2021 Virtual Events & Features
Sept 4 - Forest Kindergarten Training, Santa Fe, NM
Sept 14 - Teacher Training, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
Sept 17 - Teacher Training, San Luis, Colorado AmeriCorps
Sept 29 - Parent & Teacher Workshop, Belmont Books
Oct 1 - Teacher Training, San Luis, Colorado AmeriCorps
Autumn Edition - The Sacred Science, Kids - Fall Activities
Oct 2 - The Intersection of Story, Hand Craft, and Brain Development, Live on FB
Oct 8 - Teacher Training, San Luis, Colorado AmeriCorps
Oct 9 - The Story of the Blue Corn, Live on FB
November 1-7 - Conference - Where Nature Meets Story (with Richard Louv), Australia
Nov 9 - Teacher Training, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
December 11, 2021 - Parent & Teacher Webinar, Pierce County Libraries, WA
Contact us to host a virtual event or workshop at your library, school, or organization.
Awakening to the Storyteller Within
Events & Webinars from the Authors of How to Tell Stories to Children
Storytelling is a skill that everyone has. In our events, Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy take you on a journey into the heart and mind of storytelling, with an emphasis on the day to day stories that build intimacy and connection with kids.
Equally modern and ancestral, scientific and mythical, storytelling is a social skill humans developed that builds trust, empathy, and intimacy - not just plot lines.
With a simple method, practices, and a smidge of science, our events leave parents, grandparents, and educators feeling inspired, creative, and with clear steps to begin telling stories today.
“Storytelling is, without doubt, the best way to imprint information or ideas on the mind of the listener. This book will help to promote storytelling as a key educational tool."
Dr. Jane Goodall
What Is Storytelling?
When we hear the word storytelling, most people think of the story, or narrative. We begin by refocusing on the relationship that arises between you and your children as a story is told.
Intuitive vs. Memorized Stories
We teach intuitive storytelling, which means you make up the story on the spot. Nothing is prepared beforehand. This might sound intimidating at first, but arriving at a story without an agenda helps our voices flow more freely.
Steps & Practices
We boil storytelling down to a few key ingredients, but with a lot of room for diversity. The results are clear, actionable steps that help you get started, and the freedom to break free once you gain confidence.
Feedback from Participants
“I came home from the workshop and asked my boy if he would like to help me craft some stories that we could tell to one another. He was way into it, and we have told several as a cooperative game already. Most involve magic, dragons, knights and the like - and I am thinking that your vision of infusing the magical into the everyday is such a strong one for children.”
Liz, Mother of August (8)
“Thank you for this training opportunity. It was just what I needed. I have used storytelling the past 2 days at our lunch table. I love the ideas Joseph and Silke shared about making the characters small. Also making it relevant to the situation in our classroom and that the stories don’t have to be fancy or long.
Today our table had become very loud so I asked In a whispering soft voice (simulating Silke's beautiful tone) if they would like me to tell them another story like yesterday. Their eyes got wide and they started to shake their heads with excitement. It was about a little mouse that had great big ears, who became very sad at the lunch table when all the other friends were talking over each other. And yesterday it was about a Dragonfly that could not take all the toys on his adventure, because how could a dragonfly wear a backpack!”
Laurinda, Teacher
“I really appreciate you emphasizing that the important thing is the relationship, and not the story details. After using your advice, my classes have gone so much better. I worry less about little mistakes, and emphasize the relationship between the class and myself. It’s been great with my teenagers too.”
Miranda, Mother of Sophia (18) and Julie Anne (17)
“This is such a refreshing voice amidst the parenting noise and consumerism. Thank you for the inspiration to be a storyteller with my kid!”
Melanie, Mother of Leo (4)
“I love the series of tales that have already emerged between me and my dear grandson. Pure magic of the finest kind.”
Mari Ross Wilson, Grandmother
Sample Webinar Agenda
A short story example
What is Storytelling?
Is it the Narrative or the Relationship we crave?
Building the Storytelling Relationship
Why everyone is good at it
The Science of Storytelling
Intuitive Storytelling
How it’s different from memorized or rehearsed stories
Outline of our Method – The Storytelling Loop
Q&A with Participants
Further Resources & Tools
Watch a Sample Webinar with An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA
About the Presenters
Silke (silk-uh) Rose West is a mother and a Waldorf kindergarten teacher with over thirty years of experience. In 1995 she cofounded the Taos Waldorf School, and in 2015 she pioneered the first forest kindergarten in Northern New Mexico. She is renowned in Taos for her puppet shows and storytelling, and consults with teachers, parents, and schools nationally.
Joseph Sarosy is a father, teacher, and a freelance writer for Fatherly. In 2019, he published A Father's Life, a finalist in the 2019 NIEA Awards. In 2018, he created the #Greatdad Campaign to highlight great fathers across the nation. His blog The Storytelling Loop has been read by over 70,000 people across the world.
How to Tell Stories to Children is in its 2nd Edition, now in 19 languages.