THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF STORY

POWERFUL STORIES

An introduction to the excellent writing program for middle school and high school students by Daniel Schwabauer of Clear Water Press, this presentation is a brief, simplified version for the elementary student. We will discuss his “Five Elements of Story” with an interactive bean-bag activity showing examples from the students’ favorite stories, plus one of the Bandana Acres books. The five elements are: someone to care about, something to want, something to dread, the struggle, and something to learn. Contact me for a school visit in the great KC area!

(Photo courtesy of Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

School Visits!

The main reason I became an author, illustrator, publisher was to impact kids with fun stories that speak to kids about character - AND - that provide a transition between picture and chapter books. So, I’m very excited about interacting with K-3rd graders in their classrooms in the greater Kansas City area. I have prepared three presentations (workshops): “Powerful Sentences”, “Powerful Stories”, and “Inspire”. Please click here to learn more or contact me for a wonderful visit with your class.

First Step to Teaching Kids to Read

READ TO THEM! SEEMS SIMPLE, DOESN'T IT?

Hello Parents,

As a fellow parent, former teacher, and author, one of my passions is to help kids become successful adults: capable of achieving whatever they can dream. To have healthy bodies, sound minds, and be grounded in spiritual truths are the best of goals for today's children.

Even when a child is a newborn, playing music, singing to them, play, and reading aloud are important ways to bond and introduce them to their world. You aren't teaching them to read at this point, but you are certainly giving them a love for reading. Stories are powerful. And, this love will go far when education begins in earnest. The best books will teach them great character qualities as well. That is one of the goals of my early chapter book series: Bandana Acres.

Try to read to your kids about 20 minutes a day. As they get older, they may be able to listen even longer. Bedtime stories are the best! Up until about 10 years old, my kids loved my reading to them anytime, but the bedtime story was never forgotten. Then, they started reading for themselves and still read regularly as adults.

Here are some suggestions for what to read to certain ages. But, read anything they enjoy!

• From birth to 1 year: lullabies, song books, cloth books (with textures), and board books (with real pictures)
• From 1-3 years: Rhyming books (i.e. Dr. Seuss), song books, short story board books
• From 3-5 years: Books with the alphabet, color, shapes, song books, picture books, more rhyming books
• From 5-8 years: Non-fiction and fiction picture books (discovering the difference between real and fantasy), still rhyming books, early chapter books (with illustrations) like the Bandana Acres series, and chapter books (fewer illustrations)