Professional Development

Note: Handouts and workshop supplies are to be provided by the host. If there are more than 50 participants, Dianne requires a wireless headset or lavaliere microphone. Wireless is important has Dianne MUST to be hands-free to instruct. Please contact Dianne for professional development seminar fees.

 

A is for Alligator: Draw and Tell Tales from A-Z
Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-6)/Librarians
Workshop participants will learn how to create unique draw-n-tell tales that use each letter of the alphabet to illustrate animals with accompanying stories that everyone will love! Participants will be amazed as the lines they draw become a clever picture of favorite animals. A fun way to introduce the alphabet and science in early childhood literacy. Limit 100 participants. A is for Alligator: Draw and Tell Tales from A-Z is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2011). Materials are provided by host. 60 min. – 2 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot table (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Drawing pad on an easel or dry erase board
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • 10 sheets of 8 ½ X 11” white paper per attendee
  • Pens
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take
Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-5)/Librarians/Storytellers
In this “hands-on” workshop, participants will learn tales that use hands as an active part of the telling: string stories, draw and tell, cut and tell, paper tales (fold and tell, roll books, paper fortune teller tales), hand stories and finger plays, and other tales (handkerchiefs, napkins, and towels). Limit 100 participants. Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2008). Materials are provided by host. 60 min. – 3 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot table (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Drawing pad on an easel or dry erase board
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • 10 sheets of various color 8 ½ X 11” paper per attendee
  • Bandanas (1 per attendee – these can be found at Wal-Mart for $1.00 each)
  • Yarn for the string figures (4 ft. per person)
  • Inexpensive white body-size towel (optional – 1 per attendee)
  • Scissors
  • Pens
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Handmade Tales 2: More Stories to Make and Take
Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-5)/Librarians/Storytellers
In this “hands-on” workshop, participants will learn tales that use hands as an active part of the telling: string stories, draw and tell, cut and tell, paper tales (fold and tell, tear and tell, paper plate tales, and paper bag tales), and other tales (handkerchiefs, napkins, and towels). Limit 100 participants. Handmade Tales 2: More Stories to Make and Take is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2012). Materials are provided by host. 60 min. – 3 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot table (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Drawing pad on an easel or dry erase board
  • 10 sheets of various color 8 ½ X 11” paper per attendee
  • Bandanas (1 per attendee – these can be found at Wal-Mart for $1.00 each)
  • Yarn for the string figures (4 ft. per person)
  • A washcloth (optional – 1 per attendee)
  • Scissors
  • Pens
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Kamishibai Story Theater: The Japanese Art of Picture Telling
Audience: Teachers (Gr. 3-8)/Librarians
Kamishibai is the Japanese art of telling with pictures. Dianne will guide participants in telling stories from Asia with self-illustrated story cards. The workshop culminates in a collective performance of a Kamishibai story by the workshop participants. An amazing collaborative process, this workshop brings out the creativity in each participant. Limit 100 participants. Kamishibai Story Theater: The Japanese Art of Picture Telling is a title with Teacher Ideas Press (September 2006). 60 min. – 2 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot tables (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • Poster board
  • Crayons and/or markers
  • Pencils
  • Glue sticks
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Picture Book Make and Takes
Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-3)/Librarians
Through fun, hands-on activities using Author & Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas’ picture books: The Cajun Cornbread Boy, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, Mama’s Bayou, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, and There’s a Dragon in the Library, workshop participants will enliven their libraries and classrooms. Participants will learn how to use masks from The Cajun Cornbread Boy, “story shakers” from Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, a story time magnet board from Mama’s Bayou, a cookbook from The Gigantic Sweet Potato, and a Dewey the Dragon accordion puppet from There’s a Dragon in the Library. In addition, participants will learn songs that accompany the stories, create a story theater, and leave with a plethora of ideas to incorporate into story time. Dianne’s “Tell Along Tales” are kid-friendly and specifically designed for the read aloud. All the materials are inexpensive and easy to find, and templates are printable and free from Dianne’s website. Every librarian and teacher will leave inspired and revved-up. 60 min – 3 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot tables (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • Crayons and/or markers
  • Pencils
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Large dinner-size paper plates (not foam) & beans, rice or beads (a handful per participant)
  • Construction paper
  • Jumbo craft (popsicle) sticks
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Scared Silly: Telling Tales that Tickle and Thrill
Audience: Teachers (Gr. K-6)/Librarians
Through Dianne’s signature audience participation storytelling techniques, teachers and librarians will explore the anatomy of a scary story, learn techniques for telling to all ages, and take home several ready-made tales that tickle and thrill. This workshop is also great for parents and camp counselors. Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2009). A complete handout is provided. Limit 100 participants 60 min. – 2 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • 6 foot table
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales
Audience: Teachers (Gr. K-6)/Librarians
Hands-on and interactive, the Stories on Board! workshop will have participants creating fun board games with adapted tales from around the world. Working in groups, participants will select their favorite folktales, storymap, and turn the stories into colorful board games they will play, integrating language arts, math, and social studies. Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2010). Limit 100 participants 60 min. – 3 hrs.

