Introduction
In a small Mississippi town, young Gladys lived a memorable life during the early 20 th century. She gracefully walked into local stores, visited fairs, and enjoyed opportunities only afforded to those considered to be part of the "privileged" crowds. What was thought to be "taboo" by most was considered a treat for her. She recalled a memory of going to "town" with friends to visit a local traveling fair. Everyone was excited about a new ride called the "Flying Jenny." While the sign clearly stated that the ride was for "Whites Only", Gladys knew how to "bend" this rule. She separated from her friends and entered the line on her own. As in most cases, Gladys' "fair" skin was the passport to her temporary enjoyment of becoming a part of the "privileged."
Gladys' story was first shared with me during the summer before my freshman year of high school. While I had already spent numerous summers with her over the years, this summer and the sharing of that story proved to be a pivotal point in both of our lives. It was clear from Gladys' laughter after sharing the story that she was glad to be passing on a part of her adventurous life into the mind of one of her first grandchildren. It was also clear from my glazed eyes and wide opened mouth that I was totally shocked about my grandmother's experience. Gladys also spent a great deal of her life standing up for a series of causes aimed at assisting others. During her adulthood you could find her throughout the community marching for civil rights, campaigning for political hopefuls, and taking time to encourage other African-Americans to exercise their right to vote. Gladys' stories have become a part of my life lessons. Listening to her stories has instilled in me that I can do anything. Gladys is now deceased, but her stories helped lay the foundation for every decision I have made in life.
Everyone has a story to tell - no matter where we're from geographically, our cultural background, or our status in life. Storytelling is a universal tradition. This tradition allows the sharer to provide the receiver with his or her interpretation of an event. The receiver then becomes the sharer and carries forth that cycle of sharing the story. Once the receiver becomes the sharer and begins that cycle, he or she must be able to gather the information to accurately share and continue that tradition.
While I learned a lot about my "Granny's" strength through this process of storytelling, I feel that it is part of my duty to make sure that sixty-two energetic and engaged 4 th and 5 th graders are given that same opportunity. These opportunities will potentially assist them in gaining a valuable part of their families' heritages through this rewarding cycle of storytelling.
My aim, during this unit, is to give my students the basic components of the tools needed to become a storyteller. Becoming a good storyteller will happen through a number of activities and exercises prior to students actually gaining information from their family. Some of the activities to assist them through this process include: (1) listening, analyzing, and writing about a variety of stories; (2) increasing their listening and verbal skills through a variety of Storytelling games; and (3) working with a certified storyteller. Details on these activities are listed in the "Classroom Strategies" section.
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