School Residencies

A 'Beauty and the Beast' residency provides the opportunity for a segment of a school population to experience an in-depth exposure to storytelling as an art form. Mitch and Martha spend an extended period of time sharing stories as well as their expertise in "how to" workshops for participants. Their goals as artists-in-residence include:

Questions & Answers

What kinds of residencies do 'Beauty and the Beast' offer?

1) Folktale Residency: Students learn to tell their own versions of traditional folktales. Because Martha and Mitch's priority is to have the students' first experience at telling be a positive one, they have retold child-friendly versions of numerous folktales, and these are the stories from which students choose. This ensures the success of the project because every student chooses a story that is good for oral telling. Watch the companion DVD to Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom to get a clear idea of what a folktale residency experience is like.

2) Personal/Family Stories Residency: Students learn to tell stories based on their own experiences or interviews with family members. Since it is vital that students have a story ready before 'Beauty & the Beast' arrive, it will be necessary for the target group students to do some interviewing and writing (based on materials that 'B&B' will send in advance) before the residency begins. Alternately, Mitch and Martha can do a longer residency where they work with students first on writing skills, and then on speaking and public presentation skills.

3) Original Stories Residency: Mitch and Martha do one or more writing workshops in individual classrooms where teachers would like to get their students excited and confident about making up and writing their own stories. Mitch and Martha demonstrate how one can be inspired by folk literature to make up one's own "how and why" stories and/or "noodlehead" tales. Before they arrive, teachers can use Martha and Mitch's books and recordings to arouse enthusiasm. After the workshop(s), teachers will be able to follow through using their writing units: Writing How & Why Stories: A Unit for Second through Sixth Graders and Writing Noodlehead Stories: A Unit for Second through Sixth Graders.

How do students benefit from learning to tell a story?

The Common Core standards for learning throughout the U.S. place an emphasis on speaking and listening skills, both of which storytelling teaches. Many schools have found storytelling to be such a valuable learning tool that it is now a part of their curriculum. Among the many other benefits that teachers involved in residencies have noticed are:

For more information on storytelling and state learning standards go to this link on our site.
You are welcome to download our handout Why Children Should Be Given the Opportunity to Tell Stories. For much more detail about the benefits of storytelling, see Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom.


What happens before 'Beauty & the Beast' arrive?

The school will choose target groups (e.g., all fourth grade classes) which 'Beauty and the Beast' will work with in individual classrooms.

Before a folktale residency, materials are sent to teachers well in advance, providing them with guidelines for helping students choose and learn stories. Students in the target groups must choose and learn a story before Mitch and Martha arrive.

Before a personal/family stories residency, students will receive a packet of information that will instruct them on interviewing family members and help them write their stories for telling.

What is the length of a residency?

'Beauty & the Beast' have led a variety of residencies ranging from one school building to an entire school district, and are always willing to tailor the format to meet the needs of a particular school. The length varies according to the number of target groups involved, and the amount of preparation done in advance by target group teachers. 'B&B' residencies last anywhere from three days to several weeks. Contact Mitch and Martha for specific information for your school.


What happens during a residency?

'Beauty and the Beast' will begin the residency with performances for the entire school population. They will then meet 3-5 times with each of the target groups for 50 minute workshops. The first session will be an interactive 'How-To" workshop. During later sessions, Mitch and Martha will each take half of the class and give all students individualized coaching for their particular stories.

During the residency 'Beauty & the Beast' encourage teachers to provide students with ample opportunities for telling their stories (e.g., sharing stories with other classes or traveling to interested organizations in the community). An excellent culminating event is a program where the students tell their stories for families and invited guests. In many schools, Mitch and Martha open the culminating event by telling a story for everyone. The large group then splits into classrooms where students tell their stories.

Other options for the residency include: one-time workshops with other grade levels; a teacher workshop; an evening parent workshop; or a 45 minute evening performance by 'B&B' open to the community.

How do I arrange to have a residency at my school?

spacer
 Contact:
Beauty and the Beast Storytellers
Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton
137 Northview Rd. Ithaca, New York 14850
Phone: (607) 277-0016

e-mail: info@beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com

They will be glad to answer any questions about fees or how they might tailor a residency to fit the needs of your school.


