Bob Barton

Readings

Readings focus on traditional tales which are told orally. Bob discusses the role of the re-teller of tales and uses his books to illustrate how he has made a story his own. Bob also makes the connection between story retelling and the development of the students’ own writing.

Special Equipment:

Microphone in some circumstances.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

Using stories from the oral tradition, Bob explores with students the process that goes into retelling and involve them in writing activities out of the story.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Bob Barton was born in Hamilton, Ontario and studied at McMaster University. After a career in teaching and with the Ontario Ministry of Education, he became a professional storyteller. He has been a feature storyteller at festivals across North America, England and Australia. Since 1969, he has published nineteen books for both children and teachers including The Little Book of Northern Tales: The Bear Says North and Telling Stories Your Way. He works as an artist in schools with Prologue to the Performing Arts, the Writer’s Union of Canada “Writers-in-the-Schools” program, and Learning Through The Arts, The Royal Conservatory of Music. Bob is also a course instructor with the Additional Qualifications course Dramatic Arts Intermediate Basic at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. In June 2007 he was presented with an Award of Excellence in Continuing Education by OISE – University of Toronto.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Keynote addresses : Encouraging more reflective and personal approaches to reading and writing with a strong emphasis on the role of talk and drama in literacy learning.

Workshops for teachers: Storytelling, dramatic arts, active approaches with poetry.