Character-ization Counts
Create distinctive, clearly drawn characters to more fully engage you listeners. A variety of techniques and exercises to help unlock the mystery of characterization.
Presenter: Tom Taylor
Who it is for: Tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

Don’t Be Terrified of the TEKS!: Storytelling and Our State Standards
The TEKS baffle those outside the education profession. Learn to recognize the goals the stories in your repertoire support, plan programs that utilize the TEKS and how to describe your work in ways that school districts can take to the bank.
Presenter: Mary Grace Ketner
Who it is for: Tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 501

Storytelling: Getting Started
Want to tell? Need help getting started? This is for you. Learn basic skills and techniques in a fun filled, safe space. Leave with new resources and new confidence.
Presenter: Sally Bates Goodroe
Who it is for: Beginning tellers of all kinds.
Location: Room ACT 502

Building and Maintaining A Storytelling Repertoire
Discover your own storytelling “type” and what kind of stories to collect and develop. Ways to categorize stories and build them into programs, along with keeping them fresh and ready to be told.
Presenter: Donna Ingham
Who it is for: Tellers of all levels
Location: Room ACT 501

Captive Audiences: Telling to Persons in Confined Living Spaces
Wondering about telling to the hospitalized, homebound or aging, prison inmates? Explore the whys and how’s of telling to these listeners, as well as how to interact with caregivers and chaplains and other professionals.
Presenter: Ron Tate
Who it is for: Ministers, laypeople, caregivers, families of confined persons and tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

Move It: the Use of Gesture in Storytelling
Use gesture to create a style or define a character, or display an attitude. Learn how gesture can strengthen audience participation and how to adjust it to the size of your audience.
Presenter: Alan Gardiner Atkinson
Who it is for:Tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 501

Don’t Call Me a Sheep: Updating Faith Stories
Archaic language often keeps the listener from understanding the meaning of old stories. Explore ways to bring relevance to contemporary listeners by finding, imagining and building new bridges.
Presenter: Bonnie Smith and Elizabeth Parker
Who it is for: Ministers, youth workers, parents and tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

Putting Out Fires of Fear: Stories for Natural Disasters and Emergency Management
Use story to help assuage children’s fears during crisis situations. Leave with a repertory of ready-made stories, a wealth of ideas and a reason to share them.
Presenter: Shelby Smith, Tsagoi Jennings and Dr. Lynn Weiss
Who it is for: Storytellers, librarians, teachers, counselors, firefighters, police, first responders, etc..
Location: Room ACT 502

The Power of Storytelling in Illness and Grief
Broaden your perspective regarding the power of story for those who are ill or grieving. Listening is a gift. Examine the needs of those in grief, as well as the benefits of receiving their stories and honoring them.
Presenter: Barbara Cheatham and Marvin Petsel
Who it is for: Caregivers, families, ministers, chaplains, lay workers and tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

I Tingle When We Mingle: Curriculum Meets Storytelling
Motivate students to learn by integrating storytelling into the curriculum. Cross cultural and cross-curricular applications will be presented.
Presenter: Jeanette and Phillip Harjo
Who it is for: Teachers, librarians and tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT

Teaching Kids To Be Tellers
Every thing you need to know to start or grow a storytelling club for youth tellers. How to nurture and coach students and send them off to tell to the world.
Presenter: Janet Latham
Who it is for: Librarians, teachers, parents and tellers of all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

Rediscovering the Joy of Creativity
Recharge your battery with this participation event filled with jokes, storytelling and writing techniques, theater arts activities, music and movement. Build your confidence as well as your critical thinking skills.
Presenter: Martha Hannah
Who it is for: Teachers, librarians, tellers and anyone who is bored.
Location: Room ACT 501

Kids Telling Tales
This workshop incorporates lots of fun interactive activities to develop your skills as a teller. Come explore familiar folktales and learn how to tell them.
Presenter: Toni Simmons
Who it is for: Youth tellers, third grade and up.
Location: Room ACT 502

Five Circle Marketing – Creating a Community of Your Supporters
You can think of those who hire you and listen to your storytelling as "customers." But in this workshop, you will learn to treat them as a potential community of mutual support, thereby opening the door to more satisfying, sustaining relationships. You will learn practical steps for creating a five-ring community by systematically deepening your relationships with your supporters-in ways that not only help them but also help you emotionally, artistically, and financially.
Presenter: Doug Lipman
Who it is for:
Location: Room ACT 301

Humor: You’re Not as Funny as You Think You Are
Never underestimate the value of a well-placed bit of cornball. It helps both teller and audience relax, and above all, it lets the audience know that Stodgee Pompous has left the building..
Presenter: Tim Tingle and Doc Moore
Who it is for: Tellers at all levels.
Location: Room ACT 501

Telling from Scientific Observation
Creating a story can document and enhance scientific exploration. A well-crafted story demonstrates what was learned and teaches others in the telling. Bring a pesky science concept or research project. Let’s build a teaching story to share.
Presenter: Lucinda Wise
Who it is for: Teachers, librarians, researchers, informal science educators, parents and tellers at all levels.
Location: Room ACT 601

Telling Stories from the Heart
You are the author of your own life story. Students will learn to tell a personal story through games and activities. Storytelling techniques and tips will be shared.
Presenter: Sue Kuentz
Who it is for: Youth tellers, third grade and up.
Location: Room ACT 502

Sunday April 13th 8:30am-11:00pm

Master Class
Want to polish your story skills further? You can each year with one of our Master Classes! This two 1/2 hour class gives you and abundance of resources to help develop and learn more about your craft. You'll have fun and learn more than you imagined.
Presenter: Carmen Agra Deedy
Location: ACT 501