Ode to my friends

On this special day, I want to wish ALL MY FRIENDS,
a happy, happy DAY!

To my friends.

To the ones I see all the time, to the ones I see quite often, and to the ones I hardly ever see, but whom I keep in my heart, my thoughts, my prayers and my soul.

To my friends from work, from previous and present jobs.

To the ones who met me when I kept my hair curly and long, I had no wrinkles but I had glasses; and to the new ones, who met me without the glasses but with the wrinkles and the daughters.

To my life-long friends.

To my friends from my daughters' school.

To the ones I have shared tears, and dreams, and jokes with.

To the ones I share "life" with.

To my goddaughters' moms, and to my daughters' godmothers.

To my facebook friends.

To my blogspot friends and followers.

To all the ones who listen to me, support me, love me, respect me and understand me, without questions, without demands, just being there, always.

Because each and every single one of you, to a greater or lesser extend, has made my life happier, and more pleasant, and easier, and more fun, and more interesting, and more worth living, THANKS!!! and HAPPY DAY!!!

Happy winter holidays!

One single image can be much more powerful than a million words.

Enjoy!

 

Story Fields at Colegio Arrayanes

On June 14th I visited Colegio Arrayanes in Garin, where I was welcomed by very nice and warm people who helped me create a magical aura around my stories, which ended up "bewitching" all the 1st to 4th form students at this very airy and open school, surrounded by trees.

The students, teachers and I engaged in stories, games and songs, participating and sharing a lovely sunlit afternnon together.

A big thank you hug to Catalina Paso Viola, for making the whole thing possible, and to Paula Del Bretto, Head of the English Department. And above all, thanks Arrayanes people for your warmth and generosity!

So long!

Story Fields and Reading Thinks

On June 12th, I was fortunate enough to be invited to join Reading Thinks at their Book Fair, at St. John's School, in Pilar.

I held a series of eight sessions, run in the morning and afternoon shifts at this very nice, welcoming, cosy and professional-looking kindergarten.

The kids and teachers joined me at the library, which was filled with books, lovely pictures, and natural light, all of which contributed to the magical atmosphere which can only be created by storytelling from the heart.

The SUM hosted the lovely and very colourful Book Fair that Reading Thinks displayed during the whole week, sharing lovely books and powerful stories with the whole of the Kindergarten students, school staff and families.

A huge THANK YOU hug to all the kids, their teachers and the very professional and caring school staff, and a special word of acknowledgement to Lic. Karina Gimenez and Lic. Alejandra Darvique from Reading Thinks for their trust and support.

So long!

Story Fields at Colegio Arlene Fern

Last week I enjoyed some great sessions with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders at colegio Arlene Fern in Belgrano.

I was welcomed by Karin Meischenguiser, Head of the English Department and a bunch of very nice people who made sure I had everything I needed to make this event as magical and successful as it turned out to be.

The sessions were packed with enthusiastic students, their teachers, other members of the school staff and even parents who joined us at story time!

Thanks for such a lovely afternoon together, filled with stories, and for your warmth and generosity! Thanks Arelene Fern!

So long!

Story Fields at Lenguas Vivas

Last Monday evening I shared an awesome session at Lenguas Vivas, with Griselda Beacon's Childrens' Literature Students, where I am an "adscripta."

All together, we journeyed the imaginary worlds of stories and discoverd their enormous power, as well as the impact stories can have on their audiences, both young and young at heart.

We shared anecdotes, feelings, experiences, songs, comments and, of course, stories - including our favourite ones!

A huge thank you hug to all the students and teachers there, and, once again, THANK YOU Griselda!

So long!

Story Fields at Pequeña Sociedad

Last Thursday I shared a lovely storytelling event at Pequeña Sociedad, with a group of young kids and their parents.

It was one of those treats we sometimes come across in our hectic life, a sort of Story Fields Unplugged, where we shared stories, games, songs and dances, in the cozy intimacy of a small circle.

Thank you Pequeña! Thank you kids and parents, and above all thank you Mariela Salto and Hello Babies for your continual support and cooperation!

So long!

Story Fields at Limerick School

Last week I finished a series of storytelling sessions at Limerick School in Flores.

I was warmly welcomed by the whole of the primary school and Kinder 5, their head, teachers, and above all the kids.

We enjoyed lively events full of stories, songs and games and we shared higlhy enriching and motivating mornings!

I want to thank Daniela Fiorina, English Head at the school, the whole staff, including of course the teachers, and the kids for this lovely experience together.

A final word of acknowledgement for Gustavo Paz and Maria Marta Suarez, for his trust and co-operation.

See you around!

So long!

