September 2009

Summer is drifting away and soon fall will be at our heels. Autumn begins on September 22 and the air is already beginning to change here in Massachusetts. The roses in my garden will soon give way to pumpkins on the porch. Mother Nature will take out her palette and begin to paint the trees lush colors of burgundy, saffron, gold, and scarlet. I think autumn may just be my favorite season. There is nothing prettier than fall in New England.

In this issue you will find some fun stories, activities and crafts to welcome the transformation of the trees. September also heralds the return of school and I offer some curriculum connections to use throughout the year. September 21 is World Peace Day and October 24 is United Nations Day and I am giving you a head start by offering some websites to complement these two important days.

On Saturday, September 26, the Story Café at ArtWorks will host storyteller Simon Brooks from New Hampshire. This is one event you don’t want to miss; Simon is brilliant!

I have added a new section to the newsletter for Storytelling and Spoken Word Events so you won’t miss a thing. I hope you will take a look and perhaps treat yourself and attend some of these wonderful venues. Storytelling is not just for children!

Don’t forget, the very first Granite State Storytelling Festival is on October 17 in New London, New Hampshire. I will be telling on Saturday afternoon and there will be a host of talented tellers throughout the day to tickle your tales! Please stop by and say hello.

In October I will be attending the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. It is a weekend filled with exceptional tellers from around the globe, set in the oldest town in Tennessee. Magically, time seems to both stand still and fly when I am there and I always return home filled to the brim, satiated by the the wonder of words. I hope one day you can travel there and experience it for yourself.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Drop me an email at storybug@aol.com if you have any suggestions or comments.

Warm wishes,

Karen

Image: Scheherazade Went on with Her Story. Arabian Nights - Illustrated by Virginia Frances Sterrett

STORIES

Folk and Fairy Tales for the Fall

The Tale of the Three Apples from the Arabian Nights http://tinyurl.com/mjne76%20

Catch the Storybug - Fall will soon give way to Father Frost but while we can still revel among the foliage take a bite out of some apples tales that will, delight and nourish you on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/mztbzp

Story-Lovers.com - As always, Jackie offers a bushel basket full of apple resources! http://tinyurl.com/lztfrd

Halloween

Can Such Things Be? Short stories, published in 1910, from the talented Ambrose Bierce, courtesy of Gutenberg.org. I am sure you will find some spine tingling tales to add to your storytelling repertoire. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4366

Catch the Storybug - Stop by my website for an array of tales to fright and delight your audiences. http://tinyurl.com/lnx7fp

Victorian Ghost Stories -Twenty-two ghost stories from such spectral luminaries as Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens. http://tinyurl.com/nb6f7t

Diversity

Myths From Around the World - Explore myths from distant countries from India, Egypt, Japan, and more. http://tinyurl.com/n9mre

4 TO 40 - The name of this interesting site is based on their goal to cover age groups from 4 to 40. Offering folktales and stories from around the world, including Jakarta, Estonian and Ukrainian folktales, as well as the Panchatantra and more, I would say this site is ageless! http://www.4to40.com/contents.htm


CRAFTS

Back to School bookmarks your students can print out and color
http://tinyurl.com/ls287p

Halloween Crafts - Bats, and pumpkins and vampires oh my! Lots of fun, spooky crafts to make your Halloween craft time as easy as saying, trick or treat! http://tinyurl.com/lbffm7%20

FamilyFun.com - Lots of spooktacular ideas for Halloween fun. Activities, recipes, games, costumes, crafts and more. http://tinyurl.com/583jd

Kinderart.com - Ghosts in the Graveyard – Using recycled egg cartons you can create your own ghostly setting. Suitable for all ages. http://tinyurl.com/n5rzp

Celebrate the beauty of the autumnal season with these fun and easy activities.

Apple Activities & Crafts for Kids http://tinyurl.com/no6xhl
Paper Bag Crow Puppet http://tinyurl.com/n4kojy
Autumn Tree Craft  http://tinyurl.com/lwwsxa
Paper Bag Trees http://tinyurl.com/6pyoz3
Scarecrow Craft http://tinyurl.com/kp2cgg

Celebrate Diversity and World Peace!

Children of the World Necklace http://tinyurl.com/l6cqsu
World Neighbors: Handprint Craft and Poem http://tinyurl.com/l45smb
Peace Dove http://tinyurl.com/n4wfwh

“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.”

Mhatma Gandhi

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

Exploring World Cultures Through Folk Tales - Students will gain an appreciation of other cultures as they read folktales from around the world; research the folk tale’s country of origin and present their story and research to the class. http://tinyurl.com/lg7p6g

Kim’s Korner - Icebreakers and energizers to liven up the classroom! http://tinyurl.com/22st4s

Myth Writing Workshop - Award winning author Jane Yolen will help your student write a story that will explain a natural phenomenon using writing strategies and warm-up activities. http://tinyurl.com/n81c

Peace Corps World Wise Schools -Subscribe and listen to stories written and read by Peace Corps Volunteers who served around the world, from Bulgaria to Uzbekistan. New stories arrive each month. http://tinyurl.com/ljqyh7

Ten Ways to celebrate United Nation’s Day -Not every decoration that goes up during the month of October is about Halloween.” Help you students and patrons gain a view of the world! http://tinyurl.com/n8o6ff

Take your pick! - Apple themed lesson plans. http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Apples/

The Story of Johnny Appleseed - Complemented by a Word Search for your students. http://tinyurl.com/ktbr6u

“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember.
Involve me and I’ll understand.”

