Sherry Norfolk,        
  Staff Development

Sherry offers a wide variety of highly successful staff development opportunities for educators in schools, libraries, and our nation's parks. Her staff development experience includes such clients as DeKalb County GA Public Schools; Gwinnett County GA Public Schools; Mercer University, Atlanta, Adjunct Professor; Florida Atlantic University, Adjunct Professor; Callanwolde Fine Arts Center; Virginia State Library; University of Alaska, Anchorage; Grand Canyon National Park; Arizona State Library; North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching; and SOLINET, Inc.

Catalog of Staff Development Programs:

Teachers & Librarians | Librarians | Parks Interpreters | Parents

"Bravo! Sherry is a superb teller and teacher!"
--Teacher, North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching

"Excellent! The best in-service workshop yet"
--pre-K Teacher, DeKalb County, GA

What Struggling Readers Need and How to Provide It:
          Research-Based Approaches That Really Work!

Recent research has provided startling and encouraging new insights into how to develop proficient readers. In this workshop, we'll explore the research findings and how they can be applied in the home, at school and in the library, then create practical strategies for fostering a love of reading and helping kids develop the skills they need. This workshop is NOT about teaching kids to read. It IS about bringing kids and books together in meaningful ways. Be ready to "think outside the box" -- we all may need to accept some new roles and acquire some new skills in pursuit of that goal! (6 hours)

Storytelling for Classroom Teachers & Librarians

By its nature, storytelling is experiential, engaging, and involving. More classroom teachers are discovering what storytellers have always known: that storytelling can be the springboard for curriculum integration because one need not be limited to the confines of the language arts. Activities from storytelling can span and thereby aid in integrating the entire curriculum. Storytelling nurtures both the imaginative and analytical sides of a student's brain. "Storytelling for Classroom Teachers" is an introduction to this artform and its interdisciplinary, cross-curricular applications.

Through demonstrations, hands-on, highly interactive activities, and lively discussion, teachers will learn Why storytelling is important in the classroom; How to choose or develop appropriate stories; How to tell a story effectively; How to use storytelling as a cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to learning. As a result of the class, students will be engaged in meaningful, low-stress, instruction which integrates the curriculum while enhancing language skills and critical thinking skills. Participants will each select a story and prepare and present a cross-curricular plan using that story.
(10 contact hours)

Please note: a 16-hour class which integrates the two workshops listed above is also available.

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The Moral of the Story:
          Character Education Through Storytelling

Meaningful, experiential character lessons can be taught effectively and non-didactically through storytelling! Learn to use storytelling to infuse character education throughout the curriculum, resulting in character education instruction that is meaningful and non-confrontational, and which is accessible to all learning styles and applicable to multiple intelligences.

Participants will learn: -- What Character Education is and how storytelling relates to it; -- How to choose and prepare folktales to help kids develop character traits such as caring, teamwork, respect, honesty and sharing; -- Sources of stories for character education; -- Quick-and-easy ways to learn a story to tell; and -- How to use an instructional model which teaches these traits, thus awakening the "moral imagination." (10 contact hours)

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Teaching Kids to Tell Stories

Learn effective methods for teaching students of all ages how to learn-and-re-tell or create-and-tell stories, thus improving both written and oral communication skills as well as impacting critical thinking skills, increasing poise and enhancing self-esteem, and learning to accept and appreciate the creative efforts of others. Successfully engage students in an artform which provides a meaningful context in which to expand their written and oral communication skills, improve their self esteem, and practice positive peer interaction. Participants will learn: How to create, learn and tell stories; How to coach student tellers; Sources for instructional support; How to integrate student storytelling into the curriculum; and, How to develop student telling as an extra-curricular activity. (10 contact hours)

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Storytelling:  A Power Tool for Brain-Based Education

School librarians and teachers will learn how the precepts of brain-based educational research can be applied easily and effectively through storytelling, thereby positively affecting test scores and competencies. Story-based instruction creates and extends meaningful locale systems which provide a matrix for learning and retaining information in all curriculum areas, and which is accessible to all learning styles and applicable to multiple intelligences. Participants learn: basic precepts of brain-based research; techniques for applying these precepts through storytelling; ways in which storytelling can help children achieve their learning objectives; ways to use storytelling as an assessment tool for critical thinking skills. (10 contact hours)

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Building Blocks to Literacy

Recent research provides new insights and perspectives on the ways storytelling helps lay the best possible foundation for learning in the early childhood classroom. Participants will explore relevant research and its practical applications, engaging in demonstrations and discussions that put theory into practice. Participants will also learn how to tell stories with confidence and style! This fun-filled, fast-paced, hands-on workshop will bring out the natural storyteller in each person as they discover creative and effective ways to use voice, body language, gestures and facial expression to bring stories to life effectively for young listeners. (6 contact hours)

