Once a group has worked together for a number of sessions and when we're focusing on storytelling, I'll sometimes introduce a game I invented a long while ago. It's the kind of activity that would seem to be "too much" for a group to pull off, but because it's challenging AND fast-paced and requires wholehearted participation, doubt evaporates and fun commences.
It's called the Tribal Storytelling Game. It's suitable for groups of 6 to 18 players. First we divide the big group into multiple tribes of three to six members each. The first part of the game is each tribe coming up with a first person story. So each group sits together in a small circle and, going around twice, they create the 1st person adventure by having one start out with something like "One day, just as the sun was rising up above the banana trees..." or what one pleases, then the next person in the circle repeats that and adds the next phrase, proceeding around the circle twice with the last person finishing the story. The idea with building up the tale through repetition means it will be more coherent AND everyone in each tribe will know the whole story, phrase by phrase, and have practiced it a few times.
Next step is when all the stories are ready (but one hasn't listened to or heard other tribes' stories yet!), we get one tribe to stand up before the other tribe or tribes. Then one member of the standing tribe gets the courage to volunteer as tribal leader for the first round. {I forgot to mention, but earlier in the session the facilitator has either introduced or re-introduced games/exercises in speaking in gibberish. This is vital.}
At this point the standing tribe will tell their story using both broad-based body language and an on-the-spot made-up tribal language. The leader, standing slightly in front of the line of tribespeople spread out before the sitting audience of other tribes, starts the story with that first phrase the first person in their circle spoke, but told physically and in tribal speech/sounds without any use of any already existing language. At the end of each phrase, the leader goes into a soft freeze and the members of her/his tribe behind her or him repeat together the sounds and movements of the leader and then freeze and watch/listen to the leader acutely for the next phrase.
Yes, this is funny. Yet, because each tribe is actually trying to relay a story to the others, it's not silly. When one tribe finishes with their story, we go directly to the next tribe and hear their story in the same fashion. We do a number of rounds without commentary or guesses about what the stories are, each time with the tribe selecting a new leader, who can use any made up language they choose. You will marvel at how well tribe members can pick up what their leader is doing, even facial expressions, though most of the tribe cannot see the leader's face. See, too, how even the supposedly shy members of the group are so busy keeping up with their fellow tribespeople that their agility and expressiveness is unleashed.
The last step in this game is each tribe hearing guesses about their story, with each tribe finally lining up in the same order they were in the circles and telling their story in the normal language of the group. I love this game for lots of reasons.
everything
Speaking of love. To be a good teacher one must start out and then carry on loving all your students. The love of which I speak is usually unremarkable, but always palpable. This love does not depend on a student's aptitude or accomplishment or failure. This love is openhearted and openhanded. To be genuinely interested in, curious about, demanding of, and kind to each and every soul who walks in the door of one's classroom may sound far-fetched. It is not. We can learn and practice this powerful, patient, you-can-do-it way of being with others and we can illuminate all our work, whatever work we do, by using that work as an arena in which to practice being the loving person you in essence are.
We may not be able to read our students' minds or know about their troubles at home, but empathy practiced in listening, in timing, and in tone make a real difference for everyone you're sharing that time and space with.
Yes!
Be demanding, come with big challenges and high expectations. Students love to shoot for the moon, especially when you make it very clear that you're standing by to egg them on, both from your expertise and from your big, loving heart. It's okay if it doesn't quite feel real at first, when you're "just practicing." A teacher needs to be adept at modeling confidence and a truly positive attitude. But a teacher is not perfect or all-knowing, and the sooner that's made clear for each and all, the better. Give this a try: one minute long, breathe in images of those you love; breathe out openhearted love for all the world around you; nice, long breaths, in your loves, out your love, over and again for one minute.