The Power of Story in the Home and Classroom

Last year my son started attending a Waldorf School.  It was a big adjustment for all of us.  As he struggled to adjust socially and emotionally, his teacher recommended storytelling.  {I have to admit I was doubtful this would produce any positive change, but I'm open to trying most things.}

I was stunned by the results.

I invented all sorts of fuzzy little woodland creatures who were experiencing the same sort of difficulties he had.  We most often told stories at bedtime.  He would get so quiet.  We would have whole conversations about what our characters should do or say or how we thought they felt.  Sometimes he would ask, "Is this story really about me?"

A year later he will sometimes say, "I don't really like your stories."  I think this is because it really zings his heart and emotions without any blaming or shaming.  He doesn't really know how to handle that.  {let's be honest--neither do most of the rest of us}

So how does this fit into the classroom.  I started telling many quick little stories in the classroom.  Sometimes they are true stories about events in my life or the lives of others.  Sometimes I use little finger puppets.  My class usually sits silent and spellbound.

I use stories to present some of the most difficult topics in our classroom--someone stealing the personal items of others, how to handle anger, what to do when you're fighting with your friends.  Usually we use our "Wise old gnome" and an animal to present the problem to him.  The gnome then presents solutions.

I'm blown away by the responsiveness of my students.  Does it solve all the problems?  Nope!  Does it open a portal into their hearts and minds?  Yep!

I'm developing a collection of mini-books that relate to this.  They are called Will U.  I will start to provide some of them here for my loyal and amazing peeps, so keep an eye on this spot.

Do you use storytelling?  How?  When?

Storytelling as a Teaching Tool

Have you ever used storytelling as an instructional tool in your classroom?

I used it in a very limited way before last year.  One year ago at this time my son started attending PreK at a Waldorf School.  His teacher really encouraged me to use storytelling with him to redirect his behavior and guide his will.  There was no blaming or shaming, just stories.

I secretly thought this never going to work.  At bedtime I started telling little stories about forest animals whose lives resembled his life experiences.  He listened.  He was very quiet.  He was clearly absorbing this right down into his little five year old heart.  {Sometimes he would ask if this story was really about him!}

I was astonished by the impact.

Fast forward to last week in my classroom.  We had a thief.  It made my heart heavy.  It wasn't the first time, but it was obvious that it wasn't just a lost treasure.  It had been taken.

The next day I got out two little finger puppets.  A mouse and a gnome.  The short version is the mouse has a package of cheese. . . stops to play at park. . . the cheese is taken. . . the mouse is walking home with a heavy heart. . . the wise old gnome speaks wise words with hard truths and cautions against accusing.

My class is completely quiet and engaged.  An aid for one of my students said it was great that there was no accusing so that everyone could keep listening without putting defenses up.

I wish I could say that the thief returned the items.  It hasn't happened.  But everyone has strategies around protecting their possessions without turning this into a blame game.  I was stunned to see the impact on a room full of children was just the same as one little boy.

I will continue to use stories as a teaching tool.  I'm thinking of ways to include them in the academic content of the classroom.  The oral tradition of teaching is thousands of years old and still used around the world.

I'm wondering if you use stories at all to teach?  How?  When?