Role of Story Telling in Learning

1. There have been great societies that did not use the wheel,
but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.
—Ursula K. LeGuin
Diary Writing on:
Role of Story telling in bringing up a child
Susmita Pruthi
1 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing

2. 10:29 pm
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
—Muriel Rukeyser

3. Story telling has been one of my favourite
pass time with my daughters! It had been a
very sacred time for us, a judicious 10-15
minutes every night before sleep.
I remember, I started with little non sensensical tit-bits when they were
just 4-5 months old. They would listen to me with rapt attention and
respond with their gurgling sounds, sometimes, giggling, smiling and
sometimes kicking or flaying their hands. I would obviously consider this
as a kind of response to what I was telling and weave the next sentence
accordingly!
I was considered a NUT to be talking to new borns!
But it helped me carry this tradition on as they continued to grow into
their months and years. Of course, there were obvious changes in the
form and nature of the story and the level of interaction as suitable for
the age.
3 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

4. Stories like the Rabbit and the Lion,
the Thirsty Crow, the Rabbit and the
Tortoise, the Monkey and the Crocodile -
Panchatantras have been an integral
part of their growing.
We moved to other stories including shifting to reading stories from
Champak, Nandan and so on.
4 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

5. BY THE WAY, even according to our Indian mythology, the process of
educating and moulding process of human being’s character starts right
from the womb. An expecting mother better be ready for innumerable
advices and dos and don’ts, not only regarding her diet, but also about
her other activities, e.g. read religious and other good books and not to
read vicious books or to watch violent or sadistic movies.
Refer the episode from Mahabharatha, incidentally my knowledge from
reading Amar Chitra Katha. Abhimanyu learnt to break the chakra vyu
when he was still in his mother’s womb while Arjuna was explaining it to
his pregnant wife. But as Lord Krishna called Arjuna, he could not
complete the explanation how to come out of it and so Abhimanyu could
not learn the secret of getting out of it.
I think there are some modern research done that shows that emotions
and feelings can be formed in the brain even before we are born.
I will continue that experience tomorrow. I will try and see if I can get
other people's response on this concept, their perspectives - kids,
moms/dads, grand moms/dads, uncles/aunties ...
5 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

6. 9:45 pm
Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all human beings, even
just a little nurturing of this impulse can bring about astonishing and delightful
results.
—Nancy Mellon, The Art of Storytelling

7. Continuing from yesterday, I want to focus
on "Mother-Child Storytelling Ritual“ today.
A mother who tell stories to their children
during bed time encourage them to respond
and evaluate the story according to their
understanding. Conversations and questions
but it also develops the curiosity in the child.
The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask more questions and
learn more. Conversations and questions but it also develops the curiosity
in the child. The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask more
questions and learn more.
It also helps build a bond between the mother and the children - the child
gets more comfortable with sharing everything with the mother because
they will develop skills to have a conversation with their mother.
7 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

8. Additionally, the story telling experience also:
Helps in the development of the

personality of the child, help the child to be
better at communicational skills
Helps transmit socio-cultural values
Communicate morals and values - 

the story becomes a part of the child’s
thought and the value being taught is
also a part of his thought, the child will
then try to put it to practice.
8 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

9. 11:05 pm
Stories are how we learn. The progenitors of the world’s religions understood this,
handing down our great myths and legends from generation to generation.
—Bill Mooney and David Holt, The Storyteller’s Guide

10. Benefits of Story telling
While discussing this today with some of my colleagues, I found another
interesting aspect of story-telling – exercise of the child doing story telling.
Schools nowadays give this assignment for kids in primary school to come
up in the class and do story telling. I find this interesting as it allows the
child to display all his learning - the story itself, it's learning,
communication, confidence, public speaking and so on.
I believe that story telling in a very unique and interesting way brings out
personality traits and polishes them for life.
10 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

11. For example:
Telling a story that deals with a fear your child is wrestling with helps in
defusing fears. For example,
>> if your child is afraid of thunderstorms, tell a story about a child or
animal who finds a safe, cozy place to curl up during a storm.
Most of the times children believe they can overcome fear when they see
someone else conquer a fear before they do. Make use of puppets, stuffed
animals and prewritten stories, when possible.
Using the characters in a story, it is easy to communicate your reasons
behind limits and boundaries as you show your child why you make certain
decisions. As the story is about fictional characters, the child generally is be
able understand it (and the reasoning behind it) without becoming
defensive.
11 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

12. Storytelling is a great way to open up any child's imagination. Interacting
with the story teller as they tell stories, making up characters and monsters
or obstacles for the characters. After a while, the child may surprise you by
inventing one instead !!
We all know that most of the fairy tales and nursery rhymes have morals
woven into them. Using these traditional fairytales coupled with modern
children's books and one's own imagination, one is able to convey the right
morals and value system to the children. Tell a story
>> that praises kindness, generosity and inclusiveness.
>> The Little Red Hen who helped everybody - it will help set a good
example.
As expressed earlier, storytelling is bonding up with children. They will
always remember the hours you spent talking in silly voices, making up
ridiculous characters and laughing about the stories you told - parent-
child bonding.
12 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

13. 9:50 pm
If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are
needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.
—Barry Lopez, in Crow and Weasel

