The Moth

Programs for Educators

The Moth Teacher Institute

Apply Below

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The Moth Teacher Institute (MTI) is an annual conference that brings together 5th — 12th grade educators who want to use Moth-style storytelling techniques in their classrooms and communities. MTI features panel discussions with Moth alumni, breakout sessions focused on Moth pedagogy, live storytelling from Moth Education Alumni, and opportunities for teachers to craft and tell their own true, personal stories. MTI culminates in a final storytelling share featuring a select number of participants. 

Our goal is to further the impact that true, personal storytelling can have on student engagement and school community. Student storytelling can challenge dominant narratives about young people’s lives while developing new ways for students to listen to each other in classroom spaces. Students develop important skills, from social-emotional capacities to critical speaking, listening, and narrative skills. 

Schedule

The Institute will take place over Zoom on the following days:

  • Mon, Jul. 13 — Fri. July 17: 2:00 — 5:00 pm EST

Cost

  • We offer a sliding scale for MTI. Please make an honest assessment of your ability to pay and choose the price that reflects your current situation and your school’s resources/​support. 

Apply Now. Applications close July 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST. 

What pronouns do you use? 

If you provided your school email, please provide us with an alternate way to contact you.

Which MTI are you applying for?  
Have you applied to The Moth Teacher Institute before? 
Have you attended The Moth Teacher Institute before?  
Are you currently a 5-12 grade classroom teacher? 

The next few questions will help us understand the strength of the storytelling community at your school.

In my school, students share their true, personal stories through writing exercises. 
In my school, students share their true, personal stories through an oral tradition.  
In my school, there is a strong tradition of students informally sharing their stories and life experiences with one another. 

The next few questions will help us understand how attending The Moth Teacher Institute will impact you and your school's community.

After The Moth Teacher Institute, I plan to teach storytelling in my classroom.  
After The Moth Teacher Institute, I plan to teach storytelling in my school’s after-school program. 
I plan to use what I learn at MTI for my own personal storytelling. 

Thanks so much! One more thing that’s optional. We always like to know how diverse our reach is. Could you please let us know how you identify in the following ways:

Have you ever attended a live Moth Event?
Have you ever told a story at a Moth SLAM?

Please make an honest assessment on your ability to pay and choose the price that reflects your current situation and your school’s resources/support. Thank you.

Tier Superhero- $1000: Reflects the hard costs of MTI and helps support our future programming, and making it accessible to all.

Tier 1 - $750: Most accurately reflects the hard costs of the Moth Teacher Institute (e.g., instruction and production).

Tier 2 - $500: A slightly subsidized rate that reflects most of the hard costs of the Moth Teacher Institute (e.g., instruction and production).

Tier 3 - $375:A subsidized rate that covers some of the hard costs of the Moth Teacher Institute.

Tier 4 - $275: A subsidized rate that covers some of the hard costs of the Moth Teacher Institute.

Tier 5 - $150: A significantly subsidized rate for educators and their schools who currently do not have the ability to cover the full cost MTI. Please only request this pricing if you could not participate otherwise.

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