November 10, 2024 • 15 mins
What if the simple act of sharing a personal story could transform your classroom and strengthen your school community? Join me, Edward DeShazer, on the Teachers Ed Podcast as we unravel the profound impact storytelling can have in education. In this episode, we explore how narratives transcend cultural and personal barriers, offering a bridge for teachers and administrators to connect with students and colleagues. Discover practical strategies for using your own experiences to build trust and empathy, creating an environment where learning feels personal and memorable. By humanizing ourselves through storytelling, we foster a safe and relatable space that resonates with those around us.
In the latter part of our conversation, we delve into the empowering potential of sharing even the stories we might hesitate to reveal. These narratives don't just inspire; they can be a beacon of hope for others facing similar struggles. As educators, the stories we share can spark the change someone needs to tackle their challenges, thereby cultivating a more connected and supportive school community. It's about believing in ourselves and those around us, nurturing a culture where everyone feels empowered and appreciated. Tune in to discover how storytelling can be the key to a more cohesive and inspiring educational journey.
www.EdwardDeShazer.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Stories have a powerful way of connecting us as
human beings.
They transcend age, theytranscend culture, background,
they transcend who you voted forand they really reach straight
to the heart.
Welcome to the Teachers EdPodcast.
(00:23):
I'm your host, edward DeShazer.
Teacher's Ed Podcast is a placewhere the best and brightest in
education come to be inspired,to connect, to learn and to grow
.
I'm your host, edward DeShazer,and today we're diving into a
topic that is both timeless andincredibly powerful, and that is
the art of storytelling.
(00:44):
And incredibly powerful, andthat is the art of storytelling.
Storytelling isn't just forbedtime, it is not just for
campfires.
It is a tool in education.
It's really a tool inconnecting with people that can
transform your classroom and cantransform your school community
.
For those that are new here, Ido a lot of traveling and
(01:05):
speaking.
I actually am fortunate enoughto work for the number one
speaking program in the world,the Next Level Speakers Academy,
and one of the main things that, when we are working with
aspiring speakers, is the bestway to connect with your
audience is through storytelling.
So that is no different thanthe tip that I'm going to give
teachers today the best way toconnect with your audience is
(01:28):
through storytelling.
Whether you're a teacherlooking to engage your students
or an admin looking to build amore connected staff,
storytelling can really helpbridge the gaps.
It helps build trust and ithelps you foster empathy in your
classroom, in your school, inyour hallways and everywhere in
between.
And in today's episode, I'mgoing to give you two practical
(01:51):
tips that can help you harnessstorytelling to create
meaningful connections with yourstudents and with your
colleagues.
And then, midway through now,we're going to make a pivot.
Midway through we are going todo our pause for our self-care
tip.
I know for a while those werehappening at the end, but I'm
(02:11):
going to put in the middle nowand we're going to break the two
classroom tips up.
So midway through we'll takeour break.
So let's get started with thefirst tip.
Tip number one is sharingpersonal stories to help you
build connection.
Stories have a powerful way ofconnecting us as human beings.
They transcend age, theytranscend culture, background,
(02:35):
they transcend who you voted forand they really reach straight
to the heart.
And in the classroom, sharingpersonal stories can really help
transform your relationshipswith your students.
It moves you from being Mr orMrs so-and-so to a real person
that they can relate to and thatthey can trust them.
(02:57):
I want you to think about a timewhen you may have struggled as
a student Maybe math wasn't yourstrong suit and you remember
the anxiety of taking tests.
You know, sharing thatexperience with your students
can make them feel a lot lessalone.
You know, for perfect example.
You may say, you know, when Iwas your age I found fractions
(03:19):
very challenging.
I remember feeling frustratedbecause no matter how hard I
tried, they just didn't click.
But I kept at it and eventuallyit makes sense.
And now look at me, I amteaching you how to do fractions
.
You know, by sharing a storylike this, it's showing
vulnerability, which also canstart to encourage students that
(03:40):
it's okay to be vulnerable,it's okay to be yourself.
It humanizes us and creates asafe space for everyone in the
classroom to express themselves.
And another way thatstorytelling is to share a
moment that ignites your passionfor a subject you teach.
Perhaps it was, you know, ascience experiment in college,
or you know something thathappened in high school that
(04:02):
really pushed you into becomingthe science teacher, or whatever
subject it may be that youteach.
For administrators,storytelling can be a powerful
tip for you as well, sharingyour journey into education.
Sharing the highs, sharing thelows, sharing the lessons that
you've learned can reallyinspire you, your staff and
(04:27):
build a culture of openness.