Back to Top

Reviews

*for more reviews, see "Performances"

"Our recent residency with the Beauty and the Beast storytellers was one of the best experiences in my ten years in education. The project has reenergized me. The students, in grades 4, 5, and 6 learned so much from the process and stretched themselves immensely. The students in the four classes that participated repeatedly told me they felt it was a privilege to be part of this project. They were proud of their accomplishments and surprised they could actually get up in front of people and tell a story with expression. Parents responded with high praise, mentioning the development of public speaking skills, listening skills, and risk taking.

The excellent stories from Mitch and Martha's books provided a broad range of choices for our students. All kids were able to find a story that was a good fit. The participating classes contained students at a wide variety of educational levels. Mitch and Martha were able to adjust their story coaching to help all kids develop the necessary speaking, listening, and performing skills. The rapport that Mitch and Martha developed with the classes was the key to the success of the residency. Whether individually or one-on-one, the interaction was always positive and upbeat. This was an experience that bears repeating. I have already begun to look at ways that will allow us to bring this residency back to Victor Intermediate School in the future."

Maggie Elliott, Library Media Specialist
Victor Intermediate School
Victor, NY
Back to Top

Dear Mitch and Martha,

I wanted to share my gratitude for how well you connected with each third grader during the storytelling project. At the culminating festival last night, you spoke about enhancing their appreciation of and abilities to engage in public speaking, and it was truly amazing to see the third graders stand up in front of a group of parents and tell their stories with confidence, expression and enjoyment.

Not only did my son look forward to coming to school on the days you visited, he was also excited for the evening event and happily nervous about performing. What I am especially impressed by, and thankful to you both for, is broadening his horizons. My son is a natural reader and loves to hear a good story. However he has always been heavy on the non-fiction - he loves facts, figures and information. You opened up his mind to the world of imagination, of irony, of metaphor. He has always devoured books, but usually encyclopedias or autobiographies and the like. For the last month, he has read every folktale he can get his hands on. He supplies me with titles and I seek them out at the public library.

You see, my son has Asperger's Syndrome, and I have been thrilled to see him enabled to connect with others in a social but structured way during your lessons, to develop his imagination and enjoyment of things that cannot be measured or touched, and to gain confidence and competence in himself through sharing, interacting and exploring ideas. I am immensely grateful that the program was in place this year and that he did not miss this most valuable learning experience. I applaud your efforts and can already sense their lasting effects. Last night he disappeared into his room for three hours and read a collection of forty trickster tales! Many thanks to you, for yet another reason -- our house is always much calmer when our son is happily engaged in something!

Having witnessed what you do, I would feel passionately about your work whether or not it touched my child in such a profound way, for it is pure gold in the field of innovative education -- but having it speak so directly and valuably to my child with special needs has raised it up even more notches

Parent of a Third Grade Storyteller
Back to Top

We recently had our second residency with Mitch and Martha working with the entire third grade class for a week. I can't say enough in support of this wonderful experience for our students and staff. Ahead of time, we were sent detailed instructions, ideas, and support material including copies of folktales re-written by Beauty and the Beast for kids to tell. Our teachers knew exactly what to expect and how to prepare for the residency. The kids became personally invested even before the residency began by choosing their stories and following the initial steps for learning them.

Once Mitch and Martha arrived and began to interact with us, the magic truly started. They told stories, modeled, taught and inspired. With incredible attention to every individual student, they coached our tellers in voice, gesture and facial expression. With emphasis on support and respect, a wonderful community was established that fostered a successful experience for every child. We were surprised and delighted at the talents, skills, and pride that emerged in both expected and unexpected ways. One teacher remarked, 'I was also amazed at the family involvement that helped to make the storytelling night a success!'

As a storyteller, I appreciate the work of this remarkable team in promoting and enabling new tellers, promoting the art form, and in the creation of many, many re-written stories for young tellers. As a teacher and media specialist, I appreciate the modeling, organization, preparation, materials and community developed for my students and staff. What a wonderful residency we hope to repeat!"

