Getting Started
When trying to set up the weekly routine of having a Family
Reading Night, some young families may not know where to begin. Perhaps there aren’t very many story options,
or you are having trouble keeping your audience engaged. Keep on reading for tips that will make your
Family Reading Night fun for everyone.
We All Tell Stories
Whether we are talking with our friends, sharing secrets or
gossip, or telling someone else about something exciting that happened, we are
telling stories. You are already a storyteller!
The next step is learning to add these same feelings and emotions when
reading and sharing stories during your Family Reading Night. You have the ability to take these stories to
another level and make them different and special for your family—and whoever
else might be around.
Making Your Stories
Come to Life
What makes the difference between reading a good story and
being a good story teller? There are
many things a good storyteller can do to make the experience more fun for the
listener. Experiment with tone of
voice—try using loud and quiet voices, or different voices for the
characters. Move around! Use hand gestures and facial expressions to
keep your listeners focused on you as you move through the story itself. You will notice that people of all ages will
enjoy your ability to make the story a unique experience for all.
Preparing to Share
Your Story
Are you excited yet?
Are you ready to get involved and start doing some storytelling? When selecting a story to share with a group
of any size, there are a few factors to consider. First, you want to make sure that most, if
not all, of your audience will find it enjoyable. Once you have selected something appropriate
for all, read the story several times.
This is to make sure that you really
know the story. If there are any parts
of the story that you find interesting or unfamiliar, use the internet to
research and dig a little deeper. This
way, you will have answers to the questions that may come up as you’re giving
your performance. Now, practice telling
your story and really get into it—remember, storytelling is a performance!
The Big Moment – The
Performance
Now that you’ve practiced and prepared, it’s time to share
your story. Before getting started, you
may want to describe the characters and setting of the story. This could save you from being interrupted
too often if there are any complicated ideas to explain (Remember the internet research? This is why!). Stimulate your audience by keeping the
space close—unless you have some spectacular moves planned for your big debut. Make sure to keep things moving at a pace
every person can follow. The best rule
is to keep things going fast enough for the youngest participating audience
member to follow. Now, share your story!
Wrapping Things Up
That was fun, wasn’t it?
This is a fantastic way to share stories in a family setting. Leave time afterwards to have a discussion
and answer any questions your children might have. This will help if anything was confusing and
make sure that Family Reading Night stays both fun and informative for the
child. Feel free to ask questions of
your own. If the story was hard to
follow for the children, perhaps next time your choice will be a different type
of story. Once you start doing this
regularly, you will see the benefits of this kind of interaction for all
involved.
Have any experiences
to share? We would love to hear about Family Reading Night in your home. Feel free to post comments below or email
your testimonials to stxliteracy@gmail.com
