What Others Say About Marni Gillard's Work
Raves About Marni's Work
From Russell Sage graduate students
"Opening the Door" in Schools
About Marni's writing
About Marni's book, Storyteller, Storyteacher
About Marni's tape, "Without a Splash"
From students in schools
From attendees at a staff development workshop
From Colleagues, Parents
From workshop (Retrieving Memories) attendees
From Presenters and Attendees
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Raves About Marni's Work
Dear Marni,
Everyone speaks highly of you. Thank you for the letters to the children. I
wish you could have seen their faces - priceless. I hope we can count on
seeing you again. Thanks for all you've done for Gardnertown.
Pauline Moran, second grade teacher
Gardenertown Fundamental Magnet, Newburgh, NY
I noticed how quickly and completely the kids were "under your spell." They
respond instantly to your warmth and empathy, to the way you are willing to
share your own life and experiences. My co-teacher and I talked about the
images from our own lifes that you evoked - so thank you.
Becky Holder, teacher and storyteller, Burnt Hills, NY
I told two stories to my classes on Halloween. I'm finding new stories too. I
wanted you to know I enjoyed your class immensely. Now I feel I can tell
stories. Thank you so much.
Julie Nardone, workshop attendee
"Wonderful!" "Terrific!" These are two of the reactions of our reviewers who
have read your manuscript, "Storytelling: A Journey into the Woods." Your
paper will add greatly to the quality of our journal."
Kay Gromley and Peter McDermott, Russell Sage College
Editors of Language and Literacy Spectrum, NYSRA journal
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From Russell Sage graduate students
(anonymous teacher evaluations)
- A wonderful educator, supportor, guide. You enriched me in so many ways by allowing me to be myself.
- I appreciated the relaxed, interactive atmosphere. What a wealth of info you have about teaching, reading, writing, and storytelling!
- If more instructors were like Marni I would have enjoyed learning more. This course was extremely comprehensive but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A must for all teachers.
- I learned so many strategies through your modeling.
- Made me feel comfortable and helped me open up a little bit. Now I look forward to continuing my college education.
- One of the most important things I learned was reflection. That hasn't been a big part of my education and how valuable it is.
- How fortunate I have been to have you for my instructor. Continue to
spread the word about literature and storytelling. "People will listen."
Lisa Weller, grad student
- My experience in your class has been a (too short) journey of both
professional and personal growth. Coming to see reading as an interactive process has been so importnat to me. I am now confident I can teach children
to read and to love reading because I have the big picture. Your comments and
responses to my writing and your modeling of a style of teaching has been
such an inspiration. Your teaching and storytelling will stay with me forever.
Donna Dennihy, grad student
- I think you know how I feel about the course. It motivated and got me going in a new direction. What a refeshing and informative way you "teach". I learned so much.
Maria Immediato
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"Opening the Door" in Schools
Dear Marni,
Thank you for opening the door to storytelling for us. I am seeing teachers
going for books that they remember their mothers reading to them. One ran for
Stone Soup, another for The Five Chinese Brothers, and still another for The
Little Engine that Could. You helped us see that stories important to who we
are really are buried within us.
Lauie Pessah, staff developer, 1987
Marni has exuberant warmth which fills the storytellin space with joy.
Personal stories combined with traditional stories involdve thw childa dn
enable them to see themselves a sstorooytellers. Her generous sharing of boht
herself and her stories makes for a memroable experience.
Arlean Lambert, Librarian Marshall School, Maplwood, NJ
Marni's influence is everywhere. She has been a catalyst for change through
her example, enthusiasm, and expertise. We will surely miss her influence as
she leaves Niskayuna.
Ron Beauchemin, English Dept. Coordinator, Niskayuna, 1991
The day of storytelling was filled with laughter and tears, memories and
dreams, as the enthusiasm and excitement you bring filled our school. The
two assemblies you offered were perfectly suited to the age level of the
audience. Your abilityt o spontaneouly react to the students was marvelous.
In your classroom sessions you provided students a chance to dabble in
storytelling and their teacher an opportunity to see how they could work with
children's stories.You inspired us without intimidating or overwhelming us.
You stretched us to reflect and consider what we already do and how to build
upon it. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with so many of us.
Fran Ziperstein, Asst Principa Wildwood School, Amherst, MA
Your stories were so well-chosen, especially the one about learning to dive
off the high board at age 4 and 3/4 --so appropriate for summer and common to
the hopes, fear and embarrassments of us all. The children were hanging on
your everyword!
Paula Carosella, Children's Librarian, Schenectady, NY
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About Marni's writing
Your article on memory searches in Museletter helped me so much. I love the
idea of time lines! I hope our paths will cross some day at a storytelling,
writing, teaching place.
Becky Graber, storyteller
I loved "Alive Alive Oh" and the picture of your mother telling stories. It's
beautiful. Haunting.
Jay O'Callahan, storyteller
What a wonderful piece you wrote for your students at the end of their
course. What great modeling you are doing in encouraging your students
toexplore their auto biographies as students to help inform who they will be
as teachers.
Becky Holder, teacher, storyteller
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Marni's book, Storyteller, Storyteacher has its own page of responses.
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Marni's double audio cassette, "Without a Splash-Diving into Childhood Memories" has its own page of responses.
