Renée Englot

Readings

I tell folktales from around the world. Upon request, I can tailor my tellings to specific continents or regions. I can focus on specific sub-genres such as fairy tales, Greek mythology, creation stories, pourquoi stories, or trickster stories. I can accommodate a wide number of themes. I can also work to fit a specific mood you have in mind (humourous, reflective, inspirational, etc.). In addition to folktales, I tell Jewish stories, and Old and New Testament stories. For the most part, I use no props or costumes. My voice and the stories I choose captivate students.

Special Equipment:

With large groups and/or large rooms, I prefer to use a microphone.

Workshops

Introduction to Storytelling (student workshop, Grades 4 – 6, minimum 2 half days or equivalent)
We’ll play a variety of games to work on the skills needed to be a storyteller. We’ll take simple stories and do a variety of exercises to learn the content and practice the delivery, working up to a simple performance.

Storytelling for Drama Students (student workshop, Grades 7 – 12, series of 2 – 5 60 minute sessions, or half or full days)
We’ll compare storytelling and acting and learn what the art of storytelling involves. We’ll develop techniques for imaging stories, for describing vividly, for learning new stories, for overcoming nerves, and for performing with style.

Stories to Develop Numeracy (student workshop, Grades 1 – 9, 60 to 90 minutes in length)
Using story as a starting point, I will explore with your students where we find math in the world, what math is good for, and how much fun math can be.

Stories to Develop Numeracy (student workshop, Grades 1 – 9, 60 to 90 minutes in length)
Using story as a jumping off point, we’ll explore some of the processes scientists follow, from asking questions to making hypotheses and designing experiments. We’ll also talk about the skills needed to be a scientist. This can be done generically or tailored to specific units.

Improving Your Storytelling (for teachers or librarians, 90 minutes to half day in length)
While I can’t turn you into a professional storyteller in one session, I can give you some wonderful tips to enhance what you are no doubt already doing with your students. Relax and enjoy a story or two, then I’ll give you some tips on how to learn stories and some ideas about how they can help you achieve curriculum objectives. I’ll also introduce you to some wonderful resources filled with easy to tell stories to get you started.

Storytelling for Numeracy and Scientific Inquiry (for teachers in Division I or II, 90 minutes to half day in length)
This session looks at a unique approach to teaching a bit more about math and/or science. I will take teachers through a shortened version of both the storytelling for numeracy and the storytelling for scientific inquiry programs. I will show teachers how to lead such sessions with their students. I will detail some curriculum connections. I will suggest follow up activities. I will also provide story suggestions and tips on learning a story for telling. Both programs have been field tested extensively and give children great insight into what math is, where math is, what scientists do, and who can be a scientist.

Making the Story Your Own (for beginning to advanced storytellers, half or full day in length)
We’ll work on some great techniques for taking a folktale and adding your own unique flavour to it.

Biography

My first public performance was at the age of six. I forgot the ending to “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”. Despite this inauspicious beginning, my love affair with story blossomed. When I was in my teens, the minister at my church discovered that I didn’t mind leading the children’s portion of the service, and gladly handed over the responsibility. Much of the material seemed dry, so before long I was putting away the papers and telling the story. Who knew the story of the ten lepers could be so engaging? As a camp counselor I learned the power of stories to settle anxious charges too homesick to go to sleep the first night away. My storytelling skills later landed me a position as a historic interpreter in one of Canada’s National Historic Sites – the Motherwell Homestead in Saskatchewan. I delighted in telling the stories of homesteaders who’d moved west from Ontario and hired hands newly arrived from Europe. In an incarnation as a demonstrator at the Saskatchewan Science Centre, I told Greek myths in an inflatable bubble covered in constellations. As a teacher I appreciated how stories held my students’ attention. As a parent leading a toddler time group I rediscovered nursery rhymes. And as a grad student studying children’s literature, I found myself drawn once again to folktales and mythology.

In 2003 I chose to focus on being a storyteller. For the past three years I have been earning my income largely through my work with schools in Alberta. Over the past two years, I have performed at festivals, story cafés, concerts, care homes, Brownie troupe meetings, universities, preschools, and schools. I’ve told stories in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Virginia, and Tennessee. I estimate that I have told to over 7000 people.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Professional development for teachers and librarians:

Improving Your Storytelling (for teachers or librarians, 90 minutes to half day in length)
While I can’t turn you into a professional storyteller in one session, I can give you some wonderful tips to enhance what you are no doubt already doing with your students. Relax and enjoy a story or two, then I’ll give you some tips on how to learn stories and some ideas about how they can help you achieve curriculum objectives. I’ll also introduce you to some wonderful resources filled with easy to tell stories to get you started.

Storytelling for Numeracy and Scientific Inquiry (for teachers in Division I or II, 90 minutes to half day in length)
This session looks at a unique approach to teaching a bit more about math and/or science. I will take teachers through a shortened version of both the storytelling for numeracy and the storytelling for scientific inquiry programs. I will show teachers how to lead such sessions with their students. I will detail some curriculum connections. I will suggest follow up activities. I will also provide story suggestions and tips on learning a story for telling. Both programs have been field tested extensively and give children great insight into what math is, where math is, what scientists do, and who can be a scientist.

Making the Story Your Own (for beginning to advanced storytellers, half or full day in length)
We’ll work on some great techniques for taking a folktale and adding your own unique flavour to it.