Tell A Story

Stories are one of the most powerful ways to start a class. Nothing will compel our students to lean in more than a well-told story.

Science tells us that our brains are hardwired for storytelling. Here is a Scientific American Article on why this is the case.

But the story needs to be brief, with just the right amount of detail to bring it to life.

It needs to be authentic and have a "message," or lesson, to support our viewpoint. It can also be a personal story.  Inviting our students to share a brief glimpse of our lives away from the classroom reminds them that we are human (not robots who plug into the matrix).

Above all, it must be kind. As Benjamin Disraeli said: "Never tell an unkind story."

The above idea was borrowed from an article "12 Ways to Hook an Audience in 30 Seconds":


Post courtesy of Russ Reid