I have been an instructor or a teacher all of my adult life. In that capacity, I have discovered the power of the story. I experienced that power as a listener, and unknowingly applied it as a teacher. When I finally found myself in a formal classroom with children, I found that the wall between 'teacher' and 'student' falls when the storyteller begins. The relationship between the storyteller and the audience is more cooperative, with the audience investing in the way the story unfolds. Preparing to teach through story might take longer initially, but the results are worth it. Remember that there was someone about two thousand years ahead of me who thought that the method was a good one!
Like so many things in life, this didn't have a 'beginning'. When I applied for the residency in American Samoa, I had to produce a paper explaining my background and philosophy. It was only after that enforced introspection, I realized that both my parents had 'talked story' to me all my life, and that I had carried it on in both my family and my workplace wherever it was. The biggest revelation came when my daughter came home for a visit and talked non-stop, telling stories, for FIVE HOURS! I then realized that I had had a part in the creation of this marvel. Then I found that al four of my children are storytellers in their own right.
Anthologies
By some might be said of me that here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange flowers, and have put nothing of mine unto it but the thread to bind them.
Michel de Montaigne (1533-92), French essayist. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 12, "Of Physiognomy" (1588; tr. by John Florio). Montaigne's essays are full of classical quotations.
Not all of these sites have been carefully reviewed yet. My comments are in italics.
While a resident for the American Samoa Arts Council, I was asked for some stories which taught values. There I was limited on resources, especially WWW, so I came up with my own stories. These are introduced as being very special, because I know they were never written down, but are passed on in the oral tradition. I have been asked for them, but so far have kept my word and pass them on orally. I am not especially concerned about copyright, but would be disappointed to see them appear in type. If you are interested, I have now created three stories, each 10-15 min, dealing with the 'you can do it' theme, i.e. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, by Richard Bach.
If you realy want to know about Dave, visit Moloka'i, or talk to me. uncldon@aloha.net