Should we schedule time for it, or should it be organic? Should we attach requirements to storytelling, or simply allow it for fun? Honestly, there’s no right or wrong way to include them. Here are a few simple approaches you might take to include storytelling in your classroom: Share your own stories, just for fun: Tell them about when you were their age, about times you failed, succeeded, or about memorable lessons you learned. This builds a strong connection between you and your classroom, letting them know that you can relate to them, and vice versa. Use stories as introductions: Just as we encourage students to use attention-getting devices for their essays and speeches, we can use the same technique as educators. Begin class with an interesting story, but one that is relevant to the lecture’s focus. Use stories as illustrations: When you’re hammering through a relatively difficult concept with your class, one easy way to explain it is to illustrate the concept with a story. When facts and figures won’t do, simple narratives sometimes can. Tie storytelling to learning goals: We want our students to develop listening skills, and we can incorporate storytelling into the larger picture of achieving these outcomes. Tell stories to engage reluctant learners: Some students experience difficulty connecting to drab textbooks or abstract concepts. However, those same learners typically have little struggle connecting to stories. Through telling stories, you make life and learning more relevant, giving reluctant learners a better angle of engagement. Types of Stories There are several different types of stories you could potentially tell in your classroom. Harbor knowledge of each type, so if you’re lacking in one kind, you can replace it with another. A true story from your own life. A true story from the life of someone you know, like a friend, family member, or neighbor. A true story from the news or a current event. A story that took place sometime in history. A fictional story, with made up characters or events. An “Imagine if …” story that sets up a hypothetical situation. Of course, there are various genres and styles of storytelling, but the above list represents the essential variety that you might incorporate into the classroom. Why Storytelling Works In its simplest form, storytelling remains a powerful element of communication, with the narrative being equally as compelling as essays and textbooks. They humanize learning. It offers us the opportunity to connect to like-minded characters, or see the world literally from within someone else’s skin. Stories touch our emotions and make us laugh, cry, fear, and get angry—a sharp contrast to a plain old presentation. Plus, no matter how organized or detailed a textbook might be, there’s something about the shape of a narrative—the exposition, the problem, the quest for a solution, the resolution—that resonates with our mental makeup.

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