David Sewell McCann

Keynote Speaker/Storytelling: Restorative Dialogue: Storytelling Practice 

Description: Part One of this workshop focuses on Story Listening, a Restorative Storytelling tool used to “read the room” and notice subtle cues from the listener. We use the four directions of Up (peripheral attention), Down (somatic awareness), Forward (targeted content), and Back (signaling the emergent) to receive massive amounts of important information while remaining calm and present to what is happening in the room. 

Part Two introduces Open Response, a Restorative Storytelling tool used to effectively respond to what we have learned through Story Listening. This makes the experience a dialogue, where the speaker and listener work together toward a common goal. This goal might be to teach a particular lesson,  bring calm to the room, highlight a pedagogical impulse, or motivate the listeners into action. 

Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl

Myth-Busting Waldorf Literacy and Language Arts K-8 with

The Roadmap to Literacy Books

Descriptions: 

Myth-Busting Unhealthy Narratives about Waldorf Literacy

There are ways to get up to 95% of students reading fluently, but the stories we tell about Waldorf education all too often prevent teachers, administrators, and schools from adopting them. This workshop shines the light of consciousness on Waldorf myths (e.g., sacred nothings) and Waldorf Truths so participants can learn what Rudolf Steiner and The Roadmap to Literacy really say about how to teach and how to assess. It presents best practices so schools can meet the academic needs of all students. See what is possible when teachers and schools embrace new narratives about Waldorf literacy instruction. 

Secrets to the Steiner-Waldorf Storytelling Curriculum

The original Steiner-Waldorf storytelling curriculum lies dormant, buried under conflicting narratives about which stories to tell and why to tell them. Teachers who understand the original indications have a powerful tool for revitalizing the Steiner-Waldorf curriculum K-8 and for working with the children in the class. Learn how to work with the original storytelling curriculum and economy in teaching to renew all aspects of education (academic, social, moral, and environmental), including ways to bring diversity and inclusivity in a powerful way. 

Karen Gierlach

Exploring the 7-Year Life Rhythms Through Sharing Our Own Stories 

Description: We will listen to events from other people’s life stories as well as sharing episodes from our own in small groups..To do this we will listen deeply, without judgment or questions. In the process we will discover new things about our own biography as well as broadening our interest to extend to other people’s lives. We will practice confidentiality and share only what is comfortable for us..  

Becky Taylor

Telling Stories to Young Children

Becky Taylor, a therapist and teacher certified in Restorative Storytelling™, introduces two powerful tools from the Restorative Storytelling appproach that are particularly effective when teaching young children. “Intuitive navigation” and “Story foraging,”can be used to connect with young children by way of the natural world. Meet and collaborate with the natural world by way of the imagination—the natural home of both the young child and the storyteller.

Delana Hill (Saturday)

Finding Balance as a School Leader

Description:Public Waldorf school leaders are asked to navigate the demands and requirements from the district and state and to build a culture that supports Waldorf's (the Alliance's?) Core Principles. They answer to many constituencies; every day is full and often unexpected. Join Delana Hill, one of three principals in the Seaside Charter consortium in Jacksonville, FL to explore the balancing act of leadership. Your questions will be welcome! This workshop is appropriate for anyone in a leadership position in a Public Waldorf school

Chris Topham (Sunday)

 Building and Maintaining Successful Leadership-Board relationships. 

Description: Join Chris Topham, Executive Director of one of our oldest charter schools, Sebastopol Independent Charter School as he shares his expertise and experience in fostering and supporting the key relationship between school leadership and the Board or Charter Council. Chris will outline steps that lead to success and will discuss some common pitfalls - and ways to avoid them. This workshop is paired with (I will fill this in) and is designed for anyone in a leadership and/or Board position in a Public Waldorf school.

Anna Rainville

Singing Games

Singing games are a part of every culture and generation. These story gems provide healthy opportunities for sensory integration and building community. This workshop for early childhood, kindergarten, and grade one teachers will focus on traditional and new singing games that invite the child to feel at home in their body. They are rich in seasonal lore, social graces, storytelling, and mathematical fun. The melodies are easy to learn because of their folk music quality. Singing and moving together in simple or complicated forms and patterns appeals to all ages, whether at home or in a classroom. 

Jennifer Tan

Handwork: Weaving a Yarn While Telling a Yarn 

Join fiber artist and education administrator Jennifer Tan for a hands-on creative session that blends handwork with the art of storytelling. In this workshop, participants will learn how to construct a simple cardboard loom, learn foundational weaving techniques and vocabulary, and explore how narrative can come alive through handwork. Each participant will weave a small pouch while reviewing pedagogical applications for bringing this meaningful project into the classroom. Perfect for teachers seeking to deepen creativity, connection, and story-rich learning.

Supplies Needed:

• Cardboard (approximately 4” x 5” can be cut from a box)

• Scissors

• Cotton string or cotton yarn to warp (string) the loom

• One or more colored wool yarns for weaving (DK, worsted or bulky weight) = 3 yards

• Tapestry/yarn needle

Rick Tan

Watercolor Painting: A Story's Moment and Mood 

This workshop invites educators into an inspiring, hands-on hour with artist and Waldorf instructor Rick Tan. He demonstrates how wet-on-wet watercolor can illuminate a story’s emotional landscape. Rick will guide participants through two paintings, each capturing a distinct narrative moment, while modeling his practical Five C’s—color, control, content, character, and connection—as tools for intentional artistic decision-making. Teachers will leave with renewed confidence, fresh techniques, and a deeper appreciation of how visual mood-making can enrich imaginative storytelling. 

Supplies needed for class:

Paint - Stockmar paints, 250 mL is best for classroom use, available at Mercurius and on Amazon in 50 mL bottles. 

Paper -  Strathmore, 11 x 15, 140 lb, available on Amazon and Dick Blick, also Strathmore, 90 lb on Amazon and Dick Blick. I prefer the 140 lb weight, but I know students in classrooms will typically will use the 90 lb.

Brushes - if I could use only one brush, it would be a filbert or flat, about 3/4" - it seems the most versatile. Here's an example on Amazon.

Paint pad - anything non-porous and easy to clean, like these artist paint panels from Dick Blick or simple plastic mats from Amazon

Used rag

Mason jars for water, smaller glass jars with lids for the paint like these in ULine

Thesa Callinicos

Drawing

Armida Cervantez 

Weaving Story and Craft 

What is the story of your journey? Presented through an Indigenous lens, Armida will guide you in cultivating your own story and how it serves you in teaching. We will create a wool image tapestry in expression of our own individual journeys. 

Joia Wood

The Power of Voice

Our voices are our primary instrument in the classroom. Joia Wood, a vocal artist certified in Restorative Storytelling™, will show teachers and storytellers how they can use their voice to inspire, create connection, motivate and calm the listener.  There are four directions of the "Wide Vocality" tool which is easy to learn and a lot of fun to practice. Learn how to float up with your voice and invite the listener into a thinking space, or dig down into the earth to build connection and empathy. Learn how to bring heat to your voice and motivate the listener forward into action, and then calm them back into a space of security and nourishing warmth. Learn your most comfortable direction and then try exercises to strengthen the other three.