Telling stories reminds us of our shared humanity, strengthens and builds the connections between us, teaches the value of listening, and weaves into the fabric of our culture the understanding that every life has a unique story to tell.
StoryCorps has recorded over 45,000 shared stories in 10 years. StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives.
You can do this on your own in your home as a way to preserve a memory, but also as a way to build story telling ability in your child. The ability to tell a story is critical to writing, and this method is is a gem if you’re looking for a good writing activity for 1st grade all the way through middle school. Adding the details, seeing the reaction of another person to your story, and building emotion are skills that can be honed in oral story telling.
Take the time this winter break to create your own story with your family, extended family and friends! You may be surprised at the stories they tell!
