The Art of Storytelling

Today, I had the opportunity to meet author and professional storyteller, Donna Washington. If you’ve never heard of her, I suggest you check out her website. Or better yet, watch a few uploaded videos of her telling stories. Donna is a great person and is amazing at her craft.

Donna spent the morning at our elementary school– an hour with our Kindergarten through 2nd graders and another hour with our 3rd through 5th graders. She works extremely well with children, but something tells me that she has ability to inspire people of all ages. If you are ever considering having a professional storyteller come to your school or organization, Donna Washington is highly recommended.

In education, there is a wide body of research that links storytelling and school success. One study found that one of the keys to literacy development is consistent exposure to storytelling and narrative discourse in both the home and classroom environments. Other studies cite that storytelling “promotes verbal literacy, one of the most important aspects of education.”

As a librarian, my appreciation for storytelling is ever-developing. The World Wide Web has made it possible for anyone at anytime to access facts at lightning speeds then use that information with differing intentions. As facts become easier to access and manipulate, I am starting to see my job in a whole new light. What is beginning to matter more for me is developing the ability to place facts into context and deliver them to others with emotional impact. And that essentially is what storytelling is all about.

Lately in my own life , I have become increasingly intrigued with the raw power and influence that story can have on an audience. I’ve been trying to improve my own storytelling skills by researching anthro-mythologist Joseph Campbell and watching his interviews and lectures online. I’ve also been experimenting and creating digital stories using my photo albums in iPhoto. So Watchout!!