Warner Update

Making a difference, one person at a time

Sticky Teaching

On Wednesday I headed over to Parma Elementary to check out the PD led by Annemarie Johnson. At the time I arrived I had the opportunity to listen to a strategy and connecting technique that pulls at the emotional side of nearly all learners.

The technique is story telling.

I listened to Annemarie talk about making learning "sticky" through connections, stories and making learning an emotional experience. This REALLY hit home. I had just been talking with a friend about the different ways to present and share information. I told her that I have an appreciation for content rich presentations, however, I remember and connect better with stories. One might think that the best balance is a bit of both. I can't disagree with that.

As I drove back from the PD at Parma I continued to reflect on sticky teaching. In fact, I decided to check out an article that I earmarked a day before. As I read the article I found myself connecting immediately with the science behind it. Check this out -

When we are being told a story, things change dramatically. Not only are the language processing parts in our brain activated, but any other area in our brain that we would use when experiencing the events of the story are too.

I highly encourage you to check out the full article that can be found here.

Ultimately, I encourage you to blend in short stories to your teachings. I think you will discover your students will likely connect easier and retain more knowledge.