Story Telling and Retelling

Story Telling and Retelling

The experience of hearing a story told is more personal and connected to the listener.

It promotes easier understanding because it is communicated through words, vocal intonation, gestures, facial expressions, and body movement. (Mallan, 1997)

Storytellers play a critical role in influencing children’s attitudes toward oral language, reading, and literature. (Morrow, 2001)

Storytelling

Retelling the story allows children to revisit the story and refine their understanding.

Each retelling increases the children’s familiarity with the story.

Story retelling encourages children to use their imagination, create visual images, and actively participate in the literature-related activity.

It can become a cooperative adventure as a child moves from being a listener to being a participant in the telling, then to being the storyteller. (Trousdale, 1990)

Story Retelling

Parents’ Roles in Story Retelling

Ask questions. Give encouraging comments.

Use pictures as cues. Avoid pressuring the children.

Parents involvement with literature-related activities at home has significant positive influences not only on reading achievement, language comprehension and expressive language skills (Gest, Freeman, Domitrovich & Welsh, 2004), but also on children’s interest in reading, attitudes towards literature and attentiveness in the classroom (Rowe, 1991).

It is therefore important that parents are aware of the significant contribution they can make to their children’s learning by supporting at home the school’s literature programme, both during the early years as well as the primary and secondary years of schooling.

Conclusion