West Louisville Elementary School will host Daviess County High School senior Kaytlyn Meyer from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, to share a storytelling activity with third-graders.
Kaytlyn was recently honored as a Kentucky Youth Storytelling Torchbearer by the Kentucky Storytelling Association (www.kystory.org). She will share the story of “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach” during her visit to WLES. This was the story Kaytlyn shared at the Kentucky High School Speech League competition, where she was named state runner-up.
Kaytlyn will also talk to the students about how she got involved in storytelling, her awards, and why reading is important to her.
WLES media specialist Amber Thompson said, “I would love for my students to see that there are so many opportunities to get involved in things they like. It doesn’t have to be sports or dance; it can be something different like storytelling. As a library media specialist, reading is a passion of mine and I like to get students excited about books. The presentation of the books can make all the difference in what the students take away from the book: a lesson, a connection to their life, or learning more about a specific topic.”
Thompson said the presentation will also encourage younger students to gain confidence in public speaking skills. “Public speaking can also be scary for some students, but telling a story in front of others might make this an easier transition for students to gain the self-confidence they need to talk in front of groups, especially if it is about a book they love,” Thompson said.