SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The steady beat of the bongo drum and the clapping of hands and feet brought Lakeside Junior High alive Thursday.
Jocelyn and Bob Dabney of Youngstown detailed the art of storytelling to students during numerous assemblies scheduled throughout the day.
“We tell them (stories) in the African-American theme of call and response,” Jocelyn said, kicking off one of the assemblies. She would belt out the first verse, and the students would follow it up.
The Dabneys have been doing the seminars since 1990 and now are able to do even more because Jocelyn recently retired as a high school librarian in Youngstown.
In a culture that doesn’t value close relationships, the Dabneys encourage students to read to each other and interact with one another and those around them.
“Storytelling brings relationship,” Bob said between assemblies.
“I like to see kids laugh and (be) engaged,” Jocelyn said. She said her background in theater and library science made for a natural connection.
The Dabneys encouraged the students to set their goals high and overcome difficult circumstances. Bob told the students they should reach for the most competitive colleges.
Jocelyn also encouraged the students to share “feel good” songsthat they enjoy. She also discussed students’ experiences with writing their own songs with friends and family.
The Dabneys encouraged the students to find stories that they like and tell them over and over again; listen to others and be inspired by them and finally respect the culture from which the story comes.
Joseph Kangas, a seventh-grader, said he liked the stories and learned a variety of beats.
“It was fun. You could go along with the beat,” he said.
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