RESOURCES
White Paper Resources
Suggested Books
Useful Links
School Project List
As the school year winds down, many educators are considering an end-of-the-year performance to celebrate another successful school year. Such a project can be as daunting as it can be fun. I cannot think of a better way to demonstrate student understand and the application of educational learning standards. To help you navigate the various stages of bringing students together to do a show for family, friends and the community, I have added a new white paper, “How to Approach a Story Theater Project,” to the resource area below. I sincerely hope this outline will be of use to you.
My goal is to serve as your reliable storytelling resource. Please feel free to contact me by email or phone (520-235-4171), if you have questions about the art of storytelling and how it can enhance classroom learning.
CONVENIENT WHITE PAPER RESOURCES:
(Simply click on the links below to get each PDF.)
How Much do you Charge?
How to Find and Develop a Family Story
Reading and Math Resources
Arts Learning Activity
15 Suggestions for Working with a Puppet in Clear View of the Audience
How to Make A Coffee Can Tube Well
How to Approach a Story Theater Project
Glenda Bonin Talks About Educational Learning Standards
9 Basic Steps: Teaching Storytelling to Students
Storytelling Guidelines for the Classroom
About “Appreciations and Suggestions”
USEFUL LINKS:
www.storyteller.net
A wonderful site for information about stories, storytellers, and how to be a storyteller..
www.byuradio.org/appleseed
Listen to 6o minutes of stories and storyteller interviews each weekday at 2 and 11 p.m. ET on Sirius XM ch 143 or anytime when you go to the archive section.
www.live365.com/stations/storytellingradio
This radio resource offers stories on the internet 365 days a year. You will be glad you tuned in!
www.edutopia.org
Educational website celebrating and sharing innovative practices in K-12 settings.
www.storynet.org
Website for the National Storytelling Network.
www.nationalyouthstorytellingshowcase.org
The National youth storytelling site.
SUGGESTED BOOKS :
Donald Davis. Writing as a Second Language: from experience to story to prose. If I could, I would give every grade school principal a copy of this book. Donald Davis offers a moving and convincing case for schools to consider stepping back into our first language – the spoken word – in order to strengthen students writing skills. (ISBN 0-87483-567-4. August House Publishers, Little Rock, AR., 2000)
Rives Collins and Pamela J. Cooper. The Power of Story: Teaching Through Storytelling. If you’ve ever asked yourself why you should bother to tell stories, or wondered about the best way to tell those stories, this book is for you. Storytellers from ages four to retirement age are featured, and readers are provided with a wide range of activities and ideas to help bring storytelling to life. (ISBN 0-13776-709-0, Allyn & Bacon A Viacom Company, Needham Heights, MA., 1997)
Martha Hamilton & Mitch Weiss: Beauty & the Beast Storytellers. Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom. This is the very best teaching guide I have found for school use. The current edition includes a DVD. These storytellers know their stuff! (Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., Katonah, NY, 2005)
Kendall Haven. Super Simple Storytelling: A Can-Do Guide for Every Classroom, Every Day. An excellent classroom resource written by an educator’s educator and nationally known storyteller/workshop presenter. (ISBN 1-56308-681-6. Teacher Ideas Press, Greenwood Village, CO., 2000)
Nan Rump. Puppets and Mask: Stagecraft and Storytelling. This book is a winner when it comes to inspiration and the use of mixed media in a production. (Davis Publications, Inc., Worchester, MA, 1996)
SCHOOL PROJECT LIST
Here are the schools where my residency work concluded with school and/or community performances by large groups of students. In one case, the performance included an entire rural student body of 300 in a show involving coordination with a volunteer musician and digital recording of the community show. Other projects have involved (a) combining efforts of grades K and 5 in an original puppet/storytelling production for the community, (b) the performance of 4th grade classes for 1st grade reading buddies, (c) a folktale extravaganza on a professional stage by five 3rd grade classes, and (d) performances at retirement centers, or at local sites during community celebrations. All of these projects reflect the needs and interests of each community, and were created from whole cloth with the goal to include as many learning standards as possible.
ALASKA:
Chevak K-12 School, Chevak
ARIZONA:
Ash Creek School Residency, Sunizona
Coronado Elementary School, Nogales
Desert View Elementary School, Page
Grand Canyon Village Elementary School
Hohokam Elementary School, Coolidge
Hopi Elementary School, Scottsdale
John Jacobs Elementary School, Phoenix
Manzanita Elementary School, Kingman
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Tempe
Traditional Learning Center, Cottonwood
Williams Elementary/Middle School, Williams
Zuni Elementary School, Scottsdale
Arizona After School Residencies:
Pima County Parks & Recreation
Casa Grande Parks & Recreation
Phoenix Parks & Recreation
IDAHO:
Valley Elementary School, Hazelton
NEVADA:
Agnes Risley Elementary School, Sparks
Alexander Dawson School, Las Vegas
Gallagher Elementary School, Virginia City
Eureka Elementary School, Eureka
Hal Smith Elementary School, Las Vegas
Yerington Elementary School, Yerington