PUT SOME PIZAZZ IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS!

"The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public." George Jessel

Many storytellers also present workshops at conferences and schools around the country. While our presentations are interactive, there are times when we must and should take the opportunity to use available technology; it may further define our message and make the information easier for your audience to digest.

The next time you want to add a bit of techno-magic to your tales here are some sites I researched to help put some pizazz into your presentation. When you are ready to present, remember, it's EASY!

Eye contact
Attitude
Smile
You are the expert!

How to Present with PowerPoint http://tinyurl.com/yz26m6l

Choosing Colors for Your Presentation Slides http://tinyurl.com/yey58tz

Choose the Right Colors in PowerPoint http://tinyurl.com/yhx87bw

What Are The Best Fonts for Making PowerPoint Presentation
The article is also accompanied by an excellent video presentation. http://tinyurl.com/6ymrck

Relaxation Information - Included is an audio guide you through some relaxation exercises. http://tinyurl.com/y9d2qbe


Just as there are many ways to give presentations, there are different styles of storytelling. Here are a few sites on combining the power of Oral Tradition with the digital era.


Center for Digital Storytelling
This California arts organization assists “young people and adults in using the tools of digital media to craft, record, and share the stories of individuals and communities, in ways that improve all our lives.” http://www.storycenter.org/

Do History
From Harvard University, a virtual how to on piecing together fragments of the past using primary resources; step-by-step guidelines are also provided.
http://dohistory.org/home.html

DigiTales
Information and resources, everything you need to help students craft a digital story. http://www.digitales.us/

Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
Examples, tools, evaluations and more.
http://tinyurl.com/4oaytc

History Matters
Designed for high school and college teachers, and students it serves as a gateway to web resources offering materials, first-person primary documents, and guides to analyzing historical evidence. An extra bonus is a host of resources to assist you in completing your own oral history project. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/oral/online.html. For the main site go to: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/

In The First Person
Over 2,500 collections of oral history from around the world: personal narratives, letters, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, and oral histories; a goldmine of information.
http://www.inthefirstperson.com/firp/index.aspx

Lesson Plans for Digital Storytelling
A step by step guide, rubrics and additional resources.
http://tinyurl.com/3rv6uf

Oral History Resources
My personal collection of websites gathered over the years.
http://www.storybug.net/links/oralhistory.html

Oral Tradition Journal
A fabulous resource you will return to again and again. The Center for Studies in Oral Tradition at the University of Missouri has generously placed twenty-two years of their journal online. The site contains nearly 500 articles and 10,000 pages with the contents downloadable as pdf files. The site is also searchable by keyword or author name.
http://journal.oraltradition.org

Tech Head Stories
A plethora of digital storytelling websites highlighting corporate storytelling, personal, educational and historic journals, along with tools to teach you how to “digital storytell.” There is also a good collection of traditional story resources as well. http://tech-head.com/dstory.htm

Using Technology to Tell Stories
Create your own digital storytelling project. The site includes a step by step guide, examples of digital storytelling, rubrics assessment, lesson plans and additional web links. In no time at all you will be saying, “It’s a wrap!”
http://tinyurl.com/2wvw5l


If you wish to use any of the above sites from my newsletter with their accompanying synopses, please contact me for permission at storybug@aol.com.

Cartoon courtesy of http://blog.falcon-software.com/page/2/

TURNING A FOE INTO A FRIEND: OVERCOMING YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience”. -Alexander Gregg


Some studies have shown that fear of public speaking ranks up there with the fear of death. The more I read about the subject the more convinced I am that the art of Oral Tradition should have it's rightful place in school curriculum. I have personally witnessed the shyest students blossom as they take the stage armed with the tools they learned from participating in my storytelling troupe.

Recently, I came upon an article written by my friend Bill Lampton, leader in the field of corporate communication. It is amazing how many of his points apply to the storytelling as well.

First, here are some of the storytelling tips I share with my student tellers.

TIPS TO SPARK YOUR STORYTELLING!

1. Visualize– Let the story live in your mind’s eye. See the details, hear the characters.

2. Create an Image -What do the characters and places look like, smell like, and sound like?

3. Voice- Use your voice to define characters and establish mood and attitude.

4. Add Energy to Your Story - Gestures and body language will help identify characters and bring it to life.

5. Make It Your Own - Let the story live, bring your own images and emotions to it. If you make a personal connection with the story the audience will connect as well.

