All Hands on Deck:

A Puppeteer's Guide to Storytelling

On May 12, 2012 a host of puppeteer wannabe's gathered, watched, created, played and had fun learning the basics of puppet manipulation. This workshop, geared for adults (but just as much fun for kids), is the first in a summer long series that will culminate in a grand Puppet Festival this September. Also, watch for the upcoming release of The World's Best Guide to Puppet Making and Puppetry, a Familius publication by Mark Pulham, Joe Flores and Amy White.

We watched

Paige: What do you mean I'm a puppet! 

What monster?

Uhmm . . . . Ahhahhhahahahhhhhhh!

We made

We played

And fun was had by all

_______________________________

Interested in more? 

The OPL will be doing monthly Puppeteering Workshops

June 22, 2012  Friday 10:00 a.m.

July 20, 2012 Friday 10:00 a.m.

August 17, 2012 Friday 10:00 a.m.

Call 801-229-7161 for more information

or

Check the Calendar at

http://lib.orem.org/

One last thing - remember the FAB (Fabric Art's Boutique) coming up June 11-16 at the Orem Library? Rumor has it that there will be some hand created puppets up for silent auction at the FAB.
click here to see 2 puppets made from the same pattern
(Pictures will be posted as soon as puppets are ready - they will all look VERY different)

All Hands on Deck!

All Hands on Deck: A Puppeteer's Guide to Storytelling

Saturday May 12, 10:00 a.m.
Orem Public Library, Storytelling Wing 
 

Come one, come all! 

Expert Puppeteer Mark and puppet addict Amy will be on hand to show you how to make the best use of your hand, at least puppet-wise.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. sharp, Mark will present:

Once Upon a Time, a puppet show for all ages

Following the show everyone will get a chance to learn some basic puppet skills with their very own set of puppet eyes (free supplies are available for the first 72 registrants). This simple make and take will help you sail on to puppet manipulation success even after you leave the workshop.

After some simple exercises, accompanied by a lot of fun, a few volunteer beginners will have an opportunity to show off their new-found puppet skills. Too shy to be a volunteer? Now worries mate, the resulting show is guaranteed to be a boat-load of laughs.

So don’t be a lily-livered landlubber, this is one program you won’t want to miss! Children and Adults are invited to this hour-long interactive puppet show and workshop. And let's bring your puppets to life!

Register at the Children’s Desk or by calling 801-229-7161.


See you there!

p.s. Last minute attendee? Not in the first 72? No problem, a veritable plethora of puppets will be on hand(s). Soon, you too will come to see the magic that can be had whilst playing with puppets!
___

Stay tuned for some opportunities to watch Amy and Mark make puppets. As part of a living advertisement for the upcoming Fabric Arts Boutique, we will be front and center in the library, demonstrating the art of making fleece puppets. All created puppets will be available for bidding at the FAB Boutique silent auction.

Wannabe a Puppet Workshop

Just popping in real quick to announce the dates for our upcoming workshop . . .

When:

Thursday November 10th, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday November 12th, 10:00 a.m.

Where:

Orem Public Library

What:

A hands on workshop where you get to explore your creative side and turn a stuffed animal into a puppet. Supplies are provided free for all of our storytelling volunteers. Other attendees are welcome, but you will need to call for details. (no worries, it is still free)

Best of all... you get to take home and keep your creation.

RSVP required.

So come on in and join the fun!

Amy

____________________________

Official Invitation

Dear Storyteller,

Want to add a little bit of the unexpected to your storytimes? Want to have something extra in your bag of tricks? Want to just have fun?
Join us for our Fall Storytelling Workshop as we explore with a little hands-on creativity.

There are as many ideas as there are blogs and hits from a Google search. This fall we will give you a list of some favorites, show you some ideas we have gathered from far and wide and then get down and dirty as you actually make your own Wannabe Puppet. Expert puppeteer Joe Flores will be here to assist us as we turn a few stuffed animals into puppets!

