“Well, if storytelling is important, then your
narrative ability or your ability to put into words
or use what someone else has put into words
effectively, is important too.”
Howard Gardner
Indian Stories by Morgan Weistling (2008)
DEFINITION
Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of oral
interaction. It has been a part of our human life
since the beginning. In fact, we tell stories
because it’s a way to bond and connect with one
another. Teachers must learn to be skillful
storytellers. Think about all the times you’ve used
a story to teach a concept or to help students
better understand a topic or structure.
Oral storytelling has been used to entertain as well
as educate. It is rooted in our cultural tradition.
Of course, oral storytelling has been the oldest
way to communicate but there are also other
forms such as digital, visual, and written.
HISTORY OF STORYTELLING
STORYTELLING IS AS OLD AS HUMAN HISTORY.
ALL CULTURES TELL STORIES.
Have you seen those drawings and paintings in caves? Well, it is
possible that the scenes depicted on those cave walls were
associated with some kind of oral storytelling.
Oral storytelling is telling a story using your voice and gestures.
The tradition of oral storytelling is ancient and crosses cultures.
This tradition can take many forms: epic poems, chants,
rhymes, songs, and more. It can encompass myths, legends,
fables, religion, prayers, proverbs, and instructions.
The primitives believed that mythic ancestors, deaths, sacred
animals and plants, extraordinary powers and supernatural
beings had an effect on people’s lives either positively or
negatively.
Epic poems, like the Greek The Iliad and the Sumerian The
Tale of Gilgamesh, were first recited and passed down by
word of mouth, and only later written down. Similarly,
Aesop was probably a teller of tales. Later Greek writers
mention him and his animal fables, but they originally
belonged to the oral tradition.
During the Middle Ages, the image of the jongleur was
common. A jongleur was an itinerant medieval entertainer
proficient in juggling, acrobatics, music, and recitation
(Merriam Webster’s).
Nowadays, of course, stories can be told orally, in printed
or handwritten text, and via recorded sound and images.
Regardless of the media, we are all consumers of stories
and always have been.
WHY IS STORYTELLING
IMPORTANT IN TEACHING?
Storytelling is a teaching tool that helps
students better understand the world around
them. It also helps children, teens and adults
visualize themselves in similar situations.
Listening to and reading stories is an
important component in a child’s reading
development. Stories make learning more fun
while at the same time helping students
better understand relevant information.
There are many reasons to use storytelling
in a classroom – with small kids,
adolescents, and even adults. Who doesn’t
like stories?
We enjoy stories because we can travel to
different and unknown lands and live
different lives. Stories activate our
imagination!
Even if we do not realize it, we are all
storytellers. We are always telling stories:
to our kids, to our students, to friends, etc.
HOW TO USE STORYTELLING IN
THE CLASSROOM
TO INTRODUCE A NEW TOPIC
TO BRAINSTORM OR TO TRIGGER IDEAS
ABOUT SOMETHING
TO ATTRACT UNMOTIVATED LEARNERS
TO ILLUSTRATE A CONCEPT
TO PRACTISE A SPECIFIC GRAMMATICAL
STRUCTURE
TO ENHANCE ANY SUBJECT
The 4 I’s
INTEREST
WE MUST BE A SOURCE OF INTEREST FOR
OUR LISTENERS. WE MUST CATCH THEIR
ATTENTION.
WE CREATE SUSPENSE.
WE SURPRISE.
WE ENGAGE.
INSTRUCTION
STORIES TEACH HOW TO LISTEN TO
EXTRACT GENERAL IDEAS AND SPECIFIC
INFORMATION.
THEY DEVELOP CONCENTRATION SKILLS.
STORIES PROVIDE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING.
STORIES TEACH US ABOUT LIFE,
OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
INVOLVEMENT
STORIES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER (AT
LEAST FOR A TIME, WE ARE ALL SHARING
THE SAME).
STORIES CALL FOR ACTION.
INSPIRATION
STORIES INSPIRE BELIEFS.
STORIES RENEW HOPES.
STORY ELEMENTS
THEME
SETTING(TIME and PLACE)
CHARACTERS
CONFLICT
PLOT: A BASIC STORYLINE - EVENTS RELATED and
COMPLICATIONS
CLIMAX
RESOLUTION
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
STORIES CAN HAVE MANY FORMATS:
NOVELS – SHORT STORIES – POEMS – and more
STORIES CAN BE OF DIFFERENT TYPES:
HORROR – DETECTIVE – HISTORICAL – and more
STORIES CAN BE PRESENTED ALONG WITH
OTHER RESOURCES:
FILMS – SERIES– DRAWINGS – CARTOONS –
TRAILERS and more
STORIES CAN HAVE DIFFERENT REGISTERS:
FORMAL – INFORMAL
STORIES CAN BE TOLD USING A DIVERSITY OF
TOOLS:
IMAGES - SCRAPBOOKS – VIDEOS – MAGNETIC
BOARDS – PUPPETS – and more