RESIDENCIES

While a story program in a school provides an excellent introduction to the world of stories, the full potential for integrating the storytelling experience into a school's curricular goals can best be achieved through a more comprehensive approach involving a one-day or multiple-day residency.

 
Planning a Residency

The number of days needed for a residency depends on the size of the school and the objectives the staff has in mind. Simply exposing students to a particular topic will take far less time than asking the storyteller to work with the students as they explore a given area and participate in practicing what they have learned.

A simple introduction to the ideas can be done in one day in a small school and may take two to three days in a larger setting. A thorough immersion in the subject normally requires two or three days in a small school and five days in a larger school. Very large schools (800 or more students) will either need to limit the scope of their expectations or schedule a longer residency.

 
Sample Structure

Because every school is different, all programs are tailored to the needs of a given situation. A typical residency would include time for modeling stories in a larger group setting followed by work with individual classes. (Programs for 7th grade or above usually work best when all activities take place in a classroom context.) Classroom time includes a combination of additional storytelling, demonstration, conversation, and student participation. Different classes may choose to work with different topics.

 
Sample Topics

• Writing Workshop
  - getting started: "How do I begin?"
  - the parts of a good story
  - description: making the characters and setting come alive
  - putting the pieces together
   
• Telling a Story
  - the differences between written and told stories
  - how to use one's voice to create interest
  - getting the most out of your face
  - gestures and body language
   
• Discovering Your Own Stories - stories based on personal experiences
  - interesting things that happen in everyone's life
  - triggering the memories
  - shaping everyday events into tellable tales
  - knowing what to leave out