Debby LaBoon

9-17-09 Encyclomedia Story Fest Workshop - participants portraying a bus full of mischievous students in our story theater warm-up exercises

Friends:

Last last night, I arrived home from Oklahoma City, where I was a featured speaker at the Encyclo-Media conference, a statewide conference in Oklahoma for teachers, librarians, school counselors, and other educators. I taught three sessions on Thursday, September 17, 2009 – “Story Fest,” “Tell Along Tales” and “Tangram Tales.” The sessions were very well attended.

9-17-09 Encyclomedia Story Fest Workshop - participants rehearsing "The Turtle Who Could Not Stop Talking"

Tell Along Tales had a long line even after the workshop room was full and had to be closed due to the fire code. In the first session, Story Fest, the participants learned how to create instant story theater that involves every student in the group.

9-17-09 Encyclomedia Story Fest Workshop - participants performing "Country Mouse and City Mouse"

Unfortuntely, I forgot to take pictures during Tell Along Tales. The participants learned how to effectively use audience participation as well as how to manage an audience, which is sooo important when participation is involved.

In Tangram Tales, I showed the teachers and librarians how to combine math and language arts by using tangrams within storytelling. They learned how to manipulate tangrams and received a set to take back to school. They even created original tangram figures!

9-17-09 Encyclomedia Tangram Tales Workshop - Kendra creates an original tangram, an angel with a halo. Hooray, Kendra!

The Tangram Tales workshop ended with the entire room creating a Tangram Story Theater. They performed “Tiger’s Tale, Anansi’s Stories” with a fun rhythmic song, storytelling, and tangrams. It was fabulous! After my last session, I signed books. Several of my books sold out, which tells me that there is a need not only for good stories but for refreshing classroom and library techniques.

Many of the teachers and librarians told me that my workshops were their favorite. A couple even told me that my workshops were the best they had ever seen! Wow. I am so honored. What excites me so much is that I can give them ideas that energize and inspire them. The ones who benefit the most are the students!!

Here I am with some of my biggest fans! Kristin and Jessica were sooo much fun. I love their energy and passion for their jobs! They are going to perform a play of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, even creating smart board activities for the book. (Access the story theater and puppet theater scripts I created to go with the book here: http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=bookActivities How cool is that? I can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Stay tuned! They promised to share!

9-18-09 Kristin (Teacher Extraordinaire), Dianne and Jessica (THE Diva teacher!) share fun moments

On Friday, September 18, 2009, I signed books and then had to head home. Here are some great photos with old friends and new friends!! Here I am with Jenni Holm, the author of the Baby Mouse series of graphic novels for young children, and Elaine Regier, one of the Encyclomedia conference presenters. Jenni is a doll – so smart, funny, and kind. What a gifted writer! I had the great fortune of eating lunch with her at the Oklahoma City airport on the way home.

9-17-09 Jenni Holm, Elaine Regier & Dianne de Las Casas

Here I am with Dr. Perri Applegate, who coordinated the Encyclomedia conference. What a BIG job! Perri, Elaine Regier and Vickie Hale from the State Department of Education were an absolute delight to work with. I was treated so well and the conference was so well coordinated and organized! I definitely hope to return!

9-18-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Dr. Perri Applegate

I was lucky enough to see, meet and hang out with some wonderful authors and speakers. Here they are in alphabetical order:

* Jennifer Holm
* Gwendolyn Hooks
* Doug Johnson
* Mary Johnson
* Cynthea Liu
* Donna St. Cyr
* Tammi Sauer
* Barrie Summy
* Randy Testa
* Suzanne Morgan Williams

I didn’t get a picture with everyone but I can tell you that they are a fabulous group of people and we are lucky they are blessing the world with their many talents!

I was very fortunate to have the sweet Tammi Sauer, author of Chicken Dance in my Tell Along Tales workshop. I just fell in love with her, her warmth and her spirit. I asked her to perform her “Librarian” line dance for the group and she did (I helped too!). It was so much fun. Tammi, you rock!

9-18-09 Tammi Sauer and Dianne de Las Casas

Of course, I was completely and totally taken care of by my personal team from Libraries Unlimited (an imprint of ABC-Clio): Sharon Coatney, my editor, and Debby LaBoon, my author services manager (otherwise known as “The Author Angel”). Sharon and Debby not only know how to take care of me as an author, they are now close personal friends and I love those women!! Thank you also to Mary Ann, who kept my books stocked and who kept the booth running in tip top order.

9-18-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Debby LaBoon

I am so very blessed to be able to share my ideas with the world. Thank you to all the librarians, teachers, administrators, school counselors, paraprofessionals, and other authors who attended my sessions although there were so many other wonderful choices. I appreciate you all so much! You are fantastic! I hope to return to Encyclomedia next year!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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