Telling a story is a gift—a special joy that you can share.
Storytelling is very popular. It is used in businesses and churches, as well as in higher education. Still, in our opinion, the best storytelling comes from people who love children. They use stories to help children understand life situations that are beyond their immediate experience and to prepare them for life itself.
Telling stories is as simple as finding a great tale that you love, taking it into your heart, and opening your mouth to pass it along. Preparing stories is easy, and telling them is so much fun that you will never want to stop once you begin. If you are not convinced or need more confidence, take our storytelling class. It has everything you need to get started.
1. How to Tell a Story
Facial expressions and gestures are essential in storytelling.
Description of the class
CCF developed a class designed for beginning storytellers who need encouragement and instruction. It includes techniques for learning and performing stories for children or adults. It also includes criteria for selecting storytelling material, suggestions for settings in which you may use your storytelling art, ideas for incorporating storytelling into the classroom, and ways to play with stories in any setting. It also includes examples of simple, easy-to-learn stories that we will practice together.
It is an in-person class available at any location in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, WA. The class can be customized. Cost: $65 per person. Five-student minimum. Discounts are available for groups of more than 10 students.
2. Using a Flannel Board to Tell a Story.
The Story of David and Goliath
Description of the class
Flannel board storytelling is a wonderful transition from picture-book storytelling to traditional storytelling. The flannel figures help the teller remember the story and give the teller some comfort when giving up the security of a written text. Also, the changing patterns of figures on a flannel board are intriguing enough to hold the attention of children who are not yet capable of following a purely verbal narrative. After the story is told, children can use the flannel board figures to tell it repeatedly, which is the ultimate goal of every early childhood teacher.
Tatiana Strachan is dedicated to sharing her flannel board stories with as many people as possible. They are usually 10 to 20 minutes long and are always free.
For people wanting more, Tatiana will be happy to include follow-up activities for children. For adults, upon request, she will disclose all of her flannel board storytelling secrets, including pointers on how to make a flannel board, how to make and operate flannel board characters, and how to tell the story.
Flannel board stories list:
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (nonreligious)
The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson (nonreligious)
David and Goliath (Christian)
Jonah and the Whale (Christian)
Noah’s Ark (Christian)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Christian)
The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson (nonreligious)
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson (nonreligious)
Jesus Calls Matthew the Tax Collector (religious)
3. Polish Tales
Polish Tales
Tatiana was born and educated in Poland. She loves to share the rich heritage of Polish folktales, legends, and other stories. All Polish tales are free and can be customized to suit the audience. Tatiana will be happy to prepare new stories upon request.
Polish Tales List:
How Sabala Outsmarted the Devil (Polish folktale)
Jesus and the Robbers (Polish folktale)
The Airport Story (true story)
Coming to America (true story)