Brian Ellis (1)

Ellis has worked as a teacher and as a storyteller. He is also an author and a naturalist. This book is a new edition of one he did several years ago and contains 12 great stories that are science based. Adjustable to all ages, these stories talk about issues of great interest to many students, and the teacher is led through how to present the information as well as reinforce it with all kinds of activities. A teacher librarian could learn lots from looking at these stories and following the lead he presents as to how to engage students in relevant learning. It is well organized and well researched. Recommended.… (more)

Teacher librarians have tried over the years to make storytelling and creative dramatics a part of the agenda to love literature and reading, so they have concentrated on imparting the pure joy, laughter, mystery, and attention-grabbing power of oral language. Ellis has a different purpose. He wants to weave the power of story into the language arts curriculum to push elementary school children into creating their own stories as a way of improving literacy. In the book, he begins storytelling “lessons” with a sory to be read aloud/told to the class. Then, he provides detailed instructions of how to engage the class in using that story to model creations of their own. Complete lesson plans with rubrics and links to NCTE standards are provided, Thus, the book provides a way to integrate storytelling into the language arts curriculum. In the age of the Internet, there are all kinds of Web 2.0 technologies that kids can use to not only create, but share their stories virtually. Ellis does not seem to embrace technology but those possibilities need to be added to his recommended activities. How does one help children become better storytellers in their own right without killing interest in this powerful medium? The only way to know is try some of his ideas and watch for the results – both in terms of improved literacy but also in fun, excitement, interest, and powerful kid tellers. Use this one with caution as a collaborative learning experience with classroom teachers.… (more)