Storytelling Basics

Let me begin with an actual story.

As you can see, my blog post is a little late. There are 3 possible causes for this: (1) Laziness--didn't feel like posting anything, (2) Forgetfulness--it just happened to slip my mind, or (3) Helplessness--there was physically no way for me to post the blog.

Now, which reason(s) explain the lateness of my blog? As a storyteller I could make it any of them or a combination. Let's try reasons 2 and 3. My story would go like this:

My wife and I recently closed on a house. Not wanting to pay an extra month's rent, we decided to move in as quickly as possible. This past weekend we took advantage of the good weather and moved all of our belongings to our new address and have officially started living there as our place of residence. Unfortunately, we have not enabled any Internet services at our new location yet, so I physically could not post on my blog. Not that it mattered much because we were so busy that the fact I had an assignment due completely slipped my mind. I wasn't able to complete the assignment until today.



Nice story, huh? Now the real question is "Is it the truth?"

I could say it is true all that I want, but you, the reader, currently have no physical proof that is what really happened. What if I showed you the stack of papers I signed proving the closing on the house, or satellite pictures of my car in the new house's driveway, or pictures of the bruises my wife got during the move? I could you provide all that proof and more but you still would have to choose to believe that story. That's the key word--CHOOSE.

That brings me to the key with storytelling. Good stories and storytellers are the ones that can help you in your choice of what to believe. I recently watched a Digital Story about NASA--is the space program worth it. Pretty neutral presentation--it just stated facts about what it's cost us and the benefits have been. Had the storyteller made it a presentation of just the positive stuff, then that may have been a difference in what I chose to believe.

The storyteller first and foremost must accept the responsibility of helping others to make the choice of believing something new after the story is told. That should be determined before determining how the story will be told. If I tell you about something I don't care about, then I'm not treating the subject with the respect it would need. If I want you to make a choice based on what I tell you, then I'll probably approach the telling of it differently.

With every choice, though, there are CONSEQUENCES. That is the second thing a storyteller must accept responsibility for. Unfortunately the consequences are not always known. Many times it has happened that the story was true, but no one wanted to believe it or even hear it again. If a story is a lie, the storyteller must be prepared for the possibility of being found out. If it is the truth, they must make a decision of whether or not they will stand by it. If others beleive their story, will the storyteller be able to bear what consequences happen to them?

WHat does this have to do with teaching. Well, we have to help students to choose what they will and will not believe. Ultimately, we accept responsibility for the consequences of their choice.

The following is my attempt to be, what normal people call, smart

Review of Shakespeare Online (http://www.shakespeare-online.com/index.html)

Anything a high school student might need to know for their English or Drama class Shakespeare unit can be found right here. What I like about this site is that it literally condenses all the possible tangents in studying Shakespeare in one location. Not only are the entire texts of his plays and sonnets provided, but you also have character and plot analysis, a review of the main themes in each play, a biography and timeline of Shakespeare's life, and even links to reviews and essays about his works. In addition, if you want to shop for books or videos, there are links to buy them here.

If a parent wants their student to not just pass the Shakespeare unit, but to excel in it, then I recommend this website. Most people need extra help to understand what the texts is actually saying. Shakespeare Online can help people of all backgrounds understand the basics of Shakespeare's works. Instead of approaching class with dread or boredom (or both) the student can feel confident that he/she will be able to comprehend everything on a level they can identify with. If they want to go a bit farther, the website can help them with that too.

I consider myself well above average in regards to my level of understanding the works of William Shakespeare. Even then, Shakespeare Online still proved insightful for me. For example, I am familiar with the majority of Shakespeare's plays. However, he has over 154 sonnets that I have never really looked at. If, like most people, I don't understand all the text after my first read-through, there is an analysis of the sonnet available on the same page as the text.

For any individual studying Shakespeare, I would recommend Shakespeare Online as a reference. The main reason for that is because it's a reference tool full of multiple references tools in and of itself.





Review of Combat Incorporated (http://www.combatinc.com/index.html)


Fight Choreography is a relatively new term in theatre and film. There are some in the those industries that never considered the necessity of an organized approach to the violence that they might have in their production. Combat Inc. is a valuable organization to use as a source to get professional help with staged violence of all sorts.

