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Hello! You are very, very welcome! Autumn 2009
This site is mainly intended to act as a library of stories and articles which I would like people to use if they find them of interest. It would be nice if you told me you are using them. And it would be very nice if you were to make some money out of them for you to send me some!
Here is a little bit about what I have been doing during the last nine months or so….
The new edition of, ‘Storytelling with Children’, for Oxford University Press, has been published. I do hope people will realise that it is a significantly new edition and worth buying even if you have the first edition! There are new stories but the main change is in a section where I offer quite a few paths branching out of the main stem of stories…for example, ‘Stories and Personal Development’.
‘Writing Stories’, co-authored with David A Hill and published by Helbling Languages has also been published this year.
As a teacher trainer I have worked this year with teachers and/or with students in: Austria, Slovenia, England, Korea, Roumania, Czech Republic, Turkey, and, of course, Hungary.
Andrew Wright andrew@ili.hu
I have been writing books, articles and stories for many years. My books are published by: Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Longman Pearson and Helbling Languages. I have published twelve books for children, six with OUP and the others are now out of print and I have written stories for West German Television, BBC and Thames Television.
The articles…
I have so many articles and sets of workshop notes just sitting in my computer that it occurred to me that I could make them available to interested colleagues. Dennis Newson suggested how it could be done and I am very grateful for the time he has spent setting up this wordpress site.
Practicality
The articles are virtually all very practical. I most firmly believe that there must be a strong rationale underlying every practical idea. Indeed, practical ideas are manifestations of underlying principles.
Using and reproducing the articles
The articles are on this wordpress site for you to use if you would like to do so. If you want to reproduce the articles or quotations from the articles for your students then all you have to do is to include my name, the name of the article and my wordpress address. If you want to reproduce the articles or quotations from the articles for publications, for example, newsletters for teachers, books or the internet then please write to me, tell me about it and I am almost certainly going to agree. Just taking my work and reproducing it without acknowledgement is unjust, is plagiarism and proably breaks the copyright law.
My reason for offering my work is to contribute to the body of positive acts in this world society of ours which is so full of distress and misery brought about by greedy grabbing or intolerant arrogance.
My indebtedness to others
I have learned and am learning so much from other people. However, the overall character of each of my articles is mine, I believe. On the other hand, I am so conscious of my gratitude to so many people who have helped me to see things more clearly. I have not consciously taken a clear idea from someone else in the form in which they made it available to others without acknowledging that I have done so. If you spot an idea…and combinations of words used to express the idea which are the same as those of another author then please let me know…I will certainly look into it.
Stories
I have worked as a professional storyteller for fifteen years. The stories reproduced here are ones I have written. Some of the stories are original and others are my version of traditional stories.Once more…write to me if you would like to reproduce them. I am almost certain to agree.
Teacher training
I have loved working with teachers in about 35 countries in the last 35 years and I hope I will be able to continue for many years to come.
Pictures and drawings
I have illustrated most of my own books and I still do some painting and drawing. I do hope you find something of interest. These have not been added to the site yet but I hope with the help of Dennis to do so this year.
(I would like to thank Dennis Newson for his help in starting this blog and for continuing to support me in every way that he can. Dennis, in turn, would like to thank Barbara (’Bee’) Dieu for all her assistance and encouragement.)
This site is mainly for lovers of stories and storytelling and particularly, though not exclusively, for storytelling in schools.
Hello Andrew and Dennis,
Thank you for the acknowledgement and it has been a pleasure to help. Now, the statement you make above can be summarized in a logo and link to one of the following Creative Commons Licenses:
http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses/meet-the-licenses
Check out their site and philosophy at:
http://creativecommons.org/
Warm regards from Brazil,
Bee
Dear Andrew,
I have just received a message from Dennins about your new blog.
Good luck with it and I am looking forward to your materials very much.
Jana
PS: I hope my comments on Storytelling with children have reached you safelly and look forward to your new version.
Dear Andrew
I have followed the pains and sweat of setting up this blog (through Dennis). I must commend you – it looks very informative. Looking at the number of hits so far on your infant, it’s clear to see that it will be a popular one and I am already looking forward to learning more here!
Greetings
illya
Hi Andrew.
I received an e-mail from Dennis telling us about this new blog. We’re always looking for new ideas and willing to share with generous teachers all over the world. I’m sure you’re in good hands, with Dennis and Bee help this blog is going to be perfect.
Good luck from Argentina
Susana
Dear Andrew,
I have loved your books and stories and practical ideas and have passed on your ideas to teachers all over the place. I’m now working on Readers’ Theatre with the TESOL EVO Drama group and will pass on your site to them if I may.
Congrats for your generosity.
And to Dennis Newson who is always pushing us to do things! And to Bee who I’m going to work with in Jan in Brazil…….What a funny world! ( I won’t say ………)
Besos
Susan
Andrew,
Looking at the picture of you up top, I must say I sympathise with your perdicament. Some teacher has left the blackboard a mess! And those pictures propped up on the chalkledge! Who would ever do such a thing? They would block the lower forms of declaimed verbs!! Finally, and most atrociously, the students desks are mayhem–chaos incarnate! The previous teacher not only was unable to discipline himself (as evidenced by the blackboard), he let the students run riot at their desks! Toys instead of texts? I rest my case.
Still, you soldier on. At the front of the class, you appear to hold a piece of paper. A worksheet, no doubt. Perhaps one of those excellent lists of irregular verbs for students to copy. Passive Periphrastic and Ablative Absolute forever!