English in Action at the Feria del Libro de Buenos Aires!

On May 7th, in the evening, the very day when the fair was opening its doors to let in hundreds and hundreds of avid readers of all walks of life for the last time this year, a magic, strong and pervasive sentence could be heard in the halls surrounding stand 2310, which belonged to the Ministerio de Educacion de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

This cry for action was voiced by a courageous group of women who called everyone around into ACTION: ENGLISH IN ACTION! ENGLISH IN ACTION ENGLISH IN ACTION!

Once again, this time in a different context and with a different audience, Susan Hillyard's Dream Team, of which I am proudly a part, introduced the program to all those who would hear in a dramatic and higly effective way.

The Dream Team was full of action, activities, games, stories and songs to tell the world what we do in Special Education. This program has been working at Escuelas de Recuperacion, Escuelas Hospitalarias, Escuela Domiciliaria and Escuela de Discapacitados Motores, including over 350 students fom all over the City.

Once again, I am happy, proud and honoured to be part of this Dream Team, led by Susan Hillyard, and really changing the lives of those around us.

So long!

Storytelling with Inno Sorsy

Last Friday I completed Module I of the Intensive Training Course in the Art of Storytelling with Inno Sorsy at Pearson's venue in Buenos Aires.

Inno, and her Company of Common Sense, held a wonderfully generous workshop where each of the participants had the chance to explore fantastic tools, structures and stories.

Thank you Inno for such a magical experience! I am already looking forward to our next sessions together!

So long!

Story Fields at Pequeña Sociedad

Last week Story Fields and Hello babies! held a wonderful event at Pequeña Sociedad in Belgrano.

We shared a very energetic session with kids aged 2 to 5 and their parents, enjoying stories, songs and games! Thank you ALL for joining us :)

Hello babies! offers ALL English for babies courses at Pequeña Sociedad and Story Fields offers Storytelling Workshops for Kids.

In April, Story Fields starts with its Monthly Storytelling Meetings. These will take place on the second Thursday of every month, at 17.30 (kids aged 2 to 5) and at 18.30 (kids aged 6 to 10). For further information contact me at : marianderfler@storyfields.com.ar or Pequeña Sociedad at: 47014960.

First meeting: April 12th. Please, book your place in advance.

See you there!

So long!

ALL Teacher Training Sessions 2012

Last week I took part in the ALL - Alternative Language Learning - Training Sessions that have been taking place for more than 10 years.

Hosted by Maria Marta Suarez - the developer of this methodology which teaches English to babies, preschoolers, kids, juniors and seniors - and Graciela Buscaglia, this event gathered people from different places in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Chile, and shared with them all its unique way of teaching and learning.

Together with my friends, colleagues and co-trainers Daniela Borlenghi, Eugenia Dell'Osa and Mariela Salto, we worked with wonderful groups of people during four very intensive and productive days. And of course, Emilia was always around, helping here and there!

Thank you ALL for being part of this event, which has become a classic in my summers!

So long!

Story Fields at O'Keefe School of English in La Plata

Last week I went all the way to La Plata once again to visit my dear friends at O'Keefe School of English.

This time, though, things were a little different. Susan Hillyard and I enjoyed our trip to and back from the O'Keefe's, and met an extraordinary group of teachers who were amazingly willing to play, have fun, and learn in the process.

We shared a whole day full of stories, games, songs, and sounds, had a great lunch all together, and even shared "mate" and cookies!

It was  a great day getting ready to start the school year magically and powerfully!

A huge thank-you hug to Maureen and Sole O'Keefe, and to all their staff, for their warmth, generousity and friendship. And a final word of acknowledgement to my dear Susan for a great day together and a very enlightening conversation on the way!

See you all soon, and have a magical school year!

So long!

Story Fields at Pro-T Conference in BA

Hello again, everyone! I am proud and happy to share this piece of news with you, as the first entry this year, a year that I feel is going to be really magical and powerful for many of us!

It was an honour for me to be part of this conference, its first time in BA by the way, which gathered amazing national and international speakers and presenters. The workshops and plenaries were both professional and up-to-date, and the whole atmosphere was surrounded by an aura of good vibes.

Personally, it was great for me to share this event with Susan Hillyard and the English in Action team -believe it or not, our presentation had the audience in tears-, former teachers of mine, like Claudia Ferradas, and all the lovely people from "la Asociacion" and my beloved "Lenguas." It was also great to enjoy Inno's session sitting next to Fabi Parano and to see so many familiar faces around.

Thank you Luciano and all the Pro-T team for your generosity, kindness and professional warmth - and for lending me this pic from my talk "The power and magic of Storytelling."

So long!