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Storytelling In Education

A Three Day Intensive Workshop on Storytelling in Education
With Brian "Fox" Ellis

THE CHARACTERS: Teachers interested in using storytelling across the curriculum, Storytellers who want to expand their work in schools, Librarians who wish to connect their stories with classroom teachers, and Educators looking for a second career in storytelling. Facilitated by Brian "Fox" Ellis, this is an opportunity for 10-15 storytellers to share ideas in an intimate, dynamic, supportive setting.

THE SETTING: A luxurious lake house on Spoon Lake near Galesburg, Illinois. There are ten beds, four baths, three boats, a hot tub and delicious meals so we can focus on the work and play at hand.

THE PLOT: For three full days we will share ideas, lesson plans and stories. Fox will provide a frame for you to hone your skills, develop stories and thematic programs. Topics covered include:

• Back to Basics: Teaching Student Storytellers in Inventive Ways
• Storytelling and Oral Language Development in Improving Reading and Writing Skills.
• Storytelling and Science Process Skills
• History and Her-story, too!
• Stories Weave the Curriculum Together.
• Developing Thematic Performances.
• Sharing the Word: Marketing Your New Programs.

There will also be scheduled down time to work on your stories, share ideas with like minded tellers and Friday evening we will have a public performance to share our stories with the community!

Dates: July 29, 30, 31, 2008

Costs: $275 (Includes food and lodging!)

Please call or Contact Fox to register
Brian "Fox" Ellis
309-689-8000

Every morning will begin with yoga and a continental breakfast of bagels, coffee, tea, juice and cereals. In every session you will learn two or three new stories you can tell that evening. We will walk through classroom tested lesson plans and be given time for developing new material in a supportive, dynamic atmosphere in which each teller's gifts are recognized and our strengths are stretched to explore new terrain! Fox will also share his 26 years of experience presenting school residencies and marketing to the educational field. Everyone will go home refreshed, energized and with a binder full of lessons and stories!

Tentative Schedule: Tuesday July 29, 2008

9:00 - 10:00 Registration, Coffee, Danish, and time to get settled in.

10:00 - 12:00 Back to Basics: Teaching Student Storytellers in Inventive Ways

Fox will begin with some of his favorite theater games and ideas for motivating students to tell their own tales. Bring your favorite ice breakers and storytelling games to share!

12:00 Lunch

1:00 - 4:00 Oral Language Development in Teaching Reading and Writing.

A growing body of research affirms what storytellers have long known, storytelling is the foundation for improving student test scores in reading and writing. We will dive deep into the sea of research and emerge with classroom tested lesson plans for improving reading and sharpening writing skills. Fables, Poetry, Personal Narrative and Storied Debates are a few of the themes we will explore.

4:00 - 6:00 Time to swim, fish, hike, canoe, relax or share stories with a new friend!

6:00 Dinner

7:00 Campfire Storytelling Swap and Sing-a-long! (Bring a new story to rehearse.)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

9:00 - 12:00 Storytelling and Science Process Skills

Science is a verb, an activity, a way of asking difficult questions and looking for answers; this is what poets and storytellers have done since the dawn of time! From traditional ethnic earth tales and the classic American Naturalists, to our own personal encounters with nature, we will share stories that stimulate field ecology and a deeper understanding of our place in the wild world!

12:00 Lunch

1:00 - 4:00 Social Studies, Multicultural Tales, History and Her-story, too!

Starting with the personal and moving out in concentric circles, we will explore the ways in which our family stories embody regional and world history. Striking a balance between the folks left out of the history books and the shakers and movers every American should know, we will step into the shoes of historical characters to develop tales for the telling.

4:00 - 6:00 Time to swim, fish, hike, canoe, relax or share stories with a new friend!

6:00 Dinner

7:00 Campfire Storytelling Swap! (Time to rehearse the new stories you learned today!)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

9:00 - 11:00 Stories Weave the Curriculum Together: Math, Science, S.S. and L.A. Stories

We will begin to build interdisciplinary lesson plans that we can use in our artist-in-residence programs or can be used as follow-up material by librarians and classroom teachers.

11:00 - 12:00 Developing Thematic Performances (Continued after lunch, 1:00 - 2:00)

Working in small groups each participant will be given time to discuss/perform/present ways in which this experience will change the way they use storytelling in an educational setting.

12:00 Lunch

2:00 - 4:00 Sharing the Word: Marketing Your New Programs

Everyone leaves with a concrete plan for building their business in the educational market!

4:00 - 6:00 Time to relax or rehearse for the evening or begin to pack for departure!

6:00 Dinner

7:00 An Evening Storytelling Olio open to the community!