Mary Jo TenEyck, Library Media Specialist
Williamson Elementary School
Williamson, NY
Back to Top

"Storytelling is an important activity with long-term benefits for kids. I've noticed many young adults in business who lack even basic skills in communicating their ideas to others verbally, particularly to a group. Storytelling gives kids a real jump on acquiring these skills. In addition, it develops something that many practiced speakers lack, namely an ability to use expression and humor to captivate and motivate their audiences.

Speaking and listening skills, both of which storytelling teaches, are crucial for any profession. Yet they are never made a priority in schools in the way that writing and reading skills are. . . An added benefit is that I have rarely seen a bunch of kids so motivated to do a 'school' activity. How can we lose with all these benefits and fun?"

David Barron, Parent
(from a letter written to the Ithaca School District in support of continued funding for storytelling. He had just watched his own child and her classmates tell stories in front of a group of parents and peers.)
Back to Top

"I would never have imagined that our third grade students could transform into expressive, confident, and capable storytellers in a couple weeks time. The teachers commented on the improvement in some of the children's reading fluency, and everyone witnessed the children blossoming as their confidence grew. Of course, not one of the students was aware that New York State English Language Arts standards were being met, but their listening and speaking for literary response was evident from the onset of the storytelling experience. Our school can't wait until next year's storytelling residency with Beauty and the Beast!"

Kathy Elliott
Teacher Librarian
Burton Street Elementary School
Cazenovia, NY
Back to Top

"Beauty and the Beast Storytellers integrated storytelling into an interdisciplinary ELA, social studies, and fine arts curriculum in a week-long residency at our elementary school. Our students increased their appreciation and understanding of the diversity and richness of world cultures as they read, told and compared stories from different cultures. Storytelling develops foundational skills for becoming stronger writers as students learn to arrange information in an organized, sequential format, and presentational skills as they tell their stories in an engaging manner. Mitch and Martha not only have honed their craft as storytellers but also as residency experts, providing much support help from the very beginning to the culmination of the experience. I highly recommend them for any similar school experiences! They truly know how to make the best use of instructional time as they engage the students in their art form!"

Mary Jane Todd Eckel
Hendy Avenue School
Elmira, NY
Back to Top

Sample Thank-You Letters from Student Tellers and Parent Comments

These letters were written by third graders in Ithaca, New York to thank individuals, businesses. and foundations that supported Beauty & the Beast's storytelling project. Parent Comments were written after attending an evening event where their children told stories for their classmates and family members.

Click on any thank-you to make it bigger.

The following letters of thanks were written by sixth graders at Pomfret Community School (Pomfret, Connecticut) to an anonymous donor who helped to pay for Beauty & the Beast's storytelling residency.

Click on any thank-you to make it bigger.


Back to Top

"Our grades 3 and 4 students embraced storytelling with tremendous enthusiasm. With little public speaking experience, they were initially over-awed at the prospect of performing in front of an audience of parents without any written support. However, they overcame their fears and rose to the challenge by choosing stories they liked from Mitch and Martha's wonderful world folktale collections. Watching the twenty-minute documentary on the DVD from Children Tell Stories helped them to see that their initial nervousness was perfectly normal and that children in the film who took the chance and told stories looked as if they were having a lot of fun. My students began by rehearsing in front of small audiences of their peers and their parents. With growing confidence, they were quite prepared to hone their skills with the supportive suggestions of Martha and Mitch. The final result was a storytelling extravaganza of which they, their collective parents, and their teachers were all so very proud. As one student said, 'I never thought I could do it, but it was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year!' It was also an experience that taught me a great deal both about how to teach storytelling and how much kids can accomplish with the right attitude towards risk-taking. Even if you are not able to have Mitch and Martha visit your school, their books provide you with all that you need to teach storytelling on your own. Storytelling will become an integral part of my curriculum forever."

