When CIS applied for the grant, I suggested a list of stories that would be used and a story schedule. After the grant was approved, the CIS Director and I realized that we would have to modify the schedule. At that meeting, we also amended that story list slightly, to better serve the needs of the two particular centers where the program will be performed.
Story selection was based on finding stories that offered both a way to best present the goals of the program and that would allow a lot of interaction with the students while being presented and offer the students an opportunity to maximize learning with crafts and through their own presentation of the story later.
The opening story is “The Power of Words” my own adaptation of the familiar “Magic Paintbrush” tale. In my version the “magic” happens when the proper words are used---polite, kind words. Later the Emperor will try to guess at the magic words by using lots of bluster and rough commands, but the real magic happens only with kind words.
As usual, “standard” folk tales such as the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” and “Stone Soup” will not be told as they are commonly known. My versions will incorporate both more action and a strong anti-bullying message. This means that in the case of “Billy Goats Gruff”, the troll will not be butted from the bridge. He will be dealt with in a way that we would want students to emulate.
As for “Stone Soup”, my presentation will include both principles of good nutrition and borrow from lessons of cooperation shown in the “Great Big Enormous Carrot” (aka Turnip) as well as the story’s own inherent lesson of generosity and kindness to those not like ourselves.
My version of “How the Rattlesnake Got His Rattle”, a Hopi tale, is based on reading of many versions and tellings over twenty years of story performance work. It’s a quieter telling tale that emphasizes the power that a small person can have.
The story of “The Bear’s Breakfast” is one I first discovered through reading Margaret Read MacDonald’s “Twenty Tellable Tales” and later adjusted after finding versions of it in Russian and Native American folklore. This story offers a simple sequenced formulaic telling that allows students to memorize it immediately and offers opportunities for five-ten students to participate immediately. It’s a fun one for students to put on for others because they learn it so quickly and in addition to the anti-bullying and generosity to others lessons that are inherent, is a great story to use when teaching language skills and writing skills to children of all ages. More tomorrow.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Anti-Bullying Stories
I am so excited! Communities In Schools (CIS) of Brunswick County here in North Carolina has received a Grassroots Arts grant from the NC and Brunswick Arts Council for the Arts to have me work on an anti-bullying program (using story performance) in two of their seven after-school programs.
We are still ironing out some of the details, but essentially the program will provide the students with story-based models of good behavior and a creative outlet for energy that are designed replace the tendency to bully and the fear of being bullied. By offering the students a creative outlet through drama and storytelling, we hope to open doors to interests and talents they might not have realized in themselves.
The stories that I will tell are some of the ones in my repertoire that I have seen “stick” with children over the years. Almost a quarter century after I have started to tell the story of the rattlesnake young people who heard it in K- Grade 6 still tell me how it affected them and that they recall it clearly (when they see me!).
Even though my time in the classroom will be limited to two hours for three and possibly four days, each part of what I do is carefully targeted to build on what teachers are already doing and backed by materials by those who have extensively studied bullying in schools.
Last week I met with Kathy Smith, the CIS After-School Director, to lay out how we would approach each element. I hope to use this blog to chronicle the story of how we are putting the program together so that others may benefit from what we are doing.
We are still ironing out some of the details, but essentially the program will provide the students with story-based models of good behavior and a creative outlet for energy that are designed replace the tendency to bully and the fear of being bullied. By offering the students a creative outlet through drama and storytelling, we hope to open doors to interests and talents they might not have realized in themselves.
The stories that I will tell are some of the ones in my repertoire that I have seen “stick” with children over the years. Almost a quarter century after I have started to tell the story of the rattlesnake young people who heard it in K- Grade 6 still tell me how it affected them and that they recall it clearly (when they see me!).
Even though my time in the classroom will be limited to two hours for three and possibly four days, each part of what I do is carefully targeted to build on what teachers are already doing and backed by materials by those who have extensively studied bullying in schools.
Last week I met with Kathy Smith, the CIS After-School Director, to lay out how we would approach each element. I hope to use this blog to chronicle the story of how we are putting the program together so that others may benefit from what we are doing.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Healthy Stories
Heard from a number of people on the storytelling list serve--got some great ideas for what to include in my compilation but of course I need to find three sources for each folk tale and then put together my own version, cultural notes to be included, before I can claim anything--unless I use original material. I do have several original food tales and poems that I will include.
Right now am considering the re-working of one of my novel to make the plot a bit more interesting--so many projects and so little time. Still need to take down my Christmas tree!
