The Educator's Path
The quest begins in your classroom.
A tabletop role-playing workshop built for the classroom — where students learn storytelling, worldbuilding, and collaboration by rolling dice and saving the day together.
The Quest
How a workshop runs.
One class period. No prep, no rulebooks, no experience needed — just a room full of storytellers who don’t know it yet.
I — Gather the Party
Make a hero
In minutes, every student builds a character with three simple stats. No math anxiety, no character-sheet dread — everyone’s playing fast.
II — Build the World
Create the adventure
Students design the rooms, traps, and creatures themselves. The story is theirs — I just help it come together.
III — Face the Boss
The grand finale
The class unites against one final foe, run live on the projector. Separate groups become one party — that’s the moment it clicks.
The Rewards
What students walk away with.
- Storytelling and narrative structure, learned by doing.
- Creative confidence for reluctant writers.
- Worldbuilding and cause-and-effect thinking.
- Collaboration — there is no player-versus-player.
- Improvisation and quick problem-solving.
- A welcoming on-ramp for neurodivergent learners.
The Venues
Who I run them for.
Schools
Single classes or whole-day visits, tuned by grade — middle grade and up.
Libraries
After-school and program sessions that get kids creating, not just reading.
PD & Conferences
Teacher pro-D and division workshops on running tabletop storytelling yourself.
What Teachers Say
“James has taken the time on several occasions to do author readings and writing workshops with our youth readers at Surrey Public Libraries.
His presentations are very energetic, professional, well-prepared, and tremendously engaging for our children and teens. He is able to convey his passion for reading, books, and writing.
He clearly motivates young people in all aspects of literacy and, essentially, makes literacy ‘cool’.
As a librarian who often sees boys move away from leisure reading as they grow older, I think it is notable that James provides an excellent male role model for reading and writing.”
Carmen Merrells, MLIS
Librarian, surrey City Centre Branch
“Mr. McCann is friendly and immediately likeable. He has no difficulty collaborating with educators and other authors, he clearly enjoys meeting new people, and he interacts exceptionally well with youth.
Above all, his writing workshops are engaging, thoughtfully organised, and hands-on. Sometimes they are even gamified!
One of the teachers who supervised this workshop commented, ‘So many great writing ideas!’ When we dropped by to listen in for a bit, we could tell that Mr. McCann was prepared, encouraging, and responsive. A number of students volunteered that Mr. McCann’s workshop was one of their favourites.”
Deanna Brady
Kamloops-Thompson School District
