The Storied Classroom
Turning lessons into authentic stories that students remember
Professional Development that transforms literacy growth across the curriculum by moving learning from rote instruction to playful, story-filled classrooms that light up student learning
Why storytelling across the curriculum matters to your teachers (and students).
If you’re a principal, you’re balancing test scores, teacher morale, and keeping classrooms buzzing with engagement. But too often literacy learning falls flat:
Students memorize instead of truly learning
Teachers feel stuck delivering content instead of sparking creativity
Engagement dips—and so does retention
You need a solution that boosts literacy, vocabulary, and creativity across the curriculum—without piling “one more thing” on your teachers.
That’s where The Storied Classroom Comes in
How I partner With Schools
I work alongside principals, instructional supervisors, teachers, and/or PTA leadership to create a customized blend of experiences that bring storytelling into every corner of your school.
Create Your Visit:
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Assemblies & Class Visits
Interactive Assemblies
High-energy performances that captivate your entire school community.
Builds excitement schoolwide
Models storytelling’s impact on engagement and retention
Classroom Storytelling Visits
Intimate, hands-on sessions inside classrooms.
Shows teachers storytelling strategies “live” with their students
Sparks immediate joy and connection
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The Storied Classroom PD
In my signature professional development session, I show teachers how to playfully invigorate lessons across the curriculum with research backed storytelling strategies rooted in 5 pillars: literacy, retention, engagement, creativity, and classroom culture.
Practical tools for the very next day
Framework that ties directly to literacy, SEL, and engagement goalsTeachers in all subject areas will be able to confidentally bring storytelling strategies and techniques in to their classrooms and lesson planning in order to increase literacy, vocabulary and social emotional learning.
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Bundled Packages
Combine assemblies + classroom visits + PD for amplified impact.
Teachers see strategies modeled
Students get the benefits immediately
School wide culture shift to storytellingMore touch points with storytelling allow all students, including those who struggle with page based skills and English Language Learners, to develop confident communication and see themselves as storytellers.
What Schools Say
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Children and adults are memorized and engaged through Rachael's ability to story tell with voices, action, and heart. stories that build from our curriculum and help to promote initiatives in our school. I highly recommend Rachael to any educational institution.
Dr. Victoria Hunt, Principal at Dos Puentes Elementary
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Rachael's storytelling PD was so important as we transferred back into the school building. Her passion and expertise in the art of storytelling transformed the way our teachers engaged with students. Rachael's workshop is a must for any educator looking to bring magic into their classroom through the power of storytelling
Tomek Krzyzostaniak Former Girls Prep principal and current DOE educator
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Working with Rachael helps vocabulary come to life and gives word meaning exposure and practice to students. Storytelling is an art of language and meaning rolled together to entertain and educate.
Laura Sarkissian, NYC DOE educator
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Rachael engages children through her charismatic and embodied storytelling. It was a delight to witness the children learn about folk tales and respond with enthusiasm
Erin Lally, PS 187 PA president
After partnering with me, you’ll see:
Literacy gains across grade bands
Teachers equipped with strategies they actually use
Students engaged, excited to learn, and equipped with social emotional skills
A joyful school culture where creativity thrives
Transform Your School
Additional Professional Developemnt For Educators
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In this professional development workshop, educators will explore oral storytelling performance techniques in order to create pumped up read-aloud experiences for young learners. Participants will play storytelling games that dive into topics such as stage presence, facial expression, gesture, voice technique, and pace and rhythm and will understand how these techniques are be brought into a read-aloud. Additionally, participants will be inspired to enrich read-alouds with interactive elements such as sound, gesture, call-and-response, and open-ended questions that encourage elaborative language.
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In this professional development workshop educators will explore how the art of traditional oral storytelling builds literacy skills and ignites a lifelong love of reading and writing for students. During this interactive session, participants will examine how the spoken word bolsters page-based literacy skills in the classroom. Participants will leave with a set of stories to tell and the confidence to bring them to life out loud with their students.
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The language of story is universal! In this workshop, educators will explore how traditional oral storytelling creates a safe space for English Language Learners to develop receptive and productive language, express culture, and build community. Through interactive exercises and small group work, educators will examine elements of oral storytelling that are beneficial to English Language Learners and will use these elements to craft an inclusive traditional tale telling. Additionally, librarians will learn storytelling games that build communication skills at any language level and are easily played in a group multi-lingual setting. Educators will leave with a portfolio of folk and fairy tales perfect for telling with English Language Learners, and the tools to create sustained English Language Learner storytelling experiences.
Arist-in-Residence
Give your students the gift of an in-depth experience of the art and craft of storytelling with the World Stories Alive residency. Young learners develop confident language and communication skills so that they can learn and imaginatively tell a folktale LIVE to a group of listeners!
In addition to this type of residency, I work with schools to create residencies where I visit every classroom in every grade to tell stories on special topics such as Celebrate Reading! or Shero: Folktales Featuring Strong Female Leads, or work with classroom teachers to bring particular curriculum units to life through story!
Grow Literacy in The School Garden
Activate your school garden space with literacy and science learning!
Storytelling is the perfect way to invite young learners to grow deep roots of understanding in how the garden works and why caring for the plants, critters, and soil are so important to our communities and world.
School garden sessions are 45 minutes and can be bundled for a multiple day residency.
Stories Come to Life In The School Library
Bring stories and story making to vibrant, 3-D life in your school library!
Storytelling in the school library reinforces it as a place to build literacy and reading skills. When students experience the joy of telling a story out loud, they are building print motivation and a love of reading and writing!
School Library sessions are 45 minutes long and can include interactive performance and/or story making and technique workshops. Session can be bundled.
Story & Music In The Schools
Interactive folktales come together with music played by Leadlights String Quartet!
These performances introduce students to string instruments and musical concepts with playful “meet the instrument” & music-making games.
Students are then immersed in a folktale that is scored by the ensemble using classical and contemporary compositions, highlighting the ways in which music and spoken word dynamically come together to bring listeners through a plot structure and enliven narrative elements.
Need Story Starters For the Classroom?
Grab your FREE launch pad to imaginative story ideas!
30-Day “Once Upon A Time” Story Prompts
Grab some cawfee