14. It has been very instinctive for me – as an elder sister in a big crowd of
siblings, a leader during school days, an ‘educated’ professional amongst
not-so educated ones, a mother. But I have always seen story telling
sessions, experience sharing sessions, make some difference to the
person, in the person – same time or some time later.
So what kind of learning happened?
 Language skills (vocabulary, grammar, syntax and pronunciation).
 Their attention span and their ability to listen.
 Their ability to follow instructions.
 Their ability to co-operate with others
 An understanding of concepts
 An understanding of human nature.
 An understanding of feelings.
 An awareness of the role characteristics people assume.
 An understanding of sequence.
14 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

15. Story telling can really act as a therapy also!
Children will absorb lessons learned by characters in a story without being
defensive about their own issues.
Children who have gone through traumatic experiences can process those
experiences and learn to trust and feel safe again through repeated stories
with positive outcomes.
Children watch the story's characters overcome similar obstacles, which
boosts confidence that victory is possible and positive outcomes are
realistic.
Being subtle yet positive towards a concern – personal or otherwise has
always helped.
Being creative, varying the story – characters, background etc – helps in
many ways. Sometime, for younger children, one has to be re-iterative yet
be new to send a message home.
Prompting children when repeating a story, helps the child pull from the
earlier memory. Allowing them to tell the story, fill in the story or / and
complete the story allows them to communicate as well as inform you of
their perspectives. You never know what is revealed!
15 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

16. Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more
meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.
— Robert McKee

17. I believe story telling is an art!
I have seen the disinterest of many children when the word ‘story’ is
mentioned. In a world crammed with television programmes, cartoons and
interesting audio and visual aids traditional story telling is facing a big
challenge. These mediums are bringing the stories alive for them
irrespective. And with the additional advantage of three-dimensional stories
available as and when they want versus the old-fashioned way, on a warm
weekend afternoon or drowsy week nights – what wins?
17 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

18. I have some tricks to share, of basis my experience!
>> Stretching your stories , exaggerating, brings an element of fun,
disbelief, awe and sometimes an interaction!
>> Remember the three Little Pigs' "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow
your house down!" or the "Old Mac Donalds had a Farm"?! Many a
times it is the repetition that allows your audience to get involved as
they come to expect a repeated phrase or theme.
>> Using voice modulations brings the story to life! And, kids love
a story told in different voices. Sometimes, depending on the age
group, ridiculously exaggerated voices for each character in the
story; the more distinct and unique the voices, the better.
18 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

19. 10:22 pm
Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer,
more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.
— Robert McKee

20. Having discussed the same with many parents, grandparents, kids, I
realized that many really didn’t know the power of story telling in any child's
personality and future life.
I spoke to some of my colleagues and here is an opinion. I wish had more
time to capture more views ….
They are embedded on the page as videos for reference …
20 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

21. Story telling sessions are like a set of magical wings of imagination that
helps them become more creative and think out of the box. With oodles
of enthusiasm, voice modulation and a dollop of acting, it involves the
whole family and helps them bond better.
Today's children (or rather any child of any era) never likes to be told
what to do and how to do. So, instead of preaching morals and values,
storytelling helps parents weave them into their stories and narrate it to
their children in an interesting manner - giving answers to "Why should I
do this" and "What is in it for me". Listening to stories from the time they
were very small, they remember the plots and morals subconsciously,
delving into what they’ve heard as they grow up. And, if possible, use
them correctly.
21 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

22. I remember many such instances shared by my elder daughter who is a
very impressionable young lady. Many a times, while having casual
conversations, it has come out that she has taken the 'right' decision
under the circumstances, just because she could relate to some story,
value or other such instance based discussions we have had.
I also believe that story telling method of relating to family history bonds
them to their roots and gives them an identity.
22 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

23. 10:45 pm
Australian Aborigines say that the big stories—the stories worth telling and retelling,
the ones in which you may find the meaning of your life—are forever stalking the
right teller, sniffing and tracking like predators hunting their prey in the bush.
—Robert Moss, Dreamgates

24. One lesson we can learn from pre-industrial peoples is the power of
storytelling. I am struck by how important storytelling is among tribal
peoples; it formed the basis of their educational systems.
Knowledge that is not passed through the heart is dangerous: it may lack
wisdom; it may be a power trip; it may squelch life out of the learners.
What if our educational systems were to insist that teachers be poets and
storytellers and artists? What transformations would follow?
24 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

25. Storytelling is a fantastic educational tool, helping children learn about
different countries, cultures, nature and just about anything, through stories
woven around a nugget of knowledge. For instance, you might like to tell
stories about Eskimos, or how tigers hunt in forests, or why trees are
important.
If you tell your children stories regularly and ask them to participate with
their own tales, it helps develop better conversational and communication
skills. It lets them experiment with language and vocabulary, and helps
them put their imagination to good use.
And the best of all, storytelling is fun and your kids will always want more.
Story is far older than the art of science and psychology,
and will always be the elder in the equation no matter how
much time passes.
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes
25 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

26. We derive our competence from forming
connections … the learner’s challenge is to
recognize the patterns which appear to be
hidden. Meaning-making and forming
connections between specialized communities
are important activities.
26 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi