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Jackie’s passion for language and story enthrals children and adults, and keeps them talking about the tales long after she has gone.

Jackie has a strong background in theatre and education. Her programs reflect her work as an actress, teacher and writer. They are dramatic, fun, language-rich and provide loads of opportunities for joining in. Jackie will delight your children using poems, chants, rhymes and songs.

Jackie is a storyteller in its most traditional form. As well as creating original material, she is an anthologist (collector and arranger of folk literature). Her stories come from around the world and are retold with sensitivity and warmth. She is respectful of children, their language development and cultural differences.

Jackie graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in the ‘70s. She has worked in theatre, film and television and has a Bachelor of Education. A familiar face on several of the ABC’s education programs she was also a contributing writer.

Jackie has won several short story awards and Storytelling awards 2002 and 2007 Port Fairy Folk Festival and in 2007  Spirit of Woodford.
In 2008, Jackie released her first Picture book - Phar Lap the wonder horse illustrated by Patricia Mullins and published by Museum Victoria.

Jackie’s programs are carefully graded with participatory stories for the very young to complex and literary tales for older people.
 
Jackie tells in kindergartens, schools, libraries, AGMs, conferences and venues such as the Melbourne Museum. She offers workshops for children of all ages as well as adults.

Where?

Jackie will travel to the west and north in the metropolitan region of Melbourne and the Greater Geelong area.

Testimonials

Children responded very well.  Pre-School age children chatted afterwards about their favourite stories (all of them!) and tried to retell a couple themselves. As the kindergarten teacher I thoroughly enjoyed the session too.  Judy Cole, CSIRO Care

Jackie is an excellent Storyteller   Kay Harrison, St Andrews Kindergarten

Students were very engaged and involved in Jackie’s presentation. Gwenda Burnett, St Mary’s Primary School

Jackie was great. The children were very engaged in Jackie's stories and thoroughly enjoyed all of her tales...they were willing participants when she called on them to join in with the retelling, as well as coming up on stage. We really loved the 'traditional' quality of her stories and my girls are still making string stories.  Nitsa Antoniou  Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School

Programs

Pre-Schools

Primary Schools

Secondary Schools

Parent Seminars and Professional Development

Pre–Schools

3 - 5 years      30 or 45 minutes

All programs include songs, poems, chants and opportunities for participation.

Lucky Dip

A selection of favourites. This program offers the greatest flexibility and is recommended for groups with a wide range of language skills. Kinder themes can be included.

Animal Tales

Aardvarks, Bats, Cats and Ducks – an ABC of animal tales – mischief for your enjoyment.

Down by the Sea

What will we need to pack for a day at the beach? There’s sand, water, a lighthouse and look out for those cheeky seagulls.

Bear Stories

Are you planning a Teddy Bear Day? How about the Three Bears Rap and other teddy tales?

Kings and Queens and other folk in palaces

Bees in their trousers! Big ears! Princesses who can’t laugh! Why is it that royalty have so many problems and how wisely do they resolve them? This session explores the humour and folly of many familiar characters.

Christmas Tales

A selection of light-hearted stories for Christmas.

Primary Schools

All Programs      45-60 minutes

P-6     A Feast of Stories

Especially for small schools, a mixed program for all ages.

P-2     Small Serves for Small People

Animal Tales from Around the World

Folk and Fairy Tales

A Serve of Favourites

Yr 2-3   Medium Serves for Medium People

Tricksters and Bullies

Folk and Fairy Tales

Yr 3-6   Big Serves for Big People

Stories for the Heart

Courage

Tales from Around the World

Special Requests

Sometimes teachers are looking for an incursion for a specific event or to complement an aspect of the curriculum. Jackie may be able to tailor a program to suit your needs. Just ask.

Workshops

Years 2-6    60 minutes

· Max. 25 per workshop

· requires a clear space for drama games

Are your students hard to motivate? Is it difficult to get them to put pencil to paper? Jackie will take them through a creative journey using storytelling, improvisation, drama and language games. Let them celebrate the joy of words and see how practising out loud can lead to a written text.

Secondary Schools

All Year Levels      60 minutes

Stories Old – Stories Told

Do you have a strong oral component in your curriculum? Folk tales are the well-spring of literature, oral and written. Jackie will entertain as well as demonstrate the folk genre – the fable, parable, pourquoi and cautionary tales. She is a powerful teller and will hold the attention of your students. Jackie is respectful of the cultures from which she has collected her tales and inculcates respect for the stories from her listeners.

Parent Seminars & Professional Development

Storytelling with Tiny Tots and Pre-Schoolers

Storytelling with Primary Level Students

Learn and tell a story in one hour.

Language, Listening and Lots of activities to use    3 hours