Dear Educators,
Once upon a time, we taught children by through the oral tradition. Now studies prove children who actively listen to stories, expand their imaginations, becoming better thinkers, readers, and writers. Storytelling , especially by a master of the art, provides an ideal way to educate children.
Looking for an enchanting arts-in-education experience?
Need to meet curricular goals and common core standards?
Want your students engaged by a Master Storyteller,
a full-time career teaching artist?
Tell me your story. I’ll tailor tales for your school.
"You're never going to kill storytelling because it's built into the human plan. We come with it."
Margaret Atwood
A Quick Guide to my School Programs
Finger Fables - Grades Pre-K - 2
Your master storyteller teaches young children to actively listen, with this “hands on” experience of Fables. Drawing from Aesop to Anansi, these selections naturally provide morals and many ways to retell, reenact, sequence and write.
CCS - Reading gr. K - 2 #1-9, (i.e. responding, retelling, key details, characters)
Story Theater - Grades K - 4
Guided by their tale-teller, using simple costumes children step into classic fairy tales. Selections come from Grimm Brothers, H.C. Anderson, Jataka Tales, and your requests. Workshops use “Ingredients for a Fun Fairy Tale” to prompt writing, new endings, and retellings from a different character’s perspective.
CCS - Reading / Literature - 1-4 # 9, 10, 11 Informational - 1-4 #1-3 Writing 1-4 # 3 (main idea, characters, story structure compare/contrast, responding to Literature)
The World in Tales - Grades 2 - 5
Students experience diverse countries and cultures on a “story journey” around the world. Listening to a folk or fairy tale from six continents, they’ll discover what makes each place unique, and will understand their values. Fifth graders get "Tales of the Americas" Ask about a live musical accompanist. Workshops show students how to write their own tale using characteristics a country they pick. CCS - Reading/Informational - #3-5, 7, 9, 11 Writing 4A Speaking & Listening 1f, - Main Ideas, Structure, Integration, Cultural perspectives, Different backgrounds, Responding with original story)
New York Lore (History on the Hudson) - Grades 4-5, 7, 11
New York’s history experienced through dramatic stories of Native, Colonial, Revolutionary, Industrial and Environmental times. Offers creation myths, Dutch and British settlers, George Washington, Sybil Ludington, Women’s rights, Pete Seeger, haunted history. Add NY songs with the Hudson River Ramblers.
Workshops show students how to use primary sources to write a persuasive letter to a historical figure. CCS - S.&L.1e, 4 / L.S. 3, 4a, 6/ R.S.L. H/SS 6-12 - 1-3, 9 - retelling, analysis, understanding perspectives, primary sources, point of view
Medieval Manners & Manors - Grades 6-12
Jonathan the Troubadour immerses students in medieval times. They experience feudalism, feasting, knighting, and guild rules. There’s a mystery tale students help solve. Many done caps and cotehardies to step into skits. They’ll bow, speak “forsoothely” and sing in “olde English.” A double period event, complete with a ten page teacher’s guide. $725. = two presentations. Ask about in class skit workshops.
CCS - S & L 1e, 2/ W.S. 11c & d / L. in H & S.S. 3, 4, / W in H & S.S. 8, 9 (analysis, context,historical perspective, using sources, draw evidence, reflection)
Myth - Grades 2-12
Select a culture’s myth, from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Norse, Native for a your performance program. Garbed as a bard from the period, your storyteller engages, with dramatic technique, a skit and humor. Ask for Myth-Making workshops. CCS - S & L 1e, 2/ W.S. 11c & d / L. in H & S.S. 3, 4, / W in H & S.S. 8, 9 (analysis, context, historical perspective, using varied sources, draw evidence, reflection)
Shakespeare is Elementary - Grades 4-12
This is a three-day residency where every student has a chance to have fun performing an authentic, unedited kid-friendly scene from Shakespeare. Three actor/educators coach in students in scene groups of four. A culminating assembly highlights the experience, with groups from each class sharing their scenes from Shakespeare. Scenes are provided.CCS - S & L 4/ R.S. 1-4, 11 / W.S. 3, 4, 11 (tell a story, responding to literature, audience awareness, perspective)
Best Ways to Book Jonathan Kruk?
Email or call 845.216.9087 with your interests, curricular goals or common core requirements. I will tailor a program to enchant and educate your students.
One grade level assembly = $ 400.
One large assembly (two or more grades) = $ 600.
Two grade levels assemblies performances, same day = $725.
Three grade level assemblies, same day = $ 975.
~ Storyteller in Residence Day ~
Opening performance, 3-4 Story-Maker Workshops,
Culminating Assembly = $700.
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”
― Rudyard Kipling
Story is the best vehicle for passing on factual information. Historical figures and events linger in children's minds when communicated by way of a narrative. The ways of other cultures, both ancient and living, acquire honor in story. The facts about how plants and animals develop, how numbers work, or how government policy influences history—any topic, for that matter—can be incorporated into story form and made more memorable if the listener takes the story to heart. - National Council of Teachers of English
"Jonathan Kruk is an incredible one-man show without the bells and whistles, no big sound systems or lights, no pomp. That said, Mr. Kruk’s performance is so colorful and stimulating, it makes you come alive. He is a fantastic storyteller! Your imagination tingles."
"Child or adult, you become completely captivated as he uses his body, voice /
sound effects and hands to make his characters practically appear in front of your eyes."
Juani Tantillo,Tuscan School PTA,
Maplewood NJ
A Second Grader Tells All About Jonathan
Finger Fable - "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" with kindergartners
