Storytelling

Active
Learning

Value Based
Learning

Collaboration

Self Directed
Learning

What Is This?

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of teaching. We all tell stories in order to bond and connect with one another through shared emotions. Stories enable us to empathize with characters, while learning from their journeys. Stories can also promote a positive attitude towards people from different origins,races and religions. They can communicate the physical (body and verbal language, voice and intonation), intellectual, and emotional aspects of past or present experiences. Practicing storytelling in the classroom promotes a deeper and richer understanding of ideas, concepts and texts.It is also a powerful way to engage students in a creative process which helps showcase their understanding of a study unit or to describe their relevant experiences. Storytelling as a teaching and learning practice can be used both by teachers and by students to achieve active engagement.c

How To Use It?

students can turn taught concepts into a scripted story which the class can listen to, write, or present. Teachers can use digital storytelling through the use of videos, pictures, apps, and audio to help students retain new or learnt information in a more creative and memorable way. Teachers can also present stories, either personal or fiction to deepen understanding, grab attention and elicit emotions.

When To Use?

Telling a story is a great way to introduce a new topic. It can be used to attract and motivate learners to relate to topics. Storytelling can also be used to Illustrate a concept and engage students through creative telling and creating of stories. Teachers can use storytelling to help bring historical figures to life, or use stories to practice recounting events in chronological order.

How To Assess?

Teachers can use a wide range of assessment tools in regards to storytelling. Students can present their writing, audio recordings, video creations, illustrations, images and digital storytelling to creatively demonstrate their knowledge, opinions and feelings.
Teachers can use storytelling portfolios, or on-going assignments involving the use of stories for assessment and feedback. As stories can surface students’ emotions and reflect personal experiences, feedback should be given through conversation and individual interaction with students.

Storytelling Flow

Share experiences and ideas through stories: help students feel closer and more emotionally connected.

Introduce learning through a story: help students become interested. Stories activate prior knowledge which helps in learning new content.

Develop and strengthen listening skills: When stories are presented well they quickly grab students’ attention.

Motivate students: get students engaged by asking students to repeat particular lines, sing along or use movement. Use music or visuals to help tell or create the story.

Tell many different types of stories: Vary your options with bible stories, world folktales, fables, myths, and legends that provide a good introduction to history and cultural ceremonies.

Allow students to be the storytellers: If you’ve modeled effective ways to tell and portray a story, students will follow in your footsteps!

Have students write a new version or different ending: Let them write the story from another character's perspective or leave them in suspense by leaving off the ending.