Welcome summer!Well, the first day of summer isn’t until June 21 but since the season is so short here on the east coast of Massachusetts, I like to get a head start!
The month of May brought great joy. My son graduated from college! I remember coming home a few weeks before his commencement to find him in his room, trying on his graduation robe and cap.
As I stood by his side I couldn’t help notice the framed caricature of him, a souvenir from a Disney vacation when he was only seven years old. It was a surreal and poignant moment, the past and the present all wrapped up in those two images. Where did the years go?
That little boy whose favorite childhood question was “Why?” will now enter the real word as a Medical Laboratory Technician. I am sure he will discover many more questions along the way. I also dipped my toe into unfamiliar waters in May as well; I auditioned for my first storytelling festival. I was fortunate enough to be one of the tellers selected and I will share the stage with a very talented teller from England, who now resides in the USA, Simon Brooks. We are sure to have lots of fun! It is a brand new festival and will take place in New Hampshire this coming October. As soon as all of the details are complete I will share all of the details.
Don't forget, it you are in Massachusetts on June 20, join us at the Story Cafe with two-time Grammy winner, storyteller, musician and author, Bill Harley! It is sure to be a night to remember.
Wishing you a wonderful June!
Karen
Image copyright en.fabulopedia.org/ The Fox and the Crow by Aesop
STORIES
June 4 is Aesop’s Birthday. Let’s celebrate with stories!
Aesop's Fables Online - Thousands of Aesop’s Fables in five languages from the likes of Joseph Jacobs and William Caton, among others. You won’t have to cry wolf to find what you need! http://tinyurl.com/msxkjj
Legends of America - Straddle your saddle and get ready for a rollicking ride across the wide open spaces of the American West. Here are just a few of the topics covered:
*Heritage of the American West
*Legends, Myths and Folktales of the American West
*Native American Legends
*Outlaw Legends
*Women of the American West
*Treasure Tales
“This is a site for the nostalgic and historic minded” with everything you need to know about the people who lived in the towns and on the plains in a time gone by. http://tinyurl.com/5m4mg5
Timber! June 28 is Paul Bunyan Day so I offer some Tall Tales associated with the famous lumberjack.
Paul Bunyan: American Folklore - Read the story of Paul Bunyan’s birth, watch him dig Lake Michigan and follow him down to the Whistling River. Six stories that will make him step right off of the page! http://tinyurl.com/35htdo
H-NILAS: Stories for the Seasons - An excellent array of seasonal stories. From forest to frogs, moons to maidens, storyteller Cathy Mosley offers us her folktale adaptations from around the world. http://www.h-net.org/~nilas/seasons/
“To do without tales and stories and books is to lose humanity’s past,
is to have no star map for our future.”
is to have no star map for our future.”
- Jane Yolen
CRAFTS
ChildFun.com - Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruit so why not have some fruity fun! http://tinyurl.com/m99dj4
DLTK - Aesop’s Fables coloring book pages. Bats, birds, fox, hare and more are just waiting to be brought to colorful life! http://tinyurl.com/ng7elr
Kaboose.com - Lots of fun Fourth of July crafts to make your holiday sparkle! http://tinyurl.com/nymrap
Kinderart - Summer is tine to take the children to the zoo. Download some cute animal printables to keep your students and children roaring with delight long after the field trip! http://tinyurl.com/mfoajz
MUSIC
Loowit Campfire Songs - Summer is just around the corner. Get ready for those scouting camp gigs with songs that will have them merrily singing long. http://tinyurl.com/kjfhqb
Bus Songs - We all know that sometimes our audiences need to “get the wiggles out” and what better way than to have them sing along! Your toes will be tapping and your fingers snapping as you explore this fun site full of songs that just add some extra Zip A De Doo Dah to your storytelling programs. http://www.bussongs.com/
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Education World.com - Lesson plans on Ten Characters from American Folkore. “Students learn about Pecos Bill, Daniel Boone, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and five other characters from America's folk history.” http://tinyurl.com/3xovo9
The Educator’s Reference Desk - Library Media Skills -A lesson plan that integrates library and classroom skills using the folktale of Paul Bunyan to assist students researching and telling the story using transparencies. http://tinyurl.com/4wlafm
Kid’s Pages - I wasn’t sure if this should be listed under crafts or curriculum as the site is chockfull of each for younger children. This colorful and fun site will have your children asking for more. Stories, flash cards, rhymes, riddles, puzzles and games are some of the useful, fun learning tools here. http://www.kids-pages.com/index.htm
The National Parks Service - Links to the Past - Brush up on your park history, cultural resources and programs for your summer venues. The website also offers information on grants and a helpful search engine. http://www.cr.nps.gov/
Teaching with Historic Places - Planning a historical storytelling program? The National Park Service site offers lesson plans categorized by location, theme and time period. http://tinyurl.com/7jlw4
KIDS CORNER
When asked why he wanted to be part of the storytelling troupe, Jacob, a fourth grade student said, "I know I am shy and I thought it would help me." Wise words indeed!