Dorothy Walling, Language Arts Teacher, Grades 3 and 4
Selwyn House School (a private school for boys)
Montreal, Canada
514-931-9481Back to Top

"Mitch and Martha have completed eight residencies at the elementary school where I teach, and I can't say enough positive things about their time here. They present skilled performances that are enjoyed by the entire student body. In their week-long residencies they work intensively with third graders. In addition to providing students with important lessons, they bring a sense of joy and playfulness that is a very necessary, but often neglected, aspect of education. The staff and students who are fortunate to work with them look forward to their arrival and are very sad to see them go. The skills the students learn are useful in many subject areas and the experience teaches them not only about stories, but about themselves."

Here are some reactions from the third graders:

"They were helpful, even when we were scared."

"They made us feel comfortable."

"They took you through the steps."

"They encouraged you."

"They were caring."

"I learned that I am better than I thought."

"I didn't know I liked to tell stories."

"If you make a mistake, don't feel bad."

"I learned that very little details make a big difference."

"It was a fun way of learning."

Coleen Caulfield, Library Media Specialist
Harrison Avenue School
Livingston, NJ
Back to Top

"Mitch and Martha have led a storytelling project in my third grade classroom for the past fourteen years. One of the many wonderful things about the residency is that everyone tells a story! It is rare to see a project that affects each member of a large heterogeneous group in so many positive ways. Mitch and Martha's energy, enthusiasm, and obvious love of stories are catching. The first time the storytelling idea is presented to a class, there are always a few who react with 'I could/would never do that.' Because of Martha and Mitch's well thought out development of needed skills and their positive, supportive, encouraging manner, all kids do participate and do so willingly, and they gain so much from it. After watching their children tell their stories at our culminating evening event, parents always remark about how they themselves are terrified of speaking in public and how inspired they were by the courage of our third graders.

Martha and Mitch's storytelling is one of the most worthwhile and rewarding projects I have had the pleasure of having in my class. They are both excellent teachers who accomplish an incredible amount during their limited time in the classroom. They have two very different styles, and because of that, between the two of them, there's something almost every kid can relate to and connect with. It is the highlight of third grade for these kids, and something they will never forget."

Karen Powers, Third Grade Teacher
Northeast Elementary School
Ithaca, NY
Back to Top

"The storytelling project was wonderful. By teaching the third graders the art of storytelling, they were exposed to many skills useful in building self-confidence and communication skills. Storytelling is an excellent and imaginative way to introduce the students to the basics of public speaking. By providing the students the opportunity to present their stories in their own words, they learned the invaluable skill of speaking extemporaneously on what they know (the story) vs. learning to recite a script.

I admit I was skeptical that anyone could provide my self-conscious son with a platform where he would agree to "perform" in front of others. The storytelling project with the support of Mitch and Martha and his classroom teacher, did just that, as well as creating an atmosphere where public speaking was actually fun. My son was worried several times throughout the learning of his story that he would embarrass himself, but with gentle guidance he managed to tell his story in a delightful and entertaining way for a captive audience on storytelling night.

Throughout the years my son has been in school, I heard several parents of older children who experienced the program laud Mitch & Martha's storytelling program as invaluable in building self-esteem, self-confidence, and communication skills. I was a definite cynic believing that something as simple as telling a story could prove to be such a powerful learning tool. I thought perhaps these parents merely thought seeing their kids telling a funny little story was "cute." I was proven wrong several times throughout the process and although seeing my kid tell a funny little story was definitely "cute," the skills and self-esteem boost he took away with him allow me to now be a strong supporter of the program. I hope that the program will continue at my son's school and the other elementary schools in the Ithaca area and would love to see it be re-visited once the children are in higher grades. I would recommend it for students of all ages."

Anonymous Parent on an Evaluation Form
Back to Top

"The third grade storytelling project is one of the most exciting, educational, and inspiring events that children participate in while in elementary school. It builds confidence, public speaking skills, respect for classmates, and a love of storytelling. Besides the story my son chose to tell, he learned many others from listening to his classmates and takes great joy in sharing them while we ride in the car. I volunteer in my son's classroom and was able to observe Mitch and Martha. They are so encouraging and deliver their comments for improvement in a way that supports excellence and self-esteem. No matter what occupations our children pursue they will clearly need to express themselves verbally and with expression, not to mention how important verbal expression is in social situations. I had the chance to watch the progression of skills acquired as the shyest, quietest children learned to open up, use gestures, and tell a story that captured the audience. Yeah, Mitch and Martha! Watching the children during the evening performance brought tears of joy to my eyes."

