University Credit

Attend the annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and earn 1 credit in Elementary or Secondary Education (514R)! Brigham Young University is offering attendees one credit for licensure purposes to those who complete the course requirements and pay a $30 posting fee (set by BYU).

Course Description

Attend the annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and learn the art of storytelling by watching and listening to top storytellers. See and hear from some of the best local and regional tellers ‚ and people who are available year-around to enhance a storytelling program for your organization, school, or classroom. Learn how to connect with storytellers in your area to arrange for student or teacher workshops, storytelling coaching and performances.

The first step in becoming a storyteller is listening to excellent examples. Watch what they do; their every move and their choice of words. See a variety of styles and hear a variety of material which will help you choose and define your own storytelling style and be able to begin blending your talents with your own storytelling.

In addition to storytelling performances, the Festival offers workshops emphasizing various aspects and types of storytelling. Be taught and coached by the masters in a two-hour class limited to 50 people. .

Course Objectives

1. To inspire students to use storytelling in the classroom and in the home or elsewhere as an effective teaching and communication method.
2. To have students experience some of the best storytelling talent in the entire nation, to recognize quality storytelling, and to teach storytelling skills by example.
3. To demonstrate through the variety of material heard at the Festival the many uses and subjects of stories and storytelling.
4. To demonstrate to students a variety of successful storytelling styles and techniques.

Course Requirements

1. Prior to attending the Festival, each student will read 150 pages from a book(s) on the art of storytelling of their own choosing and write a 2-3 page reaction to their reading answering the following questions:
   
• What makes a good storyteller?
• What makes a good story?
• What factors are important in deciding a presentation style?
• How will the material in this book help you as you pursue storytelling in your classroom or at home?


2. Students will submit notes of a minimum of 13 hours of storytelling performances and/or workshops attended. Notes will include the day, time, performer, performance location, subject of story, highlights of the performance, and a brief reaction to the performance and performing style of the teller. Possible questions to consider are:
   
• Was audience participation used in the presentation?
• Were props used? If so, did they add or detract from the presentation?
• Consider the voice, body language and choice of words and story material.
• Was music part of the performance? What part can music play in a storytelling performance?

Grading Criteria

This is a pass/fail class. A pass will be awarded students completing the above listed requirements with basic skill.

Attendance Expectations

Students will have the choice of attending any combination of 13 performance and workshop hours to fulfill the in-class time requirement to earn 1 credit.

Examinations

There will be no written exam. The evaluation procedure will follow the grading criteria.

General Information

A 15 minute meeting for those registered for credit will be scheduled on Friday, September 3, at 9:15 a.m. in the Cottonwood Canopy on the Festival grounds. The purpose of this meeting is to answer any questions students may have regarding the requirements.

Assignments may be turned in by placing them in the designated basket at the on-site Ticket tent, by mailing or dropping them off to Janet Low at the Orem Public Library (58 N. State St., Orem, UT 84057), or emailing them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Assignments will be returned only if requested and a self-address and stamped envelope is submitted with the assignments. All assignments are due by Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

Books on Storytelling

• Bauer, Caroline Feller. New Handbook for Storytellers: With Stories, Poems, Magic, and More. American Library Assoc. 1993.
• Collins, Rives and Pamela J. Cooper. The Power of Story: Teaching Through Storytelling. Prentice Hall. 1996.
• Dailey, Sheila. Putting the World in a Nutshell: The Art of the Formula Tale. Wilson. 1994.
• Hamilton, Martha and Mitch Weiss. Children Tell Stories: A Teaching Guide. Richard Owen. 1990.
• Lipman, Doug. Improving Your Storytelling: Beyond the Basics for All Who Tell Stories in Work or Play. August House. 1999.
• MacDonald, Margaret Read. The Parent's Guide to Storytelling: How to Make Up New Stories and Retell Old Favorites. August House. 2001.
• MacDonald, Margaret Read. Storyteller's Start-Up Book: Finding, Learning, Performing, and Using Folktales. August House. 1993.
• Maguire, Jack. Creative Storytelling: Choosing, Inventing, & Sharing Tales for Children. Yellow Moon Press. 1991.
• Maguire, Jack. The Power of Personal Storytelling: Spinning tales to Connect with Others. Penguin Putnam. 1998.
• Mellon, Nancy. Storytelling & The Art of Imagination. Yellow Moon Press. 2003.
• Mooney, Bill and David Holt. The Storyteller's Guide: Storytellers Share Advice for the Classroom, Boardroom, Showroom, Podium, Pulpit, and Center Stage. August House. 1996.
• Sawyer, Ruth. The Way of the Storyteller. Penguin Books. 1942. 1990.
• Schimmel, Nancy. Just Enough to Make a Story: A Sourcebook for Storytelling. Sisters' Choice Press. 1992.
• Simmons, Annette. The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling. Perseus Publishing. 2002.