Why storytelling in classrooms? Can we truly educate students through stories? I understand that the title of this article may have sparked these questions in the reader's mind. But bear with me as I explore this concept. But before that, let me begin by asking: why not storytelling? How many of us can claim to have never been fascinated by the wondrous world of stories in our childhood? How many of us can say that we refused the offer to have a story read to us by our parents or grandparents? Do you not recall the memories associated with storytelling that bring a smile to your face?
Storytelling is an oral art which has been with us, humans since time immemorial. As a timeless human tradition which goes beyond the realm of conveyance of information, it captivates, connects and leaves a lasting imprint on both the narrator and the listener. The art of storytelling evokes emotions, sparks imagination, conveys meaning and inspires action. Whether passed down through generations, shared as a bedtime story, or depicted through various mediums such as cinema or theatre, stories have the unique ability to transcend time, boundaries, communities and cultures, fostering a universal human experience. Storytelling is a powerful tool for communication.
Storytelling is an essential tool for building positive emotional skills in children, especially during their formative years. Almost every story deals with a theme, characters, plot, conflict and resolution which weaves the tapestry of emotions and values when a child connects with it.
Stories weave a world for a pre-literate child whose mind visualises images, so when a story is told or read, the child begins to create synapses and build their own interpretations.
Teachers can be the greatest storytellers. It is proven that even the most difficult topics are easily grasped by students when presented as stories. Storytelling is an ancient tool every teacher should use. For millennia, it has served as a method for helping students retain the knowledge they have acquired. This is the essence of storytelling: it captivates, evokes emotion, and aids memory retention.
The following are the most important attributes of storytelling as a teaching pedagogy:
Master storytelling: Storytelling is most effective when mastered, facilitating narration with the correct intonation, gestures, diction, and ease. And teachers need not search far for captivating stories. India boasts a rich narrative tradition, spanning from the Panchatantra and Mahabharata to the Arabian Nights and the tales of Vikramaditya, alongside regional folktales like Haatimatim Tim from rural Bengal. These stories, brimming with profound morals, not only captivate students' attention but also contribute to their moral development, shaping them into better individuals.
Multiple themes: You can tell stories about almost anything. You can introduce units about geography and people of the world by telling interesting stories from their cultures. For instance, you could tell a story about the evolution of transportation from ancient times to the present day, or even a tale about the vast oceans that connect subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, geography, and history.
Practice matters as much as the plot: A proficient storyteller is someone who knows which elements are essential in a narrative to captivate the audience. For this, one needs to practise storytelling, as repetition is the key to perfection. As Ameen Haque, a renowned storyteller, says, “If teachers can be storytellers, then children will love and learn all subjects.”
Engaging students: Teachers must plan in advance how to narrate a story. They can use the help of gestures, props, voices, and other methods to make the story engaging for students. They can encourage diverse sensory experiences, prompt students to explore deeper into the narrative, ignite their imagination by encouraging active participation in the process of storytelling, use metaphors to connect concepts, maintain eye contact with the audience and conclude with a pause meaning pause at the end of the story.
Post-story engagement: It is essential to engage with children after the story-reading session. A teacher is always curious about the outcome of any activity. So the scene does not end herewith storytelling, a child’s reflection after the story is told is also crucial. Since students in a group or class may come from diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds, their interpretations and reflections will naturally vary. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers to record their impressions to monitor their learning progress and stimulate their imagination following a storytelling session.
Prediction: Encouraging children to craft their own stories is as vital as telling stories to them. Weaving and narrating stories in their own or a second language, helps them take ownership of the language.
And let us not confine ourselves to the medium of narration alone, as theatre is also a powerful space of storytelling. Theatre pedagogy combines art and education, building community consciousness through gestures, enactments and use of language. This can create moments of collaboration and synchronization in students perform together
We could also incorporate cinema pedagogy as a useful medium in schools to help students understand this medium as a learning tool. After all, cinema is a tool for ‘learning about life from life’. At our school we engage students in life experiences so they can develop the values of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (G.E.M.), accentuating their socio-emotional well-being.
I believe that adopting such experiential and immersive tools is crucial to empower our children to learn and grow into creative individuals.
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