Casey Carr, Parent
Cayuga Heights School
Ithaca, NY
Back to Top

"This will be one of the activities that our family will remember and treasure most from elementary school. Watching our shy daughter go from being terrified about telling her story to standing confidently in front of the crowd on storytelling night was a remarkable experience. After every visit from Mitch and Martha, she came home full of exuberance and a desire to practice and take her story to another level. The storytelling project showed her that she was capable of so much more than she ever gave herself credit for and this newfound confidence seems to be spilling over into other areas. She now delights in telling stories to family and friends. Thank you so much!"

Anonymous Parent on an Evaluation Form
Back to Top

"Continuing the Beauty & the Beast storytelling project is, in my opinion, a MUST! From the moment our daughter came home to tell us she was going to learn how to tell a story and then tell it in front of parents, to numerous times of practicing it at home, to the final moment of standing up in front of an audience, her excitement was practically tangible. What a wonderful asset to give these children the confidence and ability to speak in front of a group, entertaining them all the while. I found it hard to believe I was watching 8 and 9-year-old children perform! They clearly loved the experience. Mitch and Martha gave them a tool to believe in themselves and THAT is priceless. In a time when our children are being measured over and over again on increasingly more complex state assessments, it is refreshing to see that someone has taken the time to teach them a skill that, while not measurable on a 'fill in the bubble' sheet, will remain with them a lifetime."

Lisa Waldrop, Parent
Northeast Elementary School
Ithaca, NY
Back to Top

"My cheeks were sore from laughing and smiling during the family night festival. I was amazed, impressed, dare I say awestruck by the abilities of the third graders. What gifts to give these children at a young age - from the all-important, everyday skill of how to engage one friend or even a crowd with a well-told tale, to the lesson that public speaking can truly be fun, just to name a couple . . . Some of the skills that I saw the kids using were ones I never learned until I was in graduate school!"

Anonymous Parent on an Evaluation Form
Back to Top

"I believe so strongly in the importance of this project! Years ago I watched my own daughters and now that I have changed grade levels, I have seen my third grade students blossom in so many ways from this experience. Students have a chance not only to learn about themselves by overcoming fears, finding inner resources and strengths, and discovering hidden talents - but also about each other. They have the opportunity to see a shy, quiet classmate tell a fabulous story and to see classmates who struggle with other academic work really shine. Storytelling gives everyone a chance to see and appreciate some of the not so obvious ways we all have something to offer."

Melissa Tesoriero, Teacher
Ithaca, N.Y.
Back to Top

"Beauty & the Beast Storytellers have been in residence at our school for the past two years. Each time they worked with eight fourth grade classes. The residency began with two assembly presentations to our school's 387 third and fourth graders. Mitch or Martha then met three times during the week with each fourth grade class. In these meetings the students rehearsed telling a story of their own choice and they practiced gestures and intonations modeled by Mitch and Martha in the assembly and these meetings. The residency culminated with each class presenting a storytelling program for the class' parents.

Mitch and Martha were extremely helpful, cooperative, and adaptable to our unique needs when planning the residency and while they were here. It was remarkably easy to work with them. They related extremely well with our students and faculty. A day into the residency it seemed as if they had been our partners for a long time.

The energy and enthusiasm both artists give to their craft is magnetic. Our students and the faculty were caught up in the spirit and pleasure Mitch and Martha have about storytelling and story listening. They taught us the importance that our voices, our posture, and our expressions have in bringing a story to life and, more important, in capturing an audience's attention.

The students' presentations for their parents were priceless. The students transformed themselves from timid children into pure ham actors. The parents were alternately mesmerized and then unraveled by their own laughter as each storyteller revealed the charm of their story interpretation. Beauty & the Beast Storytellers coaxed our students to reveal their hidden potentials and made it possible for those potentials to become real. For the magical spell they cast upon us, we are extremely grateful."