Link to Sherry's Literacy Programs for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents

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Expanding and Invigorating Children's Services in Public Libraries

"Thank you so much for being the highlight of my conference experience! Your enthusiasm and genuine love of your topic was wonderful - I learned a great deal."
-- Florida Library Association Conference participant, April 2007

Sherry offers a wide variety of staff development opportunities to improve library service to children. During her 17 years of experience in public libraries, both as a children's librarian and Youth Services Coordinator, Sherry received awards from the Urban Libraries Council, the National Association of Counties, the American Library Association, and the Florida Library Association for developing and implementing innovative and creative library services. She is recognized as an enthusiastic, inspiring workshop leader, providing training for the Southeast Library Network (SOLINET), the Northeast Florida Library Network (NEFLIN), Anchorage Municipal Libraries, Arizona State Library, Hawaii State Libraries, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Virginia State Library, and public libraries all over Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Arizona!

Storytelling for Librarians

Learn to tell stories with style and confidence! In this hands-on, highly interactive introduction to the art of storytelling and its applications in public library children's services, we'll explore the ways in which storytelling can enliven and enrich library programming; how to choose and develop an age-appropriate story; and, effective use of voice, body language, gesture and facial expression.
Length: 6 hours (one day) or 12 hours (3 days)

Library Programming with the Brain in Mind

Need a little inspiration and motivation? This hands-on workshop is the answer! Recent research lays a theoretical basis, providing new insights and perspectives on children's programming strategies and expectations, while engaging demonstrations and discussions put theory into practice. You'll leave with new program know-how and ideas, plus a renewed commitment to children's programming!
(6 hours)

Actions and Options: Participatory Storytelling in Library Programming

Kids are all different - they have different interests, different capabilities, different skills and different learning styles. They have short attention spans and un-developed listening skills. So how can storytime be a POSITIVE, ENJOYABLE experience for everyone? By building in chances for everyone to succeed. This hands-on workshop will explore a variety of ways to transform passive storytimes into active, exciting and rewarding adventures. (4 hours)

The Basics of Library Programming for Children

If you're new to children's work and just found out you're supposed to design and implement programming for preschoolers, school-agers, vacation reading program, and who-knows-what-else, this workshop is designed for you! A primer in all the basic skills you will need, including but not limited to choosing, preparing and sharing picturebooks, storytelling, fingerplays, puppetry, flannelboards and other novelties, props, creative drama, crafts, and arranging for guest speakers. This is not a make-and-take, BUT, you'll leave with at least one entire program planned and the skills to implement it and many more! (6 hours)

Lapsit Programming for Infants and Toddlers

Serving our very youngest patrons and their caregivers can be an overwhelming proposition to the uninitiated -- but have no fear! Programming for babies is fun, challenging and rewarding -- and it's not as hard as it sounds. In this hands-on, lively workshop, learn the goals of lapsit programming, gain an understanding of the target audience, learn about the materials, activities and resources that really work, and get a handle on logistics. You'll leave with basic program know-how, plus ideas for expanding and enhancing existing lapsit programs! (4 hours)

Kids Are Patrons, Too (a workshop for non-children's staff)

Kids are patrons, too -- and they should be treated with the same respect as adults. Unfortunately, some members of our library staff don't agree. They make kids feel unwelcome and uncomfortable with hostile glares, or ignore them altogether in favor of serving an adult who arrived after the child. Moreover, these staff members infect others among the staff and even the patrons with their attitude. This interactive workshop introduces staff to the philosophy of children's services, providing an understanding of the goals of Children's Services in the Library. In addition, through demonstrations, lecture, role play and skits, participants will explore the ways in which each staff member can make young patrons' library experiences successful and satisfying through positive interaction, appropriate reference techniques, and realistic expectations. (3 hours)

Customized Workshops

"The growth for the employees and enthusiasm that came with the skill was tremendous."
--Supervisory Park Ranger, Grand Canyon National Park

Sherry says: I believe that Storytellers and Parks are a perfect match. While parks offer access to the unique "wheres" of America, storytellers offer access to the "elsewheres" that retrieve our past and help imagine our future. Storytelling is a natural and universal means for collecting and crafting information so it may by saved, shared and remembered. Think of the facts as grain: it's hard to hold and carry in your hands, but if you weave a basket of story, that story carries and holds the facts in your mind like a basket carrying the grain.

Sherry Norfolk's Interpreting Our Heritage program builds on the philosophies and teachings of Freeman Tilden. "The story's the thing," he said in his landmark book, Interpreting Our Heritage. He goes on to recommend that an Interpreter "tell a story rather than recite an inventory" in order to "provide a much higher service than the teaching of facts." Interpreting Our Heritage gives interpreters the tools to provide that higher service.

Link to Catalog of Programs for Parks Department Interpretive Staff.

"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...
This workshop is 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!

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