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DOWNS — The Downs Arts Council invites the public to share in the magic of storytelling through education. The Kansas Storytelling Festival opens on Friday afternoon, April 27, and closes Saturday evening, April 28.
The Kansas Storytelling Festival offers one graduate hour of college credit to certified teachers and librarians through Friends University. Workshop sessions are part of the college credit requirements. These sessions are designated as opportunities to learn from professionals and are open to all Festival attendees.
This year’s workshops are designed to grow your awareness of storytelling techniques and build confidence in your own creativity!
Bill Harley – A Love of Story
This workshop focuses on the connections between two aspects of Bill’s work: storytelling and writing. Students who can tell a story are often the ones with stronger reading and writing skills. Bill will offer his insights on the connection between oral fluency and literacy giving teachers a better understanding of how and why storytelling is an essential teaching tool. With a simple hands-on experience in telling stories, this session will be fun, educational and inspirational.
Ed Stivender – StoryLab
Under the direction of Dr. Francelia Butler of the University of Connecticut, Ed has developed this workshop for performers, teachers, and librarians. This introduction to the craft includes the 5 rules for success, as well as practical suggestions for getting started. In the course of our explanation, issues of censorship, oral tradition, environment and bombing on stage will be discussed. Practical tips for preparing and presentation will be also discussed.
Geraldine Buckley – Uniting Hearts – The Power of Personal Stories
This workshop is for anyone who wants to change people’s lives through story. It explores the power of personal stories and humor as outreach tools and instructs in shaping a personal story. Part lecture and part group discussion with an interactive element.
Megan Hicks – Stories UnFolding with the Origami Swami
The Origami Swami, demystifies this ancient folk art for children and adults — for recreation, as STEM curriculum enhancement, and as professional development for librarians, teachers, and entertainers. This workshop is a happy marriage of storytelling and paper folding. Participants learn simple stories whose plots provide cues to the folding sequences of equally simple – but very cool – origami models. No experience – telling or folding – is required.
Simple steps for Enrollment:
1. Submit an Application by clicking on the link located at www.friends.edu/edworkshops Submitting this form activates you as a student, and allows you to enroll for any desired workshop. Complete this step now, so that you may register later! For those of you who are tech savvy, you may select the Online Application for Graduate Workshop Attendance link to either establish yourself as a newcomer to Friends OR re-activate your account for the term in order to allow enrollment. For those feeling somewhat technologically challenged, feel free to complete the Paper Application for Graduate Workshop Attendance and hit “submit.” Either choice will work! Mention on this form if you are interested in knowing more about the Master’s degree program or call us.
2. Register and Pay, after submitting either an online or paper Application. If you are a returning student, please wait 1 business day for your account to be updated. After 24 hours, you can register and pay for any workshop. If you are a new student, please wait 2-3 business days to receive a reply email which will provide your login and password information. Once you receive this information, you can register and pay. If you need assistance, call us at 316-295-5516.
With Friends University, Kansas Storytelling Festival invites teachers and librarians to enroll in Storytelling in Education Special Opportunity: Graduate College Credit. “This is an opportunity to pick up one graduate credit hour while attending the Festival and enjoying all the fun of the weekend,” said Glennys Doane, KSF Chair. “The Kansas Storytelling Festival brings five nationally-renowned storytellers each providing workshops for graduate college credit,” said Doane.
For other details of enrolling for college credit at the Festival, call (785)454-6648.