Storyteller Joseph McLellan was at Dieppe School in Regina, SK on November 22nd, 2002. He began his session by explaining how important his drum was to him and his Aboriginal culture. He not only used the drum to springboard into his session, but he also used it to explain how the beat of the drum reminded him of a heartbeat.

Joe encouraged the students to join in as he began to sing a song using his drum. The liery students sat and wathced. As a result, he compared the lack of singing to Grade 8 students singing O'Canada. Many of the students could relate to what he was saying and welcomed his humor.

Before Joe began telling the story of How the Turtle Got his Shell, he warned the students that he had a tendency to go off topic. He began telling the story using the pictures in the book rather than reading the story word for word. As he told the story, certain things reminded him of an experience that he wanted to share with the students. He told stories of his Sesame Street experience and of his childhood. As the students sat very quiet and attentive, Joe interacted with them using humor and asked questions. The students were also encouraged to ask questions and tell their story.

Other books by Joe: The Birth of Nanabosho, Nanabosho and Kitchie Odjig, Nanabosho and the Woodpecker, Nanabosho Dances, Nanabosho, Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon, and Nanabosho Steals Fire.

Best Practices: Pieces of the Puzzle

Copyright 2003 Regina Public Schools and Saskatchewan Learning