The Benefits for Children of Retelling Stories

Did you know there are many benefits of children retelling stories?  A recent study with students showed that children who were told a story rather than read a story had greater comprehension of the story.  When asked to retell the story, the children who were told the story were more capable of retelling the story.  They told longer and more detailed stories, employed more diverse vocabulary, and used more story conventions.  Retelling stories also encouraged the students to retell the stories on their own and at home, an important confidence and language building activity.   Furthermore, children will often seek out the stories they heard in text form.  Their familiarity with the stories then aids them in reading the stories for themselves.  In this clip, storyteller Diane Ferlatte is the American folktale, "Crocodile and Hen".

Language Development in Early Childhood

Do your children like stories? Did you know that in addition to being entertaining, storytelling plays a critical role in children’s language and learning development?  Children learn to speak long before they learn to read, and an oral foundation in language and literature is crucial before they can take the next step.  Significant research has been compiled over the years on the correlation between oral storytelling and literacy and reading comprehension.  In this clip, storyteller Geri Keems is telling the Native American folktale “Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun”.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

Did you know that Albert Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."  He also said,  “Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”

Research has shown that telling stories from culturally diverse sources instrumental in the growth of imagination.  “Storytellers Favorite Fables” features four award winning storytellers from diverse backgrounds. In this clip, storyteller Leeny Seamonds is retelling the Russian folktale “the Turnip” as “Yuca”, her own bilingual version.

Oral Language Development

Would you like to expand your child’s vocabulary?  Educational researchers  have found that a well-established oral language vocabulary is essential for the development of young children’s written vocabulary.  Oral storytelling is an excellent way to develop oral vocabulary.  “Storytellers Favorite Fables” features four award winning storytellers from diverse backgrounds. In this clip, storyteller Angela Lloyd is telling her original story, “Hand”.

Are you looking for tools to help your child to learn to read?

Storytelling is an excellent source because children will often seek out the stories they heard in text form.  Their familiarity with the stories then aids them in reading the stories for themselves and helps them feel confident in their ability to learn to read.  “Storytellers Favorite Fables” features four award winning storytellers from diverse backgrounds. In this clip, storyteller Leeny Del Seamons is telling her version of the old Russian folktale, “Turnip” as “Yuca”, her own bilingual version..  This is one of the eight stories told and performed on “Storytellers Favorite Fables” dvd.  Visit www.LetsTellStories.com now for the “Storytellers Favorite Fables” dvd and more information about learning to read.

Would you like to know more about what your child thinks and feels?

Many researches feel encouraging a child to be a storyteller is an effective instrument for teachers, parents, and adults to learn more about the child.  What story a child chooses and how he chooses to tell the story are insightful indicators of what a child thinks and feels at a particular point in time.  The safety of the story allows a child to express feelings she might otherwise fear or be unable to articulate.  “Storytellers Favorite Fables” is a great way to introduce storytelling to children. In this clip, storyteller Diane Ferlatte is telling the American folktale, “Crocodile and Hen”.