Unlock the Possibilities: Enhance Your Online Presence!



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While preparing for a conference presentation, Enhance Your Online Presence, I sent a questionnaire to a large number of storytelling colleagues. I asked, “What is preventing you from writing a blog?” These are the top three answers I received:

1. No time

Indeed, blogging can be time consuming but that also depends on the subject and your writing style. Because most of my posts require research, I spend approximately four to six hours on each subject, but I have also written and published a post within an hour. The choice is up to you.

The marketing hat is the most difficult one to wear but it is a necessary evil. Experts now say that potential customers must see your information at least 12 times before they remember you. If you are serious about engaging and maintaining a dialog with your clients and colleagues, a blog remains the strongest and most ideal platform.

2. Fear of the technology

You have all the time you need to design your template, choose the font, your color palette, decide what layout to use, you can even write your first blog post. Nothing will be visible to anyone until you hit the publish button. You are in control!

3. Nothing worthwhile to say

After I recovered from the shock of storytellers believing they had nothing to say, I comprised a short list of blog topics:

• Share personal or professional experience
• Turn a press release into a blog article
• Ask and answer questions
• Conduct an interview
• Provide tutorials
• Publish a list of links on a topic
• Offer a list of ideas or trends

There are hundreds of ideas waiting to be selected.

“Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets
you apart as an expert in your field.”   - Penelope Trunk

Blogs will:

• sharpen your writing skills
• build community
• set you apart from the competition
• demonstrate commitment and passion for your work
• create your unique niche
• allow you to share your knowledge and expertise
• establish and manage your online reputation
• increase your search engine rankings

My readers come from all over the world: Russia, Malaysia, Greece, South Korea, Thailand, Slovenia, Australia, England, Italy, Poland, China, Ireland, Taiwan, and the Netherlands, to name just a few. It is remarkable to realize the vast audiences we can reach through social media. However, this didn’t happen overnight. It took time, persistence and offering practical information so my readers will return again and again.

 “A blog is in many ways, a continuing conversation.” – Andrew Sullivan

I have forged some wonderful relationships and alliances through my blog, most notably with Bill Lampton, president of Championship Communications. He has featured me on his business blog, interviewed me on his radio show and included my work in his honor roll of Pinnacle Seekers . I've been invited to write for other publications, both nationally and internationally, in fact, this post is based on an article I wrote for a UK Storytelling Magazine. You never know where one connection will take you or how it will enhance your reputation, and work.

Would you like to take your business to the next level in a fun and accessible environment?  I invite you to spend time with me this Saturday, March 29, in my workshop, Enhance Your Online Presence: Blog It Baby! at the LANES Northeast Storytelling Conference in Amherst, MA. Then stay for Sunday’s workshop, Branding: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt! with me and my co-presenter, the knowledgeable Simon Brooks. Not only do we will give you the immediate tools to get your started, there will be additional offerings to take home to continue the process. Plus, we have chocolate! Details on the entire conference can be found at www.lanes.org .

By blogging and branding wisely you have the ability to take your business to the next level. I am a firm believer in the mantra “A rising tide floats all boats.” Why not begin to chart your own course this weekend by spending spend time with us!

Karen Chace 2014 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

March Goes Out Like a Lamb...Folktales and More to Celebrate Lambs and Spring

Young Girl with Lamb
by
Emile Munier, 1840-1895



At the beginning of March I shared a blog post with stories about lions, courtesy of the old adage, “March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb.” While spring has finally arrived in the United States, you would never know it by the calendar.

Here in Massachusetts, we are expecting a traditional Nor’easter this week, but instead of rain, they are predicting more snow. It looks like the area where I live may hit the jackpot, with over a foot of snow.

As they say in New England, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” So with that in mind, I will continue to think positive and offer you stories of lovely lambs who greet the world in springtime.

