It is not easy to
teach young children. However, it is an extremely important responsibility and
must not be delegated to an amateur. Making use of stories for teaching is an
effective method. When a teacher reads to children, he or she does not confine the
student to academic excellence but expands into their behavioral and emotional learning.
Here are a few reasons which explain why making use of stories for teaching is a good idea.
One of the best ways by which early childhood educators can teach is through storybooks. They offer a lot of insight and help a child grow.
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Here are a few reasons which explain why making use of stories for teaching is a good idea.
The Child Will Not Feel Threatened or Bored
When the teacher
reads, he or she is able to tackle a particular situation in a very
non-threatening manner. What does threaten mean? Here are a few examples of some
phrases that are utilized when teaching a lesson:
"You must never
lie."
"You should
not be scared."
Normally, this is
said in an angry or accusatory tone. When there is finger-pointing, children
hear the disapproval and the whole situation gets tense. However, if one uses stories
for teaching, the blame is taken out and lesser emphasis is placed on problems.
Solutions are discussed in a positive way.
Working Towards "Cure" and "Prevention"
By making use of stories
for teaching, children can be helped through situations that they might be experiencing
at that time. It also helps teachers prepare the children mentally for
situations that could possibly arise. Children tend to gain a lot of indirect experience
from the stories that are read to them. For instance, teachers can read a book on
bullying to teach children how to handle such situations.
Children Look up to the Characters in the Stories
That Are Read to Them
Children tend to
connect with the story characters and like to relate with them. The teacher can
further ask questions like:
1. Can you relate to anyone in this story?
2. Do you think this character is like you?
3. Why do you like that character?
4. Is there any character you aspire to be?
Relate such
lessons to the child’s experiences and life. For instance, in the story of ‘The Three Little
Pigs’, you can ask the
child what he/she can do to make their house really strong.
Children Are More Likely to Remember a Story Than
a Reprimand
Scientists
believe that the assimilation of information inside a story is an extremely
natural brain process. To summarize, neuroscience has found out that our brain
is made in such a way that it organizes, retains and accesses information with
the help of stories. This means that teaching with the help of a story will
help little ones remember information more easily and they will also be able to
apply it effectively. Perhaps this is the reason why children can recite
dialogs used in their favorite shows with ease.
Permits Critical Thinking
One of the safest
ways for students to explore behavior and emotions are through stories. There
are numerous children books that teach children about the significance of holding parents’ hands when out. Thought-provoking questions related to the story will help in identifying feelings and problems.
One of the best ways by which early childhood educators can teach is through storybooks. They offer a lot of insight and help a child grow.
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