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From students in schools
I had a great time. You tell the best stories and poems. I like the one with
the lady when she turned into a bird.
Kate, School #16, Albany
You leanred A LOT of stories from your mom! I liked the hurry-up poem and the
scary one where you walked around Diandra
Your stories were very nice but your poems were sweeter than spice. Jeffrey
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From attendees at a staff development workshop
(Burlington, MA)
Vivacious presenter. Time well spent. I could have stayed longer.
I'd like to pursue storytelling with my students. Please bring Marni back for
to tell stories in our classrooms.
I enjoyed this so much and will use what I learned in my classroom.
Dynamite yet practical. I found myself planning a storytelling unit. You made
it seem possible.
It was grand that both our parents and teachers had a chance to work with you.
Avalin Green, Curriculum Director, Burlington, MA
From a Staff Development in Canada
Marni,
My teaching partner Anne and I have been excited by your passion, commitment
to and understanding of the teaching and learning process. It's sad to think
of the void that will be created when you leave your classroom, but it's
clear you will bring about change by working with teachers and children
around your country and ours.
Brian Green, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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From Colleagues, Parents
It's been wonderful getting to know you. I feel so fortunate to be able to
talk with you about what we're thinking and doing.
note from Risa Gregory, Niskayuna colleague
Dear Marni,
We enjoyed your student storytellers so much - the kids were great (so
brave!). Enjoy the pictures. Thanks again for making the trip.
Deena Yachymiak, Arlinton Middle School, Poughkeepsie
from a parent
Thanks for sharing your articles with me. I love the idea of storytelling
being a way for the teller to look deeper into her own self, as well as
providing entertainment for her listeners. I knew you would be a good teacher
for Anne. Thanks for all the encouragement you've given her. I wouldn't be
surprised if someday your name appears in an article she has written.
Lynn Blankman, parent, Niskayuna
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From workshop (Retrieving Memories) attendees
(at "Sharing the Fire"conference
Boston)
Excellent in specificity, especially for a beginner. Gave useful exercises
for a place to work from and a source of natural stories.
Really good workshop that honors our memories and she gave us methods for
memory retrieval.
It was wonderful with great ideas for our own stories and work with groups.
I like the presenter's method of having us try an exercise and share with a
partner. She brought out a wealth of story seeds!!! Good exercises, rich
information.
A very useful workshop. She opened up space to allow us to open up. Amazing
and natural. Much appreciated.
This workshop was great - worth the price of admission in itself. This will
keep me going for a long time. Confident presence, good interaction with us, wonderful
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From Presenters and Attendees
A treat to have you at our festival! My storytelling students were ecstatic
about your workshop. You reaffirmed their commitment to an integrated
approach to language instruction and helped them see themselves as change
agents. People admired your organization - the way you kept to your agenda,
apportioned time and gave opportunites to particpants to interact and express
themselves.
Barbara Reed, Director Connecticut Storytelling Festival 1993
A vibrant and captivating storyteller! Nancy Sieper, Librarian; Sue Bagoly
and Carl Wyllie, Parents as Reading Partner Committtee Members, Hillside
School
Your course "Storytelling: Anyone Can Do It" did much to contribute to the
success of our inservice program. Some of the comments from evaluations say:
The combination of classes and classroom visits was so helpful. This is the
best inservice course I have taken. Marni made the class fun and
stimulating. Every class in our school should have the chance to hear her.
Maria Petraglia, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction,
Lawrence Public Schools, Long Island, NY
"Silence isn't golden in Marni's classroom. Marni encourages her students to
fill the room with talk, to tell stories to one another. She helps all
children see they can powerfu users of language. Marni is convinced that
through the stories students tell, they make connections and find cultural
continuity. 'And joy,' she is quick to add."
Susan Ohanian, author and education consultant
You are a joy and inspiration to listen to. Your sincerety and knowledge
engulfs your audience. You encourage all of us to make our classrooms places
for rich, literate and collaborative experiences.
Marianna Lawler, teacher, workshop leader, Shalmont, NY
Marni's enthusiasm is contagious. She inspires even reluctant children and
adults to step into storytelling. Marni gives us all a sense of how stories
come from our very center and teach us something we may have known deep
within us all along.
Lorraine Kirik, teacher Guilderland Middle School
What a wonderful evening you provided for the NYS Reading Association
Delegates. You offered something deep and important to all of us - a look
within stories and songs. You shared a love of the rich lore to be found in
stories from both our traditions and our lives. It was an evening made
special by your energy and love of story.
Jane Gregory, Reading and Arts Committee, NYSRA
From Marni's middle school student:
You taught us how to tell true stories and put a picture in a listener's
mind.
Sarah Tyler
I used to think that writing was hard. This year it's fun and easy. I've
learned how to revise better too, not just reading and saying 'OK this is
fine; I'll hand it in now.' but to make a story longer and more exciting. I
couldn't do that last year.
Marianne Massaro
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Marni Gillard, storyteller
833 Parkside Ave.,
Schenectady , NY 12309
(518) 381-9474
You can email Marni at marnigil@aol.com
http://www.storypower.com/gillard
All materials © Marni Gillard. All rights reserved.
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