The Black Lamb – Ireland
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/yeats/fip/fip39.htm 

The Clever Rabbit – China
http://chinesefolktales.blogspot.com/2008/01/clever-rabbit-mongol.html

The Lamb with the Golden Fleece- Magyars
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_folk-tales_of_the_Magyars/The_Lamb_with_the_Golden_Fleece

The Lamb and the Jackal – Khmer
http://khmerfashion.blogspot.com/2008/03/khmer-folk-tale-8-lamb-and-jackal.html

The Little Lamb and the Little Fish
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm141.html

The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up House – Norway
http://oaks.nvg.org/ntales47.html#shepigous

The Sheep, the Lamb, the Wolf, and the Hare – Tibet
https://spellbinders.org/story/the-sheep-the-lamb-the-wolf-and-the-hare/ 

Why the Lamb is Meek – Brazil
http://www.worldoftales.com/South_American_folktales/South_American_Folktale_9.html

ACTIVITY

March Play: The Lion and the Lamb – An adorable, preschool activity based on the poem, _The Lion and the Lamb_.
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/preschool-crafts-activities/65462-lion-and-the-lamb-march-fingerplay/

ART

How to Draw a Lamb
https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-a-lamb/ 

BOOKS

The Best Children’s Books About Sheep
http://farmerswifeandmummy.com/the-best-childrens-books-about-sheep/

CRAFTS

DLTK-Kids.com – So many adorable lamb crafts: origami, puppets, masks and more.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/lambs.htm

Allkidsnetwork.com – Easy, cotton ball lamb craft; too cute.

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/farm/sheep-craft.asp

CURRICULUM

Smithsonianmag.com – 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' is Based on a True Story

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mary-had-little-lamb-based-true-story-180963330/   

First-School – Preschool activities and crafts.

http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/farm/lamb.htm

Preschool Express.com – Lesson plan for the little ones: art, number recognition, language, movement and more.

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/theme-station08/lambs-apr08.shtml

Sheep 101 – Information about different kinds of sheep, the history of sheep, what they eat and more.

http://www.sheep101.info/lambing.html

FINGERPLAY

Here Is The Barn 

Here is the barn (Form a roof shape with your hands)
Where I like to go (Walk in place)
It's as tall as a tree (Point up overhead)
And cozy, you know (Hug body with arms)

Here is the barn, (Make a roof shape with your hands)
I'll go there with you (Walk in place)
To pet a sweet lamb (Pretend to pet a lamb)
And cuddle it, too! (Pretend to hug a lamb)

GAME

Growing Play – Wolf and Sheep Tag
http://growingplay.blogspot.com/2012/05/simple-outdoor-tag-game.html

SONGS



Baa Baa Black Sheep
by
Dorothy Wheeler, 1916

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow,
Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day, school one day,
It followed her to school one day, but that was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb at school.

For the longer version visit https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46954/mary-had-a-little-lamb

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa Baa Black sheep have you any wool.

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for my master,
one for the dame,
and one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

Little Bo Peep

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and can’t tell where to find them,

Leave them alone and they will come home.
Wagging their tails behind them.

STORY STRETCH

I’m a Baby Lamb (To tune of: I’m a Little Teapot)
* I found this rhyme on http://fingerplays-b3ok.blogspot.com/2012/10/newborn-lamb.html and added the actions the action to turn it into a story stretch.

I'm a baby lamb (point to self)

just born today  (rock arms back and forth as if rocking a baby)
I want to run around and play  (turn around while stamping feet)
I am very hungry, I must eat (rub belly)
So I'll grow up big like my daddy sheep. (bend down as you begin this line then stand up and point to sky)

March Comes in Like a Lion…Folktales That Roar!
This link will lead you to the blog post I wrote at the beginning of March.

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-comes-in-like-lionfolktales-that.html

Two previous blog posts to welcome spring:

Birds, Bees and Butterflies

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/04/birds-bees-and-butterflies.html

Spring is Here! Make Way for Ducking’s

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/04/spring-is-here-make-way-for-ducklings.html

Karen Chace 2014 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Stor e Telling: June July 2013

Lise Sewing
Renoir, 1866

Last year I undertook the project of placing all of my 2007-2012 Stor e Telling columns, from Storytelling Magazine on my blog. Now that 2014 is here I will begin to share all of my columns from 2013. I will not be adding current columns until the following year, so if you want immediate access to the newest websites, please consider becoming a member of the National Storytelling Network. 

