Storytelling is art with interactive storytelling elements, sometimes with improvisation and embellishments through words. It is an ancient and valuable form of art of human expression. There are many storytelling elements, which are also used in many ways.
Storytelling involves two-way interaction between storyteller and listener. It is an essential and effective strategy in education. Teachers often use the storytelling method in their teaching process.
Why is storytelling important for teachers in the classroom?
We might ask, ‘why is storytelling not important in the classroom‘? Adults enjoy a short movie break between continuous workload, and it feels like heaven! Children love stories as it diverts their mind from constant study and exam preparation. Therefore if you want your kids to learn in a fun and extraordinary way, then storytelling is the best option. Some of the skill-building effects of storytelling are as follows:
Listening skill building
Storytelling is decisive in nurturing children’s minds and enhancing listening skills, even in digital-driven classrooms. Digital storytelling is a new development in the learning process after the emergence of pandemics. When listening to the classroom lectures becomes tedious, and children lose focus, storytelling grasps their attention and attracts them to the lesson in an exciting way.
Verbal skill development
Love for stories in childhood cannot be denied. Along with storytelling by the teacher, a student’s active participation in the verbal storytelling sessions is a brilliant way to engage them. It makes the children confident by developing public speaking skills, which help them to communicate effectively with their teammates later on.
Enhancement of imagination skill
Imagination is the first step toward creativity. Thought-provoking stories help students develop images that later build their creativity and innovative ideas in their job domain. Storytelling allows children to achieve their dreams and goals most excitingly and creatively.
Benefits Of Storytelling Strategy For The TTeachers
Storytelling is a great way to make the kids’ memory sharper in class. Teachers can read stories and afterward ask the students about minute details. Through this process, a teacher will understand how many points students can recall and the information they have retained.
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It makes the learning process easier.
Storytelling enhances the students’ focus and is considered the stepping stone to future studies. It is a natural process of education that makes learning more accessible and improves the child’s focus and concentration during the session.
Through storytelling, a child understands how to focus and listen when someone is talking. If they are trained to keep silent throughout the reading time and then ask their respective questions at question time, they will learn to communicate appropriately. This habit will help them to become active listeners in the future while mingling on social platforms with other people.
Improves cultural understanding
Storytelling elements enrich another skill, an artistic skill with or without a student’s knowledge. It helps to learn how other cultures matter; all are respected equally and also allows children to connect with the world, countries, and traditions. It helps to develop an appreciation for the rest of the world and different cultures. Through compelling and moral stories, teachers can ingrain gratitude, honesty, and truthfulness in them. Teachers can infuse how important it is to grow the morals and ethics in a human being’s life.
Boosts curiosity
A great way to improve learning and development is to arouse curiosity in children. Teachers can use the storytelling method to increase the interest, pause between an exciting part, and wait for the children’s reaction. Students will be compelled to ask questions and become eager to know what will happen next, boosting their curiosity.
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Improves vocabulary and concentration
Another importance of storytelling is improving a child’s concentration level and attention span. Adding new words and phrases while telling a story is essential for the students as they try to relate to the meanings of the unfamiliar words, and they grow their vocabulary. Altogether building up concentration and vocabulary through interactive storytelling sessions at school or virtual classroom is extremely important.
Improves actions and gestures
Actions in a social platform are the parts of a spoken or manual language other than words, and their use in storytelling differs from writing or digital interactions. Gestures and actions bring out inner expression while telling a story, and it helps to open up naturally and genuinely in front of others.
To Sum Up
Narrating a story is an art that technology cannot surpass till now. A quality storytelling time with students will amaze them about your skill as a teacher. Interesting stories will likely impress the students in the offline or virtual classroom. In fact, in the digital classroom, it is highly recommended. Classplus app guides you through creating your coaching classroom as a teacher. Get your app if you are passionate about teaching and telling stories to grab the students’ focus. Connect with class plus experts to know more about the possibilities.
