Why do we tell stories? According to Ochs and Capps we tell stories to remember and to pass along cultural knowledge. Story telling was the only way these refugees could "remeber" who they were. It was the only way these boys could keep their culture alive and educate the world about what had happened in Sudan. I began thinking back to my life and what I was doing during the 1980's during this war. I was here in America experiecing a wonderful life full to opportunities and education. While these boys were experiencing a horrible war and trying to escape. One may ask why is storytelling so important when these poor boys were just trying to survive? "Storytelling represents a purposeful sociocultural practice shaped by a community's beliefs, values, and attitudes." A way to pass history to one generation to another. It was a way to form an identity and values. The stories are what made these boys who they were and without them they had no identity. By telling stories about telling stories gave them a sense of who they were and where they came from, even though their homeland and people no longer exsisted. These boys understood the power of education and they used their stories to share the history of the homeland and their experiences as refugees. To these refugees to TELL is to LEARN, storytelling was the only education so it was so vital to the culture. These boys were using their experiences to push for change. To educate the world of what was happening in Sudan. They learned that literacy was a way to preserve the way of life they had to leave behind. Transformed storytelling came about becasue of the different needs of the boys in sharing information. Where as before it had been mainly to pass history down, now it was to educate and inform the world.
Writing with a purpose has a whole new meaning to me now. When we give our students a writing prompt it has little meaning to them. Students need to be invested and have a passion for their writing and the only way for that to happen is for them to write about something that has meaning to them. We must allow storytelling to continue through our students so they can learn the importance of oral literacy.
Karin Scott
Comments (6)
Karin,
I agree with you about writing for a purpose. Often times I ask my students to write to a prompt or respond to something they have read or experienced at school. When they write these journal entries, reports, etc., they know that I am the only person who is going to read it. I don't always get their best effort. However, when they are writing for a "real audience," such as their classmates, I see them taking more care and more time with their assignments. I agree that we need to let them write more on topics that have more personal meaning to them. I think the quality of their writing will improve because they are "telling stories" that are important to them.
Posted by Leslie Rothenberger | June 17, 2011 11:34 AM
Posted on June 17, 2011 11:34
Storytelling is a comforting way to hear about topics and learn about your family. I remember growing up listening to my dad tell stories about our family. As a child, reading these stories would not have been as meaningful to me. Hearing expression and seeing emotion while listening to someone tell a story is captivating. This is why I agree with you and believe that we must teach our students the importance of storytelling to our students. I believe that oral storytelling can provide a great example and starting place for written expression. I agree with your comment on the fact that writing prompts given to students often have no meaning to them. If educators are not digging deep to try and actively engage our students in the writing process we may by altering their perspective of writing. We need to show them that writing can be engaging and captivating as well.
Posted by Stacy Durham | June 17, 2011 1:47 PM
Posted on June 17, 2011 13:47
You make a strong point about the need for our students to write for authentic purposes. As I think back about the writing prompts we too often use in school, even down to the kindergarten level, so very many of them are stilted and lacking in creativity – lots of them don’t relate at all to the lives of our children, and their writing reflects their lack of engagement. On the other hand, the few times when my students’ imaginations have been captured by something we were talking about, their writing has been head and shoulders better. And I agree, Leslie, when they are telling stories that they feel are important to them personally, our students will be more engaged, and their writing will, in turn, be stronger.
Posted by Marlee Wright | June 17, 2011 2:29 PM
Posted on June 17, 2011 14:29
Karin, I liked your point that "to TELL is to LEARN". The three men came from a culture where sharing stories was a way to make a connection between both the present and the past. When they are sharing their stories with others it is personal and can make an impact on other learners. When others hear they stories they will be more engaged and willing to understand anothers way of living.
Posted by Kara | June 17, 2011 5:17 PM
Posted on June 17, 2011 17:17
Karin,
I love your insight about writing with a purpose. I am ok with giving students prompts occasionally if they need one and are blanking on what to write about. But at the beginning of the year, I spend 2 weeks doing brainstorming with the kids...then they have a bunch of journal entries that relate to them to look at later that they can write about if they get stuck...
Students' writing is so much more meaningful and purposeful if it is done with intention. And you're right...it lends itself to strengthening oral literacy as well as cementing their life stories in words.
Posted by Carrie Brown | June 17, 2011 9:10 PM
Posted on June 17, 2011 21:10
Karin,
So glad you critiqued the over-use of the writing prompt! I can only imagine the multiple stories that are inside the minds and bodies of children, just waiting to get out. Storytelling activates memory, incites organization and story structure, and most of all allows identity to be expressed. Great post!
Posted by Dr. Jackson | June 20, 2011 11:00 AM
Posted on June 20, 2011 11:00