Storying our way to maximize potential

Want your kids to be smart? Tell them stories. Want them to be super smart? Tell them even more stories. – Albert Einstein

Do you like stories? It’s a simple question, right? Most of us would say yes. Since forever, communities have connected through stories. Storytelling isn’t just something kids enjoy – it’s also a great way to teach them things. Plato and Aristotle, old wise guys, thought so too.

Stories aren’t just about facts and events. They’re magical and make us wonder. They’re a big part of how we understand things. Scientists say stories can actually change our brains, helping us pay attention and understand others better.

Here are some cool things about stories:

• They help us understand our world, even when they’re fantasy.
• They help us remember stuff because they mix feelings with facts.
• They help calm our minds, so we can learn better.
• They make us better listeners.
• They can turn students into storytellers.
• They inspire us to talk about important stuff.

So, in my classroom, we use stories to help with learning. We use them for tricky stuff like spelling and math. For spelling, we make rules into characters in a story. For math, we act out problems with shapes. Even for kids who mix up letters and numbers, stories can help them get it right.

During language lessons, we use story bags full of cool things to make stories more fun. They’re especially helpful for kids who don’t like reading much.

We also use something called Social Stories to help kids with their feelings. They’re stories written just for them, to help them understand social situations better.

Oh, and here’s a tip: instead of asking “How was your day?” try asking something more interesting. It might get your kids talking more!

So, when you’re not sure how to teach something, just tell a story. It might just be the best way to learn.