If you want credentials, this company has it. There are 10 professionals with extensive resumes who contribute. If you want reasons why you should become involved in stage combat, these professionals have listed a FAQ on their website and are also available for hire. If you want proof that they can help you with your stage fighting in your production, they have included their list of clients. Combat Inc. has literally been there and done it.

This site is primarily for those who want to be taught stage combat. The site itself does not contain any actual instruction or techniques. Be aware that it is an access to a resource, not a resource itself. The professionals who are part of Combat Inc. are the real resources. If you want lessons or professionals to assist you on your production, then you've found the right people.

Assuming their credentials are legitimate, it may be worth the production's time to look into getting help from this company. Like any industry, if the market for this type of service is competitive there may be other companies who could also provide a similar service. The professionals at Combat Inc. are dedicated to making the fights safe, collaborative, and truthful. Their list of clients proves that they've been able to practice that formula repeatedly with success.

This week, as proof of my prowress in downloading educational videos, I've been asked to include one in this blog entry. The only requirement is that the video be educational. It, like the reviews above, was part of my assignment this week. I think it's safe to say, judging by my choice of video, that it pays to be more specific when you give an assignment and that letting students choose for themselves can be disastrous.

I'm a Picture Buff (and no, it's not someone who takes photos in the nude)

I'm including more web/internet thingies in my blog today. As you can see, they are photos taken by myself. My wife is the photographer, I'm the wannabe. Regardless, I have some basic skills in photo manipulation, so as a fall back plan I could land a job in communist propaganda. Let's see what I did>





The first two photos are of what I think Easter is all about--stuffed bunnies and vegetables. The first is the manipulated one. I zoomed in, chose an artistic angle, and played with the color a bit and Voila! Perfection. I call this one Thumper's Harvest.

My wife hates getting her picture taken, so when I can actually get her to pose (or sneak a snapsot when she ain't looking) it's a pretty unique experience. She thought it would cool at Snowquamie Falls to take this shot. I played with the color scheme a bit and the grain. The second one is the final product. This one is titled Catch a Waterfall. . . Literally.

Melissa loves Big Cats. So when we went to the zoo we HAD to get a picture of the tiger. The second shot is the original, taken right before the zookeepers had to drag Melissa down from trying to climb inside the fence to pet the tiger. I zoomed in on the object of her affection and sharpened the colors so that you all see why she wanted to pet him . . . because he's just so cute! I've entitled this one I'm Endangered--Let Me Nap.

I'm particularly proud of this one. The first one is the final product. I cropped the photo and remastered the color so that you can really see the intricacies of the root system of this fallen tree at Snowquamie Falls. Since I spent so much time photo shopping all the itty bitty details and such I thought it deserved a special name, one which took me days to think of. After much deliberation I decided to call it Tree.

Now you might be wondering what the heck am I thinking playing with photos? Well, it's just an assignment. I might add I would have been done earlier with it had the computer not persisted in making my saved work disappear (Some computers have gnomes that steal things-I swear). So at least I learned a lesson in patience. . . the problematic computer, on the other hand, is now six feet under and better stay there.

Anyways, I play with photos because I can . . .and because I can I've decided that might be able to be used in an actual classroom setting where students can actually see the picture that is worth a thousand words and start listing what words can be used in it. You know, make 'em think. Why should I do all the work? I spent 5 hours just trying to get it to save correctly.

Oh, by the way, here's a video I think future educators should look at:

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=7672&title=Top_Ten_Things_You_Do_Not_Learn_About_Teaching_in_College

Now, while I may agree with most of the items mentioned in that list, I must say the makers of the video will have to try harder than that. To give them a push in the right direction, I've given them a sample Top 10 List of Things You DO Not Learn About Teaching in College:

10. If a Hall Pass Can get lost, it will--oftentimes with a student attached.

9. Parents should get a license before being allowed to breed.

8. It's okay to pretend that you know what you're doing, just as long as no one else can tell that you're faking it.

7. Never be the last one out of a meeting with Assistant Principals, because you will get volunteered.

6. Many Football Players tend to think they are gods compared to other students. Before you worship them too , remember to give these omnipotent ones the "F" they earned in your class. It makes for great drama.

5. The Teachers' Lounge--it's still not a good idea to go in there.

4. Remember to keep all the notes your students pass in class--they make great stand-up material.

3. Snow Days do not equal Free days.

2. If you plan to join the teachers' strike, make sure you have a back-up plan.

1. If you screw up your first fire alarm, it will follow you the rest of your life.