Story is as old as civilisation.
Before the invention of writing, relatives told each other stories as a means of passing important information down the family tree, and citizens have long used stories as a conduit to convey their society’s values, morals, and customs.
Storytelling has played an important role in every society throughout history. In ancient Greece, storytelling was integral to the culture, with myths and legends passed down from generation to generation. In Medieval Europe, troubadours and minstrels travelled from town to town, telling stories and singing songs.
The earliest forms of storytelling were oral traditions, whereby stories were shared through the spoken word and memorisation. But, with the invention of writing, storytelling took on new forms. Epic poems such as the Iliad and the Odyssey were written down, allowing them to be preserved and more easily shared. In the Middle Ages, stories were often written down in the form of manuscripts, which were painstakingly copied by hand.
The advent of the printing press in the 15th century enabled stories to be shared on a much larger scale, leading to the rise of the novel as a popular form of storytelling.
In the 20th century, radio, television, and film provided more media for storytelling, allowing stories to be told to larger audiences and on a more epic scale, and today the art of storytelling continues to evolve with the rise of digital media and the internet.
As such, despite myriad changes in technology and media – or perhaps because of it – storytelling remains a fundamental part of human culture, connecting us to each other and to our shared history.
Stories give meaning to our lives and make us who we are. They shape our self-awareness thus helping us to make sense of personal experiences, no matter how complex or difficult. Stories can also have a profound impact on our behaviours, values, and attitudes – as well as on our very belief system.
Stories don’t just help us make sense of ourselves; they teach us important lessons and convey complex ideas, thus helping us make sense of the world around us.
And stories help us connect with other people. When we hear a story, we often identify with the characters and their experiences, even if they are very different to our own. This connection can foster empathy and understanding, helping us appreciate different people and perspectives. In short, stories can:
- Make sense of our lives.
- Make meaning of the world.
- Make connections with other people.
SecEd Series: The stories we tell
- Part 1: The power of stories in teaching (this article)
- Part 2: Using story to organise the curriculum (September 12, 2023)
- Part 3: Using story to help students remember (September 19, 2023)
- Part 4: Using story to promote inclusion (September 25, 2023)
The stories we tell ourselves
We only remember something once. Every subsequent memory is a memory of a memory and each time we “remember” a memory, we change it, reshape it, polish it…
As such, when we tell our own stories, we are not simply recounting objective facts, but rather we are constructing a narrative that gives meaning to our experiences and helps us make sense of our past. We discern logic where none existed, and we find order in the chaos of our lives.
Through the act of storytelling, we can highlight certain experiences or aspects of our lives while downplaying or ignoring others. We can also reinterpret events in light of new information or insights, and we can assign different meanings or significance to the same events.
We process new information within the context of what we already know – making sense of the abstract and new by connecting it to the concrete and familiar.
We call these connections “schema” which is the name we give to the ever-more complex web of information we spin in our long-term memory. The more connections we make, the more sense we assign to our own life story.
What’s more, the way we choose to tell our stories can have an impact on how we view ourselves and our lives. For example, if we focus on the positive aspects of our experiences, we may feel more optimistic and confident about our future, whereas if we focus on the negative aspects, we may feel more discouraged or pessimistic.
At the same time, it is important to recognise that our personal histories are not just a product of our own narratives – albeit ones shaped by hindsight. Rather, they are also shaped by the social and cultural contexts in which we live. In other words, the stories we tell ourselves are influenced by the expectations, social norms, and shared values of the communities to which we belong, and they can both reflect and reinforce these broader cultural narratives.
Stories allow us to make sense out of otherwise puzzling or random events. Stories help us smooth out some of the decisions we make and create meaning and sense out of the tangles and complexities of our lives.
The stories we tell ourselves, also known as self-narratives, are the internal tales we create about ourselves and our lives. These narratives are shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and values, and they play a significant role in shaping our identity and how we view ourselves.
The stories we tell ourselves can be positive or negative, and they can influence our emotions, behaviours, and self-perception. For example, if we tell ourselves a positive story about our abilities, we may feel more confident and motivated to pursue our goals.
Conversely, if we tell ourselves a negative story about our abilities, we may feel discouraged and avoid taking on new challenges.
The stories we tell ourselves can also be influenced by external factors such as social norms, cultural expectations, and media messages. For example, if we are surrounded by messages that reinforce negative stereotypes about certain groups of people, we may internalise those beliefs and tell ourselves a negative story about our own abilities or worth.
In sum, it is important to recognise that the stories we tell ourselves are not fixed or unchanging. We have the power to rewrite and reinterpret our self-narratives, and in so doing, we can change how we view ourselves and our lives. This process of re-storying can involve challenging and reframing negative beliefs, focusing on our strengths and accomplishments, and seeking out new experiences that help us create a more positive self-narrative.
The stories we tell our children
The stories we tell our children play a crucial role in shaping their understanding of the world and their place in it. Through nursery rhymes and bedtime stories, we can convey important values, beliefs, and cultural traditions, as well as teach children important life lessons and skills.
One of the primary functions of storytelling for children is to help them make sense of their experiences and emotions. By providing narratives that reflect their own experiences or that help them understand new situations, we can help children develop a sense of agency and resilience in the face of setbacks.
It is important, therefore, that the stories we tell reflect children’s own lived experiences, that children can see themselves and their heritage and culture represented in our stories.
Storytelling can also help children develop important social and emotional skills such as empathy, compassion, and perspective-taking.
Through stories, children can learn about different cultures, experiences, and points of view, which can help them develop a more nuanced understanding of the world around them.
At the same time, it is important to recognise that the stories we tell our children can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes or reinforce narrow cultural norms. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the messages we convey through our stories and seek out diverse and inclusive narratives that reflect the full range of human experience.
To wit, the stories we tell our children can have a powerful impact on their personal growth and on their understanding of the world. By using stories to convey positive values, teach important life-skills, and foster empathy and understanding, we can help our children grow into more thoughtful and compassionate members of society.
Bedtime stories are an essential part of a child's early years because they offer numerous benefits that aid their cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Bedtime stories are important for children in the following ways:
- Language development: They help expand a child's vocabulary, improve their language skills, and aid in their communication development.
- Imagination and creativity: They encourage children to use their imagination and creativity, helping them to develop a love for books and reading.
- Emotional development: They teach children about different emotions and help them develop empathy and compassion for others.
- Bonding time: Reading bedtime stories can be an excellent way for adults and children to bond, creating a special moment that can become a cherished memory.
- Relaxation and sleep: They can help children relax and wind down, leading to a better night's sleep and improved physical and mental health and wellbeing.
All of which brings me to…
The stories we tell our students…
Next week, in part two of this four-part series for SecEd, I’ll explore ways of using story to improve our teaching. In particular, I will explore ways of using story and storytelling to:
- Organise the curriculum and structure lessons.
- Aide students’ memorisation.
- Pique students’ curiosity and wonder.
- Relate the curriculum to the real world.
- Help promote inclusion.
- Prepare students for future success.
Matt Bromley is an education writer and advisor with more than 20 years’ experience in teaching and leadership including as a secondary school headteacher, principal, FE college vice-principal, and MAT director. Currently, he is a public speaker, trainer, school improvement advisor, the author of numerous books on education and co-host of the award-winning SecEd Podcast.