School performances, third week storytelling in Peru

This was a present from Trener School, where I was today

Did I mention what a good time I've been having at the schools? It's a combination of the teachers and administration being so welcoming and the kids loving the stories.

This week has been packed. Monday and Tuesday I was at Markham College for eight performances. I met with students from kindergarten to fifth grade, including going out on the playing field with the fourth graders for the earthquake drill. The first grade teachers had asked me to tell stories from specific countries, so in anticipation, I worked on a couple of new stories that I think will be a permanent part of my repertoire. One is Tiddalik, from Australia (told by lots of other storytellers) and the other is Aniz the Shepherd, from the Uygur people of Western China. I love it when I get new stories!

On Wednesday I had a change of pace, shifting up to high school at Colegio Santa Margarita. At home, I rarely get to tell stories to high school or even middle school kids (for those of you outside the US, middle school usually is age 12-14, high school is age 14-18). It's a treat to tell stories to these kids. Today I was at Trener College, with the 12- and 13-year-olds.

I like to sneak in a good jump tale with these kids. Those are the stories with a startling jump somewhere in the middle. Kids usually are so shocked they have to laugh and talk to their friends for a few seconds after the jump, sort of a release of adrenaline. Then we move back to the story.

Even the older kids have enjoyed the puppets, too. Trixie continues to sit on the baby's head. When will she learn how to babysit?!

I've also been telling my new personal story, "Razzles." Remember that kind of candy that turns into gum? It's sort of the opposite of Mentos. I never realized that telling a story about gum would be so fun. Lots of chewing.

Tomorrow I go to Colegio Altair where I'll have older kids, from age 9 on up, for four performances. I expect those students will be as fabulous as the kids have been at the other schools.