February 2009

I was waiting with great anticipation to find out if the groundhog was going to see his shadow. Unfortunately, he did so we are in for six more weeks of winter. I don’t know about you but I am ready for spring!

Yet, there are so many wonderful occasions to observe this month, so throw back the covers and have some fun! Although February is our shortest month, we honor and celebrate Black History Month, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day; so many things, so little time!

I am halfway through the year with my student storytelling troupes and having a wonderful time with them. If you would like to learn how you can start your own troupe, be it at school or in your library, I would love to see you in my workshop. Story by Story - Building A Student Storytelling Troupe, will be presented at the Sharing the Fire preconference in March. You can find more information in the Education Highway section of this newsletter. Questions? I am an email click away at storybug@aol.com.

The Story Café series I am producing in partnership with ArtWorks in New Bedford, MA was extremely successful in January. Give yourself a night out and stop by for an amazing evening of story, poetry and song! If you are interested in upcoming shows please visit my blog at http://ttp//tinyurl.com/bxt3j6 for dates, information and scheduled performers.

As they say in New Orleans, laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)
Karen


STORIES


February 26 is “Tell a Fairy Tale Day” and what better way to celebrate than by telling fairytales!

Armenian Fairy Tales - Sixteen interesting folktale. http://tinyurl.com/2uqerz

Fairy Tale Plays and How to Act Them - From 1910, a wonderful book you can download for your own use. While some of the language is antiquated it can be easily updated. The book also offers suggestions on costumes, props and scenery. http://tinyurl.com/bpccbt

African Folktales - Folktales, have an important place in the history of Black Americans. Here are eight unique folktales from the Dark Continent. The home page offers an array of elementary resources as well. http://tinyurl.com/6znapo

Louisiana Folktales - Animal Tales and Marchen Stories collected and edited by Alcee Fortier and published in 1895. Download your own public domain copy. http://tinyurl.com/covkve


"The languages of the world are the songs of the earth."
                - Anonymous


CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

LessonPlansPage.com - Mardi Gras activities designed to help your students celebrate Mardi Gras, oriented around Pancake Day, known in many countries as "Shrove Tuesday".

Folklife in Louisiana - This site offers a wide range of information on collecting local, folklore, exploring communities and traditions, adaptable lesson plans, and stories! http://tinyurl.com/cgythp

LessonPlansPage.com - Black History Month Numerous lesson plans and teacher’s resources.
http://tinyurl.com/dy2wxk

Mr. Donn.org - A wonderful offering of lesson plans on African-American history. http://tinyurl.com/azff64

Louisiana Voices - An Educators Guide to Exploring Our Communities and Traditions. http://tinyurl.com/crme4l

Who says you can’t learn from love? Some fun and easy lesson plans to complement Valentine’s Day.

New York Times: From the Heart - Grades 6-12: Students examine the history of Valentine's Day and the ways in which it is celebrated and criticized around the world. They then create their own symbols representing a universal message of love that may be accessible to all cultures. http://tinyurl.com/c4wykv

Candy Heart Sentences - Grades 3-4 http://tinyurl.com/bhxltm

Conversation Heart Candy Math - Grade 2-3 http://tinyurl.com/d96a8m

Love Bug - Math, Science, and More Kindergarten http://tinyurl.com/awn7df


GET CREATIVE WITH CRAFTS

Mardi Gras Coloring Pages
http://tinyurl.com/cusd89

Mardi Gras Masks
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mardig

Free Fairy Tale Crafts - From dragons, to princes, knights and wizards, lots of crafts to keep everyone busy. http://tinyurl.com/an3lay

Valentine’s Day Word Search http://tinyurl.com/c6lldr

Kaboose.com - Valentine’s Day word searches, math puzzles, and more. http://tinyurl.com/bfrrnt

Crayola.com - Celebrate Black History Month with a Diversity Banner http://tinyurl.com/djfymu


EDUCATION HIGHWAY

February 7, 2009
Pathways to Peace: A Storytelling Benefit Concert for the Iraq Family Relief Fund, featuring Diane Edgecomb, Norah Dooley, George Capaccio. Saturday, at 7:30, Cambridge Friends Meeting House: Directions at 339-368-0750

February 27-March 1, 2009
Virginia Conference Lay Speaking Ministries Academy. Two-ten hour storytelling workshops are offered. For information, contact Cyndi Schnell at 434-292-5308 or email CyndiSchnell@vaunc.org

February 28, 2009
Virginia Storytelling Alliance is offering a Saturday Series in Richmond, VA Two workshops: Contact: Norris Spencer at tellspence@cox.net or 757/428-8501 More information: http://www.vastorytelling.org/

March 2-10, 2009
Workshop with Leeny Del Seamonds, for StoryConnect and the Nebraska Storytelling Festival. http://www.nebraskastoryarts.org/

March 6-8, 2009
Master storyteller, Carol Birch will present her workshop "Passionate Virtuosity". For more info: Riverwind's Carol Birch Workshop

March 13-15
Eco-Tellers Retreatat Cherapa in Spurger, Texas. Make a difference through storytelling with an environmental twist: Eco-telling. For information go to: http://tinyurl.com/dzt5w3 or contact Shelby Smith at shelby@tipitellers.org or 214-212-1771.

March 20, 2009
Sharing the Fire Educational Preconference
  • Teacher Tales – Weaving Stories into your Curriculum with Abigail Jefferson. Explore how stories can be used to enrich curriculum, increase literacy, celebrate diversity, and meet curriculum goals.
  • Story by Story – Building a Student Storytelling Troupe with Karen Chace. Inspire and mentor the next generation of storytellers while building rapport with teachers and administration. For more information go to: http://tinyurl.com/bz4lpl

March 28, 2009
Workshop with Leeny Del Seamonds, “Spoken Word Alive!¡Ay Ay Ay!” for the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children Conference “Children: Our Link to the Future,” Westford, MA. http://www.massaeyc.com/


BUSINESS NOTES

Business Know-How - 10 Ways to Make your Flyer Stand Out in the Crowd http://tinyurl.com/ck3aad

Karen’s Whimsy - Add some interest and excitement to your brochures, publicity flyers, or website with these beautiful public domain selections of clip art. http://tinyurl.com/byejvo

Adrinka Designs - Math, Social Studies - High School http://tinyurl.com/ddygqv


SOMETHING EXTRA

"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake."
                           - Henry David Thoreau

Transforming Life’s Challenges Into Beauty and Story - An article from Soulful Living. http://tinyurl.com/cy4f9r

Global Action for Children - A nonpartisan, coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and highly vulnerable children in the developing world. Their goal is for all children to have the health care, education, food, and protection they need to grow up safe and healthy. http://www.globalactionforchildren.org/

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