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • Two 4-6 foot tables (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • Poster board (large poster board can be cut in half)
  • Crayons and/or markers
  • Pencils
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Story Fest: Reading Comprehension Through Story Theater
Audience: Teachers (Gr. 2-6)/Librarians
Through Dianne’s innovative story theater scripts designed for whole classroom participation, creative movement, drama, and rhythm instruments, teachers and librarians will explore storytelling and collectively create a performance masterpiece! Fast-paced and fun! The technique is easily implemented in the classroom or library. Limit 100 participants. Story Fest: Crafting Story Theater Scripts is a title with Teacher Ideas Press (November 2005). 60 min. – 2 hrs.

 

Supplies: (Dianne provides rhythm instruments and colorful scarves.)
Host to provide:

  • 4-6 foot table
  • Ample space for moving around
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Story Safari
(Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-12)/Librarians/Storytellers/General Public)
Get wild about storytelling! Using stories from around the world, Dianne will take participants on a journey into storytelling. Participants will step inside the creative process and explore the basics of story development and telling. This interactive and engaging workshop is sure to inspire! Limit 100 participants. 75 min. – 3 hrs.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • 6 foot table
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Tangram Tales: Story Theater with the Ancient Puzzle
Audience: Teachers (Gr. K-6)/Librarians
Through Dianne’s signature story theater technique developed for whole classroom participation, teachers and librarians will explore the Tangram, an ancient Chinese puzzle. Combining math and storytelling with geometric manipulatives, the workshop content can be tailored to succeed with all grades. Participants will work with Tangrams and create a Tangram story theater. The fun and inspiring technique is easily implemented in the classroom or library. A complete handout includes reproducibles. Tangram Tales: Story Theater with the Ancient Chinese Puzzle is a title with Libraries Unlimited (2008). Limit 100 participants 60 min. – 2 hrs.

 

Supplies: (Dianne provides scissors and demonstration Tangrams.)
Host to provide:

  • 4-6 foot table
  • Magnetic dry erase board
  • Various color 8 ½ X 11” foam sheets (one per attendee)
  • Three sheets of various color 8 ½ X 11” paper per attendee
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

Tell Along Tales: Playing with Participation Stories
Audience: Teachers (Gr. PK-3)/Librarians/Storytellers
Shake, Rattle & Play! Using movement, chants, songs, and rhythm instruments, participants will explore how to play with stories using audience participation. Don’t expect to stay seated in this workshop! Participants will leave with tales they use for audience participation story times. Tell Along Tales: Playing with Participation Stories is a title with Libraries Unlimited (forthcoming). Limit 100 participants. 60 min. – 3 hrs.

 

Supplies: (Dianne provides rhythm instruments.)
Host to provide:

  • 4-6 foot table
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • Short paper tubes, paper towels rolls and/or empty plastic bottles
  • Beans, rice, or beads
  • Copies of workshop handouts

 

The “Write” Recipe for a Story
(Audience: Teachers (Gr. 4-8)/Librarians/Storytellers/General Public)
Using her book, The Little “Read” Hen, Dianne takes participants through a fun, yet fast-paced creative writing workshop that highlights the steps of story writing: brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, editing, and proofing. At the end of the workshop, participants create a small book that they can take home.

 

Supplies:
Host to provide:

  • One 6 foot table (one for supplies & one for resource display)
  • Drawing pad on an easel or dry erase board
  • Tables and chairs for workshop participants
  • 2 sheets of 8 ½ X 11” white paper per attendee
  • Pencils
  • Copies of workshop handouts

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