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Professional Development Information Directly Below:

Two Hour, Half Day and Full Day Trainings

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Suggested Workshop Agenda

Professional Development and Staff Training

(More detailed outlined agenda upon request.)

Summary:

Interactive storytelling workshop for fun, hands-on tools to use storytelling and related activities to increase literacy, language and life-skills in young children. Program combines methods relayed in our two recent L.A. Parent Magazine articles Secrets of a Storyteller and Making a Storytelling Connection.Copies of articles provided for participants.

Leaning Outcomes:

Teachers gain:

Knowledge of specific storytelling tools to aid language development and cognitive skills in young children.
How to use storytelling to positively impact pre-literacy skills and ignite the love of reading.
Fun tricks of the storytelling trade on how to use stories and folktales dynamically to engage and develop cultural identity and language in English Language Learners and special needs children.

General Agenda and Activities:

(Presentation and small group format utilized.)

1. Secrets of the Storytelling Trade to Engage and Connect with Children: Interactive and performance portion of the program.

2. What is in a Story? Why storytelling is a catalyst for literacy and optimal times for story.

3. Use of Culturally Specific Folktales for English Language Learners: Discussion and resources to integrate the diverse cultures and languages of children in storytelling to develop language skills.

4. Integrating the Special Needs of Children: Capitalizing on the strength modality of special needs children in storytelling. Autism and speech pathologies discussed.

5. Using Story to Create Teachable Moments: How to use story to help children express their feelings and fears; role playing.

6. Optimizing Books and Reading Aloud: Effective use of open-ended questions; using children's innate attention spans; utilizing pictures in books.

7. Everyone is a Storyteller: Using your innate personality to become an authentic and/or dynamic storyteller for class. Hands-on and feedback portion of program.

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Stories are a nifty tool belt.
Need a colorful example for an upcoming lesson?
Want to engage the attention of children before plunging into an important subject?
Need a way to help your students build literacy, self-esteem and classroom community?

TELL A STORY!!!

How to Select a Story

Select stories that include the cultures of the children in your class. This creates a culturally safe atmosphere and helps them identify themselves within their heritage. Similarly, choose stories from different countries and traditions to teach awareness.
Book resources are listed below.

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Book List and Stories to Tell

Storytellers

Shake-It Up-Tales!
By Margaret Read MacDonald

Ready –To-Tell Tales From Around The World
By David Holt and Bill Mooney

Multicultural Myths and Legends :
17 stories with activities to build cultural awareness.
By Tara McCarthy.

The Flannel Board Storytelling Book
By Judy Sierra

Cultural Awareness Activities:

Hands Around the World :
Creative ways to build cultural awareness and global respect
By Susan Milord