Why do we tell stories?
Telling stories allows us to express ourselves in ways that communicate who we truly are. When you tell stories you are being vulnerable. No matter the extent to which you open up, it's amazing that you got that far. I see the stories of those around me portrayed in various ways. Each and every story is beautiful and deserves to be heard. I am so excited to share my thoughts with you all on the amazing ways to share your story!
Please click on the links throughout the website to see some amazing resources I have found along the way! :)
Oral Storytelling
When we orally tell a story, we are able to emphasize the most impactful parts of our story. This could be as simple as sharing your day with someone, or as complex as retelling your entire life story to someone who wants to hear. Any time you open up and share your story, a new one is made. Being able to tell your story in words requires you to be brave. Even times where you share and don't open up completely, you are taking that chance and being brave. You are telling someone a story that is brand new to them. When doing this, you have the power to shape the story however you choose. You can tell your audience what is most important to you. You can even leave parts out if you choose. Overall, passing your story along takes guts. Next time you share something with someone new, be sure to take time to reflect and see just how beautiful the moment was where you opened up. This makes you stronger than you think.
Click here to hear the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series talk about his family's culture of retelling stories.
Written Storytelling
When you truly get to know your students, they will be more open and vulnerable when it comes to telling their stories. We must get to know our students on the paper. We have to have that connection with our students in order to positively impact our students' writing. We must give them the confidence to tell their story through writing. We can strengthen our relationships and their writing skills at the same time. Find writing prompts and allow the students to put their creative input into the writing. We want the students to feel confident to share. Celebrating writing is an amazing way for students to become excited about what they wrote, we want them to be excited to share! Once students see other students sharing their stories the domino effect will take over and all students will want to share! Seeing students confident in their work and eager to share is a special feeling which any teacher can encourage their students to have when they have a supportive learning environment.
Click here to hear a Ted Talk on storytelling increasing student connections!
Storytelling through Pictures
Why is it that when we take a picture, the first thing we do is edit it? Why can't we truly appreciate the photos we take? I am not saying that you shouldn't edit your photos, most of us do. We want to enhance our stories and make them as interesting and captivating as possible. But what if we decided to be vulnerable and post our pictures untouched. Now just like oral storytelling, we can change what we show to our audience. We can edit objects out of our pictures, we can filter the sky to make it brighter, we can erase that pimple we can't stand to look at, or even change the background of the photo entirely. It takes a lot to post a picture in its natural form but it also takes a lot to post the picture in a way that you want to portray yourself. Pictures have a way of capturing parts of the stories that can't be put into words. They reach a new depth that allows you to explore more than what's on the surface.
Click here for a presentation by visual storyteller Colby Brown on how to tell a compelling story using pictures!
Physical Storytelling
When you see someone with tattoos you may look at them and admire them, but how invested do you truly get? Tattoos are an incredible way for someone to share their story. Tattoos can symbolize so many different things such as love, heartbreak, family, friendship, loss, gain, and so much more. When you see someone with tattoos you are seeing their amazing art AND you are seeing their story. Using your body to tell stories is an incredible concept. As you look at someone's common gestures or the way they present themselves physically, you begin to learn about the type of person they are. If someone's body language indicates signs of shyness, or flirtiness, or happiness, you will usually be able to begin learning their story soon after meeting them. Some people express themselves through dance. The rhythm of the music they choose and how dancers move their bodies can tell an entire story in just one performance. So many people physically share their stories without saying a word. It is important to look beyond the surface. Once you know what the situation looks like, you can then beautify the situation on your own and begin to understand their stories.
Click here for an amazing write up called Storytelling Through Tattooing!
Make Your Mark
As you embark on your storytelling journey, keep in mind that there are so many different ways for you to tell your story. As we complete a 5-day photo challenge, we are opening ourselves up to a new concept that we may not have done before. We are expressing our entire stories through five pictures. In addition to that, as we read to our students, whether it be a picture book, chapter book, article, or blog, it is important to remember that these words are going to make an impact each and every time the students hear them. As we learn with our students, it is important to make sure the information you share is inclusive. Storytelling has a large impact on students and the kids will take away much of what they learned through storytelling and apply it throughout their educational career. I am so proud of each person who opens up to tell their story. The impact storytelling can have on future generations is limitless.
Click here to hear the song that corresponds to international dot day about making your mark!
Click here to learn more about International Dot Day if you haven't heard of it! This was something one of my professors at ECSU showed us that really stuck with me, I hope you enjoy it too!
Your Connection!