Neighbors have begun to pay homage to my birthday--January 10--one dear friend brought over some home made rice pudding yesterday--good friends, good food--see why I am doing food stories
Healthy Stories
Heard from a number of people on the storytelling list serve--got some great ideas for what to include in my compilation but of course I need to find three sources for each folk tale and then put together my own version, cultural notes to be included, before I can claim anything--unless I use original material. I do have several original food tales and poems that I will include.
Right now am considering the re-working of one of my novel to make the plot a bit more interesting--so many projects and so little time. Still need to take down my Christmas tree!
Neighbors have begun to pay homage to my birthday--January 10--one dear friend brought over some home made rice pudding yesterday--good friends, good food--see why I am doing food stories
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The New Year
Well, so much for getting a fast start--I am already a day behind on the new year.
But in my defense I have been cleaning out the enormous amounts of material in my office--clips from the past twenty years including magazines I edited as well as those I wrote for. I ruthlessly pruned most of the business materials and kept articles that deal with softer subjects--the ones I still enjoy writing about--travel, parenting, story performance, and of course, food!
I am looking for grant money to fund a performance and writing project dealing with healthy eating. That is one of the goals I have for this year.
Over the Christmas break I watched Blind Side with my daughter Jennie and we both agree that it is a first rate effort and a great acting job by Ms. Bullock. But by far our favorite holiday movie was the Princess and the Frog! Disney at his best!
I tell the story of the frog prince in several forms and applaud the original touches the Disney writer gave as well as the wonderful artwork! The music is very good too, but not top of the effort --up to some of the others. Did not leave the theatre singing but still, the songs are good ones. May yet take some awards.
Have not seen Avatar--may not make it to a theatre showing. May wait for DVD.
Waited for DVD for UP (OK, so I am a fan of traditional animation)
UP was well worth the wait--a great film. Am now awaiting Toy Story 3 along with the latest Narnia and Harry Potter Installments.
Well, so much for getting a fast start--I am already a day behind on the new year.
But in my defense I have been cleaning out the enormous amounts of material in my office--clips from the past twenty years including magazines I edited as well as those I wrote for. I ruthlessly pruned most of the business materials and kept articles that deal with softer subjects--the ones I still enjoy writing about--travel, parenting, story performance, and of course, food!
I am looking for grant money to fund a performance and writing project dealing with healthy eating. That is one of the goals I have for this year.
Over the Christmas break I watched Blind Side with my daughter Jennie and we both agree that it is a first rate effort and a great acting job by Ms. Bullock. But by far our favorite holiday movie was the Princess and the Frog! Disney at his best!
I tell the story of the frog prince in several forms and applaud the original touches the Disney writer gave as well as the wonderful artwork! The music is very good too, but not top of the effort --up to some of the others. Did not leave the theatre singing but still, the songs are good ones. May yet take some awards.
Have not seen Avatar--may not make it to a theatre showing. May wait for DVD.
Waited for DVD for UP (OK, so I am a fan of traditional animation)
UP was well worth the wait--a great film. Am now awaiting Toy Story 3 along with the latest Narnia and Harry Potter Installments.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Being old has it's ups and downs. Many times I wake up and cannot get back to sleep--blogging is a great thing to do when the rest of the house is asleep and books and TV are not doing anything to help me sleep and we all know that I can do only so much sorting and cleaning at one time.
Our daughter is here with us and we ate at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the area--Villa Romana--dinner was perfect as usual, I had a light-as-a-feather veal cutlet Milanese (pan fried). The food here is consistently wonderful. Last night's broccoli rabe was sauteed perfectly with just enough garlic and not too much oil. The roasted peppers were lightly seasoned and paired with bits of cheese for another great appetizer. The veal and chicken main dishes follow the old rule of Italian cooking--start with the best and use your cooking skills to bring out the natural flavors. So, even the sauces--they did not mask nature--they nurtured it by complementing the natural goodness of each ingredient. Jennie tried the veal vodka and Joe had their special chicken dish--invented by Rinaldo the talented chef, owner. Of course we enjoyed chatting with accordion player Michael delGardo whose fantastic playing and knowledge of songs is matched by his personality. We also enjoyed seeing his latest phone videos of his two adorable children! A wonderful evening--one problem--I forgot to take pictures!!! Drat! I am trying to put together an album of the holidays. Oh well.