EDUCATION HIGHWAY
June 19 -20, 2009 Normal IL
International Christian Storytelling Conference. Register online or get more information at www.ChristianStorytelling.com or 800-420-0022.
June 27, 2009 Rochester, New York
The Storytellers of New York Gathering with: Cris Riedel - Finding Characters Using Voices and D’lores Simmons - The Power of Positive Story. Further information call Renee Conley 585-394-8182 or Mike and Mary Ellen Rickert 585-544-8422.
July 16 – 20, 2009 Hawaii
First National Storytelling 'TALK STORY' Conference Hawaii’s best tellers & America's STARS plus Thailand, Japan, Australia and Canada. http://tinyurl.com/okyxhe
July 24 – 26 , 2009 Austin, TX
The Tejas Storytelling Association will hold its annual Conference at St. Edwards University in Austin, with keynoter Tim Tingle and plenaries with Charlotte Blake Alston and Andy Offut Irwin. www.tejasstorytelling.com
August 9 – 13, 2009 - Wallingford, PA
Sunday through Thursday with Bill Harley and The Teaching Power of Stories. For more information contact go to: http://tinyurl.com/pndtyh
August 6 – 9, 2009 New Ipswich, NH
The Storytellers’ Journey, A Retreat for Women Storytellers with Susan Danoff and Teresa Whitaker. We will experiment with song, movement, writing, meditation, ritual, nature, and improvisation, to deepen our story work. Participants must have previous experience with storytelling but need not be professional storytellers. For more information go to: http://www.susandanoff.com
September 26 Lorton, VA
For workshop information go to http://www.vastorytelling.org or http://www.workhousearts.org/ . For reservations call 703-584-2900
September 26, 2009 Lorton, VA
An Evening of Storytelling - at The Workhouse Arts Center Gallery. Featured tellers: Linda Goodman, Gary Lloyd, Lynn Ruehlmann, & Tim Livengood. For reservations call 703-584-2900
BUSINESS NOTES
"It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring,
who reaps a harvest in the Autumn."
who reaps a harvest in the Autumn."
- B.C. Forbes
Many of us work from home and there are many distractions trying to pull us away from our goals. Here are some articles and tips to help you stay on task and succeed!
Top 7 Reasons to Write a Business Plan
http://tinyurl.com/mj9v6l
Top 7 Work At Home Success Tips
http://tinyurl.com/kstxeh
Top 7 Common Mistakes Made by Small Business Owners
http://tinyurl.com/l4ggh2
SOMETHING EXTRA
"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;
as I grow older, I admire kind people."
as I grow older, I admire kind people."
- Abraham Joshua Heschel
Charitable Recycling Program - Many if not all of us are connecting to our families, business and clients by cell phone. Here is a site where you can recycle your old cell phone when you decide to upgrade to a newer model. http://www.charitablerecycling.com/CR/home.asp
Points of Light Institute - Website for an organization that promotes volunteer activity and civic engagement in the U.S., helps develop infrastructure for community change, and "demonstrates the power of citizens actively engaged in changing our world and solving problems." Includes a directory of volunteer centers, description of programs, resources for volunteers, and related material. http://www.pointsoflight.org/ Copyright LII http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27943
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