I did a training with Spellbinders back in August, and by October was telling in my assigned school. I tell to 60 first graders and their teachers once a month.
It's a little intimidating (especially to someone with cognitive challenges leftover from chemo) but it's also really fun. I get to pick the stories and songs, which lets me be a little subversive, slipping in values I treasure. I just need to keep it age appropriate and make sure I take exactly 25 min. I start at 12pm, and lunch is at 12:25. You don't want to mess with lunch.
I love this age, old enough to begin to understand, young enough to not be cynical. They are funny and engaging. I told a story that had a grandma giving kisses, lots of "Ewww!"(more for this kisses than for the animals she kissed), but they still loved the story. I told a Baba Yaga story and watched their eyes go wide, one hid behind her hands. I was worried about keeping so many kids of this squirrelly age engaged, but it hasn't been a problem.
As I was leaving last time I had this conversation
Boy 1: "What did you do to us?"
Me: "I told you stories"
Boy 2: "Did you hypnotize us?"
Me: "No, I woke up your imagination"
I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of it.
Posts
