All posts by johnkirkstoryteller

About johnkirkstoryteller

John Kirk tells stories and presents drama workshops to young people.

Why should a teacher book a storyteller for a school visit?

Here are five brilliant reasons a teacher should book a storytelling visit.

  1. There are a lot of very skilled teachers, who can deliver a story to a class with enthusiasm and expression but a storyteller will tell a tale without a book.  Storytelling is one of the most ancient and accessible art forms, a means of exchanging narrative beyond books, a captivating performance skill and can be complimented with singing, music, props and interaction.
  1. Everyday all over the world, teachers read children stories but a storyteller visit can enhance this experience.  A day devoted to story, centred around a storytelling visit can be a break from the usual curriculum and make the learning feel more special and more memorable for the class.
  1. In a world of ever tighter budgets, where trips out are more difficult and with family’s feeling a rise in the cost of living, booking a storyteller for school is an affordable way of enriching a child’s cultural capital.
  1. Maybe the class teacher would enjoy presenting a story to their class but booking a storyteller offers an experience without adding excessively to teacher workload.
  1. When you book a storyteller you are booking their expertise; you are trusting that their content will meet and add value to your objectives and that you might be able to transfer some of their techniques into your own practice.

“The children were really engaged in the activity and also could recall the story in lessons which really helped”.

“You were very entertaining and engaging. You were very good at including our SEN children in the storytelling session too”.

My new reading for pleasure project

I have a new project which I hope will inspire children to read for pleasure.

I have been lucky enough to work on some wonderful projects. In 2014 Michael Morpurgo’s “Private Peaceful” brought me to the attention of London’s library community then in 2016 Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” changed my life as I went from a regional to a national storyteller overnight. We’re Going on a Story Hunt got me through the pandemic and has provided a format for working with libraries since. Historically my projects involve storytelling (me, remembering stories and bringing them to life for the audience) but with QTS freshly under my belt, when the National Literacy Trust asked me to work with a school in Swindon to inspire reading I knew exactly what I would do. I would do something I would never have dreamed of 20 years ago. I would read a story to the audience and they would love it.

As a Teaching Assistant and Teacher I like to practice what I preach. This means that for the last three years I have been devouring young people’s fiction. I have read all kinds of stories by authors from all manner of backgrounds. The purpose being to be better able to guide children to better reading choices when working in schools and libraries. It means that when a child is stuck for their next reading book I can offer guidance with more authority.

For “If you like Roald Dahl…” I started by thinking about my favourite Roald Dahl stories and what makes them great. I then tried to think of other books by other authors that share some element of Dahl’s enormous repertoire.

So…

If you like Mr Twit, you’ll love Andy Stanton’s Mr Gum. If you like The Chocolate Factory you’ll enjoy exploring Ross MacKenzie’s Nowhere Emporium. If you like Matilda’s brilliant ideas you’ll love the Baudelaire children in Lemony Snicket’s A Series on Unfortunate Events. And so on.

I took a shopping bag full of children’s fiction and props to a school and used them to bring the joy of reading for pleasure to life for 600 children. It was a brilliant day!

Here is some of the school’s feedback.

“The aim for the visit was to provide the children with a love of reading and to inspire them to create their own stories. The children were also exposed to a variety of new genres and were shown how different stories can compare to one another. 

  • It inspired the children to select different texts, as they were initially pitched with ‘If you like … , then you’ll like …’ and supported with reading for pleasure.
  • Children could identify with the texts being shared and could see the links between them.
  • Staff have noticed an increased interest in the children retelling their own stories with new vocabulary from the session.
  • One teaching assistant stated that the workshop was fantastic and kept all abilities of children engaged. This engagement later turned into more children wanting to visit our school library and to add more books into their class book corner.
  • One teacher noted that the children in their class now have an awareness of storytelling and were witnessed creating their own stories during break time.

Overall, we were delighted by the noticeable impact that John Kirk’s visit has made. It is clear to see that the children’s exposure to a variety of literature has been broadened and also their love of reading has vastly increased.

I am incredibly grateful to the National Literacy Trust for supporting my work (again) and am keen to repeat the presentation as soon as possible. I am sharing details of the work we did here and with libraries so that hopefully I can share the pleasure of reading with more children everywhere soon.

I’m a Poet (and I only just realised)

I have been teaching children poetry.

It all started last year during my Teacher training when I was invited to submit a performance of a poem to Poetry by Heart. I have always performed poetry; The Odyssey (an epic poem), Julia Donaldson (rhyming poetry) and Shakespeare (iambic pentameter and verse) have all been part of my repertoire over the years. I was thrilled to be invited to perform Roald Dahl’s “Jack and the Beanstalk” at Southwark’s Globe Theatre. Reciting one of my favourite poems on the Globe stage weeks from achieving QTS felt like I had gone full circle – I was a performer once again albeit with a much better idea of why I had been an effective workshop facilitator for so many years.

