2009 Workshop Roster

Storytelling in the Classroom A Workshop for Teachers & Librarians
Heather Forest
Celebrating traditional folktales from around the world, this workshop offers an overview of the diverse uses of storytelling in a classroom setting to encourage students’ listening skills, oral language abilities, reading incentive, and creative writing. Practical storytelling activities and skills are included that can be brought to the classroom setting. Participants will examine ways to use storytelling in diverse subject areas to enhance curriculum.

Kernels of a Pomegranate The Art of Storytelling
Peninnah Schram
Stories have the power to transform and inspire. With our voices, we can create bonds and lasting memories between people while we transmit values and traditions. In this workshop, Peninnah Schram will explore the power of storytelling, illustrate effective storytelling and share the techniques for telling through non-threatening participatory creative dramatic exercises. We will also work through the process of learning a story and integrating stories within the classroom and in your life. Handouts will be provided.

“Remembering Forgotten Childhood”
Donald Davis
Participants will focus on recalling personal memories, especially those completely lost to time. Learn how to recall people, places and events in your past and craft them into a delightful tale for sharing.

Facing Our Fears
Elizabeth Ellis
Fear is the great shape shifter. It appears in our lives in many forms. Learn to identify and examine your fears. There is always something to learn from them. They are the single biggest impediment to our growth as storytellers.

Combining Story and Song
Diane Ferlatte
This workshop will look for the songs, the chants, and the rhymes in stories. Discussing and looking at different ways to combine singing with storytelling. Creating songs that fit the story, add spirit, enrichment, and audience participation. Do you have to be a good singer? No, but willing to have fun with singing & to join in a playful experience with storytelling. This is a participative workshop that will benefit anyone looking to add a little zest to his or her storytelling.

Fitting the Pieces Together making a single program from many stories.
David Novak
This workshop is for individuals and groups looking to compose effective storytelling programs. Learn to take a diverse repertoire of tales and weave them together into a meaningful progam.

Spice Up the Story with Poems
Betsy Jones Hayba
Story poems introduce a rhthym to language that is not found in prose. Narative poems add depth and bring a new dimension to the storytelling session, complimenting any program or genre.

Science and Storytelling
Gene Toncray
Participants will learn to use storytelling to introduce science concepts and stimulate thinking skills. They will leave with a short list of stories that can be used to enhance science teaching, categorized by Sunshine State Standards. Don’t miss the Magic Pitcher demonstration!

Developing a Storytelling Event
Jessica McCune
Learn to develop, promote and execute a successful storytelling event from a lead organizer of the long-standing Ocala Storytelling Festival.

Telling Little Ones- and I don’t mean lies!
Mij Byram
How to create energy and excitement with children 2-6 and still be in control? What makes kids laugh, cry and wet their pants scard? How to get and hold their attention without magic, mayhem or a million props.

Have I got a story for you
Linda Sptizer
Participants will learn best-tested fun folktales from a seasoned storyteller. Folktales from a variety of cultures for a variety of audiences and events.

Drama Techniques to Enhance Storytelling
Billie Lichtenstein
Command the stage! Use body language and sense memory to enhance your storytelling ability. Learn to use acting techniques to bring your story to life.

Audience Participation – Kids Love It
Katie Adams
This workshop illuminates several types of participation and discusses the pros and cons of adding participation to a story. Tips on how to develop a story with participation and keep young audiences involved.

44 Reasons to use Story in the Classroom
Victoria Gregor
A powerful teaching tool – here’s what you need to know to convince your Principal and colleagues that storytelling belongs in your school.

Create, Create, Originate!
Jerry Forney
This workshop will encourage creative thinking and help participants develop new story lines and plots along with simple ideas to spice up an existing story.

Storytelling in the Middle School
Susan McCollough
This session will focus on the application of story and use of storytelling with adolescents in a school environment

Building Community through Stories
Caren Neile (Saturday Afternoon only)

Sacred Telling
Maureen Belote

Bring History Alive Through Story
Frank & Mary Lee Sweet

Do’s and Don’ts of Telling to Seniors
Roslyn Bresnick-Perry
Techniques, prompts, programs on what to tell and what not to tell when offering stories to seniors. Suggestions on how to enable them to share their own “Once upon a time." For elders storytelling is more than just a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Storytelling puts them in touch with strengths they may have forgotten, wisdom that has faded and hopes that have fallen into darkness. Be a guide who not only loves stories, but also loves the people who tell them.