Every grade gets its own adventure

Grades TK-1

Let's Tell a Tale Together!

It starts with a quick introduction of my dogs - and then we're off. Students learn the pieces of a story using fun props and lots of questions for the audience. We come up with ideas, we vote, we run into twists and turns, and at the end, I read the story we all created together.

Then it's time for a story of mine... but where is my story reading buddy, Noodle? A reading of Noodle the Poodle wraps up the fun.

Every Student is a Storyteller. Students learn about Character, Setting, and Problem - what those things are, and why they're important to every story.

Grades 2-3

Let's Build a Story Together!

We talk about Character, Setting, and Problem - and students learn the pieces of a story using fun props and lots of questions for the audience. At the end, I go through all of the choices they made and read the story aloud.

Then it's time for a story of my own, but where is my story reading buddy, Einstein? A quick reading of Jack and Einstein (a chapter or two) leads into a discussion of problems, suspense, and characters.

Kids leave the assembly knowing they just helped create an entire story - and it was FUN.

Every Student is a Storyteller. We already learned about Character, Setting, and Problem - but what else is there? Students dig into idea creation, brainstorming, suspense, and twists: what they are and how to use them.

Together, we create the building blocks of a five-chapter story, along with a beginning, problem, middle, twist, and end.

Grades 4-5

Let's Build a NOVELLA Together!

A quick overview of the pieces of a story: protagonists, antagonists, setting, why every story has a problem - and twists.

Then students vote: are we writing a Fantasy or a Science Fiction novella? After a very quick intro to both genres, it's GO TIME. We've got 5 chapters to outline! Students come up to the stage to choose a few prompts inside mysterious, velvet bags they pull out of the gigantic mystery box. I type the story as we go, and at the end, I go over the whole story with the kids.

A brief reading of Aster Wood follows (5 minutes).

Every Student is a Storyteller. We already learned about Character, Setting, and Problem - but what else is there? Students explore:

- What happens when the protagonist is also a villain? What are some examples?

- Why it can be useful to jump right to the action at the beginning of your book

- An outlining activity

- Why you should never throw your ideas away - every idea belongs in an idea notebook

Middle School - Grades 6-8

Let's Build a Novella Together!

Students go over the basics of a story: protagonists, antagonists, setting, and why every story has a problem.

Then students vote on Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Mystery, with a very quick intro to each genre. From there, we move on to outlining 10 chapters live in the assembly - typed up live on the screen for everyone to see.

Students leave with a sample outline book where they can write their own, 10-chapter novella.

Every Student is a Storyteller. We already learned about Character, Setting, and Problem - but what else is there? Students explore:

- Intro to the Hook: a brief reading of three Aster Wood hooks (6th-7th) or Light Chaser hooks (8th)

- What makes a good inciting incident?

- The Twist, explained with examples

- What happens when the protagonist is also a villain? What are some examples?

- Why it can be useful to jump right to the action at the beginning of your book

- Why you should never throw your ideas away - every idea belongs in an idea notebook

Assemblies accommodate 100-350 students depending on your space (large screen + sound system with microphone needed). Classroom workshops work best for grades 4+. Mix and match sessions however works for your school - full bell-to-bell availability means the day is yours to shape.