Performing at The Globe should really be the most exciting thing in this blog but it’s not. During the summer a friend suggested I enter Brighton & Hove Arts Poems on Buses competition. This is my entry:

Although I haven’t won I was excited that my poem has been selected to be displayed on a Brighton Bus. This means it’ll be read by lots of people (including you). Over the years I have written a lot of poems for different purposes; The Highwayman from Tim the Ostler’s perspective has been viewed thousands of times on Youtube, Noah’s Cart: the story of the Lewes Flood has helped children at two local schools better understand what happened to the town in 2000 and The Sandwich and the Seagull is my homage to Michael Rosen’s style of narrative poetry. In the autumn I was praised for a poetry writing workshop based upon Berlie Doherty’s If you were a Carrot and most recently I have been exploring Benjamin Zephaniah’s The British and writing recipe poems with Year 4 and 5 children.

“I just wanted to email to say thank you for coming into our school to do the Poetry Workshop with year 5.  The children were so engaged and thoroughly enjoyed it. You really inspired them and it was brilliant to see, especially some of the boys. Some of the children can be a bit reluctant when writing but today I saw a different side to that, they were really inspired and wanted to share/ write down their stanza.  The children continued to share their poems after you left and as their whiteboards were on their tables, they came back from lunch and continued to talk about it.  Once again, thank you so much!!”

I may not be a full time class teacher but achieving QTS has given me the confidence to offer not just poetry performance but poetry writing workshops. With a better understanding of how writing is taught in Primary Schools these writing sessions have produced some wonderful poems. They have also inspired me to write more poems.

A Recipe for a School Day

Into a classroom, pour thirty excited children

ready for the school day.

Slowly introduce knowledge and challenge

to the learning mixture,

ensuring the freshness of your ingredients

with breaks, praise and success.

Sprinkle lessons with fun and laughter

being mindful play

doesn’t overpower purpose.

Add in Maths,

stir in Science

and plenty of poetry (you can’t share too many)

before bringing the children together for assembly.

For inspiration, imagination and improvement

simmer until home time.

NB: This recipe is best served by a great teacher.

Mr Kirk; teacher, storyteller, Secret Santa

Dear Lewesians,

Last summer I found myself at a bit of a crossroads (again). I had completed my QTS but was unsure of what to do next; with a background in school’s outreach work, a teaching qualification really could open a lot of different doors. I began looking at the websites of organisations who inspire me including The National Literacy Trust. I first came across the National Literacy Trust 6 years ago when, with their commercial partners, they invited me to take The Twits to Swansea to work in the library and with some schools. A couple of weeks later, I was on a Zoom call to hear how the trust works with schools and local Reading Champions in Hastings.

A Reading Champion could be anybody from a local community who goes the extra mile to encourage reading. Some give their time to read with children in the school day and some put book corners into their places of work. The Annual Literacy Survey (National Literacy Trust) shows why this is important. According to the survey, 43% of 8-18 year olds enjoy reading in their free time. This figure drops to 39% of children receiving free school meals. The survey clearly shows that where children are encouraged to read and see adults reading they are more likely to read themselves.

Reading is such an important skill. I use the word skill because like football, painting or anything else it takes time and patience to master. Gough and Tunmer (1986) proposed a simple view of reading; word recognition + language comprehension = reading comprehension. Where you are able to decode and understand words you will be able to read. So it follows that if a child is regularly exposed to quality stories that challenge their existing vocabulary either through group or individual reading most of the time they will become more fluent, more able readers. This in turn will have a positive impact on that child’s life chances.

I moved to Lewes in 2019 and I love it. In the five years I have been here I have worked for two of the five Primary Schools, the local secondary school and the Library (not to mention a stint at the supermarket!). If you were to visit the historic centre of our town you might think that Lewes is a very affluent but, like most British towns, sadly there is inequality and need here. It would be the perfect place for a little Christmas experiment.

Inspired by Reading Champions I had read about online, the inequality I have seen through my work and the desire to put quality stories into people’s homes, in November I went shopping. I bought children’s books ranging from graphic novels and wordless picture books to chapter books and poetry. I then wrapped them and with the help of my elves (thanks v and t) hid the presents around the town. Books were hidden at night in play parks and twittens near Primary Schools. Books were left in Railway Land, the Priory ruins, a trolley at the local supermarket and a cubicle at the local swimming pool. Twenty four books, one for each day of advent, hidden in the hope that they would be found read or re-gifted this Christmas.

So why confess? Truthfully, I’d sooner not admit it but I want to inspire other people to become Reading Champions and to do that I want to find out how the story ends and get people talking about the books. Do you know someone who found one of my books and if so what did they do with it?