Supplies will be provided, but if you have some of the following you would like to bring for your personal use, please feel free:

• Glue gun, with glue sticks
• Felt pieces
• Long (new) dark colored socks or White (non-athletic) socks
• Needles and Thread
• Scissors
• Plastic Canvas / Large plastic ice cream tub lids or quart-size yogurt container lids
• Heavy duty scissors for cutting plastic
• Make-up sponge (for applying contact glue)

Amy has been collecting and washing a plethora of Wannabe’s (stuffed animals who really want to be puppets). There will be enough for everyone, but if find your perfect Wannabe, feel free to bring it instead.

We know an hour is not a lot of time for a project like this, but don’t despair; our goal is to give you all the instruction, ideas and supplies you need to get a good start. You are welcome to come both days if you would like. Workshops will be held on Thursday, November 10th at 7:00 pm, or on Saturday, November 12th at 10:00 am. Please RSVP by calling 801-229-7161.

We hope what we create at this workshop will be a fun addition to your future storytimes. As always, we feel that the best thing about Laptime and Storytime is YOU. You find the great books, you put the effort into knowing your material, you and your love of sharing and caring shines through each time you present a program. Kids can sense how you feel about books and reading. It’s that infectious adoration of good books that turns the littlest of our Littles into those avid readers and book hounds. Thank you!
Sincerely,
OPL Children’s Staff

Storytelling Workshop - Second

There's More than One Way to Spin a Tale

Part Two

In order to give our volunteers more options in attending, we usually present each workshop twice. Although we stayed true to the overall theme this go-round, the programs were different. Each day had different storytellers sharing their ideas. Thursday evening was more nursery and traditional tale day and Saturday was more Folk and Fairy tales.

Following are some more brave souls who not only prepare incredible story and laptimes for our children's programming, but also shared their ideas with adults--fellow storytelling adults no less!

Michelle is wonderfully creative and a long time favorite, forever pulling something new out of her bag, here Michelle has not only crafted some bees for the kids to handle, but has has a new tune to Here is the Hive!

Storytelling Workshops - First Workshop

There's More than One Way to Spin a Tale
Part One

What an inspiration our fabulous volunteer storytellers are!

Checklist:
Invitations went out
RSVP's were collected
Books were pulled for display
Snacks were prepared (Fruit, Cookies and fresh Lemon water)
Program was printed
Nametags prepared
Display put up

And we are ready to go

The following are a few video selections of our storytellers showing the the rest of us a little of what they do in story or laptime for variety, because, as we all know - there is more than one way to tell a tale!

...and the workshop was wonderful!

ToriAnn did a beautiful job talking about putting together lap and storytimes~ I even learned a lot!

...and the food just made it perfect!

OPL 2009 Workshops

Putting It All Together


November 12, 2009 7:00 pm @ the Orem Public Library
~ all are welcome
____________________
 
This is just a quick post on our upcoming Storyteller Training Workshop!
 
“Putting It All Together” with ToriAnn Perkey

Having trouble organizing your Storytimes or Laptimes? Worried about running out of material or trying to cram everything in? Practice putting together old favorites in new and creative ways, while getting help and sharing advice with your fellow storytellers.

Refreshments (including chocolate!) will be served.

Please call the main Children’s desk, 801-229-7161 to RSVP by November 10th.

We are in the process of planning workshops for next year as well, so if you are interested in learning a specific skill or topic, or are interested in offering a workshop, please let Kim, Amy or Cheryl know. Some sessions we are considering include new storytelling resources, both print and electronic, nonfiction storytimes, and a more in-depth puppetry and puppet creation workshop.

Thank you for your amazing creativity, boundless energy, and dedicated service to the Library and our favorite young patrons. We simply could not do it without you!

Workshops - 2009

OPL's 2009 Volunteer Storyteller Workshops
a series of 4...


