Virtual Classroom: Multi-literacy tools for all!

Part of what makes Story Tapestries programs effective is that they're designed to create interaction between participants; so when we bring performances and workshops to a family setting, like a public library, it creates an opportunity for parents and their children to share something special together and learn a bit more about each other. Our Virtual Classroom project aims to make these kinds of experiences an every day occurrence, giving parents and teachers access to such events from the comfort of their own home - especially for those who live in places that aren't able to offer ongoing in-person performances and workshops. We envision a future in which interactive arts integration tools are readily accessible via any device with internet. While we're eager to make this vision a reality and continue to make progress, we are grateful and feel that it's important to share with you about our in-person programs.

Read on to hear reactions from participants and organizers of a recent Story Tapestries program at a Washington, DC library:

"We love these programs, such as Story Tapestries, for our children in the public library space and attend them often. They are enriching, exciting and bring storytelling to another dimension."

           -Parent and Woodridge Neighborhood Library user 


Story Tapestries was invited to share folklore, play music and create an interactive storyscape at the reopening ceremony of the Woodridge Neighborhood Library on October 1st. We've partnered with local libraries before, and this was yet another incredible experience to bring arts integration into the DC community. We're excited to highlight some of the library's amazing features as well as the initiatives being led by the DC public library system for our community.
 

  

Renovations at Woodridge Library were completed this summer (located at the corner of 18th St. NE and Rhode Island Ave). The library officially opened on September 28th and spans over 20,000 square feet, complete with updated study rooms, computer kiosks and a rooftop terrace for the general public.

"We're looking forward for the rooftop terrace to be used as a lounge area and additional reading space. The terrace overlooks a view of the neighborhood park and we're excited for the natural lighting the outdoors will bring to the library space," said Janette Graham, Woodridge Neighborhood Library branch manager.

Read more by clicking HERE!

We're happy to be able to share stories like this one that let you know how your dollars have made a difference.

Thank you for helping us make such programs possible and for supporting our vision of how to bring the power of the arts to all people!

Links:

• Read more stories from Story Tapestries on our blog

Fantastic news!

We are working with Total Learning Digital to make our dreams of building a Virtual Classroom come true! Sue Snyder, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized consultant in integrated and arts-infused curriculum design, development creativity and higher order thinking skills, early literacy and early learning, arts advocacy, and music education. She is president of IDEAS: Inventive Designs for Education and the ArtS, LLC, a consulting and publishing company dedicated to facilitating child appropriate educational models and programs. Sue connected with Story Tapestries and her platform for the Total Learning site will help Story Tapestries immediately launch the first iteration of it's Virtual Classroom site that brings the power of arts integration tools directly to teachers, teaching artists and parents 24/7.

The VC will offer:

• Teacher tutorials to introduce or reinforce AI strategies; Expanding library of over 120 full lessons with video models of real classrooms, and related centers in 24 units of study;
• Webinars and online coaching with guest teaching artists and other professionals;
• A portal to post lesson plans and reflections, and receive feedback;
• A secure portal for accessing evaluation and assessment tools to submit data;
• Virtual field trips to create access to museums, performances, and other national venues.

To make this a reality, ST needs to raise $5,000 by October 31 to set up our current website for the next steps toward this transition. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, see the ST Virtual Classroom Project on GlobalGiving.

Thank you!

Learn more about current programs with this story from an ST Artist:

Several of our artists had the pleasure of leading programs at the Strathmore for their annual Discover Strathmore festival to kick off summer.

ST Artist, Barbara Effron, shares about her experience:

Discover Strathmore, a free, family-friendly festival, is an annual neighborhood tradition providing an up-close look at the many offerings of this multi-disciplinary arts center.
 
This year’s theme, “Discover Strathmore Off the Page,” presented in association with Story Tapestries, celebrated the “way we tell stories through various forms of artistic expression - like song, spoken word, puppetry, and film.”

Blog contributor, Barbara Effron, performing at Discover Strathmore 

I was delighted to join with ten artists from the greater D.C. area for this wonderful family day. What a treat to hear Jamaal Collier engage his audiences with his beatbox and rapping style, to watch so many children join Diane Macklin on stage to create an adaptation of an Aesop’s fable, and to listen to The Fourth Wall tell “The History of the Toy Soldier” – featuring a flutist dancing like a mechanical ballerina, and a trombonist simulating a sword.

I opened my storytelling set with a story song, “King Kong Kichie, Kichie Kimee-oh”, followed by my musical adaptations of two folktales -- “Wide Mouth Frog,” told with puppets, and “The Old Woman and the Pumpkin.” Children and parents joined in the fun by singing...
discover more by clicking HERE!

Here's a short video of Arianna Ross performing at the Discover Strathmore festival:
https://vimeo.com/178718971

Links:

• Full Story
• Virtual Classroom Project
• Total Learning Digital