Lessons from a Storyteller 2/1/06
Students from all over the school gathered in the library this week to listen and learn from Jack Dalton, storyteller and author. Mr. Dalton grew up in a multi-cultural setting in Alaska and has performed in numerous venues around the country. The idea of bringing him to Classical was born when a number of ELL ( English Language Learning ) students and Ram Readers attended a storytelling performance at the Peabody Essex Museum. The storytellers combined music, costumes, and artifacts to enrich the adventures from Alaska, Hawaii and Massachusetts, including Mr. Dalton. After the program, an ELL student said " I want to do this. I want to tell my story ! "
So our Ram Reader Advisor and School Librarian, the fabulous Mrs. Deegan, went to work writing a Grant so that all students can learn how to tell their own stories. The Grant was approved and given by the Essex County Community Foundation Hardscrabble Education Fund. Mr. Dalton is teaching the students how to tell a story, build content, choose characters, and set a conflict. The teachers involved will continue this work through the spring, culminating with individual projects and a public performance by some of our students telling their own tales.
Mrs. Deegan would like to thank the Hardscrabble Education Fund, Merry Glosband and the Peabody Essex Museum, ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historic Organizations,) Jack Dalton, Mr. DeNunzio and his camera crew, and all the teachers who volunteered their students for this project.
