Programs and workshops are tailored to match your needs. The following workshops are especially popular.

Storytelling as an
Introduction to Creative Writing

This workshop enables the student to view the process of "STORY" separately from the process of writing. Students focus on plot development, characters, and sequencing without being slowed down by punctuation, spelling, and the physical process of writing. As a team, Kathie and Bob work together to instill their love of stories in the students, using examples from oral storytelling and literature. Each workshop is tailored to the age of the students and can require 30 minutes or several days. Students, who have problems finding success in the academic subjects, have an opportunity to succeed in this workshop.

After seeing a performance, students will use the stories they have heard and seen to discuss:

v      Story structure

v      How Storytelling and writing are alike and different

v      Elements of story

v      Story Webs and Maps

v      Editing and rewriting

Each student will be encouraged to participate verbally. A writing experience is part of this workshop so students need pencil, paper, and a place to write.

Kathie's background, a BS in Education and a MLS in Library Sciences, is helpful in these workshops. The couple are nurturing and offer a personal experience to each and every student.

Collecting Your Own Oral History

This workshop enables students to collect their history and put it into a tellable form before they can even write. Story ideas come from the students’ families. The Story Peddlers provide a series of questions that each student uses to interview a grandparent, or other older citizen whom they respect. The questions are designed to stimulate memories and initiate conversations. Students need only to listen to get one or more story ideas. Bob and Kathie help the students learn how to improve or connect these ideas so that they are tellable stories. This workshop works best if the list of questions to sent ahead so students can complete their interviews. Bob and Kathie help the students create their stories with advice and suggestions. Students work on their stories and present them, usually one to two days later. This workshop is excellent for both younger and older students.

AND FOR TEACHERS

This workshop helps teachers see storytelling as an effective tools to increase the understanding between teachers and students.  This is important to improve the flow of information that can be very important for children who have problems in their lives,  Because storytelling increases reading comprehension,  teachers who tell stories improve their students academic performance throughout the curriculum.

To help teachers use stories this workshop will discuss:

v    Why Storytelling is good in the classroom

v      Sources of stories

v      How to chose a story to tell

v      How you can tell stories

v      Flannel board stories

v      Flip board stories

v      Participation stories

v      Genre stories

and much more.  This workshop can last from 2 hours to one day.

AND FOR PARENTING

Bridges ...
From Parent to Child

"Bridges---From Parent to Child" is a 50 to 70 minute workshop, for parents. It is a heavily performance oriented workshop designed to help parents see storytelling as a means of passing family values to their children. "Bridges---From Parent to Child" helps parents give a strong sense of belonging to their children.
 

Storytelling: Grandchild to Grandparent

This experience links the generations and preserves family history through the art of storytelling. Together a grandparent and grandchild create a unique and valuable artifact: a piece of family history preserved in the form of a story. And the best part is that the process is FUN. Writing is not required, telling is encouraged.

Each grandparent supplies the basic story materials by sharing memories. Each grandchild selects a meaningful memory and crafts a tellable story. The Story Peddlers act as a catalyst by supplying a series of questions which each grandchild uses to interview a grandparent and then coaching the grandchild. The open-ended questions are designed to stimulate precious memories and initiate delightful conversations. Later the grandchild creates a tellable story based on their unique family experiences. The Story Peddlers help the child select a response and create a story.