It might be a story about amentor that you had in college,
or maybe it was the firstprincipal that you had that
really took you under their wing, but these narratives can
foster a sense of camaraderieand motivate your team to stay
connected and to continue tostrive to do their best.
And storytelling works becauseit taps into our emotions.
(04:56):
That is why we get so investedin movies, we get so invested in
these shows that are on and wecan't wait for the next episode,
because it makes it feelpersonal to us.
It gets deep into our emotionsand that's what we can do when
we share stories in ourclassrooms.
It can make learning personaland memorable for our students.
(05:17):
It shows students that you arenot just this dispenser of
knowledge, but you're a fellowhuman being that's navigating
life just like they are.
So the reflection I have foryou today is I want us to pause,
not pause the episode, but Iwant you to take a moment and
(05:37):
think about a personal storythat has a lesson or an emotion
that you really want to connectwith your students or colleagues
, deepen the connection you havewith them.
Maybe it's during class, maybeit's with a colleague during
your lunch break, maybe it'sduring a staff development,
(05:58):
maybe it's just during a morningmeeting.
And remember, it doesn't haveto be some big, monumental event
.
Sometimes even just thesimplest stories can have a
really big impact.
And before we dive into ourself-care tip, I want to take a
moment to share somethingspecial with you.
Teaching and leading can beincredibly rewarding, as we know
(06:22):
, but it also can be exhausting.
That's why self-care is not aluxury, but it is a necessity.
Allow me to introduce you tothe Be Well Teacher Academy, the
online community designedspecifically for educators like
you who are juggling the demandsof the classroom with the need
for personal well-being.
We offer a supportive communitywhere you can connect with
(06:45):
other educators who are beingintentional and focusing on
their self-care.
We have monthly workshops.
We self-care.
We have monthly workshops, wehave journal prompts, we have
daily tasks that you cancomplete to build better habits.
And the best part is the first250 members who join the Academy
get lifetime free access to allof these resources.
Yes, lifetime free access.
The community is going to openJanuary 1st, but you can
(07:07):
register and get in now so youdon't have to worry about it.
So head over towwwbewellteachercom to secure
your spot.
Remember, taking care ofyourself is the first step in
being able to take care ofothers.
Now let's shift our focusinward with a self-care tip that
is both simple and profoundlyeffective Practicing gratitude.
(07:29):
Anyone that has ever heard mespeak it does not matter if it
is two students or 2,000educators I always start with
gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful emotionthat can simply improve your
well-being.
It's about intentionallyrecognizing and appreciating the
positive aspects of your life,no matter how small they may
seem.
Aspects of your life, no matterhow small they may seem.
(07:53):
And here's the cool thingGratitude doesn't require some
grand gestures or elaboraterituals.
It's about pausing toacknowledge the good that's
already present in your life.
Maybe it's the smile from thestudent that finally got it, or
the support from a colleaguethat helped you out, or even the
warmth of that first, second,third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
second, third, fourth, fifth,sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
tenth cup of morning coffee forthose coffee drinkers.
(08:15):
But here are some simple waysthat you can incorporate
gratitude in your daily routine.
One of the things is gratitudejournaling At the beginning of
day or the end of each day, youcan just write down three things
you're grateful for.
They can be as simple as I aneasy ride to work today, or I
enjoyed a lovely conversationwith the principal or with
another counselor, or whateveryour position is.
Next is mindful moments Takinga few moments during the day to
(08:39):
just pause and mentally notesomething that you're thankful
for in that moment.
And third is express it.
Don't just keep your gratitudeto yourself.
Tell a colleague or a loved onethat you appreciate them.
Not only does this boost yourmood, but it also strengthens
your relationships.
Gratitude doesn't requireanything fancy.
(09:00):
It is just a willingness topause and acknowledge the good.
Take a moment at the end ofeach day and write down three
things you're grateful for.
When you focus on what is goingright, it can completely shift
how you see your day.
The science backs it up.
(09:22):
Studies have shown that regulargratitude practices can
increase happiness, reducestress and improve physical
health.
So why not give it a try?
Physical health so why not giveit a try?
It's a small investment thathas a significant return and a
significant payoff for yourwell-being.
Feeling a bit lighter, I pausedso you could take a second to
(09:46):
be like, yes, I am feelinglighter because now we're going
to start expressing gratitude.
But now that we've taken thatmoment for self-care, I want us
to return back into storytelling.
But this time it's how we canfoster a culture of storytelling
amongst our colleagues tostrengthen our school community,
deeper bonds amongst staffmembers in schools and staff can
(10:07):
often feel very isolated, evenwhen surrounded by others.
