techniques
1
Naomi Mitchum (2007), a disability consultant, educator, and author, believes that knowing the attention spans of those you are communicating with is important. Using pictures or visual aids can help engage and capture the interest of an audience.
2
Another good way to get an audience engaged is by having the audience read WITH you. You can say a phrase, then ask them to repeat it – then say the next phrase, and have them repeat that too, until the story or paragraph is finished. You can also ask questions after a story, rephrasing elements of the story into riddles or sometimes even humor.
3
Lastly, dramaticism – or creating a proper immersive experience – is key. In her stories, professional storyteller Mary Jo Huff uses repetition, onomatopoeia, dramatic facial expressions, and even different voices for different characters to fully place her audience into a scene. This allows the story to move from a literal medium to a creative or imaginative one – from the words she is speaking to the mind of the listener.
Learn more about how to tell stories: https://www.naomimitchum.com/special-needs/special-needs-leader-information/use-stories-with-special-needs-students/