Sixth grade brings stories to life

Voices hushed and all eyes fell on the sixth-grader standing at the front of the room. Suddenly, she was no longer a mere 11-year-old; rather, she had become the storyteller, using her voice, eyes, and movements to draw her listeners into her tale. Sixth grade English classes demonstrated their storytelling skills, sharing tales from around the world with their classmates and first- and second-grade guests.

In their unit on creating stories and storytelling, Renee Larios’s students read tales and legends from a variety of cultures and practice the skill of storytelling in preparation for their final performance. Through their reading and listening, the students are introduced to many elements of writing and literature, including the structure of stories and the importance of detail, character development, and the use of precise words to convey meaning.

To develop their storytelling skills, students first practice with different stories in small, safe groups. Rather than memorizing their tales word-for-word, they draw storyboards to familiarize themselves closely with the details and events. This past year, professional storyteller Derek Burrows conducted a workshop with the students—telling stories, viewing students' performances, and coaching them on methods for effectively using one’s voice and body to draw the audience into a story. He affirmed the progress they had made and pushed them to stretch themselves to become first-rate storytellers. As they acquired skills and gained experience, the students’ confidence rose. Finally, they were prepared to stand before a large audience of peers and guests and tell their stories.

Renee developed this storytelling unit through her interest in both the sharing of personal stories and the telling of stories as part of a traditional connection to a culture and to the past. In her work with the Ojai Foundation, Renee has learned that the philosophy "There are no enemies, only friends whose stories we have not heard" can reduce prejudice, open minds, and connect individuals and communities that might not otherwise know one another. By learning and telling stories from around the world, these sixth-graders develop a sense of community with people of other cultures by sharing in their oral traditions.
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