  Sherry Norfolk,
  School-Friendly Residencies
  & Student Workshops

Why is Storytelling so important to educators?
Neuroscience has discovered that our brains are wired to organize, retain and access information through story. Teaching through story means that students will be able to remember what is taught, access that information, and apply it more readily. Story aids memory because it puts information into a meaningful context, to which other information can be "attached." Storytelling lays down the narrative or contextual track where knowledge can reside. It is storytelling that creates and maintains connections between isolated pieces of information.
Stories provoke curiosity and wonder... curiosity and wonder evoke learning.
"You have started our children on a lifelong adventure of books, stories and learning. thank you!"
--Assistant Principal, Alexander City, AL

"Sherry was an instant hit with the youth because of the lively, animated, colorful presentations. She brought out the innocence of childhood, the questioning of youth, and the enthusiasm and joy of being a child."
--Director, Alaska Children's Services

"Thank you for tailing us them storys and I had fun lisining to them and you told the storys grat and I like the way you told them and they were fun to lisin to. Love, Cody"
--1st grader, DeKalb County, GA

Student Workshops

Be an Instant Storyteller!
Students are immersed in the art and process of storytelling! They will hear stories being told, create their own stories, and immediately tell their new story to a classmate! An excellent way to kick off a creative writing unit or to positively impact oral language skills.
GRADE LEVELS: 3 and up
Tell'n'Tales
Tell'n'tales is a fast-paced, participatory workshop which employs multiple learning modes such as verbal response, physical response, singing, dancing and problem-solving to facilitate successful learning and telling of tales. Children learn and re-tell a folktale in their own words, enhancing oral language, sequencing and conceptualization skills.
GRADE LEVELS: preK - 2

Assembly Programs

Animated, participatory storytelling programs fire the imagination and provide stimulating language experiences to engage students of all ages. Sherry provides assembly programs tailored to thematic topics. Those marked with a sun are booked in metro Atlanta, Georgia, through Young Audiences of Atlanta, Inc.

Brer Rabbit - Here, There, & Everywhere...A comparative glimpse of trickster rabbit tales from diverse traditions demonstrating the similarities and differences among these cultures.
Link to Study Guide for Brer Rabbit (pdf format).

Georgia on My Mind...Folktales from Cherokee, Creek, African-American and Appalachian traditions examine Georgia's multicultural heritage.
Link to Study Guide for Georgia on My Mind.

Go Global...International folktales filled with laughter, tears, magic and music, these tales emphasize the connectedness of us all.
Link to Study Guide for Go Global (pdf format).

Happenin' Holidays...Not your usual holiday fare! These stories are inspired by traditional folktales, but each has received a Winter Holiday makeover that turns it into an interactive celebration of multiple intelligences!
Link to Study Guide for Happenin' Holidays.

I Read It in a Book...Motivating kids to read is the key to lifelong learning, and this upbeat, highly interactive book-based program is designed to make students run to the bookshelves!
Link to Study Guide for I Read It in a Book.

The Moral of the Story...Folktales to develop character: here's how to teach caring, teamwork, respect - without preaching!
Link to Study Guide for the Moral of the Story.

Out of the Darkness...Folktales from around the world delve into the miracle of the arrival of light in the world: how the sun came to be in the sky, the placement of the stars in the heavens, and the mysteries of the moon.
Link to Study Guide for Out of the Darkness (pdf format).

Pathways to Freedom... Composed of a rich tapestry of stories drawn from history, legend and folklore exploring the many pathways to freedom followed by fugitive slaves.
Link to Study Guide for Pathways to Freedom (pdf format).

Ring Around the Pacific Rim...Folktales from Japan, Australia, Mexico, Canada and Hawaii, highlight the people, animals, habitats and customs of these far-flung "neighbors."
Link to Study Guide for Ring Around the Pacific Rim.

Spine Tinglers & Ticklers... A zesty upbeat program designed for the howling Halloween season giving kids a taste of haunting stories for the "stout of heart" and of not-so scary stories for "things that go bump in the night."
Link to Study Guide for Spine Tinglers.

Tellin' Tales...Workshops are fast, fun, and highly interactive sessions for K-2nd grade students. Engage the whole brain as children learn and re-tell a folktale in their own words, create a new group story and using curriculum-oriented information, and use creative dramatics to act it out.
Link to Study Guide for Tellin' Tales.

Use Your Brain... Brain is better than brawn. Tales from around the world demonstrate creative, non-violent problem-solving skills through both negative and positive examples.
Link to Study Guide for Use Your Brain

Upon Request...Programs will be designed for specific themes such as holidays, Black History, and specific curriculums. Special programs are available for children with disabilities or those who speak English as a Second Language. Contact Sherry to arrange special programs to meet your needs.

Residencies

"Her manner is gentle and loving, but her expectations are high, and the students respond with excellence."
-- Residency Coordinator, Anchorage, AK

Kaleidoscope... Residencies for 3rd-12th grade students provide immersion in the both the art and process of storytelling. Students explore multicultural folktales as they learn storytelling and public speaking techniques and develop poise and self-esteem. Develops very effective communication skills for service learning!
Study Guide available - click HERE (pdf format).

Young Voices...Fast-paced, hands-on approach to creative writing and storyteling, emphasizing the relationship between oral and written communication for grades 2-12.
Study Guide available - click HERE (pdf format).

Parent Workshops

"Wow! I can't wait to go home and try out some of these ideas on my kids!"-- Parent, Lake City, FL
Raising Readers: Motivating Children to Read...for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to develop children into lifelong learners. Dynamic presentation includes hands-on exploration of successful reading-aloud for all ages.

Family Literacy Programs are also available.

Sherry offers an extensive menu of Staff Development for Classroom Teachers. Go to Sherry's Staff Development page. Find out how storytelling can be a power tool for educators!

FEES: Fees for School Programs depend upon length of program, distance, and special booking agreements. Please contact Sherry for a fee range in your area of the country.

What Teachers Say About Sherry Norfolk

"Thanks so much for inspiring my students and even me. You have taught them so much about storytelling & writing. You have also taught me how to be a better teacher."

"Thank you for coming and showing our kids how to write with expression. It was very enjoyable and the kids are interested in making their writing come alive."

"Thank you so much for bringing a fresh approach to writing to our kids. We have all learned so much!"

-- Third grade teachers, Arrowpoint Elementary, St. Louis