Storytelling in Kindergarten by Kathryn Munford (teacher and team leader)

In kindergarten, we are learning how to retell stories, read with feeling and to become the characters of the stories we read.  Each day we dramatize – act out – a story, with the children as the actors.  We discuss how the characters feel and how the actors can demonstrate these feelings with facial expressions and the voice they use.  We discuss vocabulary from the story that will be part of the dramatization, and we identify and describe the settings.  Each day different students are chosen to act out the story and by the end of the week, we have quite a production! 

Once the stories have been dramatized, they go into our literacy stations; in big books, story baskets, or felt board, so that students can continue retelling the stories with partners. 

 

Students also create their own stories.  Each day one student dictates a story as the teacher writes.  Sometimes they tell true stories; sharing things that have happened to them, and sometimes they choose to create a fictional story; with super heroes or fairy princesses.  Students are guided through the writing process.  They are given assistance with dialogue, creating a good beginning, middle and end and adding feelings to their story.  When the story is complete, a list of characters is created.  The author chooses friends to be the actors and at the end of the day, the story is dramatized for the class. 

Story retelling leads to improvements in comprehension, making inferences and the understanding of story structure.  We see the benefits in our classroom every day!

For a list of great children’s books, visit

http://time.com/100-best-childrens-books/