Kenneth B. Smith, Principal
Coman Hill School, Armonk, NY
Back to Top

"This is a shining example of what education should be. All of the children in John's class were charming and captivating as they told their stories, and it was obvious that they had tremendous fun doing so - and fun in learning is a powerful dynamic. When John's turn came, butterflies flew figure eights in my stomach. However, when he smiled and introduced himself to that big crowd of his classmates and their parents, an overwhelming sense of pride rose up inside of me. Even so, I was so nervous that I could barely keep my camera steady. I remembered the terror that I felt in high school when I first learned public speaking skills - maintaining eye contact, using hand motions, changing tone of voice, dramatic pauses - and here he was learning them in third grade. I was stunned and amazed and pleased beyond belief that my son, who was painfully shy a year ago, was now not only telling a story in front of an audience, but truly enjoying it!"

Anonymous Parent on an Evaluation Form

"In five days this very talented team turned many of our students on to storytelling. While in residence at Caledonia-Mumford Central School Mitch and Martha worked with eighth- and ninth-grade English classes, a class of selected elementary students, and a public speaking elective class of senior students.

One must give particular credit to their meticulous preparation. Weeks before they arrived they sent guide sheets, letters explaining their work, and copies of suggested stories to faculty members who would be participating in the residency with their classes. Before Mitch and Martha arrived, the kids knew something of the background of storytelling and had some idea of what they would be doing in the workshop sessions; as a result we all were primed and enthused for the week.

Martha and Mitch were also most sensitive to their audiences; that is, they tailored their workshops to the developmental stages of the children, young adults and adults with whom they worked. Our students were receptive because Mitch and Martha were at all times encouraging, supportive, and positive about the efforts of these "fledgling" tale-tellers. They emphasized that one makes a tale his or hers not through absolute memorization but through individual diction, kinetics, and experience. Their evening performance was also tailored to the community; it was a joyous evening of wonderment, hilarity, quiet self-recognition, and good fun."

Norman Gayford, Teacher and Project Coordinator
Caledonia-Mumford, N.Y. Central Schools
Back to Top


Back to Top

References

If you would like to contact any of the following people, please let us know and we will send you their contact information. Many have had 'Beauty & the Beast' residencies in their schools for many years.

Ithaca, N.Y. City Schools (27-30 years)
3rd Grade Teacher, Belle Sherman School: Dan Breiman, Principal
3rd Grade Teacher, Northeast School: Melissa Tesoriero
3rd Grade Teacher, Fall Creek Elementary: Tanya Kszystyniak
3rd Grade Teacher, Cayuga Heights: Kim Snow
3rd Grade Teacher, Caroline Elementary: Mike Cecere or Principal, Mary Grover
3rd Grade Teacher, South Hill: Jane Koestler or Carol Wilhelm Dentes
Librarian, Enfield School: Maureen Gilroy

Fayetteville Elementary, Fayetteville, N.Y. (30 years)
Principal: Eileen Lux

Furnace Woods Elementary School, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. (19 years)
2nd Grade Teacher, Chris Cunane

Harrison School, Livingston, N.J. (14 years)
Library Media Specialist: Coleen Caulfield

Bedford Village Elementary School, Bedford, N.Y. (16 years)
2nd Grade Teacher: Jeanmarie Martini or Patricia Osborne

K.C. Heffernan Elementary School, Marcellus, N.Y. (14 years)
Third Grade Teacher:

Dows Lane Elementary School, Irvington, N.Y. (3 years)
Kindergarten Teacher: Mark Rogers or First Grade Teacher: Susan Buck

Selwyn House (a private school for boys), Montreal, Canada (1 year)
Third Grade Teacher: Roman Pylat

Holy Trinity School (private school), Toronto, Canada (4 years)
Lower School Director: Heather MacDonald

Palmyra-Macedon Elementary School Palmyraa, N.Y. (2 years)
Librarian: Katie HerrGessel

Candor Elementary School, Victor, N.Y. (9 years)
Third Grade Teacher: Lisa Cantone

For more detailed information about residencies and/or fees, please call or write to us. (Our contact information is at the bottom of this page.)