Below are the sites I offered for the June/July 2013 issue. There are sites to complement the state of Virginia, location for the National Storytelling Conference in 2013, as well as sites to celebrate Thread the Needle Day, Adopt a Cat Month, Canada Day, Cow Appreciation and Yellow Pig Day, and two previous blogs to help you slide into summer!So much to celebrate and so little time! I hope you find something fun to tell!

American Folklore - Folklore from Virginia; a pour quoi Tale and two ghost stories await.

http://tinyurl.com/dye6mhu

Richmond.gov  – Everything you need to know about Richmond; business, transportation, maps, tours, cultural events and more.

http://www.richmondgov.com/index.aspx

Tripadvisor.com – Read about eighty-two different activities in Richmond, including museums, theater, landmarks, etc., and how other visitors have rated them.
http://tinyurl.com/c5ds5fp

Virginia Historical Society - The Story of Virginia, an American Experience“This award-winning exhibition interprets 16,000 years of Virginia history from the earliest artifacts of Native Americans to Virginia at the beginning of the 21st century. This online version allows you to explore the galleries through a new virtual tour.”
http://www.vahistorical.org/storyofvirginia.htm

Visitrichmondva.com – Another site to help you plan your trip, including restaurants that cater to groups, discount coupons, and a free visitor’s guide.

http://tinyurl.com/csexbw6

June is National Adopt a Cat Month and these stories will have you purring in no time at all!

The Boy Who Drew Cats – Japan

http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/045.html

The Cat’s Elopement – Japan
http://tinyurl.com/cllzb9b
Cat and Mouse in Partnership - Germany
http://tinyurl.com/c8uzndv
Domingo’s Cat – South America
http://tinyurl.com/c3kpech
Why Cats and Dogs Never Get Along – Haiti

http://tinyurl.com/26odwdz

You will find these seven folktales at the link below, along with a few Aesop fables.

• How Cat’s Got Their Purr – England
• The Master Cat, or Puss n’ Boots - France
• The White Cat - France
• Kissa the Cat - Denmark
• The Lion and the Cat - England
• The Cottager and His Cat - Iceland
• The Clever Cat - Iran

http://tinyurl.com/c6uu7jv

Twelve different stories about cats from Nigeria, Palestine, Tibet and other countries around the world.

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/cat.html

July 1 is Canada Day. Here are some tales to celebrate our friends to the north.

Canadian Fairy Tales by Cyrus Macmillan. Twenty-six folktales published in 1922.

http://tinyurl.com/7pq6swz

Canadian Folklore – Twenty-four stories to add to your repertoire.

http://tinyurl.com/bu3se6b

Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus Macmillan, 1918. Find out How Summer Came to Canada, meet The Boy and His Three Helpers, The Duck with the Red Feet and many more.

http://tinyurl.com/cfe6ys2

Since the beaver is Canada’s national symbol I offer you some tales to celebrate our furry friend.

Native American Beaver Mythology

http://tinyurl.com/cxzrzl7

Turtle Races With Beaver

http://www.greenwing.org/teachersguide/win02/win02moreabt.html

July 25 is Thread the Needle Day; here are some stories to help you “stitch” a story together!

Baba Yaga – Russia

http://tinyurl.com/brv2dkv

Last Darning Needle – USA

http://tinyurl.com/783amj9

 

The Darning Needle - England

http://tinyurl.com/botmpny

Spindle, Shuttle and Needle – German

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm188.html

The Tsarevna Frog - Russia

http://tinyurl.com/l8vebl

The Wasp, the Winged Needle and the Spider - Brittany

http://tinyurl.com/bvxgmwn

July also brings us Cow Appreciation Day and Yellow Pig Day. Here is a blog post on Barnyard Animals from 2012, which includes stories, curriculum, songs and crafts.