1- Emergent Literacy
February 26, 2009 / Print Motivation, Print Awareness, Vocabulary & Letter Knowledge

2- Emergent Literacy
April 2009 / Phonological Awareness & Narrative Skills

3- The Storycrafters
June 15, 2009 at the Orem Public Library / call 801-229-7264 for registration information

4- Putting It All Together
November 12, 2009 7:00 pm @ the Orem Public Library (all are welcome)

__________________________


Notes on Emergent Literacy

The first 2 workshops we discussed Emergent Literacy and how it applies to the way we do storytelling in our Library.

I have to say that I personally think that a lot of Emergent Literacy 'stuff' tends to interfere with the actual storytelling.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in Emergent Literacy, it's just that it's very easy to interject too many 'asides' or 'added information'. Those two-year olds are just not going to keep track of a story if you keep stopping the flow to impart some 'ER nugget of wisdom'.

This does not mean you can't learn from all the emergent literacy research and use the principles to enhance your storytelling.

So read on, look at the handout I created for our storytellers and check out some of the links I used for my research.


Emergent Literacy, Using the Library as a Resource:
Rhythm, Rhyme, Sing-Along’s & Fingerplays
Handout - Cover Handout - Inside
(if printing, print in Landscape - oh, and it prints clearer than it looks compared to when you just bring up the file onscreen)


A List of Emergent Literacy Links:


Utah Kids Ready to Read
http://library.utah.gov/programs/youth/brochures.html

Kids Love to Know
http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Preschool_Activities

Adoption.com
http://library.adoption.com/Teaching-and-Training-Children/Understanding-Literacy-Development-in-Young-Children/article/3380/1.html



Family Education.com
http://school.familyeducation.com/preschool/school-readiness/38411.html























links updated 3/10/11

WORKSHOPS

What FUN! The Orem Public Library is starting a Storyteller workshop series.

Check it out on the Arts Council calendar here

These workshops are specifically designed to further develop our wonderful storytime and laptime volunteers. Don't get me wrong, these tellers are already FABULOUS people, the creativity, the ideas, the energy, the love for books, music and fingerplays that they have. It's truly a wonder to see this many dedicated people in our community who monthly prepare and present fabulous story & laptimes for our community.

The workshops are being held so that we can all get together, share our ideas, methods and inspiration and maybe come away with new ideas, a renewed sense of enthusiasm and oodles of new story and laptime resources to try out.

_____________________________


We've had our first workshop and I am already hard at work implementing some of the suggestions and ideas!


One of the things I have created is a
Laptime & Storytime Discussion Group!

~The group is open to public viewing

~Only registered OPL Storytime and Laptime volunteers may:
.....post messages
.....view the member list
.....create pages
.....upload files

To be added to the member list:
click here
scroll down a bit
click on "Send email to the Owner"

Please use Storytime or Laptime in the subject of your email.
I'll get back to you asap. Now remember, currently I do this on my days off so give me a day or two to get back to you.

What I would like to see happen is active discussions on storytime and laptime ideas. A sharing of information, resources and inspiration. While I am not the most computer literate of librarians, I will strive to do my best to help anyone interested with creating their own blog, posting on the discussion group and uploading files.

I also plan on having a photo list of all the supplies available for our storytellers to use. I've got to figure the best way to do this. Currently I'm thinking it needs to be a page on the website - comments are welcome.

I would love to see our Teller's have their own Storytime and Laptime blogs. Just think of being able to direct parents and caregivers to your blog for a list of the fingerplays, songs and books you used in your program. Think of the future; podcasts, an online storyteller circle of links, more!

___________________________

If you are interested in becoming an OPL Volunteer Teller, come to the Orem Public Library, watch a few Storytimes and Laptimes. If would still like to be a volunteer, see us at the Children's Desk for the paperwork.

If circumstances prevent you from being an Orem Library Volunteer or you don't live anywhere near Orem, Utah - Please feel free to view the blog, website and discussion group for ideas & inspiration.

As I've said, I'm all about bringing people and information together, helping the kids of today grow up literate and educated and having fun while doing it.