6. Pay Attention to the Audience - Scan the faces in the audience. Find those who are right in the story with you. Notice their facial expressions and body language. They are giving their energy back to you! Use it and relax into the story.

7. Imagine Success - Hear the audience applause. Relax, breathe. This is about connection, not perfection!

Now, juxtapose the above with the tips Bill shares below.

7 WAYS TO BECOME A GRADE-A SPEAKER
By Bill Lampton, Ph.D.

When I provide individual speech coaching, and when I direct presentation skills seminars, I emphasize these 7 necessary steps for speaking with poise, power, and persuasion.

1. Adopt an upbeat ATTITUDE
Form a mental picture of success. Anticipate your audience's unbroken attention, laughter, and applause. Assume you have something worth saying, and that you will say it well.

2.Focus on the AUDIENCE
This way, you won't become excessively concerned about yourself. Remember, audiences want you to succeed. They aren't critics, they are your cheerleaders. Embrace them--then they'll embrace you.

3. Be ANIMATED
Listeners don't want to wonder if you have a pulse. So don't read or recite your message. . . tell it as energetically as you would describe a fun weekend. Move away from the podium, gesture freely, vary your voice, just as you do in casual chit chat. Createwhat actors call "The Illusion of the First Time."

4. Be ATTENTIVE
Remain on the lookout for audience feedback. When you detect confusion, restate your point. When you see listeners nod in agreement, let their support energize you.

5. Use ANECDOTES
Even adults love "once upon a time." People remember and learn from your stories, not statistics. Paint word pictures, giving a "you are there" feeling. Use suspense with the skill of a novelist. Paul Harvey carved a grand speaking career as a master story teller.

6. Sharpen your APPEARANCE
Although casual and sometimes sloppy dress have gained some acceptance, your audience wants you to dress a notch or two above their norm. Tasteful, professional clothing reflects that you respect them and the occasion. Not surprisingly, you will gain confidence and energy as well.

7. Be ATYPICAL
Do something different from other speakers. Examples: unusual props, impersonations, games, regular audience interaction, or magic if that's your talent. Note: Every season, new TV shows succeed because they become distinctive.

Next time you speak, try these "7 A's." They work. Your audience will give you an "A" grade for sure.


Whether it be in schools or the corporate arena, communication skills are necessary for personal and public success. For more on the value of bringing storytelling into our schools go to Storytelling In Schools, an amazing, downloadable booklet and brochure. It is filled with quantitative studies, innovative projects books, journals, articles and web sites are all at your fingertips.

For additional research on how our brains are hardwired for story, visit the Teacher's Page on my website at http://www.storybug.net/teachers.html.

Picture courtesy of http://www.panicfreepublicspeaking.com.au

Time to Be Thankful

November is just around the corner and the month brings my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. Here are some sites to help you enjoy the day.

STORIES

Native Languages of the Americas: Wampanoag Indian Legends Meet Moshup the Giant, read about Squant the Sea Monster and more. There are also additional links and resources to help you learn more about this Indian nation. http://tinyurl.com/l5tx8x

The Circle of Life and the Clambake – A lovely story from the Wampanoag culture that encompasses the spirit of thanksgiving, the circle of life and caring for the earth. http://tinyurl.com/kpdyaq

Thanksgiving Short Stories for Kids http://tinyurl.com/m4563n

The Scarecrow’s Thanksgiving – A Canadian Thanksgiving story. http://tinyurl.com/y9ulwob



CRAFTS

Blessing Boxes http://tinyurl.com/5zuk4x

Thanksgiving and Fall Crafts for Children
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/thanksgiving.html

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yauxtpy



CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

Wampanoag Culture and History Links – Geography, lifestyle and traditions, books and more. http://tinyurl.com/njqk6y

Wampanoag Indian Fact Sheet for Kids http://www.bigorrin.org/wampanoag_kids.htm

Learning to Give – Native American Lesson Plan for grades 9 – 12 in Arts, Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies. Includes numerous folktales to share. http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit226/lesson12.html

All ‘Bout Cranberries - A comprehensive cranberry curriculum for grades K-8 covering many aspects of cranberry growing and takes the user on a journey from the Cranberry Bog to the Kitchen Table. It is designed to give students an appreciation of Massachusetts number one food crop through problem solving and thought provoing activities. http://www.cranberries.org/cranberries/teachers.html

American Indian Leather Painting– For grades 5-6, students will create stories that resemble ol Indian leather paintings. Students will tell a story using only pictures and drawing them in sequence so others can read the story back. http://tinyurl.com/6q8jjt