To find out more about the National Literacy Trust visit their website. To volunteer to read with a child in your local area contact your local Primary School or Library or for tips on reading with your own children here’s a useful article from The Book Trust.

Wishing you the very best for Christmas.

Secret Santa

Taking it to the next level: How a teaching qualification enhances my usp.

In case my absence from here hasn’t made it clear enough – the global pandemic was terrible for a storytelling business.

In March 2020 I was riding high but as the country locked down it became clear the dates in my diary wouldn’t be happening. Within a fortnight I went from touring Yorkshire libraries with The Enormous Crocodile, The Twits and Shakespeare’s Tales to learning how to work a supermarket till (I was lucky to get that). I had a lot of support from my friends in library services and made a niche for myself with internet sessions. We’re Going on a Story Hunt is probably the most successful project I have ever devised but it was financially unfeasible and by the autumn of 2020 I a Teaching Assistant moonlighting as a storyteller.

In June 2022, after 22 years of stubbornly resisting conformity, I was accepted onto the Surrey South Farnham School Centred Initial Teacher Training course. You might think that being a storyteller I would make a natural teacher. Whilst I am able in some aspects of teaching, even now I still have lots to learn about planning lessons! After one of the most intense years of my life, in June 2023 I achieved Qualified Teacher Status.

QTS means further financial security for V and I going forward. I’ve always prided myself on offering high quality storytelling at affordable rates. This term I have visited Harpenden, Milton Keynes, Corringham, Tonbridge and Colchester as a storyteller and in January I am already looking forward to working in Milton Keynes, Maidstone and with The National Literacy Trust in Swindon. This is because the rest of the time I am a supply teacher/teaching assistant.

Being busier all of the time is not just good for my bank balance. Since the pandemic I have been trying to look after myself better. By not zipping around the country quite as much I have more time for V, my friends and I am enjoying swimming and life in the South Downs. Better mental health, not being constantly exhausted by travel and stressed out about generating work means that when I do tell stories I enjoy myself more.

Most importantly, I feel the quality of my offer is better. Having a training in quality first teaching means I have a better understanding of schools expectations, behaviour management strategies and I plan sessions more like lessons and less like workshops (what are the children going to learn from my visit? what value am I adding?).

Through my experience of SCITT I have a renewed appreciation of reflective practice. I don’t always get it right and that’s actually okay. Instead of being overly self critical I look for feedback that will help me work with my clients whilst developing as a storyteller, teacher and human being. Here’s some kind words on one of my recent global folktale sessions:

“John was really engaging, he had great classroom management, he kept the children’s focus with positive praise. His sessions were very inclusive – all the children got to have a go. He had Interesting stories that had important messages. We would definitely have in our school again”.

I’ve always loved being the memorable storyteller/facilitator with a high energy, dynamic style and a water pistol and I still am that performer but QTS makes my interactions in learning environments even more effective. In this way my impact has more chance of leaving a positive legacy of learning and inspiring my audiences.

Future stories

I recently listened to a thought provoking radio programme about the ways authors depict the future in speculative narrative genres. The interviewee, who worked at Arizona State University’s Center of Science and the Imagination (yes, there is such a thing), spoke about the presentation of dystopia in stories. Whilst I appreciate that the conflict in Doctor Who, 1984 and Guardians of the Galaxy depends upon a degree of dystopia in the character’s worlds, as I sit and write this I am struggling to think of many future cities that I would like to visit let alone inhabit.

So it was that I visited Milton Keynes to present some Julia Donaldson story workshops. Now Milton Keynes is often derided for its roundabouts and concrete cows but it was supposed to be an ambitious vision of the future. I’m sure locals would be able to tell me everything good and bad about the city but with it’s grocery delivery robots and green central spaces there is much to be hopeful about in Buckinghamshire.

In a post pandemic world, full of uncertainty caused by environmental, geo political and economic concerns the importance of hope cannot be understated. So what the storyteller? Should we be echoing societal concerns or offering hope of a brighter future? Can storytelling help shape a better future? I hope so.

Over the past three years there have been many times when I have struggled to imagine the future but with late summer/autumn visits to Cheshire West Libraries, Harpenden, Corringham, Tonbridge, Colchester and East Sussex Libraries to deliver a range of storytelling and poetry workshops I can once again be hopeful of a future as a live storyteller.

As for my visit to Milton Keynes ….

“A huge thank you for your visit yesterday! The children absolutely loved the Julia Donaldson sessions and were all highly engaged and motivated by your interactive storytelling. I have recommended you to the other year groups in the school! It was fantastic!”

Lovely feedback and a recommendation.

Nobody knows what the future holds but I want to tell stories that embody a future I want to see. In all aspects of my life, I am determined to face that future with integrity, honesty, humour and above all hope.

