AwardWinningStorytellingatThompson

Good storytelling is truly at root of all learning. Knowing this, the Thompson School in Arlington wanted a special program that would expose their students to masters of the art form, give them practice in telling their own stories, and train their teachers in using storytelling to teach public speaking and their own academic curricula.

The savvy K-5 school won a grant from the Arlington Educational Foundation to partner with YAMA to bring their idea to life for their 500 students and 24 teachers.

Author, performer, activist, story-slam leader and YAMA teaching artist Norah Dooley worked with YAMA staff to develop the program. It included all-school assemblies with performances by Norah and fellow YAMA storyteller Valerie Tutson followed by student workshops in which K-5 graders practiced responding to what they had experienced and their sharing their own stories with their peers.

A great success with students, teachers and administrators alike, this custom program was awarded the Dawn Moses Memorial Innovation Grant by the Arlington Education Foundation!

Are you interested in hybrid performance/residency programs for your students?

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