I just finished reading on e of my guilty pleasure novels --the newest MC Beaton adventure featuring Agatha Raisin the retired PR lady, now a detective.
This one was a disappointment--plot way too convoluted and too many escapes from death for the daring Agatha. But if you are a fan of the series you will of course want to read it to catch up with the irrepressible Agatha.
My cousin Diane seconds my high praise for The Corner of Bitter and Sweet which takes on the Japanese internment issue from the point of view of a Chinese American young boy who is also dealing with first love. It is fabulous! I read a review of it when it first came out but never got around to reading it--glad I found it in the library a few weeks ago and read it--wonderful and a great holiday read because despite the heavy subject matter, the book is a very positive force.
Now I will begin to send out query letters for food articles to one of my favorite local editors, Trish O'Connor and then get things ready for my upcoming February performance at the Chapin museum--Chinese tales!
Our daughter is here with us and we ate at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the area--Villa Romana--dinner was perfect as usual, I had a light-as-a-feather veal cutlet Milanese (pan fried). The food here is consistently wonderful. Last night's broccoli rabe was sauteed perfectly with just enough garlic and not too much oil. The roasted peppers were lightly seasoned and paired with bits of cheese for another great appetizer. The veal and chicken main dishes follow the old rule of Italian cooking--start with the best and use your cooking skills to bring out the natural flavors. So, even the sauces--they did not mask nature--they nurtured it by complementing the natural goodness of each ingredient. Jennie tried the veal vodka and Joe had their special chicken dish--invented by Rinaldo the talented chef, owner. Of course we enjoyed chatting with accordion player Michael delGardo whose fantastic playing and knowledge of songs is matched by his personality. We also enjoyed seeing his latest phone videos of his two adorable children! A wonderful evening--one problem--I forgot to take pictures!!! Drat! I am trying to put together an album of the holidays. Oh well.
I just finished reading on e of my guilty pleasure novels --the newest MC Beaton adventure featuring Agatha Raisin the retired PR lady, now a detective.
This one was a disappointment--plot way too convoluted and too many escapes from death for the daring Agatha. But if you are a fan of the series you will of course want to read it to catch up with the irrepressible Agatha.
My cousin Diane seconds my high praise for The Corner of Bitter and Sweet which takes on the Japanese internment issue from the point of view of a Chinese American young boy who is also dealing with first love. It is fabulous! I read a review of it when it first came out but never got around to reading it--glad I found it in the library a few weeks ago and read it--wonderful and a great holiday read because despite the heavy subject matter, the book is a very positive force.
Now I will begin to send out query letters for food articles to one of my favorite local editors, Trish O'Connor and then get things ready for my upcoming February performance at the Chapin museum--Chinese tales!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Reading and Writing
Wow--readers write and writers read and performers often bridge any gap that remains.
My book club has lead me to great and not so great reads this past year--the worst (to me--Ahab's Wife. I know it won awards, but I found the style too reminiscent of Melville's to be enjoyable and the story too full of contrivances and stylistic tricks to be entertaining. Plus, I never warmed to the main character. It is hard to write an interesting series about an unlovable person--MC Beaton has done it with Agatha Raisin, a series of light mysteries that I'm sure the literary top folks would consider beneath them but...
Great reads: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, The Color of Water, Brunelleschi's Dome, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet--among others and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
My own book of short stories came out this year--complied by Edith Edwards and myself it contains tales of ours, many award winners of women in the south, and it also has one tandem piece of writing. We had a good time producing it--some glitches due to our lack of expertise with adobe, but I think it still makes a good read.
Hope those of you who order it from amazon.com (where it is reduced from the $18 price) will enjoy it.
My book club has lead me to great and not so great reads this past year--the worst (to me--Ahab's Wife. I know it won awards, but I found the style too reminiscent of Melville's to be enjoyable and the story too full of contrivances and stylistic tricks to be entertaining. Plus, I never warmed to the main character. It is hard to write an interesting series about an unlovable person--MC Beaton has done it with Agatha Raisin, a series of light mysteries that I'm sure the literary top folks would consider beneath them but...
Great reads: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, The Color of Water, Brunelleschi's Dome, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet--among others and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
My own book of short stories came out this year--complied by Edith Edwards and myself it contains tales of ours, many award winners of women in the south, and it also has one tandem piece of writing. We had a good time producing it--some glitches due to our lack of expertise with adobe, but I think it still makes a good read.
Hope those of you who order it from amazon.com (where it is reduced from the $18 price) will enjoy it.
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