Down on the Farm – Animal Stories

http://tinyurl.com/bofaktq

Two additional blog posts to help you slide into summer!

Birds, Bees and Butterflies

http://tinyurl.com/cl6glnb

Slide Into Summer with Skits, Stories and Songs

http://tinyurl.com/d9qjs69

The link below will take you to all of the Stor e Telling blog posts, with synopses, from my 2007-2012 columns for the national Storytelling Magazine.


http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/stor-e-telling-columns-2007-to-2012.html

Let me know if you find this useful; I love to hear from you! Please note that if you comment on the blog below it will not appear until I allow it to be published. Sadly, I had to implement that fail safe to avoid spam messages from being published. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2014 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Wee Ones: Songs, Rhymes & Fingerplays



Antique Postcard, 1910

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and the children will be looking here, there, and everywhere for Leprechauns. Why not have some fun while you wait for them to appear?

These finger plays, songs and story stretches are found all around the web with no attribution. I put this list together for a lapsit program last year and thought I would share them with you.  I hope you find something fun to use in your classroom, library or storytelling program.

COUNTING AND FINGERPLAYS

Five Little Shamrocks

One green shamrock, in the morning dew,
Another one sprouted, and then there were two.
Two green shamrocks, growing beneath a tree;
Another one sprouted and then there were three.
Three green shamrocks, by the cottage door;
Another one sprouted, and then there were four.
Four green shamrocks, near a beehive
Another one sprouted, and then there were five.
Five little shamrocks, bright and emerald green,
Think of all the luck these shamrocks will bring.

Five Little Leprechauns

Five little leprechauns were dancing on the shore.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were four.
Four little leprechauns were dancing merrily.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were three.
Three little leprechauns danced a jig as they can do.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were two.
Two little leprechauns were dancing on the run.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were one.
One little leprechaun was lonely as could be.
The king called the leprechauns and gave them cakes and tea.

The Leprechaun

A leprechaun is small and green, (Use hand to indicate a small person.)

He hides where he cannot be seen. (Cover eyes with hands.)
But if you catch one on this day, (Shake finger.)
He must give his gold away. (Pretend to put gold in pocket.)

SONGS

I’m a Little Leprechaun (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little leprechaun short and stout.
Look at my top hat and hear me shout.
when I get all excited, listen to me dear.
St. Patrick's Day is now right here.

Leprechaun Where Are You? (Tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Leprechaun, Leprechaun,
where are you?

I tried to catch you,
but away you flew.

I'm going to get you just wait and see!
Then all your gold will belong to me!
Leprechaun, Leprechaun,
where are you?

STORY STRETCH

Do your Ears Point Up?

Do your ears point up? (Pull on tops of ears.)
Do you have a lot of luck? (Cross fingers.)
For gold do you dig? (Pretend to dig.)
Can you dance an Irish jig? (Dance a jig.)
If you answered, "Yes," (Nod head.)
You're a leprechaun, I'd guess! (Wink eye.)

We’re Going On A Leprechaun Hunt

We’re going on a leprechaun hunt. We’re not afraid.
Oh. look! I see a grassy field.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Got to go through it.
Swish, swish, swish, swish.
Oh, look! I see a giant tree.
Can't go over it. Can't go under it. Can't go through it. Got to go up it.
Climb, climb, climb.
Oh, look! I see a river.
Can't go over it. Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Got to swim through it.
Let's go. Swim, swim, swim.
Oh, look! I see a dark cave.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Got to go in it.
Tip toe, tip toe, tip toe toe.
It's really dark in here. Better turn on my flashlight.
Oh, no. I see something!
It's mean! It's green! It's a leprechaun! Let's go!
Run! Run! Swim! Swim! Climb! Climb! Swish! Swish!

Two previous posts for St. Patrick's Day, with stories, songs, crafts and more  can be found at these links:

May the Road Rise to Meet You
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2011/02/may-road-rise-up-to-meet-youcelebrating.html

Sláinte mhaith! (Good health)

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2010/02/slainte-mhaith-good-health.html

Karen Chace 2014 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.