The WordPress gremlin was put to sleep, on the “Stories” pillow
Remember when you add pages (static) they will appear on the main navigation of the site (main page category), unless you submit them under the wing of a parent page (main tabs).
Now…your Stop Press story, could have been submitted as a post (blog), but then your splash page below would have to be put on the navigation bar under the category ABOUT. Do you want me to try?
Warm regards from Brazil,
Hi Dennis, I had read in LwC your search for a web space that could accomodate your friend Andrew´s needs and I am glad you found it. It seems very helpful to have the static pages on the top tabs and blog entries in the main page. Both can take comments and even pictures and other files, so they offer a lot of potential.
Since I am very visual and get attracted by colors, I would place a picture on top of the posts, or near the top on either side among the sentences. I creates a nice effect as one opens the page for the fisrt time. Too many words are sometimes scary, but placed with an image that represents them makes a difference.
The side bar seems a little bare. Some links to external sites or a flickr are would be nice, don´t you think?
Congratulations on so much work and I am glad you seem to have landed at the right place. ((((((hugs)))))) Berta
Loved the toys and titbits on the tables in the photo..what a great way to stimulate storytelling. The titles of your workshops look a hoot. Andrew, have you thought about doing them online in a virtual session room – we could enjoy them all the way here in Australia!
All the best with your blogging…see you online
why should you worry about blog vs web page?? use it as you like, and this is interaction – able. I am referring to your yahoo group post and looking at your work..
ciao, Susan
Susan,
This is Andrew’s blog, but I believe it is in order to answer as a reader. The concern about webpage v. blog (or wiki) was simply that somethings are done more easily on blogs than on websites whereas somethings are easily done on websites, but not on blogs. I think a questiion for anyone setting up a site today is – should it be a blog, webpage or wiki – and which one?
Dennis
Coming back to this blog after a long absence, I see it has developed even further!
Dennis, you comlain about transfering word to notepad and then posting it. Have you tried putting the texts onto Flock?
http://www.flock.com/start/
I don’t know how Flock treats word documents, but once it’s on Flock, you should be able to get onto wordpress with perfect precision
Good luck!
Illya
Illya,
Nice to see you here again. I tried Flock but got a bit lost between it and Burner. Thanks very much for the tip, though. I shall try again. What interests me is to see if it is possible to get a bit more control over format and type. Andrew’s content deserves it.
Dennis
Dear All of You!
Thank you for your various comments…all so helpful! There are almost no comments on the various articles and stories which we have put on the site. It would be lovely to hear…
Which articles an stories do you find particularly useful?
What sort of articles and stories would you like more of?
Any suggestions about the content?
(Point taken about including more pictures)
Love to you all
Andrew
Hi Andrew! I met you in Florence on a course for English teachers and I can’t forget the magic of the meeting, the storyteller’s mantel and all the useful tips you gave us. When will you come back to Florence again? Soon, please, before I get too old!!!
Thank you for this blog, it is a real present for me! I will soon reply your post about the content.
Take care.
francesca
On posting again, (see Flock) – if you use Firefox (which I can heartily recommend) they have an add-on called Performancing. It’s just a little sign at the bottom of Firefox, but when you open it, you can write and post directly to the blog. I have found this easier than Flock. It opens under whatever site you opened it and you can adjust the size of the window so you can directly refer to other content.
You can use html and post to different blogs. Let me know what you think
Illya
Dear Andrew
thank you so much for your interesting and inspiring workshop in Ghent, Belgium. I really enjoyed your session for teachers in the afternoon.
I am looking forwad to reading your stories one of these days and to start using lots of your ideas and experience!
I will send you the Willow Maiden story later on.
All the best
Jos Tilley
Jos!
I am so happy to hear that you found my workshop of some use. It was a great experience for me being with you and the other colleagues and the students in Belgium. And what an interesting gem of a country! Full of stories!
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
I came across your page via the Storytell Listserve via Richard Martin via the Asian Conference page headed by Sheila Wee (sp?).
Your stories and articles are enjoyable, educational, and thought provoking. I especially love the paragraph or two after the stories. It gives me added insight to the story itself. I’ll be returning to read more in the days to come.
I came across this quote
“A favourite analogy for me: Our bodies are made of the food we eat and our minds are made of the stories we hear.”
Is that your analogy? I’d like permission to use it on my website but I want to give the source. I’ll put your name and a link to your site, if you give me permission to use it.
Till our story paths cross…Marilyn
dera wrigth .
im trying to do a sumary o little rewiew about your book art and craft with children so i want to know the nethodology you use to write this book. i mean how did ypu collect the data, how you analize it well and everithing about the investigation you did. and finally i want you to give me a little review about it. thanks
Marilyn
Yes, as far as I know it is my sentence about stories. I would love you to acknowledge me even if it isn’t! Seriously, I think its mine.
Andrew
I love your site!
_____________________
Experiencing a slow PC recently? Fix it now!
Thank you. What is your reason for being interested in stories?
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
I have one question:
last year o projectweek you told us a beautiful and sad story about a girl who enters the fairy worl and after talking to her mother, steals the goldball. I wondered a long time how’s the story callled and maybe you can help me?! Maybe you even can publish it on this side
Greets,
Karin
P.S.: Your side is great
Karin
I must put more things on the site…I will try to remember to add the story you refer to.
I am glad you liked it.
Andrew
After reading the article, I feel that I need more information on the topic. Can you suggest some more resources please?
Samuel
You poor man! I never responded! Really it is because I dont know which article you are referring to.
Andrew
You are a star! What sharing … fabulous, thank you Andrew. Hugs, Wendy x