“If you want your children to be intelligent read them stories, if you want them to be more intelligent read them more stories”
What better way than stories to capture the mind of a young learner? Stories have a kind of magic that lasts with the listener, long after the facts have faded. Learning through the art of storytelling has a history that existed since time immemorial. Our oral traditions have kept our understanding of the past alive. Storytelling as an effective medium of communication and a strategic teaching technique has a profound influence in the classroom.
Stimulates creative talent
A good story lingers in the mind for a really long time and has the power to stimulate creative talents in the listeners. It holds the attention of the students and gives them the energy and passion to learn even repetitive chapters with renewed interest. In storytelling, whether you are the speaker or the listener, your imagination knows no bounds.
Effective communication process
An effective storytelling technique does not limit to the instructors and it should engage the students as well. Rather than remaining as passive listeners, a good teacher should encourage students themselves to engage in storytelling. This would improve the communication skills of the students and boost their self-confidence as they realize that they can effectively communicate their feelings and at the same time hold the attention of other students as well.
Active participation
With the storytelling technique, hesitant learning becomes confident comprehension. It ensures that the students are more actively involved in the learning process than in the normal mode of instruction. It also encourages a more relaxed and appreciating environment which also promotes the physical and mental well being of the student.
The improved bond between teachers and students
Apart from improving the attention span and verbal proficiency of the students, the technique of storytelling also improves the bond between teachers and students. It also builds self-esteem and ushers in ease of communication which is necessary to effectively benefit from the classroom. It also increases the feelings of friendship and cooperation among the students as well.
Develops critical mental skills
The imaginative skills involved in the art of storytelling aids in the development of coherent thinking skills. If a child is expressing interest to tell a story, especially one he has learned in class, it means that the child has been able to grasp the concepts well. Storytelling also increases the chances of the child to think critically and to analyze a particular concept from different perspectives.
Establishes connection
Stories stick to memory like glue. Children tend to retain more information concerning a study material when told in the form of a story. They absorb more information and retain it in their minds. Stories resonate with their inquisitive minds, and they find it challenging to find answers to the problems.
Winmore academy – a master in storytelling
At Winmore, storytelling is a two-way street. Our teachers incorporate storytelling techniques to promote critical learning skills. The focus on rote memorization is shifted to engagement learning by the systemic tool of storytelling. On the other hand, students are also wired to retell stories to help improve their creative talents, written and verbal proficiency and cognitive skills. Furthermore, Winmore Academy prides in its’ well equipped and stocked libraries, a testimony to its long-standing tradition of promoting reading.