If you didn't know who Tom McCabe was, you would think he was a magician about to pull a magic wand out of his suitcase of tricks.

Instead of mystifying children with unbelievable stunts and magic tricks, McCabe gets the attention of young students by bringing reading and writing to life.

'I give students a starting place,' he said. 'I help them with what I call 'page fright.' '

McCabe is a performer who offers assemblies, daylong programs and residencies on writing, reading, conflict resolution, poetry and storytelling. His programs are designed to both support and enhance statewide curriculum guidelines and standards.

On Monday, McCabe spent the day teaching a writing workshop to the fifth-graders at Schuylerville Elementary. It was the first of a two-day workshop teaching the fifth- and sixth- grade students various brainstorming and writing techniques.

'I prefer working with children,' said McCabe, who also has workshops for adults. 'When I'm telling a story, I love to see their faces.'

McCabe, who has been performing for 27 years, dresses in an outfit that gives his storytelling a special touch.

His shoes are cluttered with pins and tokens from devoted listeners, an idea that was born when one girl presented her favorite storyteller with a friendship pin.

Tom McCabe has shared his tales, lectures, assembly programs, theatre pieces and classroom workshops with more than a million people in North America and Europe. He has also performed at the White House.

He teaches with the motto 'Captivate, educate and motivate.'

And he does just that.

'When he was speaking to the fifth- and sixth-graders, you could hear a pin drop,' said Michelle Larkin, Arts-in-Education coordinator.

In addition to working in the classrooms, McCabe spoke in the high school auditorium on Monday.

'Our school is great because they see value in programs like this,' Larkin said.