Yes! SHE, Fire & Light...That kind of sounds like the lyrics to a Reggae song

So, I've been avoiding the Blog.  Why?

Traveling, telling, writing, and family.  Not to mention the fact that I have way too much percolating in my head about the 30 Million Word Gap.  I've finally decided to throw in the towel about this subject on the blog.

I have years and years of research about this subject.  There is no way to encapsulate it that gives as much energy and understanding as it deserves in this space.  None!

So, I've decided to forgo torturing myself anymore with providing just enough information in a blog format to confuse or possibly bore the reader.

If you really want to learn more about the literacy pitfalls, the language challenges or the way to use this information to inform how you craft stories for youth, I have a much better venue .

I will be presenting at the YES! Alliance Pre-conference Mesa, Az.

YES! Stands for Youth Educators and Storytelling

I think SHE stands for Storytellers in Higher Education.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will tell me!


http://yesalliance.org/events

Wednesday, July 23 • 9:00am-6:30pm
YES!/SHE Pre-Conference at the National Storytelling Conference
Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona

Changing the World One Story at a Time

The Yes! Folks went all out and they dragged the SHE people with them!  They have an amazing line up of Key Note speakers.

Internationally recognized storytellers Margaret Read MacDonald, Jennifer and Nathaniel Whitman, our Keynote speakers, will discuss the use of storytelling to build community and character.

Additional workshops include, Storytelling Apologetics, or How I Got to Teach Storytelling with recommendations on how to sell your storytelling courses and lessons to administrators, faculty, and students.

The popular YOUTH TRACK returns from 1:00–8:00pm, and includes the afternoon workshops, the Youth Concert from 5:30 – 6:30pm and a Celebratory Pizza and Story SWAP.

I will be doing a workshop about the 30 Million Word Gap and repertoire building.  So, if you really want to get into the weeds of this concept and yell at me about the things you find difficult to believe or stuff you just don't like about this concept...we could do it there.

Then, just in case you didn't have enough of my yammering, I am also teaching a Master Class at the conference.

http://www.storynet.org/conference/master-classes.html

I hope it will be both informative and fun!

Crafting for Your Bread and Butter:  
Rocking School Assemblies with the Perfect Stories
with Donna Washington

Performing for schools can be a very profitable endeavor in more ways than one.  Schools represent a captive audience of future performers, listeners, and organizers.  Getting students hooked on storytelling early is a good way to increase our numbers on stage and in the audience. Donna Washington spends most of her time performing for elementary, middle and high school students.  One thing she’s discovered is that schools really appreciate when you offer them age appropriate and learning-standards targeted assemblies.  She’s been told that lots of artists talk a good game about offering different shows for different age groups, but lots of them do not deliver.  In this master class, Donna will share how she weaves crafting techniques, social and emotional development, and literacy building skills into successful storytelling sets for everyone from pre-K through high school. 

Donna is an award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist.  Her CD awards include iParenting Media Excellent Product Award and multiple Parents Choice, Storytelling World and Children’s Music Web Awards.  Donna has performed at thousands of schools, libraries, and storytelling festivals across the country, including the National Storytelling Festival.  She offers workshops in storytelling, writing, education, and creative drama for librarians and educators and will travel the country to tell stories and give workshops for anyone willing to listen.

There are going to be fabulous workshops at NSN by some Masters this year.

Connie Regan Blake is going to get your stories on their feet.  (I particularly love that Connie is going to be there since she is one of my mentors!)

Joe Hayes is going to give a master class on telling stories from other cultures (I have never met Joe Hayes, but I have heard of him and am looking forward to meeting him)

Tim Tingle, writer and storyteller extraordinaire will be giving a class on writing.  (Tim Tingle.  'Nuff said.)

Aside from all the teaching and other inspirational activities, there will be concerts, fringe performances, random happenings, new friends, old friends, and lots and lots of joy.

So, head out to Mesa this summer if you can, and we can chat about the 30 Million Word Gap in person...or anything else you might want to discuss!

Happy Learning!