Share
May 18, 2026
Discover how First Book and The Moth are inspiring educators through storytelling, literacy and community-building. Amber Chandler shares why this unique collaboration offers powerful classroom connections, creative curriculum ideas and engaging resources for the new school year.
Share
I try to play it pretty cool when I hear about something interesting, refreshing and wholesome, but I am a woman of many nerdy loves. I try to keep it in check, as any self-respecting 52-year-old should. I try to “hmm” and “I see,” and “tell me more” with the best of them, while remaining calm and not taking out my phone to look up some more details, but alas, I often fail. Here’s my very niche obsession: intersectionality of things that don’t seem to go together, but then, when tilted ever so slightly, make perfect sense. If you’ve heard me talk about the intersection of modern and “old school” with my Remarkable (sigh), or Buffalo’s quirky bookstore that sells waffles, or Unplugged Parties like this one hyped by Kevin Crown on Instagram, you’ll know that I tend to get carried away with an unexpected collaboration. Here’s the thing: I am not even going to try to be chill about a partnership between The Moth and First Book Marketplace.
Many of you may have heard of First Book Marketplace due to its collaboration with the AFT to get books in the hands of kids and communities. I have experienced this firsthand, and building community around literacy is worth geeking out about. On the other hand, this is the first time I’ve heard about The Moth, and I am mourning the almost 30 years I have missed out. I don’t know how I didn’t know about The Moth, but here’s a great video to introduce you. You too will also mourn your missed opportunity to incorporate such a cool concept into your curriculum! Storytelling, community and connection. I just got lost in the materials available, and I plan to incorporate them immediately next year. For example, just check out this back-to-school activity: Monthly Storytelling Activity #77 that will help induce students to connect with one another.
The Moth’s success underscores the fact that stories connect us more than ever as we navigate an increasingly digital age where it’s more natural to text or tweet than to dial an actual number.
As I researched The Moth, I found Adam Kampe’s article “Understanding the Moth” for the National Endowment for the Arts and it drew me in immediately, “Founded in 1997 by writer George Dawes Green, The Moth is a live storytelling juggernaut that helped spawn storytelling showcases the nation over. While living in the fast-paced rat race that is New York City, Green pined for the slow-cooked, rich stories he and his friends shared on St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia.” That sentence alone made me a fan. Kampe nails the unexpected nature of this success: “The Moth’s success underscores the fact that stories connect us more than ever as we navigate an increasingly digital age where it’s more natural to text or tweet than to dial an actual number.”
So, what happens at the intersection of First Book and The Moth? Community! Curriculum! Curation! (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself—this is really cool. See. I told you I’d get carried away.) Here’s what I’m going to be doing to take full advantage of all this collab offers. There is a course being offered called “The Art of Storytelling,” which you can register for here, like I just did. The course content will be available throughout 2026. First Book’s Marcela Correa explains it best: “All five parts are available on demand on First Book's Community Platform. The platform is a purpose-built space for educators who serve children in need to find resources, programming and community. That said, any educator or professional in the education space can create a guest account and check out the course. Guest accounts allow others to experience some of the offerings curated and created for the First Book Network, and this is one of them!”
I’m taking the course this summer to utilize these resources right away in the fall. If you read anything I write (hopefully including my new book, Reclaiming Connection: How Schools and Families Can Nurture Belonging in a Scared New World), you’ll recognize that First Book and The Moth have created the intersection between the performative aspect of storytelling, the writing experience, and the importance of literacy as a community value. Need I say more? I’d love for you to do this course with me and share ideas as we go. Here’s your invite. Set up your profile, and meet me at the intersection of First Book and The Moth this summer!
If you complete all the courses by May 31, then you can apply for live, virtual coaching with The Moth! Get started here.
Reading is a foundational skill necessary for virtually everything we do. It opens possibilities for all children to succeed—to learn and grow, to explore and imagine, to investigate and verify, and to lead fulfilling lives. Reading well instills confidence and helps reduce inequities. Join this communtiy and register for literacy webinars, learn new strategies, and find free teaching resources for preK-12 students.
Looking for summer PD hours, ideas for back to school, or just ways to relax? Visit Share My Lesson's Summer of Learning page for free webinars, teaching resources, blogs, self-care ideas and more.
