How we learn!

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 Story Table sessions are always active!  With improvisation, we are always transforming things like blankets into wings and brooms into fishing poles!  We also dance to world music!  By taking turns leading and following each other's movements, we stimulate creative play and practice leadership!

 Story Table sessions encourage children to communicate!  Either in-person, or via Zoom, two-way conversations are prioritized.   By asking questions, listening to one another and sharing their own ideas, children significantly contribute to the story and participate in real conversations!  

After interacting at The Story Table, participants are asked to silently draw "what did you hear in the story?"   This exercise in visual thinking not only aids in organizing and processing one's thoughts, but helps kids remember the story and  connect with others by sharing what they've drawn!

 With the use of high quality microphones, children are able to dance together to the best of world music!   By taking turns leading and following each others movements, kids not only have fun engaging the whole body, but experience immediate successful communication!  Dancing not only contributes to mental and emotional wellbeing, but  builds a strong sense of community!  

 Through LIVE and interactive sessions, participants learn to effectively communicate with others.  By prioritizing both verbal and nonverbal communication, children increase their mental and emotional wellbeing by learning how to relate and effectively interact with others.  

Whether it is finding ways of solving problems, or finding a story's country of origin, children are encouraged to think and communicate logically.   These processes are explored both during the story, as well as discussed during the question and conversation time.

By prioritizing 15 minutes of quiet drawing time, participants have opportunity to  process comprehension by reflecting on the story.  As both a collective and individual activity, this practice literally draws connections between complex ideas and their own inner lives!

 By bringing cats, dogs and other animals from home to the Story Table, children's natural excitement, energy and curiosity is dynamically channeled into effective learning and contribute to emotional and mental wellbeing!

By presenting timeless tales and the best of world music, Story Table Language Sessions  aspire to connect generations!   By facilitating a safe, fun and welcoming space, children learn to associate mental and emotional wellness  with building  relationships at home and virtually with other kids and elders from around the world!   

We are committed to making space for special guest storytellers!  It is important that children not only have increased access and opportunities to learn from diverse cultures, but that they can also see educators who look like themselves. 

Click to see our past special guests!

With a grateful breath, we offer thanks to:

• The story
• The storytellers 
• Each other

Though gratitude, we honor the oral history from where stories come from and everything that allowed us to be together for this moment.   

Through the use of long internet cables, many Story Table sessions are broadcast from outdoor locations across the world!  These settings not only add beauty and LIVE excitement to sessions, but also explore the story's (and our own) relationship with landscapes.  

 Story Table Language Sessions are always active!  We are always learning new vocabulary and conversation skills by using our whole bodies!  Through embodied pantomime and improvisation, we  transform things like blankets into wings and brooms into fishing poles!   By inviting kids to move, language is learned through experiencing it!

Story Table Language Sessions encourage conversation! Learners are constantly being asked questions and are challenged to use drawings, sign language and household objects to verbally communicate their comments.   By boldly sharing their own ideas and discoveries, kids naturally participate in real conversations!

After interacting at a Story Table Language Session, participants are asked to silently draw "what did you hear in the story?"   This exercise in visual thinking not only aids in organizing and processing one's thoughts, but helps kids remember the story and  connect with others by sharing what they've drawn.

Learning is a total body experience, so Nicholas and the kids always dance together!   By taking turns leading and following dance movements, kids not only have fun but experience immediate successful communication!  Dancing  engages the whole body, stimulates creative play and builds confidence! 

Through LIVE and interactive sessions, participants learn to effectively communicate with others.  By prioritizing both verbal and nonverbal communication, participants experience language learning by effectively relating to one another.   

Whether it is finding ways of solving problems in a story, or finding a tale's country of origin on the map, participants are encouraged to think and communicate logically.   These processes are frequently discussed during our question and conversation  time.

By prioritizing 15 minutes of quiet drawing time, participants have opportunity to  process comprehension by reflecting on the story.  As both a collective and individual activity, this practice literally draws connections between complex ideas and vocabulary!

  By bringing cats, dogs and other animals from home to the Story Table, children's natural excitement, energy and curiosity is dynamically channeled into effective language learning!