Friends:

As you walk down the hall of this school, Jack and the Beanstalk greets you with a big grin. Look at the door next to Jack. You can see the scale of the mural. Story book characters decorate the walls in the halls of this school. I will post one every day so you can enjoy the art too. What a cheery sight as you’re walking down the hall!

Except for today’s weather (rain, lightning, flooding and tornados), it was a delightful second day at the local school where I am performing a story theater residency. The day began in a preschool classroom where I shared Louisiana stories, songs, and scarf activities to Cajun and Zydeo Music. The highlight of my day occured here. The preschool teacher said that a little girl who had NEVER participated in any group activities since the beginning of the year, participated in my activity. She said it was an incredible breakthrough. I was so touched and humbled by the power of the arts in education!

A fifth grader told me, “Ms. Dianne, you’re the best teacher I ever had!” Working with children puts such a smile on my face. Below, you will see 4th graders portraying a bus careening down a mountainside. They did such a marvelous job acting out their roles.

The teachers and the staff at this school have been phenomenal. They are so cooperative and helpful. They truly made me feel like part of the faculty, a member of their “family.” Plus, the students are a treasure. Below, fourth graders are portraying a woman walking her dog in Central Park, New York.

I look forward to another day of the joy of sharing stories! Vivre Louisiana!

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Today was the first day of my Louisiana Story Fest residency at a local school. The whole school is participating in a year-long study of Louisiana. Each grade is focusing on a different aspect of Louisiana. The school hired me as a teaching artist, through an arts grant, to work with the students using my signature story theater method. Our theme is “Louisiana Story Fest, based on the ideas outlined in my book, Story Fest: Crafting Story Theater Scripts. For grades PK-2, we are studying Louisiana folklore and music. I am telling Louisiana stories and doing scarf activities to explore Louisiana music (Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz). Here are first grade students using scarves and dancing to Zydeco music.

For grades 3-5, we are studying Louisiana folktales. I developed story theater scripts for each class, based on Louisiana folktales. The students worked with scarves, doing dramatic role-play. The scripts are designed for whole class participation. Everyone gets a part. The stories are divided into individual storyteller roles and then parts for a story “chorus.” The storytellers will narrate and act out the story while the chorus sings, chants, and dances their part. It’s a lot of fun. The fifth graders below are acting out a Mardi Gras parade, depicting a float with a king on top and Mardi Gras revelers surrounding the float.

I was tickled pink when a first grade boy gushed, “Ms. Dianne, this was the best day of my entire life!” A kindergartner told the class, “Ms. Dianne is better than the President of the United States!” Wow! Maybe the White House should hire me… LOL

The residency will culminate in grade level performances by grades 3-5. In addition, the lower grades and parents will be invited to watch the show. Story theater is a great way to explore language arts and reading comprehension in a fun and dynamic lesson. The whole brain is engaged as the students develop sequencing skills, work on problem solving, perform group work, and learn the stories. I look forward to the rest of my week with these students. It’s really cool that my work having a school-wide impact because I get to work on a longer-term basis. It’s not just a 45 minute performance. The skills and self-confidence students gain from performing can have lasting, life-long effects.

Support the arts in the schools! Happy Tales to You!

Warmly, Dianne