Storytelling: Real Life Magic

If you haven't read the "The Soup Opera," by Jim Gill with your children, let me recommend it to you now. You can watch the author lead a performance of it here (it is well worth your time:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh3nWErFO5E). I'll never forget the first time I helped children act this out in the classroom. There was no preparation, no memorization, no stage and no audience other than themselves. I simply invited children up to play certain parts, whisked on simple costumes and whispered their lines into their ears. It was giggly, adventurous fun, but the real magic came from the "star" of the show. A little boy who often had trouble relating to his classmates belted out his funny lines the whole way through. His classmates laughed. He absolutely beamed.

This is just one of the magical moments I've had telling stories in the classroom. Throughout my life I've loved telling stories, and I become known as an engaging storyteller when I was at school. In fact, this became the center of my collegiate internship- I did storytime at the Madison Library in Rexburg, Idaho. However, when I'm telling stories to young children, I'm there to do much more than entertain (although I am entertaining). Storytelling is one of the most important ways I teach. Here are just some of the skills that we build when we tell stories with young children:

• Vocabulary - Storytelling is one of the best ways we can introduce new words. Since the new word is brought up in context, children often get the meaning without explanation. Our brains do this wonderful thing called "fast-mapping." Basically, when you hear a new word, your brain gets the meaning and logs it in based on the context. Young children are particularly good at this.
• Sequencing- Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. Like all stories, this nursery rhyme has a sequence of events. 1. Jack and Jill go up the hill. 2. They fetch water. 3. Jack falls and hits his head. 4. Jill falls down too. The ability to order items and events seems second nature, but this is a skill that young children learn. 
• Making Predictions and Solving Problems- Asking thoughtful questions can help a child think carefully about the story, make predictions and try to solve problems. For example, if you read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," with your child, you might say, "Wow he ate a lot of junk food! How do you think he's going to feel?" After the Caterpillar gets sick, you could ask, "What would you do to feel better?" Young children can think of some amazing answers!
• Building Empathy- Part of what makes storytelling so powerful is that it lets us take a walk in someone else's shoes. A young child's imagination is powerful, and their ability to feel what another character might be feeling is acute. This can be used to start important conversations about kindness, differences and showing self-control.

In my classroom we tell stories every single day. You can do it at home too- and you just might have as much fun as your children!