APACHE CHAUTAUQUA COACHING

The richness of personal stories our children bring to school is the focus of  family history collaboration, which is our practicum experience. We recognize students as storied individuals, whose rich cultural capital of family stories is valid content and rationale for learning within the context of their classroom. Students seeking out their own family stories will identify themselves as writers, authors and storytellers who honor their experiences, their sense of belonging and self-identity.  "As teachers, we have daily opportunities to affirm that our students' lives and language are unique and important. We do that in the selections of literature we read, in the history we choose to teach, and we do it by giving legitimacy to our student's lives as a content worthy of study" (Christensen, 2001).  

 

Christensen, L. (2000). Reading, writing, and rising up: Teaching about social justice and the power of the written word. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools, p. 103.   

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As storytelling coaches, we will be working with students in the creative process of presenting an oral story about a family member, from brainstorming ideas to practiced dress rehearsal. 

 

Parents and family members will be invited to this culminating storytelling event, which will take place in the evening from 6-8pm on May 7, tentatively.

 

We performed our Chautauqua Feb. 19 for the Apache students. Students were able to see us perform our family characters in preparation for crafting their own stories. UNM storytelling coaches told a variety of stories in entertaining ways. The APache students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We were able to get some pictures and some video of the UNM performances.

 

Feb. 26: We began working with Apache students on deciding on a family character and starting their story. It is easier for storytelling coaches to scribe for students as they tell their stories and type them out for thestudents. Students will use the typed drafts to revise and add to each session.

 

March 5: Worked one-on-one with a student today in choosing his family Chautauqua story. He is going to be a blue racing car from his PSP Game. Ithink it is time to conduct peer conferences on stories students have been working on. Hearing feedback from their peers now c\may help guide them in revising and refining their stories. UNM coaches will email their students' stories and we will make copies to read during conferences. UNM coaches worked through their own stories in developing their Chautauqua charcters and stories. How will they guide their 4th graders in developing their stories is the challenge for all of us.

 

March 12: Peer conferences today! Peer conferencing is one of the most powerful learning tools a teacher can implement in effective teaching. Students understand each other and they learn from each other as well as teach each other. Giving them opportunities to communicate with each other in caring, sensitive, thoughtful, reflective ways, recognizes them their abilities and contributes to their independence and interdependence as learners, authors and writers.

 

March 19:We tried to inspire students to continue to work on their Chautauqua stories during out three week absence during testing. We will return to our coaching responsibilities April 23, 30. We will begin dress rehearsal (or pants rehearsal for the boys) for those who are ready to be videotaped on April 23 and complete taping on April 30. On

 

May 7, Apache students will present their Storytelling Chautauqua presentations for family and friends.