Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a great tool that I started using it lately. I am a history teacher in a  poor country. There aren’t many kids who attend school and those who do don’t  score good grades. Unfortunately the books that we teach aren’t very good. They  are focused on memorizing so the students don’t like them. It was very difficult to  me to teach and make the students interested in history. The students aren’t  motivated because the subject seems “boring”. I tried to do the best I can to  change their view of the subject, but I couldn’t. I discovered storytelling and it  made a huge difference. The classes now aren’t that boring and unappealing. The  students also started to share their perspectives and thoughts more then ever. I  use their thoughts to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works  for them.

Application

The fist time I used storytelling in class the students were amazed and surprised.  In that day I told them not to bring their books. I taught the lesson using day to  day language and I drew the characters on the board. We performed a play in the  next lesson. After that I was the one who is surprised. A group from the class  taught the lesson. It was a very successful method and the scored the highest  grades in the state! But there was a student who always sat in the back and never  participated. I knew that he needed attention. I asked him to come to my office  and got him a drink. It appears that he is a shy person and that he is afraid from  interacting with people because he was bullied in his previous class.

Insight & Approach

I was shocked and devastated a bit because I should’ve known earlier but I didn’t.  Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story. I told him that I knew how he  felt because I was bullied as well when I was at school and how painful it was  because I was suffering alone. I told him how I was too scared to tell anyone. I  also shared with him how I got through it with the help of m teacher. I also tried  to explain to him that not all people are bullies, he was a bit comfortable after

that and motivated as well . So in the next lesson, and for the first time he  engaged with the rest of the class and gradually he made some friends as well.  Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good. This course made me see storytelling  in a new way. When I've done it before it wasn’t  really that interesting, but now I  can prepare ahead and think of stories and methods that will assist me in  presenting my ideas and receive m students thoughts too.


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is a great tool that I started using it lately . I am a history teacher in a poor country . There are n’t many kids who attend school and those who do do n’t score good grades . Unfortunately the books that we teach are n’t very good . They are focused on memorizing so the students do n’t like them . It was very difficult to me to teach and make the students interested in history . The students are n’t motivated because the subject seems “ boring ” . I tried to do the best I can to change their view of the subject , but I could n’t . I discovered storytelling and it made a huge difference . The classes now are n’t that boring and unappealing . The students also started to share their perspectives and thoughts more then ever . I use their thoughts to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them . Application The fist time I used storytelling in class the students were amazed and surprised . In that day I told them not to bring their books . I taught the lesson using day to day language and I drew the characters on the board . We performed a play in the next lesson . After that I was the one who is surprised . A group from the class taught the lesson . It was a very successful method and the scored the highest grades in the state ! But there was a student who always sat in the back and never participated . I knew that he needed attention . I asked him to come to my office and got him a drink . It appears that he is a shy person and that he is afraid from interacting with people because he was bullied in his previous class . Insight & Approach I was shocked and devastated a bit because I should ’ve known earlier but I did n’t . Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story . I told him that I knew how he felt because I was bullied as well when I was at school and how painful it was because I was suffering alone . I told him how I was too scared to tell anyone . I also shared with him how I got through it with the help of m teacher . I also tried to explain to him that not all people are bullies , he was a bit comfortable after that and motivated as well . So in the next lesson , and for the first time he engaged with the rest of the class and gradually he made some friends as well . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see storytelling in a new way . When I 've done it before it was n’t really that interesting , but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories and methods that will assist me in presenting my ideas and receive m students thoughts too .