....Residencies are an opportunity for a group or organization to benefit from a storyteller for a more extended period of time. Most of the time in a school setting, residencies are also an option for a community organization.

Though always entertaining, residencies are predominately planned to be educational. When scheduling a residency, to make it a more effective learning experience, keep the following factors in mind. (These are best case scenarios, flexibility in some areas are possible)

Multi-day, week-long, or multi-week residencies can be arranged.
In a residency, up to six classes a day can be held with each class meeting every day.
The number of participants in each residency class can be anywhere from 5 - 30, with 10 - 20 being the optimal number.
Class Lengths
Kindergarten - Grade 2 30 minutes each day Grades 3 and up for at least 45 minutes up to one hour. (longer if necessary in Grades 7 - Adult).
Class Settings/Environments
Classrooms, auditoriums, stages, etc.
Space should be free (as possible) of noise and visual distractions A board or chart for writing is useful.
Younger children (K - Gr. 2) are comfortable sitting on the floor or in chairs, but older students should have a seat and a writing surface if possible.
Teachers should plan to remain with their class. When seeing the teacher eagerly participating, the students realize the importance, value, and fun of this residency. Teachers will not only see the student's reactions, but will learn along with their students and will be able to follow up on the residency utilizing the learned skills throughout the year and carry over the ideas into future years. (Teachers should also remain for legal reasons in case of emergencies)
Artist/Instructor will need at least 5 - 10 minutes between each class. (15 minutes between classes is too much.) Would like to have a 30 minute planning/research period and at least 45 minutes for lunch. If planning period is not feasible, try to schedule a 1 hour lunch time.

Some of the Basic Skills Taught in All Residencies

• Different methods of learning a story, whether written or oral
• Ways to overcome nervous habits while telling
• Correct posture and stance for telling
• Speaking and Breathing Techniques
• How to use storytelling in everyday life
• Where to find and adapt, or write, stories for telling
• Pre-School - Grade One Residency Activities

Children are taught through example the necessary skills to tell stories to small groups. Introduction to new stories and re-introduction to familiar, traditional stories for this age group to tell. Children are encouraged to tell their stories to family members and friends and to ask parents to tell them personal stories about themselves, their parents, and their family.

Grades Two - Six Residency Activities

Necessary skills are taught to enable this age group to tell stories from either written or oral sources in both formal and informal settings. Along with their individual, personal stories, each grade level, two through twelve, will concentrate on a different type of story for telling such as Folk Tales, Fables, Tall Tales, Myths, Appalachian Tales, "How and Why" stories, repetitive stories, stories of animals, stories of other countries or cultures, etc. Residencies can be adapted to correlate with classroom curriculums as requested. Correlation between creative writing and storytelling skills is also emphasized.

Grades Seven - Twelve Residency Activities

Necessary skills for learning to tell stories from written and oral sources are taught. How to find, select, and adapt stories for telling is a major component of lessons for this age group. How to write personal or other types of stories suitable for telling is also an option for this age group. Telling stories to peers, or lower grade students if time allows, is also utilized.

Adult Residency Activities

Discuss various methods of learning to tell stories and common problems of storytelling Provide resources for stories and storytelling Discuss adapting stories for telling, how to make personal stories more interesting, places for telling, methods for collecting family stories

Adult Residency Activities for Experienced Storytellers

Along with the above activities, also include demonstrating styles of storytelling; exploring different types of stories; studying vocal techniques; emceeing procedures; learning self-promotion and fee setting tips; procedures for producing a storytelling festival; but most importantly, practice telling and critiquing stories.

Senior Citizen Groups

Discuss how they can use storytelling in everyday life or for performing Demonstrate how to make their life stories more interesting for telling Provide opportunities for telling and improving storytelling skills

Special Population Groups

Techniques used with mainstream groups are easily adapted to fit the various needs and abilities of special populations. These groups excel in storytelling as it does not depend on high reading skills, attention span, or even mobility.

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Residency themes are adaptable to the various grade levels. Some themes can be woven together into a single residency.

Animals
Recommended Grades K - 3
Stories of animals - real and unreal

Appalachian Tales
Recommended Grades 4-12 Tales of Appalachia, comparison with tales from other cultures.

Community Tales
Recommended Grades 5 - 12 Students learn how to collect stories of the community from various sources for telling and/or publishing.

Environmental/Ecology Tales
Recommended Grades K - 12 Stories of recycling, restoring, and preserving our world.

European Tales
Recommended Grades 4 -12 Folk, fairy, and cultural tales from Europe.

Fables
Recommended Grades 2 - 12 Aesop and beyond, rewriting old fables and writing our own for telling.

Family Tales
Recommended Grades K - 12 Younger students collect stories orally (such as "What Happened On The Day I Was Born?," "A Time My Mom or Dad Got Into Trouble," etc. Older students collect both orally and in written form. Interview family members for stories about the family or incidences to make into stories.

How and Why (Pourquoi) Tales
Recommended Grades 3 - 8 Used by various cultures to explain scientific phenomena. Can be used as a beginning in students researching the real scientific reason for phenomena and/or for writing their own How and Why Tales.

Latin American Tales
Recommended Grades 5 - 12 A study of Latin American tales and culture.

Math Focus Tales
Recommended Grades K - 8 Stories that involve the math process - puzzles, riddles, and tales with problems to solve.

Modern Fairy Tales
Recommended Grades 5 - 12 Students take familiar or formula tales and rewrite as a modern tale by changing the characters, setting, or point of view (Similar to "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories", but not as sophisticated.)

Musical Tales
Recommended Grades K - 12 Ballads, Story Songs, Creating Class and Individual Stories in song.

Myths
Recommended Grades 6 - 12 Greek, Roman, and Norse

Tall Tales and Legends of America
Recommended Grades 5 - 12 Lies, Whoppers, and Truth

Science Focus Tales
Recommended Grades K - 12 The themes of Myth, How and Why, and "Real Science" combined

Writing & Telling Your Own Tales
Recommended Grades 3 - 12 The process and skills needed for telling stories correlates to the process and skills needed for writing stories

Workshops can be arranged for teachers, parents, or community members and professionals who wanto utilize storytelling in their work or for enjoyment. There are also workshops for teachers who wanto teach storytelling in their classroom. Workshops can be from one hour to one day in length. Area of concentration varies, depending upon group make-up and need.

Teacher As Storyteller
Yes! You too can tell stories!!! If you're a teacher, you already have all the skills needed to tell. It's not as difficult as you think. There are many easy and painless methods to learning storytelling. (A more extensive workshop of 1 hour for 5 days can be arranged)

Storytelling In The Classroom
Ways to use storytelling in the classroom to increase student's reading, writing, and communicating skills and interest.

Storytelling and the Curriculum
Storytelling is both an arform and an excellent teaching tool. Find ouhow storytelling can be used in language arts, history and social studies, science, and (believe ior not!) math!!!

Organizing Your Own Storytelling Festival
Storytelling festivals can be used by the school for fund raising, PTO programs, or for showing off talent. Learn how to create and plan a day long or evening festival.

Learning To Tell Stories From Oral or Written Source
Tried and true methods thaanyone can follow to learn a story quick and easy.

Music and Storytelling for Children
A performance designed for children utilizing stories and song OR How teachers can use storytelling and music together