Community Collaboration: The Power of Storytelling

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$14,717
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient Type
Libraries
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2016
End Date
June 2017
Activity Type
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Preservation
Counties Affected
Dodge
Fillmore
Goodhue
Olmsted
Dodge
Fillmore
Goodhue
Olmsted
Project Overview

The Power of Storytelling project brings a high-quality professional storyteller to 5 SELCO Public Libraries and two SELCO School Libraries to present 29 storytelling programs about Minnesota History, Holiday Stories, and Animal Tales.
Since hearing and seeing live storytelling performances can help listeners get excited about books and reading, and help to develop literacy skills, these performances will focus on helping children and adults get excited about reading and literacy. Parents at the public library programs will receive a handout about how to use storytelling at home to build literacy skills with children. Teachers in the school library programs will receive a handout that includes some post-program activities that can reinforce the learning they experienced during the storytelling programs.

Project Details

1340 participated

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota for 2015 Chapter 2--S.F. No. 1, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 5
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$14,717
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,739
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Kevin Strauss used surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

K-12 Teacher Evaluation

1. I would rate this performance as “High Quality”

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

2. I heard a story today that I plan to share with my students or friends

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

3. After attending this program, I think that spoken-word storytelling can be an effective way to help students learn history, science, and/or literature

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
*********************************************************************************************************************

Parent Evaluation

1. I would rate this performance as “High Quality”

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

2. I heard a story today that I plan to share with my children or friends

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

3. I could describe why both telling stories and reading stories to help children get excited about books, reading, and literacy

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Measurable Outcome(s)

The “Power of Storytelling” project was focused on sharing folktales and history stories that listeners would enjoy and what to share with others. According to surveys, most participants heard at least one story that they that they’d like to retell in the future. Teachers stated that they saw how storytelling could be an effective way to help teach students about history or science. Most parent participants stated that they could see how storytelling would help children get excited about books and reading.
To be successful, at least 90% of participants must agree with each statement.

Teacher Evaluations
Did you hear a story that you intend to retell to your students in the future?
95% of teachers agreed with this statement.

After attending this program, do you agree or disagree that spoken-word storytelling can be an effective way to help students learn about history, science, and/or literature?
95% of teachers agreed with this statement.
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Parent Evaluations
Did you hear a story that you intend to retell to your child (or with your child) in the future? 96% of parents agreed with this statement.

After attending this program, could you describe why both telling stories to children and reading stories to children builds literacy skills? To be successful, at least 90% of participants must agree with this statement. 92% of parents agreed with this statement.

Source of Additional Funds

SELCO, Kasson Public Library, Dodge Center Public Library, Rochester Public Library, Zumbrota Public Library, Rushford-Peterson Public Schools, Stewartville Public Schools, Kevin Strauss

Project Manager
First Name
Krista
Last Name
Ross
Organization Name
Southeastern Libraries Cooperating
Street Address
2600 19th Street NW
City
Rochester
State
MN
Zip Code
55901-0767
Phone
507-288-5513
Email
kross@selco.info
Administered By
Administered by
Location

1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266

Phone
651-582-8200