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Reading Reflection Administration and Programming

Being a theatre teacher causes one to wear many hats; skills are taught, props are made, movement is created, costumes are pulled, sets are built, and of course, rehearsals are had.  They are often a lone wolf in a school and though there are many that could collaborate with,  it often goes to the wayside because others aren't sure how to  do this.   Typically, the job of Theatre Teacher is so faceted, it's the organization that keeps them afloat.   The reading resonated with me this week simply because this is the typical plight  of the school librarian as well.  Organization can keep one above water but to cultivate and sustain storytelling program, educating your colleagues can help them lean in to authentic and fruitful programming. The importance of stories to children's formation as well as to their connection to others,  as Baker points out in the beginning of the chapter is paramount to a strong program.  Carving out time, d...
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Storytelling Reflection #2 With out the book!

For my latest story telling endeavor. I chose Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A cuban folktale to do a story-telling without the book. As I reviewed  this title for a different class and turned the pages the characters jumped out at me.  How could a cockroach be beautiful.  Even though the pictures are iridescent and breathtaking, the story was engaging and offered a different story of trust and family. What a find it was for my folk take list. It is important to have  different stories from all over the world.  To execute a story telling without a book I was searching for a simple storyline, strong characters and a message in the end.  This story also used some spanish words that I thought would also be important to use in the  telling.   Taking notes of the characters, voices started to  form in my head.    I listed the setting and the format of the story to help guide it and I numbered the suitors of Martina along with some...
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Blog Share..... Mind the Gap

  In starting a search for different blogs to follow I was looking for eclectic or off beat geared towards teens, or juvenile level.    Being a middle school teacher you are aware of the specific and unique needs of this age group.  They are full of hormones and want to be driving all while second guessing their place in this world.   Throw in a Pandemic which has stunted this groups social emotional learning and we have a delicate balance that must be maintained to ensure the meeting of these students needs.  To put it in perspective my current 8th graders had their last normal year in the 5th grade.   Anything thing that was going to help guide this year and invigorate my teaching I used because we were all stunted.    Teen Services Underground is run by 6 different librarians across the nation.  There was previous group of leaders.   It is unclear how they are chosen but their eclectic backgrounds as well as t...
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First Storytelling Experience Reflection

  For my first Storytelling experience I picked storytelling with a book.  Currently my elective class is doing a reading aloud/storytelling unit  based on books with themes of changes in family, separation, overcoming challenges and being the other.  I used " I dream of Popo"  written by Livia Blackburne and Illustrated by Julia Kuo as my example.   Immediately upon reading this sweet story, I was enveloped by the story.  Connection to the story is needed for a good example.   Before presenting I read and re-read the book looking for easy connections to the characters and illustrations. In researching the book the intended audience was Kindergarten through 3rd grade.  I looked for the questions that might be asked by the students being read too.   I picked a few pieces out to point out and ask questions about.   Some of the colors and patterns were important as well as some things that were familiar and things t...
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Reading Reflections and fables

As ubiquitous as  Aesops Fables a refresher course was needed.   Stories smattered with animals, plants or inanimate objects, living their best life and learning from their mistakes are great places to start the search of great story-telling material.  Globally, fables are used as teaching tools to hit home what may be the better way to think if faced by dilemmas. Using beings other than human allow for candid consideration for their actions.   "Oh that fox," or "Oh that frog shouldn't have trusted that lion."  It becomes easier to digest and discuss.     Though the messages are sound, currently we may have many that do not have the same context with which to understand the stories. For instance some children are not exposed animals  or settings that many of these fable take place.  Half of your storytelling time might be used to simply introduce them to characters or places.  Using the through lines of Aesops making with ...
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