The Pilgrims Voyage: A Map and the Mayflower - This project teaches geography and history. The student makes a map of the voyage and a tiny replica of the Mayflower. http://tinyurl.com/mauanx



SITES TO SHARE YOUR THANKS WITH THE WORLD

Charity Navigator - An independent charity evaluator; provides tips for making decisions about donations, statistics, information about workplace donation campaigns, and a list of the highest and lowest rated charities in various subject areas.
http://tinyurl.com/wlf7

The Hunger Site - Since its launch in June 1999 the site has established itself as a leader in online activism, helping to feed the world's hungry. All it takes is a click of the computer keys. What could be easier? http://tinyurl.com/2rdph4

Rwanda Baskets - Proceeds benefit Rwandan genocide widows who weave these exquisite baskets to provide for themselves and the orphans of this war-torn nation. http://tinyurl.com/5l4dke

Give A Good Card - Give a gift card for charity where the recipients get to donate to their charity of choice. http://tinyurl.com/3bymu8

Oxfam America Unwrapped - For those of us who are blessed to have what we need, why not wrap up your holiday spirit and pick one of the 120 countries from around the world to help? Whether our budget is small or large, we can all do our part to help others in need. http://tinyurl.com/5uyjr5

Global Action for Children - A nonpartisan, coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and highly vulnerable children in the developing world. Their goal is for all children to have the health care, education, food, and protection they need to grow up safe and healthy.
http://www.globalactionforchildren.org/

Donors Choose.org - This simple yet brilliant idea was started by a teacher. It is an easy way to provide students in need with resources that ourpublic schools often lack. Teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn and concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose the projects to fund. This is a non-profit agency. http://www.donorschoose.org/about/about.html

Points of Light Institute - Website for an organization that promotes volunteer activity and civic engagement in the U.S., helps develop infrastructure for community change, and "demonstrates the power of citizens actively engaged in changing our world and solving problems." Includes a directory of volunteer centers, description of programs, resources for volunteers, and related material. http://www.pointsoflight.org/ Copyright LII http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27943

African Artists Community Development Project - While traveling this summer I met two wonderful women who donate their time and energy to this amazing project. One of the ladies shared a story of bringing some of the funds to a woman in Zambia and seeing her joy as she clapped her hands and said, "Now I can buy a chicken!" She also told me of sitting on the floor with these women, helping them make handbags out of recycled materials. She said,"They are so poor but they are happy. I love sitting with them and listening to their stories." I promised them I would spread the word about their amazing project so other women will be able to buy animals to add to their small farms and support their families. http://www.aacdpafrica.org/

Mission to Liberia – This cause is near to my heart as one of my dear friends is connected with this agency. “Old shoes. Very old shoes. These took me on foot, away from the gunfire, far from the shelling of embattled Liberia, my homeland. Joseph Deranamie recounts his days fleeing as a refugee. Mission to Liberia is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving the health care needs of fellow Liberians who did not escape the devastation that decades of civil war left behind.” http://missiontoliberia.org/


Photo courtesy of http://www.heartnharmonytrails.com/

FALL IS...

Today I had the pleasure of visiting with two of my storytelling students from previous years, they are two talented brothers, Tyler and Kyle, both now in Middle School.

The youngest, Kyle, shared this poem he wrote for his class. He gave me permission to post it here for everyone to enjoy.



Fall Is
By Kyle Leve © 2009

Fall is going door to door in the darkness only lit by the full moon, yelling “Trick or Treat”! To anyone who opens the door.

Fall is seeing green goblins, green skinned witches and white ghosts running in the night.

Fall is going to the soccer fields to kick 100 shots in the net on a nice sunny day.

Fall is hearing people’s beautiful voices singing “happy birthday” to me at my house.

Fall is tasting the warm, chocolaty sensation of hot cocoa on those breezy days.

Fall is smelling the sweet Hershey’s, butterscotches, lolly pops, kit kats and more after a long fantastic night of “trick or treating”.

Fall is feeling the tingly sensation when I jump into a gigantic pile of different colored leaves.

Fall is seeing everyone as far as the eye can see carving orange pumpkins, making them as spooky or frightening or happy as they want.

Fall is tasting the stuffing filled turkey with gravy on it and cranberry sauce on the side.

Fall is feeling the soft mushy pumpkin seeds and other stuff in the orange pumpkin.



