July August 2012

At the Beach
by E.H. Potthast
I am returning tonight from the National Storytelling Conference in Ohio and all I can say is WOW! So many amazing workshops, concerts, fringe performances and opportunities to meet friends both old and new! The conference is always a wonderful time to learn from and connect with so many inspiring and creative colleagues. My thanks to all who truly did make this "A Conference to Remember!"

And while s
ummer is in full swing I am still basking in the glow of the amazing performances by my student storyteller’s in June; forty-four tellers and thirty stories (14 tandem tales) from around the world. I am so proud of them! One of the fourth grade teachers shared her thoughts with me after watching the students in their final practice performance. Here is part of the note.

“As a teacher you strive to instill the basic elements of communication in your students through exercises in reading and writing. Rarely are you able to touch upon the more abstract notion of effective communication through understanding presence… As I sat in the audience, watching the final presentations performed by students who previously hesitated to raise a hand in the classroom for fear they would have to speak aloud, I was amazed at what I saw…The Storytelling program is teaching skills in effective communication that help a student to make sense of the daily activities taught within the confines of the classroom.”

I am thrilled that she recognized the importance of storytelling and it’s far reaching effects in and out of the classroom. If you are interested in discovering how to use storytelling in your school, I would be happy to speak with you about three of my workshops: 

  • S.T.A.R. – Stories Teach and Reach

  • Storytelling with Ease

  • Story by Story – Building a Student Storytelling Troupe
You may also access some free classroom resources on my website at the Teacher’s Porch page. http://www.storybug.net/teachers.html . And here are some additional websites to use when you return to the classroom. Fun in the Classroom with Folktales and Fairytales http://tinyurl.com/7gf3pa2

As always, I appreciate your time. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please drop me a note at storybug@aol.com; I love to hear from you! Wishing you a fun-filled summer; see you in September!

Warm wishes,
Karen Chace

STORIES

July 1 is Canada Day. Here are some tales to celebrate our friends to the north.

Canadian Fairy Tales by Cyrus Macmillan. Twenty-six folktales published in 1922.

Canadian Folklore Twenty-four stories to add to your repertoire.

Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus Macmillan, 1918. Find out How  Summer Came to Canada, meet The Boy and His Three Helpers, The Duck with the Red Feet and many more.

Since the beaver is Canada’s national symbol I offer you some tales to celebrate our furry friend.

Native American Beaver Mythology

Turtle Races With Beaver

July 25 is Thread the Needle Day; I offer you some stories to help you “stitch” a story together! (Okay, that was corny, but I bet you saw it coming!)


Baba Yaga – Russia
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/babayaga_body.html

Last Darning Needle – USA
http://tinyurl.com/783amj9

The Darning Needle - England
http://www.4to40.com/folktales/print.asp?p=The_Darning-Needle

Spindle, Shuttle and Needle – German


The Tsarevna Frog - Russia
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ftr/chap01.htm

The Wasp, the Winged Needle and the Spider - Brittany
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ftb/ftb16.htm 


A few of my recent blog posts with more stories to help you celebrate summer.


Slide Into Summer with Skits, Stories and Songs
http://tinyurl.com/d9qjs69

Birds, Bees and Butterflies

Remember, if you are seeking stories, curriculum, etc., for other special days or events don’t forget to search the newsletter archives. A Google search box is available on the main newsletter site at http://storybugnewsletter.blogspot.com . I also add stories and education resources on my blog as well. You may find it here: http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/.


BOUNTIFUL BLOGS                                                                                                                       


Two of my colleagues offer wonderful blogs with many useful resources; I encourage you to visit them.

Classroom Storytelling, Thinking Maps™ and Writing – Eileen DeLorenzo took my blogging workshop at the Northland’s Storytelling Conference in April and she was off and running! I have no doubt this will be one of the “go to” resources for many educators in the future.
http://classroomstoryteller.blogspot.com/

Tales from the Tapestry - Linda Goodman blog offers wonderful storytelling CD reviews to her own insightful essays.  
http://lindagoodmanstoryteller.blogspot.com/


BUSINESS NOTES

Five Way to Advertise Your Website for Free by Karl Walinskas.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/promote-website.htm

10 Rules for Succeeding in Your Own Business By Janet Attard.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/startup/startupsuccess.htm

Achieving Your Personal Best: Making the Leap from Good to Great by Bill Lampton, Ph.D.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/good-great.htm

Presentation Skills: Stop Trying to Be Perfect by Bill Lampton, Ph.D.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/perfect-presentation.htm

Proactive Networking Strategies to Build Professional Practices .by Janet Attard
http://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/ntwkstrat.htm


CRAFTS

Canada Crafts for KidsColoring pages, cards, poems, recipes and worksheets work well for Canada Day and for a "learn about Canada" theme.”
http://www.dltk-kids.com/canada/index.html

Maple Leaf Quilt
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/artists/quilts/mapleleaf/

Beaver Activities – Crafts, coloring pages and other printables.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/scouts/beavers.htm

TLC – Needle Crafts for Kids 
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/needle-crafts-for-kids.htm



CURRICULUM


Teacher Planet Oh Canada, Oh Canada…lots of resources to bring this beautiful country into your classroom.
http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/canada.php

Beaver Curriculum for Preschool
http://preschooluniversity.wordpress.com/tag/beaver-curriculum/


EDUCATION HIGHWAY, RADIO, SPOKEN WORD AND GUILDS

I have moved these sections to my blog: |
Education Highway - Go to this link http://tinyurl.com/6e5mk9l for the listings.

Spoken Word, Open Mics and Storytelling Guilds - http://tinyurl.com/3w7yutc


This newsletter was  researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my newsletter via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity. © 2012

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