NEW LONDON– The Connecticut Storytelling Center, in residence at Connecticut College, New London, announced it has been awarded $15,350 by the Barnes Foundation to place professional storytellers in residencies at Ivy Drive and Hubbell Elementary schools in Bristol. These arts-in-education residencies are part of The Connecticut Storytelling Center’s Storytelling-in-Education program, which was established in 1988. It applies the art of storytelling to empower standards-based learning in all content areas in some Connecticut schools. Students listen, retell, use hand-plays and gestures, movement and often song as part of the storytelling activities. Ivy Drive kindergartners and first grades will receive eight weekly visits from the storytellers. Hubbell first and second grades will receive five weekly visits.
“Professional storytellers bring top-calibre, expressive speaking talent and techniques into the classrooms. Tellers model how to tell folktales, myths, bring oral literacy and more that benefit students and teachers alike. It’s what we call a ‘Bridge to Literacy.’ Storytelling directly engages all four primary language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. It helps students with comprehension, problem-solving skills, imagination, self-confidence. Teachers love the playful methods of engaging children. Some storytellers incorporate puppets, rhymes, music, instruments, movement and creative dramatics as part of their work as teaching artists, and schools keep reporting that they love the activities and find them effective, as children eagerly take part and teachers gain in creative expression. We are excited at this generous grant from the Barnes Foundation, which has roots in Bristol and supports education,” said Executive Director of the Connecticut Storytelling Center, Ann Shapiro, according to a press release.
The storytellers are Ann Shapiro, Teresa Whitaker, and Frank Schwartz, and Liz Gruber, all Connecticut performers and teaching artists with many years of experience.
Principal of Ivy Drive, Rosie Votjec, said, according to the press release, “From the moment they walked through the doors of the classrooms, the artists captivated our students and actively engaged them in new and exciting stories from a variety of genres. The storytellers used numerous strategies, modalities, and visual props to help students listen, retell, and comprehend the stories, often including some very high level, abstract concepts and ideas.”
For more information or to apply for the Connecticut Schools Program, visit online at http://www.connstorycenter.org/schoolprograms.htm.
