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alicegunther
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We have been having a great deal of fun in our house with our new "Storyteller's Schedule." Everyone, ages 5 and up, is signed up to tell a story after dinner on a certain night each week. The children are all so excited and count the days until their special night. So far we've heard The Princess and the Pea, The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, The White Cat, The Queen Bee, and the story of how my husband and I met (told by my husband on his night!) I instructed the children that *any* stories are welcome, whether they are folk tales, stories from real life, or original fiction. It's been quite a successful activity, and, although I'd originally proposed doing this for the week, the children are eager to keep it going. They've been pouring over the Lang Fairy Books, picture books, and other collections of tales looking for material. For tonight's selection, my seven year old has prepared to tell the story of "How the Platypus Came to Australia."
By the way, I've always been intrigued by the old Albert Einstein quote. When someone asked him how to develop intelligence in young people, he said, "Read fairy tales."
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Elizabeth
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I  this idea, Alice! Thanks for sharing!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Meredith
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Alice, you always come up with the best ideas, this is great  . My oldest will love this and I think I'll have her in charge of setting the schedule. Do you do chapter books like this too or is it more tales and picture books?? Thanks so much for sharing and so glad to have you back online
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Erin
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Alice
What a fantastic idea! I'm going to start it tonight. 
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alicegunther
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happyheartsmom wrote:
| Alice, you always come up with the best ideas, this is great . My oldest will love this and I think I'll have her in charge of setting the schedule. Do you do chapter books like this too or is it more tales and picture books?? Thanks so much for sharing and so glad to have you back online |
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Many thanks everyone. Just after I wrote this post, my internet service went back out again! What a summer it's been. Optimum Online's repair technician left moments ago, so I am back in action yet again. Let's hope the fix is permanent this time.
We have only been keeping the Storyteller's Schedule for a week and a half, but I've told the children to gather stories from any source they like. A chapter book would certainly work, although, so far, my girls have opted for fairy tales. I have always wanted to be the type of mother who is full of stories--kind of like Martha's mother in Lissa's Little House in the Highlands series. Every now and then, I make a concerted effort to "learn" a new story or two, usually from one of the Lang books or collections borrowed from the library. Sometimes I'll even make notes if the story is complex. Sadly, my children are far better at narration and retention than I!
Family stories are another great source of material. The girls were all ears when my husband told the story of how we met--they'd heard it from me a million times, but somehow hearing it from his point of view made it that much more interesting. They also enjoy stories from my grandmother or mother's childhood, my own memories of growing up, and stories about themselves when they were little.
Recently, I brought my four younger children to a diner while my elder girls attended a birthday party. Having a new story up my sleeve was a big help in keeping everyone entertained and quiet during the *45 minute* wait for our order! As much as they love read alouds, I think they like a story from mom even better. You know, now that I think about it, my mother discovered the power of story years ago when she taught school of religion. If she read to her class, the children would lose interest, notes would be passed, and the boys in the back would start fooling around, but, if she told the children a story, they would gaze in rapt attention and hang on her every word! Everyone loves a good story!
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ladybugs
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>the story of how my husband and I met (told by my husband on his night!)
I can't remember how to quote...but Alice, I want to hear this one....
Wishing I lived close enough so we could have a cup of tea together,
Maria
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Meredith
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alicegunther wrote:
I have always wanted to be the type of mother who is full of stories--kind of like Martha's mother in Lissa's Little House in the Highlands series...
...Family stories are another great source of material. The girls were all ears when my husband told the story of how we met--they'd heard it from me a million times, but somehow hearing it from his point of view made it that much more interesting. They also enjoy stories from my grandmother or mother's childhood, my own memories of growing up, and stories about themselves when they were little.
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Me too! Also like Marmee in Little Women !
Oh and I think this is so true and my kids LOVE to have daddy tell stories as much as mommy as he usually falls asleep trying to do read-alouds with the kids, poor guy I also think that's why we love Lissa's books so much as well as all the LHP books from LIW as they are just such GOOD stories. (Sidenote: If anyone wants to try the new audio versions of LHP by Cherry Jones they are so awesome!)
Ideas like the Storytellers Hour are just so fun for EVERYONE in the family even down to the littlest, as our new Gabriel is already loving having stories read to him and he loves listening to read-alouds with the entire family 
I'm praying for no more internet foibles!! Hugs.
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Angie Mc
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Just a few nights ago at dinner, we were listening to music sent to me by my dad...love song classics . This naturally turned into telling the children about how my parents met. The children were enthralled and we all had the best time...
Now I'm reading your Storytellers Schedule and thinking, "Perfect!" Thanks for sharing, Alice.
Love,
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Willa
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I just recently read about Family Stories in a secular magazine as a parenting method -- the article said it really helps kids to get perspective on their own lives, and the lives of their parents, when the parents share their own experiences.
I know my children really LOVE to hear our stories and that this was one of the things I value most about my childhood -- that my parents would talk often about their youthful lives and hopes and dreams.
Teaching CCD to 3rd graders when my kids were small, I had exactly the same experience as your mother, Alice. Discipline problems went WAY down when I basically dropped the twaddly workbook and went to telling them Bible and saints stories. They were hungry for those and retained SO much more!
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alicegunther
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WJFR wrote:
| Teaching CCD to 3rd graders when my kids were small, I had exactly the same experience as your mother, Alice. Discipline problems went WAY down when I basically dropped the twaddly workbook and went to telling them Bible and saints stories. They were hungry for those and retained SO much more! |
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That's the same level my mother taught, Willa!
Interestingly, on the subject of family stories, my three year old has just begun "getting everyone straight" in the family. He spent about five minutes a day or so ago asking me questions like "Who is your grandmother?" and "Who is your father?" Yesterday, he had a similar conversation with my husband. After my husband explained, "Pop is my father and your grandfather. Gram is my mother and your grandmother," Neil asked a few more questions but ended with, "You're my father, and I'm your son." It was cute to see it all click for him. He's finally understanding our relationship with our extended family!
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Cay Gibson
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Alice,
This is such an awesome idea!
I think I'll use it this year with our book club.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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Cay Gibson
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alicegunther
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You are too kind, Cay! Thanks!
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Love, Alice
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Courtney
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My children LOVE to hear the story of the day they were born. If I forget any details, they remind me b/c they've heard it so many times. I've thought about making a book out of it for each of them someday. I love this storytellers idea! Thank you!
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Storyteller's Schedule
