Storied for Values Education- T E E N S
Storytelling is a highly effective strategy that engages hearts and minds empathetically. This is a collection of 108 stories suitable for teenagers (55 main stories and 53 short anecdotes) a treasury of tales tackling 20 core values.
The teen years are often a challenging time for both the teens themselves and those adults who feel they are obligated to try and guide them towards making better life choices. Stories don’t preach, they don’t nag. Stories ‘stick’ with us long after a parent, teacher or counsellor has told them.
Part of the art of storytelling is choosing the right (age-appropriate) tale for the occasion and your audience. These are all sotries I have told successfully in schools here in singapore and in schools during my participation in festivals and residencies at schools intenationally.
There are 20 values (chapters) and for each Value, there are two or three main stories which are accompanied by tips for telling and ideas for follow-up. Almost all the stories are less than 300 words and are easy to learn.
As everyone listens to a story with their own ears, everyone responds to a story in their own way. So, while I have included The Treasure in the chapter on Positive Thinking, you might see it as a story on perseverance, sharing, dreams or gratitude.
To supplement the 54 main stories, there are 36 very short ones that add another (often comical) perspective on the theme. The book is also peppered with inspirational proverbs and quotations.
The book is now available for digital delivery (pdf) SGD $12.
The advantage of digital delivery (pdf) is that the video hyperlinks are active (and there is no shipping charge!)
Singaporean purchasers can also use PayNow to me at (+65) 91761499.
Want to buy BOTH books in the series – the JUNIORS and the TEENS editions?
Save $4 by using this button and paying just SGD $20 for both books.
When you place your order, do email me if you want to have a dedication in the book.
Watch me tell some of the stories in the book
These recordings are of me telling some of the 103 stories that are included in the book.
I’ve also included a brief video abouth a sotry makes a difference.
Enjoy this story sampler!
SHARING WISDOM A bi-lingual telling (English-Hindi) from the 398.2 story Festival, of a very short story that illustrates the power of a story.
IT’S ONLY A STORY is a story from the Jewish tradition. it’s a young man in trouble for speaking rashly (how appropriate for teens!) and an unusual request for the judge. note how turn the storu at the end to address the audience.
SAVING THE SCORPION A Thai tale about a very trusting (or is he naive?) monk determined to save a scorpion. Note how different people respond to the same incident (story) in different ways – as your audience wil respond differently to any story you tell.
Folktales are relatively short with a simple time-ordered sequence (no flashbacks!) This makes them easy for you to learn (assuming you will tell the stories, rather than read them!) Their vocabulary tends to be concrete, so that even when the vocabulary is strange (ogre, trickster) it’s easy to demonstrate or explain.
ROGER’S RIGHT FOOT. This is a true personal story about my (minor) disability and the unforseen immpact it has had on my life, shaping me., making me the creative person I have become. a story about perspective – the things which trouble you now, will seem lesss important 10 years from now!
WHAT’S RED AND ROUND? This a riddle story with an ending that often catches people by surprise. (Note you need an aopple and a knife to tell the story!) in the book I adddress the kind of follow-up questions/activity that this story prompts.
I deliberately chose stories from many cultures to reinforce the idea that the values they express are universal, and form a bridge in our multi-racial society/world. While the solution may vary from culture to culture, the struggle to do right is the same.
DIVIDING THE HARVEST (page 64) Two brothers (but they could easily be two sisters) decide to share their harvest. Will they divide it fairly – or add a little bit to their own half?
The Lost Necklace (page 24) has a comical beginning and a misleading middle (is Roger really telling a story about a thief?!) However treason why the ‘thief’ does what she does is what catches the audience by surprise.
THE STONE-CUTTER; This is my solo version of a story my tandem-partner, Gophi Nathan, now usually performs. as Gophi is deeaf, you can see his influence in my telling as I incorporate sign language. It’s a story about searching for identity, and low self-esteem, and comparing yourself to others.
BONUS STORY: ONLY ONE WISH. if you were given a wish – and only one (not a wish for a trillion more wishes!) – what would you wish for? And Patrick’s problem is that his wife, and his parents all have different ideas on what to wish for!
All the stories in
Stories for Value Education – TEENS
are short (so as to be easy to learn!)
I also provide tips on the telling and suggestions for follllow-up activitiy
or related stories.
BUY YOUR SOFT-COPY NOW!
IT’S NOT FAIR! Teens often feel they are being treated unfairly (well – don’t we all?!) why is it some people work hard for peanuts, while others seem to sirt around and get paid handsomely? A wonderful story for students who don’t think or plan ahead!
About Me
I am a Singaporean storyteller – a member of the Merdeka generation (!), I was born here to Welsh parents, grew up in UK but returned in 1978 and have lived here ever since.
After 23 years of drama teaching, theatre production and written storytelling as a poet and playwright, I discovered storytelling in 1998 and started telling professionally soon after.
I love telling stories and also helping others – adults – and kids – discover or develop the teller in themselves.
My strengths as a storyteller
I am light-hearted, frequently interactive, very visual – either through by incorporating slides, gestures or sign language. I am able to pitch the style of telling to suit the age of my audience.
