Sue Kuentz's Door to Lore
  • About Sue
    • Hear Stories
    • Press Kit
    • What folks are saying about Sue
    • Where Have I Been Storytelling?
  • Programs
    • Pre-K through 8th grade
    • Reading, Writing, and Storytelling Workshops
  • Storytelling Links
    • Just for Students
    • Just for Teachers
  • Power of Story Blog
  • Calendar
  • Contact Sue
    • Storytelling Fees for Schools and Libraries >
      • Save 50% with TCA
      • Storytelling Fees for Schools and Libraries

Windows and Mirrors: Broadening our Students' Views Through Storytelling Activities

6/25/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
When you look out a window, you see what's in front of you. But when the light hits the window just right you can see a reflection. which becomes a mirror. Storytelling can not only show listeners the world but storytelling can also show a reflection of yourself. 
I was fortunate to present this workshop at the 2016 Tejas Storytelling Conference in Waco June 2016. The theme of the conference was "Bridging Our Differences: Embracing Our Diversity" My inspiration came from children' author, Grace Lin's Ted Talk on Windows and Mirrors through reading. Grace Lin is a wonderful  children’s author who presented the best Ted Talk ever regarding books on all of our shelves. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is one of my favorite books! I l realized storytelling could easily be substituted for books. Gist: Kids need storytelling to be mirrors, making connections to what they hear and see. But they also need storytelling to be windows. Kids who always see themselves in stories need to be able to see things from other view points. By empathizing and sharing, kids can see outside of themselves. Look at the stories you tell – is there a balance of windows and mirrors? 
WHAT IS THIS? 

This image was floating around Facebook for a while and I realized it's a great diversity analogy to use - it took me a while before I walked in the shoes of the artist. Give it some time and you'll see it also!
Picture
I included various activities that have been used quite successfully in the classroom preK - 12th grade to help our students see both the window and the reflection of themselves and others through story. I've attached the files below rather than make this blog much longer. Please try them out. Each activity works in all curriculum contents.  

The gem of all gems for me was a website I uncovered just a week ago. It's called The Literacy Shed- sharing visual literacy ideas and tips. These short animated clips are placed in categories and most are without words. What a perfect beginning for storytellers and writers. So many of these stories allow us to walk in others' shoes while at the same time making connections with our own lives. Coolest website ever!!!

It's always nice to hear other contributions to this subject, new ideas and old ideas that we've forgotten about. Please share!
Photo Credit from photopin.com: ​photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38991571@N00/27496469035">Cute Baby fat</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>
no_you_cant_take_me_activity.docx
File Size: 160 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

games_for_storytelling_diversity.docx
File Size: 104 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Book me as a storyteller. TCA can help pay fees.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Want to follow my blog? Just fill in your email below and you'll receive new posts!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2018
    February 2018
    February 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    398.2 Poem And Rap
    7 Habits Of Happy Kids
    Anchor
    Anchor Quotes
    Artifacts
    A To Z Blog Challenge
    Birthday Surprises
    Blogging A Z Challenge
    Blogging A - Z Challenge
    Blogging From A-Z April Challenge Reflection
    Books
    Books About Quilts
    Cari Young
    Chris Van Allsburg
    Chuck Wagon
    Civil War Stories
    Class Activity
    David Novak
    David Titus
    Descriptions
    Digital Storytelling
    Dust-bowl
    Epitaphs
    Fan-activities
    Fishing Jokes
    Fish-tales
    Five Senses
    Gadgets And Gizmos
    Giving Credit To A Written Story
    Hawaiian Stories
    Historical Photographs
    Historical Stories
    IPad
    Iphone Apps
    Jamberry Nails
    Japanese Fans
    Japanese Stories
    Japanese Storytelling
    Joshua Chamberlain
    Journals
    Kamishibai Storytelling
    Leader In Me
    Librarians
    Luggage
    Mentor-texts
    Metaphors
    Museums
    Ocarina App
    Old West
    Paintings
    Paintings-and-storytelling
    Pictures
    Poetry
    Primary Resources
    Quick-write
    Quilts
    Radio
    Rakugo
    Reading
    Research
    Stephen Covey
    Stories
    Storytelling
    Storytelling Organizations
    String Figures
    Sue Kuentz
    Talk Like A Pirate
    Tandem Telling
    Tejas Storytelling Festival
    The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups
    The SOS File
    The Wreck Of The Zephyr
    Truisms
    UTSA Storytelling Festival
    Violins
    Visualizing
    Wagons
    Westward Expansion
    Winter And Holiday Stories
    Writing

Sue Kuentz's Door to Lore Website
Kuentz Creative Consulting, LLC
151 Saur Road
Bulverde, TX 78163



cell: 210-326-7877
email:  sue.kuentz@gmail.com

© Sue Kuentz 2018
Photos used under Creative Commons from h.koppdelaney, ken ratcliff, pellaea, a.dombrowski, steveczajka, Mellicious, Dougtone, Peter G Trimming, CraigMoulding