Why Storytelling?
Educators across the country have witnessed the powerful benefits of
storytelling in school settings. Patty
Smith and storytelling expert Donald
Davis cite three fundamental reasons why storytelling should be an
important part of every school's curriculum:
Global Citizenship and Cross-Cultural Learning
As we increasingly move into a global community and
economy, it is important to foster cross-cultural learning. This can help
students of any age get to know one another, build cultural bridges, strengthen
diversity appreciation, and simultaneously preserve individual cultural
heritages.
Language Growth
Storytelling methodology nourishes language growth,
prospering oral language skills. At the same time, storytelling workshops
that focus on written stories improve reading and writing abilities.
Character Education
Nothing instills character growth more efficiently,
concretely, and clearly than storytelling that illustrates social norms
and typicalities recognized in world cultures. Stories enliven character
traits that are often obliquely conveyed as merely theoretical ideas.
Starting a Festival
Nine years ago in Midland, Texas, Patty Smith, the
Director of K-12 Social Studies for the Midland Independent School District,
and Lucinda Windsor, then the K-12 Director of Language Arts, recognized
that a storytelling festival could improve her students ability to learn.
Since then the Midland Independent School District Annual Storytelling
Festival has grown in reach and influence.
Realizing the Dream
Originally, in Midland, Texas the educational storytelling
festival was humbly comprised of one day of storytelling with students,
followed by an evening storytelling performance for young and old. Today,
the festival draws nationally recognized storytellers who act as keynotes,
performers, and workshop instructors. There are more than one hundred
storytelling performances in thirty-eight schools in the region. There
are teacher workshops, a children's concert, and a sell-out evening performance
for Midland residents of all ages.
>> Determine Your Festival
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