fall - ???

Plant your own story seedsLearn once new story and tell it.Learners will benefit because of your efforts.You will grow in your own language development.The harvest is worth the effort.

A Gift from Dr. LockettGo to Dr. Locketts WebsiteOver 175 stories can be downloaded at www.mikelockett.comThe stories are FREE to read and tell.The stories include Mandarin translations.Free Samples of stories on YouTubeFree HandoutsFree Resources

With increasing numbers of ELLs entering public education, schools are finding it difficult to provide enough qualified teachers in this field. Not all current teachers are trained in the area of teaching ELLs. Teachers leave the field because they are overworked. Existing teachers carry more of the responsibility because there are fewer of them and because they are constantly pulled away from their assigned work to cover tasks such as providing translations.*First learned the Caliph of Baghdad in Religious Education Through Storytelling by Catherine D. Cather, 1925

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