Students in Rhiannon Fagan’s Grade 12 English classes, including one that is co-taught by fellow teacher Anna Brennecke, recently took a deep dive into both written storytelling and the spoken word.
The writers first examined the art and craft of storytelling by listening to stories on “The MOTH Radio Hour,” a program that is dedicated to celebrating the diversity and commonality of the human experience. As a class, students listened to four different stories with varying themes and from people of diverse backgrounds. They analyzed the stories and their specific storytelling elements, specifically, “stakes and change,” which they would then apply in writing their own “MOTH” story.
“Stakes mean the students had to tell a story where there was something at stake for them. They had to either have something to lose or gain in the vignette,” explained Fagan. “Change means their narrative had to end with some sort of change in them, meaning a realization about themselves or others.”
The students chose an experience that shifted their outlook on life to write about. Then “some brave souls,” as Fagan called them, read their stories out loud, as Ellenville Junior/Senior High School Radio Operations Manager Alan Buckler recorded them on our very own radio station, WELV/CH 20, for a MOTH-style radio show. Look out for them to be airing in installments on both WELV and on the District website!
The young writers overwhelmingly appreciated the opportunity. "The experience going from writing to reading was all very unique, and I am very thankful to have done this!!" said Silas Millas. Diamond Copeland also expressed her gratitude. "I feel like this whole experience can be very therapeutic, and a way to grow if you just apply yourself," she said.
Billie Magaw thought the experience yielded long-term benefits. "This assignment was pretty good in my opinion because it truly gave me a life skill,” he said. “It wasn't just another essay. It was really nice to write about myself.”
For Fagan, it was a proud teacher moment. “I think our students' voices are important, and I also want them to feel heard and seen, not just for an assignment, but as their true authentic selves,” she said.
Congratulations to the following Ellenville Junior/Senior High School writers: Diamond Copeland, Meniyah Laurel, Sal Maciel, Billie Magaw, Silas Millas, Dominick Moza, Nevaeh Roller, Adriana Sorbara, and Theora Lafountain!