Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Telling Stories and Acting Stories



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Telling Stories and Acting Stories
July 27, 2007
If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.
-John Cleese
In her article, "Using the Storytelling/Story Acting Process for Teacher Development," from the Beginnings Workshop section of the latest issue of Exchange magazine (July/August 2007), Judi Pack describes Vivian Gussin Paley's approach to promoting fantasy play by young children. This process, called Story Telling/Story Acting, includes the following steps:
  • Children tell the teacher a story — their own made-up story — as the teacher writes it down in her notebook.
  • The teacher writes as many stories as there are children willing to tell them, or as time allows.
  • At some point in the day, the entire class gathers around, the teacher chooses the actors (to be fair, one by one going around the circle), and narrates a child’s story as the children act it out.
  • Every child who wishes to participate does.
  • The story may consist of one sentence or can be up to one page in length. What matters is that children can see each other in these stories and hear the voices of their classmates.
  • The teacher gets to listen to children individually, to write down and chat with the child about her imaginings, thoughts, ideas, fears, wishes, and dreams.
  • The children know that what they say is important to the teacher and to their classmates. When children watch as their classmates enact their stories, their ideas become visible and clarified.





You can now purchase all 7 Beginnings Workshop Books at a package price. The 7 practical teacher training and curriculum development resources provide advice from the field's leading thinkers on literacy, play, child development, art, music, movement, drama, brain research, math, science, and behavior. Check out this bargain!

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Recycled Plastic Play Systems!
Play Mart celebrates 25 years creating safe, environmentally-friendly and fun playground equipment. New Early-childhood products for 2007!


Comments (2)

Displaying All 2 Comments
Jen · August 02, 2007
Neptune Township School District
Neptune, NJ, United States


I have been using the Storytelling and Story Acting activity with my preschoolers for a few years now and I love it! The students love telling me their stories and drawing the illustrations to go along with them. Of course, their favorite is acting the stories out!! Each school year I type up the children's stories and with their illustrations make a booklet for them to bring home. The parents love reading their child's stories! This year we were able to act out our stories for the parents and they were amazed and entertained by our little authors!!

Cathy · July 27, 2007
Rhythm and Rhyme
Warwick, NY, United States


I remember doing this with my class, my daughters, and other children I have contact with, to expand their imagination. I would use this technique during story time for even the youngest children, who all took turns adding a line or thought to the creation. You can also provide the story to the parents, who can read the story to their children again, and delight in the characters and settings that have been created.



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.