Sherry Norfolk-Literacy Programs

"You have started our children on a lifelong adventure of books, stories and learning. thank you!" --Assistant Principal, Alexander City, AL

Communication Artist! - Residency

I Read It in a Book - Performance

Motivating kids to read is the key to lifelong learning, and this upbeat, highly interactive book-based program is designed to make students run to the bookshelves! “Where did that great story come from?” is a constant question from young listeners -- and the best answer is, “I Read It in a Book!” These stories are taken directly from books and brought vibrantly to life with voices, sound effects, action and audience participation, inviting listeners to enter joyfully into the world of literature. The important lesson -- that books and reading are FUN -- is experienced with each story. Told with the whole learner in mind, stories will engage the linguistic, logical, musical, spatial, interpersonal, interpersonal and kinesthetic learners alike, at the same time strengthening essential foundation skills such as listening, visualization, vocabulary acquisition and comprehension. Storytelling is a Power Tool for Literacy! K-5th

Link to Study Guide for I Read It in a Book.

Re-Tell Me a Story! - Workshop

The child who listens to and re-tells stories processes language orally and uses it aurally. She visualizes and synthesizes information and demonstrates her comprehension kinesthetically, linguistically, interpersonally, spatially and logically. The child who hears stories knows how the story is supposed to go and has a million pictures in her head; she is strengthening and deepening her comprehension skills and is likely to become a strong teller and writer of tales. And, above all, the child who hears stories is probably going to be a great listener, because that’s how the tales are accessed. PreK-1st

Objectives: In this workshop, students will listen to and re-tell stories from several cultures, employing multiple intelligences to learn sequence, story elements, and vocabulary.

Show-Me Communication Arts Standards and GLEs Addressed

Reading
1. Develop and apply skills and strategies to the reading process
E. Develop vocabulary by listening to and discussing unknown words in stories
G. During reading or read-alouds, develop and utilize, with assistance, strategies to self-question and correct, infer, predict and check using cueing systems, meaning, structure, visual
H. Develop and demonstrate, with assistance, post-reading skills after reading or read-alouds to respond to text, question to clarify, retell, illustrate, re-enact stories
I. Identify connections, with assistance, between text ideas ---similarities and differences in various real and make-believe works (fiction and non-fiction) text ideas and own experiences
2. Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and times
B. Respond to rhythm, rhyme and alliteration in oral reading of poetry and prose
C. Use details from text to identify story elements (main characters and problem)

Listening and Speaking
1. Develop and apply effective listening skills and strategies
A. Listen for enjoyment, for information, for simple directions, with teacher assistance
B. Demonstrate listening behaviors (e.g., prepares to listen, listens without interruptions) with teacher assistance
2. Develop and apply effective speaking skills and strategies for various audiences and purposes
A. When sharing ideas or experiences speak audibly use age-appropriate vocabulary

Communication Artists! - Residency

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As storytellers, students have the opportunity to do it all – read, compose, listen, and speak. They have fun experimenting with voice, facial expressions, emotion, and gestures that make the story “just right” for telling. As they present their story, the art of listening becomes a two way street. By using good eye contact and ‘reading’ body language tellers communicate with their audience. That’s not all! The activities and skills that they learn will be used across the curriculum and throughout life. 2nd-5th

Objectives: In this residency, students will select a story and learn how to tell it. Students will learn the components of effective communication: visualization, summarization, identification of emotions and mood, addition of voice and gestures, question development, and connection to real life.     

Show-Me Communication Arts Standards and GLEs Addressed

Reading
1. Develop and apply skills and strategies to the reading process
G. During reading, utilize strategies to infer, visualize, predict 
H. Apply post-reading skills to comprehend text, question to clarify, reflect, analyze,
draw conclusions, summarize, paraphrase
2.  Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and times
B. Explain examples of sensory details and figurative language
C. Use details from text to make inferences about setting, character traits, problem and solution and story events, make predictions, draw conclusions, identify cause and effect, compare and contrast various elements, identify author's purpose

Listening and Speaking
1. Develop and apply effective listening skills and strategies
A. Listen for enjoyment, for information, for directions, to identify and interpret tone, mood and emotion of verbal and nonverbal communication
B. Demonstrate listening behaviors (e.g., prepares to listen, maintains eye contact, uses alert posture, listens without interruptions and overcomes barriers)
2. Develop and apply effective speaking skills and strategies for various audiences and purposes
A. In discussions and presentations, present ideas in a logical sequence, identify and apply appropriate speaking techniques such as volume control, pace and eye contact
Information Literacy
1.   Develop and apply effective research process skills to gather, analyze and evaluate information
C. Identify relevant information and record main ideas and important details in own words
2.   Develop and apply effective skills and strategies to analyze and evaluate oral and visual media
A. Identify and explain intended messages conveyed through oral and visual media

Representing only the highest quality teaching artists and performers!