Painting by Sir John Everett Millais June 1829 - August 1896

October Story Café

“Bella Notte” - Stories from the Italian Tradition
Featuring Storyteller Carolyn Martino
October 17, 2009

A beautiful night of Italian tales and personal recollections with storyteller and 2nd generation Italian. Meet a plucky Palmero princess, a Sardinian seer, a swan tenor, some distinctive Italian fairy tale, and more. Enjoy the musical rhythms and joyous logic of all that is Italian in a Bella Notte of Italian storytelling.

“The audience, whether of Italian descent or not, was laughing out loud.”
Friends Newsletter, North Providence RI Public Library

“ A beautiful night it was, too! Filled with pathos and joy and the sensibility the Italian outlook on life provides to the world. You did the Italian culture proud!” Laurie Burke, Community Services Librarian, Barrington, RI Public Library

“We were spellbound. You have a great fit and it’s a privilege to watch you use it.Buono fortuna!” Audience Member

ADULT OPEN MIC: Sign up for your ten minute turn at the mic beginning at 7:00 p.m. Share your own story, song, music, essay or poem.
TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Feature begins at 8:00 P.M.)
LOCATION: Artworks, 384 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA
ADMISSION: FREE (pass the hat for the featured performer)
AUDIENCE: 18 and older
For more information email Karen Chace at storybug@aol.com or call Artworks at (508) 984-1588 For directions: http://www.artworksforyou.org/hours.html


Schedule for 2010

November 7, 2009 - Michael Anderson - Massachusetts - This will not be a regular Story Cafe, but a special event at ArtWorks. Tickets required.
December 2009 - No Story Cafe
January 2, 2010 - Jackson Gillman - Massachusetts
February 13, 2010 - Leeny Del Seamonds - Massachusetts
March 6, 2010 - Marni Gillard - New York
April 10, 2010 - Michael Parent – Maine - This will be a fundraiser for ArtWorks/Story Cafe thanks to Michael's generosity. Tickets required
May 15, 2010 - Joanne Piazzi - New Hampshire
June 26, 2010 - Eshu Bumpus and Motoko - Massachusetts
July 24, 2010 - Katie Green - Massachusetts
August 28, 2010 - Bob Reiser - Massachusetts and Clare Vadeboncoeur - Rhode Island
September 18, 2010 - Dale Jarvis - Newfoundland
October 16, 2010 - Richard Martin - England/Germany
November/December 2010 - No Story Cafe

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

Avast ye Hearties! September 19 is Talk Like A Pirate Day so I offer some sites to help you develop some pirattitude!

The picture is of Ching Shih, a famous female pirate in late Qing China. Ching Shih's real name is unknown as is where she was born. "She was born in 1785 and died at the age of 69 in 1844.

Zheng Yi belonged to a family of successful pirates who traced their criminal origins back to the mid-Seventeenth century. Following his marriage to Ching Shih, Zheng Yi used military assertion and his family's reputation to gather a coalition of competing Cantonese pirate fleets into an alliance. By 1804, this coalition was a formidable force, and one of the most powerful pirate fleets in all of China..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Shih





STORIES

Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/PylPira.html

Blackbeard the Pirate ... and the Presumed Wreck of Queen Anne's Revenge http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime/Blackbeard/

Blackbeard – Terror of the Sea
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blackbeard/interactive.html

The Origins of the Compass Rose
http://www.gisnet.com/notebook/comprose.php

Pirates! Fact and Legend http://www.piratesinfo.com/iography/biography.php

Women In History - Female Pirates
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/femalepirates/Female_Pirates.htm

Public Domain Books you may download for free

Great Pirate Stories by Joseph Lewis French in 1922
http://tinyurl.com/m7yabs

The History of the Pirates published by Thomas Carey in 1825
http://tinyurl.com/n5ycas

Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts by Frank R. Stockton in 1919
http://tinyurl.com/km9ayh


MUSIC

Shanties and Sea Songs - Well shiver me timbers! This site offers a boatload of shanties, pilot verses and sea songs. There is also a treasure chest full of CD and book recommendations, and information on tall ships, pirates, and sailing books. You’ll be singing and sailing the seven seas in no time at all! http://shanty.rendance.org/index.php


CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

New England Pirate Museum – Educational material from Elementary School to High School, including historical perspectives and poems and biographies for teachers.http://www.piratemuseum.com/educ.htm


CRAFTS

Jolly Roger Pirate Flag Poster
http://parenting.leehansen.com/Printables/Posters/jolly-roger-flag.pdf