As a former English/drama teacher, I am aware of how to use a story as an effective teaching strategy.
At international festivals, organisers often ask me to open or close a performance, as they are confident I will grab and hold their audience, providing a strong ending (that warms the audience up) or a closing with a memorable take-away.
Thanks to my theatre background, I am confident when performing for large audiences in excess of 300 – I have on three occasions successfully delivered an interactive story to corporate audiences of more than 600 pax (for A-STAR, SUSS and Gardens by the Bay).
MY CV 2019 – 2022
2019
Kolkata ISF, Gawuhati
Vishakapatnam Junior Literary Festival
Bangalore Story Festival
CV Highlights 2008 – 2018
2018
Bangkok International Folk Festival
KL Story Festival@ Genius Aulad
2017
Bangkok International Storytelling Festiva
Penang PINKS
2016
Kuching Storytelling Festival
Kolkota Story Residency
2015
Sigana In’l Storytelling Festival (Nairobi)
2014
Penang Int’l Kids Storytelling (PINKS)
Under the Alamaraam Festival, Chennai
Borneo Education Festival, Sandakan – Sabah
2013
Kanoon Int’l Storytelling Fest (Tabriz, Iran)
Chang’an University summer camp, Xi’an,
Hong Kong Storytelling Conference
2012
SIS Residency, HK
2008 – 2010
Longmans Storytelling Festival, Hong Kong (every year)
Bahrain Arts Festival (2008)
2007
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
My pre-storytelling CV
2022 – present: Roger Jenkins Storyteller
2018 – present Founding director, FEAST
2008 – 2021 Director, Roger Jenkins Pte Ltd
1995 – 2007 Director, Dramaplus Arts Ltd
1992 – 1994 Dramaplus Arts (Sole Prop)
1988-1991 Artistic Director, Stars Community Theatre
1985 – 1988 co-Director, STARS Community Theatre with Christina Sergeant
1978-84 Drama Teacher UWCSEA with a year off in the middle, backpacking in Asia
1975 -78 Head Drama, Deanes School, Essex
1971 – 75 Liverpool University followed by my PGCE at Bretton Hall (Leeds University)
Story Organisations / Festivals / Activities that I am passionate about:
The Federation of Asian Storytellers
is an exciting community of people passionate about storytelling. Predominantly Asian – though not exclusively so, for we welcome Non Resident in Asia members – we are focused on Learning and Development. FEAST runs 8 – 10 monthly Learning Capsules a year (90 minute online sessions facilitated by a highly experienced teller). We offer two or three mentorships annually catering to 4-5 people – Eco- and Adult Performance Storytelling are the themes for 2023. There are special interest groups in improvisation, eco-telling and podcasting. We also host regular Story Swaps (free even for non-members!) Learn more
Why ‘398.2’?
It’s the Dewey classification for what I consider the best shelf in the library – traditional stories! I founded the 398.2 in 2015 upon the demise of the previous storytelling festival, as I wanted to give our local storytelling community the opportunity to continue sharing and showcasing its talent and diversity.
The Festival was managed from 2017 – 2020 by Story Connection Limited, a non-profit company I created for the purpose with Sheila Wee. However the spectacular growth of FEAST meant Sheila and I were unable to give 398.2 the attention it deserved. We are delighted that the Storytelling Association Singapore agreed to take over the ownership of the Festival and has run two highly successful iterations in 2021 & 2022.
Thanks to the support of the National Library Board, our venue partner from the very beginning, and funding from the National Arts Council, the 398.2 has been a largely free festival from Day 1.
Audio Description
I am a trained audio-describer for live theatre performance and I am proud to be part of Singapore’s push to maker the arts more accessible.
I applaud both Singapore Repertory Theatre and Wild Rice for their exceptional commitment to promoting access to all of their performances through audio description, sign language interpretation and/or close captioning, and offering relaxed performances.
Bi-Lingual Telling & Tandem telling with a partner
In 2022, I told stories with actors speaking in Mandarin (with Abby Lai), Malay (with Gene Sha Rudyn) and Tamil (with Grace Kalaiselvi). The project was made possible thanks to a Self-Employed Person’s Grant from the NAC. view the stories for free on the Story Stream
Tandem-telling with a hearing-impaired partner:
GOPHI NATHAN and I have worked together on a variety of projects since 2010 and examples of our work are available on the Story Stream. I have been blessed to work with three talented and generous deaf actors who have taught me so much about non-verbal communication – Dennis Tan, Ramesh Meyappan and then Gophi .
Gecko Can’t Sleep in 7 languages!
I play the harassed Balinese village chief and I am joined by Rona Mentari (Indonesia) Ang Sook Kim (South Korea), Alla Lebedeva (Russia), Rituparna Ghosh (India), Cem Alfar (Turkey) and Simone Sales (Philippines) each speaking in their own Mother Tongue as gecko, fireflies, woodpecker, frog, dung beetle and water buffalo.
A dramatic re-telling of the version of the folktale found in Anne Pellowski’s book. The recording was made as part of a celebration by the NSN for Earth Day 2021.
Here’s a bi-lingual version in Bahasa Melayu and English with my good friend Gene Sha Ru Dyn (and subtitles)