I tell traditional and original stories to all ages from the Pre-School age to Adults.
I demonstrate and develop creative writing in the classroom and provide strategies that can be copied and be used by those in charge of children's literacy development.
I make sure that the stories are age-appropriate and relate, as much as is possible, to the current curricular topics.
I feel that the story should be told with an audience rather than at them. I use gestures, some Makaton, BSL, drama, vocal impressions and characterisations to make the story come alive.
I have written songs about stories and storywriting that are aimed at 'demystifying' the writing and telling process and give children, adults and teaching professionals the confidence to try their own hand at being creative. All of the activities can be repeated, adapted and adopted by those who have been shown them to accomodate their own needs.
WHAT I PERFORM with LINKS to YOUTUBE
To give you an idea of what I do when I visit schools I have made these clips, containing a brief selection of the kind of stories that I tell recorded in front of live audiences throughout the world.
Each full day consists of 4 X 45-55 minute sessions. (This can be adapted to fit in with the numbers, time and space available with large groups, year groupings or Key Stages.)
A single 45 minute session would include; A short introduction to the music that I play. An age-appropriate traditional story. A session of movement. A story created with the children using everyday classroom objects. A Q&A session where the children can ask me about writing and performing stories. A short 'cooling down' session where the children are encouraged to listen to a short piece of music as the stories are reiterated, and the children are returned to the classroom in a calm state.
SOME BACKGROUND
Tony Wilson tells a wide range of traditional and self-penned stories which he links with music, actions and drama.
Professional musician 1977-1989
Qualified as a teacher in 1989
7 years of full-time primary classroom experience in large Junior, Mixed and Infant schools
3 years full-time lecturing in H.E and F.E. colleges in Communications, Emotional and Social development, Curriculum development and Primary Science.
Full-time Professional Storyteller, Writer, Workshop leader and Conference speaker since 1999
Working with pre-school children, Foundation stage, Key stages 1-3, College and Teaching Professionals in Universities to develop practical strategies for the teaching of creative writing in the classroom.
Visits to over 1,400 schools in the past 10 years throughout the whole of the British Isles.
Delivering stories, performances and workshops that meet the children's needs, language and understanding
Development of targetted collections of Teaching Materials; Written and Audio Visual, that are directly linked to achieveable, mangeable, repeatable, cross curricular activities.
