Teddy Bear stories at Parkview winter 2006
Marcia has been a professional storyteller since 1984. Marcia
has been Putnam County Library Storyteller since 1988. She holds
Tennessee K-3 certification, has a Masters in Early Childhood
Education and has 15 years pre-school and remedial teaching experience.
Marcia is a member of the Tennessee Storytelling Association (TSA)
and the National Storytelling Association (NSA). She has been
a TAC Roster Artist since 1993 and was an Artist in Residence
in Putnam County fourth grades 1993-99. She has been Storytelling
Artist in Residence with Pacesetters developmentally disabled
adults since 2000.
Ghost stories at Old Algood School Library Fall 2000.
With voice, guitar and unique percussion instruments Marcia blends music and story for a fresh look at the world. Audiences sing along and help in the telling during 30-45 minute programs.
- Wiley Coyote (Grades K-8), Explore some of the Native American cultures of the Southwest through tales of the trickster Coyote, who flung the stars into the sky but also has time to rescue Mouse from Rattlesnake.
- The Original Spiderman (Grades K-8), Anansi the Spider stories of the origins of the moon and the spread of stories in the world expose students to the cultures of West Africa, where ancestors of many Black Americans came from.
- Boo to You (Grades K-4), Songs and stories of skeletons, spirits and jack-o-lanterns are just scary enough.
- Backyard Ghosts (Grades 5-12), Middle Tennessee boasts tales of the murderous Brassell Brothers of Baxter, the Bell Witch of Adams, Railroad Ghost of Algood and Crazy George’s Bridge in Monterey. Ballads and stories present the facts and the mystery.
- Workin on the Railroad (Grades 4-12), The story of the railroad’s impact on American culture through the ballads of Casey Jones and John Henry.
- Born on a Mountaintop (Grades 4-12), The life and legends of Davy Crockett in song and story.
- Rocky Top (Grades 4-12), Tennessee frontier life in story and song.
- Unlikely Heroes (Grades K-6), An exploration of Cherokee culture through stories of Groundhog, Turtle and Possum.
- Sittin Down to Eat (Grades K-4), The issue of cooperation vs. selfishness is presented in songs and stories from around the world, which include “Stone Soup” from France and “The Enormous Turnip” from Russia.
- Gung Hay Fat Choy (Grades K-8), Students learn how the Chinese New Year animals were chosen and other aspects of Chinese culture through classic folktales like “Cat and Rat” and “Lon Po Po”.
- Hats Off (Grades K-8), The life and legends of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in song and story for Presidents Day or any day.
Saint Patrick's Day Stories at Morningside Spring 2005
Marcia has presented storytelling workshops at TN Storytelling Assn. conferences, Governor's Academy for Teachers of Writing, local teacher in-services and community groups. Workshops below can be adapted for adults or students to 2 hr, half day or full day formats. Customized workshops also available upon request.
Round the World: Folktales and Fables to Enrich Your Curriculum through the Arts (Grades K-8) Learn to tell folktales to present curriculum content and evaluate learning.
Tell It!: Performance Games to Teach Storytelling (Grades K-8) Play theater games of voice, fluency, movement to learn storytelling.
What on Earth! Teaching Environmental Concepts through Storytelling (Grades K-8) Use Storytelling across the curriculum to enhance and enrich the teaching of environmental concepts.
Take Off with Mother Goose(Presch.-Gr.1) Explore the value of using rhymes to foster literacy and the appreciation of literature and visual arts as they learn/remember 12 classic rhymes with accompanying multidisciplinary activities. Participants will also develop a plan for regular presentation of nursery rhymes in their own classrooms.
Create a Story! (Grades K-8) Discover that you are already a storyteller. Participants will learn why they should tell stories, how to learn and tell stories, where to find stories to tell and activities to complement the story. They will also gain experience in creating and telling several stories.