Confucius

MUSIC

Songs for Teaching - A great site to find songs for your stories that tie into curriculum guidelines. There are Teacher Tips and Lesson Plans, Guidelines for implementing music in the classroom and songs about everyday life, diversity and family. This is the place to be to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart! http://www.songsforteaching.com/

These bulletin board ideas for the music classroom will have you happily humming along throughout the school year. http://www.musicbulletinboards.net/

BUSINESS NOTES

10 Cheap Ways to Create a Professional Marketing Impression by Stacy Karacostas http://tinyurl.com/mqf9wj

Top Ten Direct Mail Mistakes by Barry Feig http://tinyurl.com/3n8rsw

When Business Cards Aren’t Enough  - 7 Unusual, Uncommon and Unexpected Networking Secrets to Help Boost Business by Scott Ginsberg http://tinyurl.com/l7vm82

How Email Marketing Helps Small Businesses Compete by Wendi Caplan-Carroll http://tinyurl.com/ljpup3

EDUCATION HIGHWAY

September 30, 2009 North Andover, MA
The Art of Storytelling: A day to improve your storytelling skills and techniques, 9:30 to 3:30 at the Rolling Ridge Conference Center, North Andover, MA. Cost: $48.00. Lunch included. Lani Peterson, Psy.D. http://www.lanipeterson.com or call (978)387-5990.

October 17, 2009 – New London, NH
1st Annual Granite State Storytelling Festival, featuring Odds Bodkin. Four venues 28 storytellers – For more information contact lphillipstale@comcast.net

October 23-25, 2009 Humarock Beach, Scituate, MA
Creativity Through Storytelling Workshop. Jay O’Callahan will lead this weekend workshop with Mandi Kujawa. You need not be a “professional storyteller”, only someone interested in creativity. Limited to 9 participants. Call: 800-626-5356

October, 23 - 25, 2009 Schenectady, NY
Storytelling Retreat with Marni Gillard, Schenectady, NY: Mining the Spiritual Gold Within, includes partner-telling and silence. $185.00 (65 & over-$170.00) for meals and private room. (518) 393-4169 M-F, 8:30-4:30 or email dslcny@nycap.rr.com

October 24, 2009 Cambridge, MA
Forgiveness: Therapeutic Approaches Through Story - Saturday Lesley University Continuing Ed. program with Lani Peterson, Psy.D, and Elisa Pearmain LMHC. www.lesley.edu/ce/ls or www.wisdomtales.com/healing

October 28 - November 1, 2009 Humarock Beach, Scituate, MA
Five-day Writing and Storytelling Workshop Jay O’Callahan will lead this five-day workshop with Mandi Kujawa. Open to those who have had significant storytelling experience, this 5-day workshop offers an in-depth opportunity to work with the art and craft of storytelling. Call: 800-626-5356

October 30, 2009 North Andover, MA
Rolling Ridge Conference Center. The Healing Power of Story: An introduction for medical, mental health and spiritual caregivers. 6CEUs available for social workers and licensed mental health workers. Cost $80.00 (plus $20 CEU fee) Lunch Included. Lani Peterson, Psy.D. http://www.lanipeterson.com or call (978)387-5990.

October 31, 2009 North Andover, MA
Rolling Ridge Conference Center. The Healing Power of Story: Part 2 offers a deeper exploration of the application of healing story to individuals’ work and practice. 6CEUs available for social workers and licensed mental health workers. Cost: $80.00 (plus $20 CEU fee) Lunch Included. Lani Peterson, Psy.D. http://www.lanipeterson.com or call (978)387-5990.

November 5, 12 & 19, 2009 Concord, MA
Forgiveness: Therapeutic Approaches through Story - The Wright Tavern, Concord, MA with Elisa Pearmain. www.wrighttavern.com or www.wisdomtales.com/healing

December 4 - 6, 2009 Bethlehem, IN
WOW Storytelling Weekends, co-facilitated by Mary Hamilton and Cynthia Changaris, give storytellers the opportunity to work on their work in a small group (max. of 8). $150.00 includes two nights lodging and six meals. http://tinyurl.com/nj4rku

December 6, 2009 Concord, MA
Forgiveness: Therapeutic Approaches through Story - (Women only.) Concord, MA. For more information: The Women’s Well at www.womenswell.com or www.wisdomtales.com/healing.html

March 19-21, 2009 Warwick, RI
Sharing the Fire Conference - Call for Proposals: Submit your workshop proposals Deadline: September 11, 2009. For more information go to http://www.lanes.org

STORYTELLING/SPOKEN WORD EVENTS

New Bedford, MA - The Story Café at ArtWorks. Adult storytelling venue and open mic once a month. For dates and featured performers through 2010 and complete information visit http://tinyurl.com/mjsrha. Free admission; pass the hat for the feature. Come listen, laugh and support the arts!

Rochester, NH - Storytelling in the Pantry - Catering to the Spoken Word at The Portable Pantry at 12 Hanson Street on the 2nd Friday of each month. Different theme; take part in the open mic, or just come to listen and enjoy! For information call 603-948-2035

Lynn, MA - SPEAK UP! At Tatiana’s Restaurante 70 Market Street. Spoken Word, Open Mike for Storytellers, Poets, Comedians, Activists and YOU! Every Wednesday beginning at 7:00 P.M. Featured Performer 8:30 PM. Contact Tony Toledo at ToledoGoat@aol.com 978-921-GOAT(4628) or 781-477-0700

SOMETHING EXTRA

Mission to Liberia - This cause is near to my heart as one of my dear friends is connected with this agency. “Old shoes. Very old shoes. These took me on foot, away from the gunfire, far from the shelling of embattled Liberia, my homeland. Joseph Deranamie recounts his days fleeing as a refugee. Mission to Liberia is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving the health care needs of fellow Liberians who did not escape the devastation that decades of civil war left behind.” http://missiontoliberia.org/%20