I hope one of the topics I wrote about resonates with you. I hope you found a way to tell your story that allows you to feel confident in your expression. In the comments, I challenge you to share a few words that tell your story! Also, tell me which type (if not one I mentioned feel free to add your own) of storyteller you are! Connecting to my own life, I am a picture and tattoo storyteller! I love to share my photos on social media and even started an Instagram for my teaching journey. The power of pictures is so strong for me. If you would like to join me in my education journey, feel free to follow my teacher Instagram @cupofteaching123
Happy Storytelling!
-Ali Lombard
Citations
FableVision. (2014, August 26). The Dot Song. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZQMhdYJhsA
Gentry, C. (2019, April 2). Bearing Witness: Oral Storytelling in the Classroom. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/christine_gentry_bearing_witness_oral_storytelling_in_the_classroom
International Dot Day. (2021). Peter H. Reynolds. http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/
Parry, S. (2018, June 12). Storytelling through tattooing. Sacred Knot Tattoo. https://www.sacredknottattoo.com/storytelling-through-tattooing/
Reading Rockets. (2012, December 5). A tradition of oral storytelling. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFoel66pUk
Sony Professional Solutions Americas. (2015, November 11). How to Tell a Compelling Story with Your Photography. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZcKXbqESa0
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteThis was such a wonderful blog post! Storytelling is such a beautiful part of human connection, and it has been around for so long. It's important both in our personal lives, and in the classroom. This is how we connect with our students, understand them as people. I've always considered myself to be a good written storyteller (I've been a creative writer for pretty much as long as I can remember), but your blog post opened my eyes to all the other ways I'm a storyteller: I take photos to chronicle moments, I express myself through tattoos, I connect with my friends/family by sharing my day. I look forwarding to encouraging my future students to express themselves through storytelling, and experiencing the fantastic power of storytelling firsthand. Thank you for sharing!
-Shawna Z
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteI love this blog post, it captures our class so well. The resources are awesome too, especially the Dairy Of a Wimpy Kid one- I love it! Storytelling is so important and it was interesting to read about the many different types but also how they can be used in teaching and the real world. We all chose to tell ours in different ways as we have seen in the projects for this class- that is what makes us unique. Bringing that message to students in the classroom, no matter the age, is really important. We all have stories but how we choose to tell them, share them, and capture them depends on who you are. I wonder how younger vs. older students would share, do they see the beauty in pictures, art, or literature? Their story might be more centered around tangible items, show and tell is what I think of! The photo challenge made me think a lot about what really represents my life and can it be done in just 5 photos? Can someone understand what my life really looks like or feels like from that, probably not. We are most comfortable sharing the positives and what makes us happy. I could have posted a picture of report cards and conference notes that are making me very unhappy right now- but I took a more positive route :) Can't wait to follow your teacher instagram! See you this week.
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post! It was so insightful to include all those different types of storytelling. I also love to tell stories through images - I loved the video by Colby Brown. He asked in the beginning - why are people interested in photography to begin with? He posited that many people got into it because it allows them to separate themselves form their daily lives, or have new experiences they are documenting, or a creative outlet. For me, I think it is the first one, even though I am FAR from any kind of professional. His main point was that we are creating things we would like to share and telling a story with what we create and share. The same is true in our classrooms. What is exciting for our students to create and share? There are so many ways to tell a story, not just by writing, but I think the most important thing to do in our classrooms is capture that spirit of creativity and excitement and allow our students to honor their stories, however they choose to share them. One form can certainly build off of another and I have loved thinking about that through these blog posts and class assignments - if a student finds writing difficult, there are so many ways to scaffold it so they are still capable of telling their important story.
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I really appreciated all of the resources that you shared with us throughout your post. I agree that sharing one's story is so important and to be honest this class has really opened up my mind to all the ways that you can tell your story. I definitely enjoy telling my story verbally or expressing it through writing, which is maybe why the twitter challenge has been difficult for me. It definitely made me think of how to show my story through 5 different photos. I learned that you really must selective with the kinds of pictures you choose. I love how you have created an Instagram account dedicated to your journey as an educator, which I think is extremely powerful and can help other teachers benefit too. I follow some Instagram accounts that are similar to what it sounds like you are doing and these accounts have shared so many great resources and at times has validated my feelings of being in the classroom especially during the craziness of this school year. I would love to implement the use of pictures as a way of telling one's story into the classroom and have my students experience a creative way to express themselves.
-Thanks for sharing! :)
Awesome post! As I read this blog post I sat back and reflected on the different ways I have used or shared stories with my students over the years. I found that storytelling is the number one thing that has bonded me with my students. Whether it is building their visual story telling skills through art or just orally sharing a story we grow closer together through these actions. I find sharing stories with students always helps them feel connected. While it isn't appropriate to share every story and life experience with students there are definitely opportunities to do this that will make all the difference to a child going through a rough patch. Often times the stories that show us being vulnerable or scared make the most impact. These are feelings that young students struggle with all the time that make them feel very isolated. Taking a moment to share a story where you feel like that too will make them feel less alone. I may even inspire them. Many students idolize their teachers. By showing them that we struggled with the same things they are feeling and have overcome them can give them the strength to pull through.
