IESA Storytelling

September, 2016 Ken Bradbury

My Dad…96.. last Sunday’s offering plate Farmer, banker, John Deere dealer….and an embarrassment to the family. Vacation: Vaseline doorknobs, Saran Wrap toilet seat, Wal-Mart . . sings Mom’s Christmas present…chain saw. . Bank President…water squirting tie. . . Clown. . .pants button Call twice a day. . . Mom: Egypt…lost. . death claim. Speeding tickets: “Didn’t see you.” “Lost job, wife in institution.” Hard worker…kids played elsewhere…but when I had a ballgame.. . Last night… “What? The real speaker couldn’t make it?”

The student will present a story from his/her own life experience, from folk literature, from his/her family's oral tradition, or from any other source. (In other words, anything in the world.) Storytelling is unique from most other contest events in that it should have a very spontaneous quality encouraging audience participation/interaction. The presentation should have a clear beginning, middle, and end; and demonstrate the customary attributes of characterization, stage presence, body and facial expression, articulation, pronunciation, fluency, and eye contact. The presentation may include multiple characters and sound effects. Time Limit: 5-10 minutes Number of Participants: 1 Props: Single chair

My Aunt Milly… Locked daughter in closet Remembered birthdays, but often the wrong child. Everything: “The best ever.” Shoes that matched Restaurant menus. . tasting Gas money…left motor running String on meat package More than once…kids ready for school, Sunday, ate p/butter sandwiches during church Town garbage…sculpture…party….ladies’ bras, etc. Her funeral . . completely planned, back of WalMart receipt, balloons on the hearse, “What a Day for a Daydream”

Who’d Be Good at This? … your students who don’t memorize easily… … your first-time speech students… … your students who are highly experienced and need a new challenge… … your students who won’t shut up in class…. …your students who always have a story to tell you on Monday morning while you’re trying to get class started.

Brian. . .clowning

So What’s the Difference . . . . . . between storytelling an a monologue? A monologue is memorized; a story is paraphrased. It may change a bit from telling to telling. A monologue has a few hard and fast rules; storytelling is more pliable. In a monologue the speaker often speaks as if he or she is playing another character. A storyteller most often plays himself. Monologues are often limited in the amount of direct dialogue that may be used; in storytelling there are no such limits. A monologue is basically an acting event; a storyteller has a conversation with the audience.

Church Lady But How Do I Coach It? Begin with brainstorming. Get others involved. Any Middle School or Elementary School teacher knows that one story leads to another. Let the story develop as you rehearse… let it grow… practice in front of a live audience and they’ll tell you which bits work. And again, I’d suggest making it a class activity. This has been done successfully in many Illinois Schools, and it’s been especially useful with students who have trouble expressing themselves in writing. Not everyone can write or write well, but few of us are without the ability to talk. Many teachers begin school or return from a holiday by asking kids what they did over the break. This is often the beginning of a good story.

Okay. . .Now How Do We Do This? The IESA rules give you some indication. . . the student’s life experience, folk literature, the family’s oral traditions, or any other source. That pretty much opens it up to the entire world. I’ve found that while using folk literature. . Paul Bunyon, the Little Mermaid, Johnny Appleseed. . . .is acceptable, the very best stories seem to come from personal experience or family stories.

There are several ways to come at this: 1.Tell a mix of stories about a single person. “You wouldn’t believe my grandpa. In fact, when he starts telling stories sometimes I don’t believe my grandpa. . . “ Uncle Harris… undertaker… Lappy Six…Mrs. Wilson, blown all over hell. Gangrene in leg…buried it, “See you later” Man and son in car wreck…two suits..

Tell one long story. “You would not believe our family trip to the Grand Canyon last summer. . .” Hiney the Mule “Some Forty Miles Down to Edinburgh town.” (clop, clop)
Talk about one concept. “Ever since I was little certain things scared me. . like the time. . “

So What’s Holding Us Back? Sorry, but the answer is simple and sad. . either we don’t understand the event (we can fix that today), or it’s easier to hand a monologue to a student and say, “Memorize it.”

My advice: Pick out one of your top students. . spend some time coaching them, put them on display all speech season, and wait for the storytellers to sign up next year.

P.S. Need not be humorous: Amanda…the Mom.

And Some Miscellaneous Stuff. . . Don’t worry about the “audience interaction” wording. This is not necessary. You don’t have to use it or it might be as simple as asking the audience a question. This is only for the brave of heart, but I once judged a boy who got his entire speech from the audience on the spot. “There was this old man named________. He lived way up on top of a hill in___________. One night the strangest thing happened. He’d just blown out his lantern for the night when he heard a knocking at the door. He opened the door and found______.” His teacher sat in the back of the room and gave him a signal when he’d reached six minutes. I loved it. Most professional storytellers build a story like making a salad. They start with the lettuce (the gist of the thing) then add things as they go along. No IESA event is easier to work into a language arts curriculum.

The starting point. . a Question: (Let’s Demo) Toss ball… ---A frightening moment when you were young. ---The worst your dad or mom ever embarrassed you. ---Biggest lie a relative ever told you. ---Your fondest memory of one of your grandparents. ---A defining moment for you…changed you forever

If time. . truth, lie, lie. . .(How a story can be changed for storytelling purposes.)

The story of Twinkle…George O’Conner…wouldn’t breed. One glass eye. Trick Horse. Fireball. Every Sunday. . Once: Ft. Madison Rodeo. Never were close friends…tightening girt, bit butt. Crossing creek. Laid down. Foot in stirrup. Ft. Madison Bridge. Merle. . talked to Ned. Asked to carry flags…matched pair.. Lapped the other fifty horses twice. Called for dad to haul the horses home.