There was an English Festival, an Irish Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival…

School’s out for summer! Here is my schedule for the next 6 weeks and beyond including appearances at Farmfest 2021 on the 31st July, Kilkenny’s Bookville Festival (virtual session, w/c 11th October 2021) and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (6th to the 8th August, Pleasance Courtyard)

Dates marked with a * will be in person appearances. All other sessions will be hosted on Zoom.

24th July 2021 – 11 am Hackney Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt) and 2pm Southend Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

27th July 2021 – 11am East Sussex Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt) and 2pm Tameside and Hillingdon Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt)

28th July 2021 – 11am Trafford Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt) and 2pm Bedfordshire/Bedford Borough and Luton Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

*30th July 2021 – 10am and 11am Redhill Library (Story Hunt Roadshow) and 2.30pm Dorking Library (Story Hunt Roadshow)

*31st July 2021 – 2pm and 3.30pm Farmfest, Bruton, Somerset (Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”)

3rd August 2021 – 10am Harrow Libraries (Story Hunt), 11am Brent Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt) 2pm Tameside and Hillingdon (Rainforest Story Hunt), 3pm Norfolk Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt) and 4pm Wirral Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt)

4th August 2021 – 10am Hull Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 11am Trafford Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 1pm Newcastle City Libraries (Ocean), 2pm Hackney Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt)

*6th August 2021 – 11.15am Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”, Edinburgh Fringe, 2.15pm Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”, Edinburgh Fringe

*7th August 2021 – 2.15pm Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”, Edinburgh Fringe

*8th August 2021 – 2.15pm Roald Dahl’s “The Twits”, Edinburgh Fringe

10th August 2021 – 10am Nottinghamshire Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt), 11am Brent (Ocean Story Hunt), 1pm North Yorkshire Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 2pm Tameside and Hillingdon Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 4pm Wirral Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt)

11th August 2021 – 10am Hull Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt), 1pm Newcastle City Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt), 2pm East Sussex Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt)

*13th August 2021 – Get Into Arts 2021 (Story Hunt Roadshow) Brentwood, Essex

17th August 2021 – 10am Nottinghamshire Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt), 11am Brent Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 2pm Tameside and Hillingdon Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 4pm Wirral Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

18th August 2021 Hull Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt), 1pm Newcastle City Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt), 2pm Southend (Ocean Story Hunt), 3pm Cheshire West Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

20th August 2021 – 11am Harrow Libraries (Ocean Story Hunt)

21st August 2021 – 11am Hackney Libraries (Polar Story Hunt)

24th August 2021 – 10am Norfolk Libraries (Polar Story Hunt), 11am Brent Libraries (Polar Story Hunt), 4pm Wirral Libraries (Polar Story Hunt)

25th August 2021 – 10am Hull Libraries (Polar Story Hunt), 11am Trafford Libraries (Rainforest Story Hunt), 1pm Newcastle City Libraries (Polar Story Hunt), 2pm Hackney Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

27th August 2021 – 11am Harrow Libraries (Countryside Story Hunt)

w/c 11th October 2021 Story Hunting at Kilkenny’s Bookville Festival 2021

For tickets to virtual events go to Eventbrite or enquire with the library authority.

Additionally the following library services will be hosting my story content on their social media platforms this summer:

Dudley Libraries, OnFife Libraryay!, Knowsley Libraries, Hammersmith and Fulham Libraries, Hampshire Libraries, Manchester Libraries, Northamptonshire Libraries, Sandwell Libraries, Stoke on Trent Libraries, Surrey Libraries, Wokingham Libraries, Wolverhampton Libraries and York Libraries.

Please share these dates with your friends and family and if you attend an event send your photos and feedback to me using social media or via the event organiser.

Have a wonderful summer.jk


The next chapter…

In March 2020 the closure of schools and libraries threw my working life into total chaos. Over the past five months my business has been slowly throttled and has only really survived thanks to unprecedented support from public libraries who have commissioned live and recorded sessions.

So it is that I announce the inevitable: after twelve years of storytelling my way the length and breadth of the country I am stepping back from being a full time storyteller.

This isn’t the end, just a new way of working and I will continue to tell stories virtually in the evenings, at weekends and during the school holidays (I already have a lot of bookings for October) but for the moment to better support Verity I won’t be doing term time school work.

The last twelve years have been amazing. I have done so many things I never thought I would get an opportunity to do. I have worked with some tremendous people and I know we have inspired hundreds if not thousands of children from so many different backgrounds to read, perform and tell stories.

Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me through what has been one of the toughest periods of my life. My job is my identity and I’ll feel lost not doing it all the time but Verity must come first right now.

Thank you to you, the people who read this blog, the people who like and share my posts. It means a lot to have that network around me and I hope you can continue to support me as I strive to find new ways to be a storyteller in a post pandemic world.

I hope to be posting information about my autumn events very soon.

Best wishes,

John

John Kirk tells stories in libraries, at events and festivals.  For more information or to make an enquiry, complete a contact form.