ReplyDeleteHi Ali,
ReplyDeleteFantastic job! I loved all of the different links, and I'm so glad I clicked through them. I definitely tell my story best through speech and writing. I have writing pieces saved from middle school through high school and college to the present. I love reflecting back on them. I see my writing as pieces of evidence along the timeline of my life. For years I have wanted to collect these works into one project in which I explore my journey with anxiety and depression through my creative writing. I am finally going to make this happen as the final project for this class.
My favorite link you shared was the TED Talk. My first teaching job was as a long-term substitute middle school music teacher. I was completely out of my element. I had large classes filled with behavior issues. I started the position in February of 2020, and we went full remote in March. By this point I had already lost most of my students' interest. I was trying to figure out how to re-engage students through an online music curriculum. I decided to focus on using music as a form of self-expression and as a coping mechanism. I wanted to give my students both skills and an outlet to aid them through an unprecedented and overwhelming time.
Because of this unit, I connected more with my students virtually than I did when we were face to face. I wasn't forming any connections with them through teaching music history. I formed connections with them by asking what songs made them feel certain emotions, what songs they listened to when they wanted to cheer up, what they would put on a playlist to reflect their emotions during the pandemic, and finally having them write songs of their own. They revealed their stories through music. I wonder if my shift in the curriculum would have made a difference in the classroom environment. I like to think it would have.
Thank you again for your post! It definitely gave me a lot to think about.
Best,
Kate
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog post about the different kinds of storytelling. When I hear the word ‘storytelling’, the first thing that comes to mind is oral stories, and the next is written stories. This class has helped me to keep an open mind about using other forms of media to tell stories as well, such as pictures and videos. I love the part of your post where you talk about physical storytelling, as this is a form of storytelling that I had not thought much about. However, I think it would be awesome to incorporate storytelling through movement into the classroom! I also found the article you included about storytelling through tattooing to be very interesting and powerful. I always love to hear people talk about the stories behind there tattoos, as they are an important part of their identity. Thanks for all of the great articles and videos!
-Colleen Konkol
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post. When I think of story telling I always think of oral story telling and then of course written. I really had not thought of physical storytelling. I never really thought of tattoos to tell stories, but now that I think about it, it does make a lot of sense. One of the first questions I always ask people is the story behind someone's tattoo. They really do tell other people a lot about us without even speaking to us. One of the things that really comes to my mind are tattoos that have universal meanings. I.E. the semicolon, a lyric to your favorite song, or even Harry Potter tattoos. There is a downside to this. If you have a Harry Potter tattoo people might think you are a crazy Potterhead when in reality you may not be.
Stephanie
Hi Ali!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this blog post! I think you did a good job at explaining the different components of this course. Story telling is a big part of a students life at school and can serve as a way to make connections and bridge different walks of life together in one communal space. It is important for us as teachers to understand and recognize the different ways you can tell stories and use them to our advantage. This means providing students with options (when you can) in how they choose to present their work. This alone will make students more engaged and feel more connected with the work they produce. Thank you for sharing this with us!
-Grace
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteI really liked all of the different examples that you used for storytelling. I think we often forget that pictures, dance, music, tattoos, etc. are forms of storytelling. I also think it's a nice reminder to actually appreciate the pictures that we take because you're right, we often jump right to our editing tools, without first looking at what we captured. I really liked your example of tattoos because I recently got a new one and to other people, they might not think much of it, but to me, the two little letters are the whole world.
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! I like how you hyperlinked the articles after you explained the different types of storytelling. Very well constructed and easy to follow along. I liked this post because you did a great job showing the power of different types of storytelling and the impact each and every type can have no only of the the reader and listener but also on the overall presentation of the type of storytelling. These were great stories also tied in with this post, I learned many different ways to tell stories and become a more effective teacher.
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post as it really embodies with this course is all about. I really liked the different ways students and teachers can express themselves whether it be storytelling through oral stories, written stories, stories through pictures, or physical storytelling. I’ve always been a visual learner so for me stories through pictures is the best way for me to express myself and I feel like adding pictures to words is always a great addition. I really do believe that a picture is worth 1000 words. It’s really important to include different modes of storytelling especially when you’re bringing it into the classroom as each student has unique and learns and takes in material in a different way, so it is extra important to differentiate for students when it comes to community builders and welcoming everyone into the classroom in an appropriate and fun way.
~Chaisen