Story Wok - A Peer Coaching Worksheet

Listening Boy
Robert Henri, 1924

I am in my 20^th year teaching and directing a student storytelling program. Every year I try to develop new tools, either written or interactive, to help my students work with their stories, and their peers.

I always make time for the students to independently practice their stories during class time, but another component is a turn and tell, where students share their stories with a partner. 

This year I designed a new tool, the Story Wok. The name is an acronym, with each letter corresponding to a specific story or performance element, to be used during the turn and tell. 

Since the worksheet is fairly extensive I instruct the students to choose three things they want to focus on. As the student tells their story the partner listens deeply. When the teller is finished the listener/peer coach writes down some suggestions, then shares it with the teller. The process is then repeated with the partners switching rolls.

I only use this tool after we have met for many weeks, when trust is established within the group, and after the students have participated in one round of story coaching. Before we begin, part of the instruction process is to remind them that their role as listeners is to be supportive and encouraging. 

Below are some of the specific notes the listeners took on the various stories they heard and then shared with the tellers.

Setting: Perhaps you could describe where the alligator lives.
Talking: You could add dialogue when the king finds the fairy.
Omission: You might want to leave out the royal chair.
Reactions:  When you're climbing maybe you could use a scary expression.
Yawn! You could add more action when the horse gets its tail stuck in the fence.

Word(s): Maybe you could add some similes.
Observation: You were very calm when you told the story.
Kindness: I loved your different character voices. 

After I collected the papers I noticed some of the students wrote on their worksheets: “Thank you for the advice.” One even drew a smiley face.

I think it worked!

Permission to use the Story Wok in your personal work is granted with the following restrictions. Do not remove the copyright information and please credit the source. Do not reproduce in any publication in any form or format without my expressed written permission. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I appreciate your support. 

If you would like me to send the Story Wok worksheet to you in a Word .doc email me at storybug@aol.com . If you do use it I would be grateful if you shared how it worked for your students.

If you are interested in more original, interactive games, as well as story worksheets, please consider my award-winning book, Story by Story: Creating a Student Storytelling Troupe.

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links. At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

 

Karen Chace 2023 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com.

 

Storytelling Worksheet: Assembling Your Story Recipe

Mother and Child in Kitchen, 1907

Last week I was working with a new storytelling student. I knew he was familiar with his story but wasn’t confident enough to perform it in front of his peers, yet I recognized I was time he took that first step. I approached him privately and asked, "Would you help me with a demonstration by standing in front of the class and summarizing your story? I will prompt you each step of the way by asking specific questions to lead you through it." I was delighted when he agreed.

He successfully completed the demonstration to a hearty round of applause from his peers. I enthusiastically said, “You just performed your story! All you need to do now is add some layers; gestures, facial expressions, etc.”  He gave all of us a huge smile; I look forward to the next time he shares his story to see what ingredients he has added to the tale.

Later that day I was sharing the experience with a colleague and the word ‘layer’ gave me the idea of designing the worksheet below.  I already use a variety of original worksheets, found in my book, Story by Story: Creating a Student Storytelling Troupe, 

focusing on the story setting, the five senses, character development, gestures, storyboards, etc. This worksheet reinforces a few of those elements while adding those associated with stage presence*, how they made the story their own, along with asking them to expand on why they love their story. *While students physically practice stage presence some students with different learning styles will benefit from writing it down.

This exercise took approximately ten minutes for them to complete. I immediately segued into my interactive game, Red Rover Red Rover Send Story Right Over, to reinforce the details shared on their worksheets. It was a very productive and fun storytelling session. I hope you find the worksheet useful.

If you are interested in using it with your own students you have my permission, however, I respectfully ask that you do not remove the copyright information and credit the source. If you would like the worksheet in a .doc file I will be happy to email it to you. You may reach me at storybug@aol.com . If you do use it I would be interested to know how it worked for you and your students.

Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think about this new worksheet. I monitor all comments to avoid spam so you will not immediately see your comment posted until I approve it. Thank you for visiting!

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and web links may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2019 ©

Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Slicing Up Your Story: Story Board

Children Eating a Pie
by

Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1670-1675

I like to use a variety of both written and interactive tools to help my students learn the art of Oral Tradition, telling stories! There are already several wonderful books with useful ideas, however, because many of my students return year after year, I always want to have something new and fresh for them to try.

While I use the traditional story board to help students break down their tales, and also created, What's Driving Your Story? (Available in my book, Story by Story), this year I designed another type of story board, Slicing Up Your Story. I use this towards the end of the program, long after they completed their initial story boards and were very familiar with their stories. I wanted to see if anything new bubbled to the surface and also how succinctly they could now describe different elements of their story, i.e. setting, character, events, etc. Below is the handout I used along with some of the answers the students shared.

Please feel free to use this in your own personal work; however I do request that you respect copyright, offer attribution, and do not publish it in any form without my permission. Note: You may share the link to this blog post with your colleagues.

SLICING UP YOUR STORY INSTRUCTIONS

Before I pass out the worksheet I go over the instructions with the students, using Little Red Riding Hood as an example.

1.      Who is the main character in your story? (Red Riding Hood)

2.      Describe one character in two words. (petite, brave)

3.      Describe the story setting in three words. (dark, damp, ominous)

4.      Describe the main event/problem in four words. ( Girl meets dangerous wolf)

5.      Describe something in your story using ONLY ONE of your five senses. Describe the wolf using the sense of touch: hairy, dry, coarse, solid, muscular) Note: Be careful to clearly explain that you are looking for descriptive words.

6.      Describe the ending of your story in six words. (Woodsman rescues girl and grandmother.) *Of course this might be different if you are using another variant of the story. 


WORKSHEET

COMMENTS FROM ACTUAL STUDENT WORKSHEETS

#2. Describe the main character in two words.

• Tiny/Forgetful
• Cross/Selfish
• Prankster/Beggar
• Greedy/Thoughtless

#3. Describe the story setting in three words.

• Sweet/Warm/Stone
• Pretty/Colorful/Fragrant
• Cold/Winter/Damp 
• Green/Glistening/Well

#4. Describe the main event/problem in four words.

• Sister, spell, fairy, curse
• Monkey loses his tail.
• Cat wants delicious cake.
• Girl won’t share bread.
• Tom wants leprechaun's gold.
  

#5. Describe something in your story using only one of your five senses.

• Taste: Frosting: vanilla, sugary, delicious, rich
• Sight: Cloud: high, white, fluffy, drifting
• Taste: Bread: sweet, warm, buttery
• Touch: Bucket: cold, smooth, shiny
• Smell: Farm: animals, manure, flowers, fresh air

 #6. Describe the ending of your story in six words.

• Tries to chase his baby donkey.
• Sadly Tom doesn’t get the gold.
• Nasty sister turns into an owl.
• Be careful what you wish for.
• Happy monkey gets his tail back.

Extra Bonus: Leave a comment on the blog and I will send you the actual worksheet in a .doc file so you won't have to make one up yourself. (I am not above bribery :)

If you are interested in more innovative storytelling tools and games, you will find them in my award-winning book, Story by Story: Creating a Student Storytelling Troupe.I hope you will have the opportunity to try this out with your students or even when you are learning a new story. If you do, please let me know, I would love to hear how it turned out for you.

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and web links may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2016 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you