Toolkit Newsletter
A Journey Begins
For the past 25 years, Young Storytellers has delivered our flagship program, Script to Stage, in schools across Los Angeles. Now, we're excited about a new chapter in our journey! We hope to expand our reach and share the magic of storytelling even further. That's why we're in the process of creating a toolkit model. This toolkit will empower partners to independently bring our program to their own communities.
In the next two years, we'll be rolling out this toolkit in stages. We'll start right here in Los Angeles, fine-tuning the model. Then, we'll take it nationwide, sharing our love for storytelling from coast to coast.
With that, Young Storytellers is thrilled to announce a collaboration with two incredible partners for the launch of our toolkit. Our first partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles, supports our commitment to bringing impactful programming to young people outside the classroom walls. Additionally, we're teaming up with a local Parent Teacher Association at an LAUSD school. Through this collaboration, we will observe our program in diverse environments and how it's adapted to suit the needs of different partners. Most importantly, we'll be closely monitoring the impact our toolkit has on young writers, working to empower them with the skills and confidence needed to share their unique voices.
Inside The Achievery
We are excited to share our latest collaboration with AT&T, where Young Storytellers has joined forces to create enriching content for The Achievery platform. Our partnership has resulted in a variety of educational units that draw inspiration from our storytelling programs. In addition to these units, we're thrilled to introduce brand-new modules that use the magic of film to teach Common Core-aligned writing content.
Educators may be interested in the Tom and Jerry unit, aligned to upper elementary writing standards. Here, students watch a clip from the Tom and Jerry movie and then dive into academic discussions, exploring the essential question: "How can you find common ground with someone with whom you have experienced conflict?" This thought-provoking lesson concludes with a prompt inviting students to craft an opinion essay, using evidence from the clip. Students are prompted to follow standard opinion essay format, giving them a chance to practice writing structures. It's an exciting blend of relevant media and education that we can't wait to share with learners everywhere.
