Florida Storytelling Association Story Camp

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March 25-28, 2010 was an exciting time for me as I attended and presented two workshops at the Florida Story Camp near Leesburg, FL. Approximately 137 folks participated in workshops, concerts, and networking. Workshops and outstanding concerts in the evenings kept my mind awake reviewing the day when I finally laid down at night.

In my workshop Without Skipping a Beat: Incorporating Music into your Storytelling, we discussed several of the benefits of including music as a part of your stories.
Research says:
1. Music teaches concentration - children are waiting and watching for their turn.
2. Music teaches coordination - children learn eye and hand coordination using instruments. This is valuable for writing.
3. Music teaches self confidence - children can participate in group activities without feeling like they are being put in the spotlight.
4. Music enhances abstract reasoning skills and is reported highly superior to computer training.
5. Music effects children emotionally teaching patience and perserverance through practice. Also, music can spin us up and calm us down.

We sang simple songs that we already knew and discussed how to change the words to meet your needs. We finished out session using homemade kazoos and sang On Top of Spaghetti with the story by Paul Brett Johnson.

What's in the red box?

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The Cat in the Hat finds a red box. Do you remember from the story what was in the box?

Dr. Seuss's Birthday

Read Across America is a giant birthday bash to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss. More than 300 students at Heritage Elementary enjoyed the Cat in the Hat's antics. On March 2, our stories included Green Eggs and Ham, Mr Brown Can Moo, and the Thinks You Can Think. The audience enjoyed a Cat Quizzer Game where a student outwitted the teacher with knowledge about Dr. Seuss.

Take the quiz and see how you do: True or False

1. Dr. Seuss's real name is Richard Seuss Geisel.
2. Dr. Seuss would be 106 years old if he were alive today.
3. Dr. Seuss won the Caldecott Book Award twice.
4. The first book published by Dr. Seuss is Green Eggs and Ham.
5. Dr. Seuss was a real doctor.

Answers:
1. F His real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel.
2 T He was born March 2, 1904.
3. F He did receive 3 Honor Book Awards but never the Medal for best book of the year.
4. F The first book published was To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street.
5. F Dr. Seuss's father had wanted him to become a college professor but he never did.