This book shows connections between oral story listening and unique, enduring educational effects in and outside of the classroom. Using scientific studies and interviews, as well as personal observations from more than thirty years in schools and libraries, the authors examine learning outcomes from frequent story listening. Throughout the book, Schatt and Ryan illustrate that experiencing stories told entirely from memory transforms individuals and builds community, affecting areas such as reading comprehension, visualization, focus, flow states, empathy, attachment, and theory of mind.
Arvustused
"A wonderful new book by Donna Schatt and Patrick Ryan makes the compelling case for educators and policymakers ... . The appendices to this book are like dessert after a satisfying main course. With sample stories, further resources, and case studies, this book sets up teachers and policymakers with everything they need to get going." (Stephanie Hilder, English 4-11, Issue 80, 2024)
"The book is organized logically into six chapters ... . this is not just a book for storytellers and teachers. It is also a work that should be of interest to anyone who values the transformative power of storytelling as a tool for educational and social change." (Book 2.0, intellectbooks.com, Vol. 12 (2), December 11, 2022)
Chapter
1. What storytelling is and isnt: I knew where I was the whole
time.
Chapter
2. Increasing engagement and focus: I am able to really
listen. Its because of the stories.
Chapter
3. Enhancing reader
comprehension through visualization: So, it was like, in my mind an
activity.
Chapter
4. The benefits of repeated story listening: "Sometimes I
get so hypnotized I forget where I am.
Chapter
5. Using shared experience
to build classroom community: We were in a group, but I didnt pay any
attention to the other kids. The story was being told to me and I got to
take it and go..
Chapter
6. Collateral learning and the development of
independent learners: And its funny, I get stuck in bookstoresI go looking
for stories more than other people..
Chapter
7. Reasons for investing time
in storytelling and how to get started: How often would you have to tell
stories to your own children to have them get this experience?.
Donna Schatt is a storyteller, researcher, librarian, and writer based in Chicago, Michigan, and New York, USA. She is currently researching the effects of oral story listening on visualization abilities, as well as writing a novel.
Patrick Ryan is a storyteller, teacher, researcher, and writer, based in Belfast and working throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, and North America. He is the author of Shakespeares Storybook (2001) and several articles on storytelling.