Pirate Activities for Children – Make a Treasure Map or telescope, your own pirate ship and more!http://tinyurl.com/lhz3zt

Family Crafts - Halloween is around the corner. Why not shiver their timbers with this pirate costume?
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/peoplecostumes/a/hcpiratecap.htm

DLTK- Kids - Make your own pirate, parrot or mouse bookmark.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/pirates/mpiratebookmark.html

Pirate Sticker Sheets
http://parenting.leehansen.com/Printables/Stickers/pirate-stickers.htm


MISCELLANEOUS LINKS

What did Pirates eat and drink?
http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/Pirate_Food.html

Fun pirate foods for kids.
http://recipehut.homestead.com/KidsRecipe.html

Pirate Fun Facts - http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/Oceansoffun_Pirates.html

Pirate Jokes - http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/Pirate_jokes.html


Image courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/mqzll3

If You're Fond of Sand Dunes...

So begins one of my favorite old songs by Patti Page. I can still hear my father singing it all around the house when I was a child.

I am blessed to live fairly close to Cape Cod, or as we New Englanders call it, "The Cape." I am within a few hours’ drive and it is a sure sign if you are a tourist if you refer to it as Cape Cod. Since summer is beginning to wane here in Massachusetts I thought I would give you a taste of Old Cape Cod.

I am lucky enough to live close to the sea and the boats that will take you to either of the outer islands, beautiful Martha's Vineyard and quaint Nantucket. There is nothing like these two islands, filled with history and charm. This July I went over to 'the vineyard' for a few, gorgeous sun-filled days and reveled in a much slower pace.







View from the hotel overlooking Vineyard Haven. Ahhh, I could get used to this life very easily!

Days were spent biking from one end of the island to the other, picnicking in the park next to the Inkwell gazebo and grand Victorian houses dressed up in their finest colors to welcome visitors.



I love the tiny Gingerbread Houses at Oak Bluffs.

"Oak Bluffs became a Mecca for travelers from around the world as early as the beginning of the 1800‘s. It also became a center of the thriving 19th century Methodist movement.

In the area known now as the Martha's Vineyard Campground Meeting Association (MVCMA) or “The Campground“, members of the Methodist church would come each summer to pitch tents and have open air meetings. As these meetings became more and more popular, returning visitors began replacing the tents with small wooden buildings generally known now as Gingerbread Cottages. This name originated from the ornate molding and bright colors that these summer homes were painted and because of their quaint, almost storybook look. With the Methodist camp meetings taking place in the center, the campground expanded in a circular pattern around the meeting area until hundreds of the small cottages sprang up. Later a more permanent structure was built, called the Tabernacle. This covered open sided structure allowed speakers and meeting attendees to weather the elements and gave rise to a community center which is still in use today.

The campground Gingerbread cottages are cherished historic landmarks as well as very expensive real estate. Many are still family owned and passed on generation to generation." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Bluffs,_Massachusetts

I defy anyone to say that the sunsets at Menemsha beach are not some of the most beautiful you have ever seen. This does not even begin to do it justice.

Scores of vacationers and locals gather at the beach, hours before evenings end. It is not only a tradition but an event! No PB&J sandwiches for these hardy souls. Folks set up table lined with fresh lobster, glasses of wine, and of course, cameras ready to snap the sun as she tickles the horizon. She seems to hang there for a moment, saying her last good-byes to the day, before she slips below the surface.

While at Menemsha waiting for the sun to set I spotted this young boy with a starfish. I hope he threw it back in the ocean after he shared his find with his friend.










I love lighthouses! This is Telegraph Hill on East Chop, Martha's Vineyard.


This lighthouse stands off shore at Aguinnah, also known as Gay Head.

















Stumbled upon this lovely shop while lazily window shopping on the last day. It is off a side street in Vineyard Haven and the garden that led to the shop was full of delightful statues.


Statue of smiling Buddha.

Statue of Ganesha


















Saw these scenes while biking to Edgartown. It was worth it to stop and capture them on camera.





























Heading home on the ferry...I can't wait to return.














The sun sets on a beautiful vacation!

Sit back, relax and have a listen to Patti Page sing.

Old Cape Cod

If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Winding roads that seem to beckon you
Miles of green beneath a sky of blue
Church bells chimin' on a Sunday morn
Remind you of the town where you were born

If you spend an evening you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you spend an evening you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

[From her album: 'Greatest Hits' (Columbia)]