I've had an afternoon storytelling club for elementary students now for about 20 years.  We're beginning this year's "Tiger Tellers" club this Tuesday so I thought it would be fun and hopefully educational for anyone out there that might consider creating a storytelling club yourself or at least using some of our ideas and activities in the classroom or library!  We'll meet twice every month until mid May. It looks like we'll have about 30 students this year based on the first round of forms that were sent out to all of the 3rd - 5th graders at Tuscany Heights Elementary.  Our school caters to several after school clubs so the students have a pow wow with their parents and decide whether they can commit themselves to one of these clubs. This year there will be four of us (two teachers, one librarian, and myself) sponsoring the club. I know how fortunate I am to have these sponsors! Often, we divide these students up into smaller groups so they don't feel intimidated while polishing the stories that they are working on and the groups are perfect for active, engaging activities.  Below are two forms that I use to entice the students to join the club. I'm keeping them in Word Doc. so you can easily change it all around when you're ready to jump in;) - see, I have high hopes for clubs to appear everywhere!

I'm preparing for my storytelling workshop held at Region 20 this Friday, Sept. 20th (20th annual Librarian Roundup). My workshop is integrating the new with the ancient - where digital storytelling meeting back porch telling.  There's a few links that I think are pretty powerful when it comes to using your creativity on line with your stories. I thought I would pass them on. Visit this website: www.symbaloo.com/mix/onceuponadigitaltime

If you haven't bookmarked Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything, then stop what you are doing right now and bookmark her because her site is amazing.  She's dedicated a very detailed page to digital storytelling and it really does have EVERYTHING on it. I'll definitely be highlighting her website on Friday. Check it out: http://www.schrockguide.net/digital-storytelling.html

From the very beginning of time there's been stories. We live each day through the stories we've heard, the ones we've experienced, and the hint of stories to come. Why not share these stories with your students? I'm elated to know that I can use this blog to excite you about the infinite ways you can incorporate story into your classroom, your library, your life.  Why not begin with memories from your childhood or family time around a campfire. A campfire (real or virtual) is a way to open up the door to lore. Inevitably, what always happens around a campfire? (thinking pause) Right, stories just naturally begin. Terry Smyth has passed his Campfire Ambience on to you. Listen and stir up some tales.

Virtual Campfire Activities:

1. Engage your students right off the bat without giving any instructions except to take it all in.  Proceed by setting the mood by rubbing your hands together and asking everyone to move closer to the fire for a story.  What makes up a good story around a campfire? We need a beginning, a middle, and an end. We can't forget the problem to the story, etc.  Now, tell your tale, modeling an easy tale of your choice. You could then divide the students up into smaller groups to pull from their background knowledge stories that they know. You might want to set your boundaries on appropriate types of tales.

2. Writing Activity: Often times, we enjoy creating a Writing Camp of sorts, probably right before the students take their state writing tests - ugh!  Why not include this virtual fire for one of your writing stations. You could have free writing taking place in which the students choose what ever they would like to write, or have some prompts ready to go that would engage all the learners. Here's a few examples:
a. Write about a time you got lost. Don't forget to add detail and description. 
b. Write about a funny or ackward time when you went to camp. Don't forget to add detail and description.

3. Cool website for camp stories and more: http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/campfire-stories.html