Storytelling is at the heart of what we do. We are passionate about the power of stories. We are all born with an innate love of stories and a primal need to make connections with others and ourselves. Storytelling facilitates this magic and so much more..
As soon as human beings can talk, stories are being told and demonstrating what being a human means. Stories communicate reality, fantasy, messages and lessons. Stories are a way of experiencing a range of emotions safely. Stories are also available to anyone. Long before reading or writing, children are hearing and telling stories. They are read stories, they make up stories, they are told stories and they overhear stories. Stories connect us to the truth and current research shows, they are as powerful a tool for learning in schools as is available.
In 2004, Daniel Willingham explained precisely why stories are so intrinsic to our learning. They are special for three reasons:
· Comprehension
· Memory
· Attention and engagement
We engage more when reading or listening to a story; stories are easier to understand than expository text because we understand the format of them; and stories are easier to remember because the pieces of information are moderately causally related, forcing the person to think about the information. We remember what we think about, and stories get us thinking.
In Arthur Shimamura’s MARGE, he explored the challenges we face in education in relation to motivation and attention. We live in a world that makes an inestimable number of demands on our attention, so it is now accepted as fact that mind-wandering is inevitable. Therefore, securing students’ attention needs to be considered explicitly, rather simply assumed. Part of this, is of course related to behaviour norms and routines – but even the most disciplined of minds will occasionally wander. So, part of this is also about capturing attention. Not only do stories have the power to captivate, but they have a range of motivational and attentional components built into them – if they are told well, they keep us hooked, and they help us to remember.
Anyone who has told stories to groups of children understands the power they can have. Assembly halls fall silent, from the fresh new reception children sitting in the front row to the wily year six children sitting on the benches at the back. Entire terms of work can be based on one story. Children remember stories. Everyone remembers stories. Not only are stories maybe the most powerful learning tool available, they are also fun, challenging, a chance to become lost in magic and vital for our survival.
“The shortest distance between a human being and the truth is a story.” -Anthony de Mello
“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Phillip Pullman