It's a weird feeling whenyou're in a building with 1,000
students and 75 educators andyou still feel alone.
(10:28):
But that happens more oftenthan educators probably want to
admit.
So we want to begin to foster aculture where stories can be
shared by breaking down some ofthese barriers and some
practical ways that we canencourage storytelling amongst
our colleagues.
Is number one have story sharingsessions.
You know, dedicate the firstfew meetings of a staff, the
(10:50):
first few minutes of a staffmeeting, to talk about a story.
At our leadership meetings, wealways start with our staff
sharing wins, and it's notalways wins for work, sometimes
it's just a win that happenedoutside of work, but it allows
us to really, really connect andit also sets a positive tone
for the meeting and allows us tolearn more about each other.
(11:12):
Another thing that you can dois create a physical or even a
digital space where you can poststories or just moments that
you're proud of.
This could be a bulletin boardin the teacher's lounge.
It could be a digital board weuse Slack, it could be something
like that but really justcreating that visual reminder
(11:34):
that we all have thesecollective experiences and we
all have this success, butallows us all to see them and
celebrate them as a team.
And the next is and really inthe third one is encouraging
staff to share stories abouttheir colleagues.
Maybe someone witnessed ateacher going an extra mile for
a student or a staff memberhandling a difficult situation
(11:58):
with grace and sharing thesemoments and these stories that
we see that our co-workers aredoing not only recognizes the
individual, but also spreadsbest practices throughout our
building.
And then the last one would beincorporating tips in
professional development, orincorporating storytelling in
professional development, usingthese stories to illustrate
(12:21):
concepts, to help shareexperiences with teaching
methods and to discuss how someof the challenges we're facing
as a school community wereovercome.
And for administrators and foradministrators, leading by
example is critical.
You must be willing to shareyour own stories openly and
encourage others to do the samewhen leadership models
(12:44):
vulnerability and openness.
It creates a safe environmentfor others to share Benefits to
this.
A culture of storytellingamongst staff can lead to
increased trust.
It can lead to increasedcollaboration and it leads to a
stronger sense of communitywithin your school.
(13:05):
It allows for the sharing ofdifferent perspectives and it
fosters empathy, which issomething I think we're missing
the most in this world right now, which is essential in a school
setting, in this world rightnow, which is essential in a
school setting.
Consider how you, as a schoolleader, or you as a principal,
can introduce storytelling intointeractions with a colleague
(13:25):
this next week.
Is there a story that you'vebeen hesitant to share?
And I'm not saying that you gotto put all your business out
there.
Please don't be putting allyour business out there but what
I'm saying is is there a storythat you've been hesitant to
share that could potentiallyinspire or support someone
that's nearby to you?
Because what I want us toremember and I learned this when
(13:46):
I got into speaking is thatsometimes the struggles and the
stories that you have can beexactly what someone else needs
to hear to overcome what theyneed to overcome.
Now we're wrapped up.
I want to just take a moment tothank you for joining me on
this storytelling journey today.
(14:08):
That is a tongue twister, and Iwant you to remember that when
you take care of yourself andthose around you, you're
building a stronger and moreconnected school community.
I need you to keep believing inyour students, keep believing
in your colleagues and, mostimportantly, keep believing in
yourself.
Until next time, stay inspired,stay connected and keep growing
(14:34):
you.
Stories have a powerful way of connecting us as
human beings.
They transcend age, theytranscend culture, background,
they transcend who you voted forand they really reach straight
to the heart.
Welcome to the Teachers EdPodcast.
(00:23):
I'm your host, edward DeShazer.
Teacher's Ed Podcast is a placewhere the best and brightest in
education come to be inspired,to connect, to learn and to grow
.
I'm your host, edward DeShazer,and today we're diving into a
topic that is both timeless andincredibly powerful, and that is
the art of storytelling.
(00:44):
And incredibly powerful, andthat is the art of storytelling.
Storytelling isn't just forbedtime, it is not just for
campfires.
It is a tool in education.
It's really a tool inconnecting with people that can
transform your classroom and cantransform your school community
.
For those that are new here, Ido a lot of traveling and
(01:05):
speaking.
I actually am fortunate enoughto work for the number one
speaking program in the world,the Next Level Speakers Academy,
and one of the main things that, when we are working with
aspiring speakers, is the bestway to connect with your
audience is through storytelling.
So that is no different thanthe tip that I'm going to give
teachers today the best way toconnect with your audience is
(01:28):
through storytelling.
Whether you're a teacherlooking to engage your students
or an admin looking to build amore connected staff,
storytelling can really helpbridge the gaps.
It helps build trust and ithelps you foster empathy in your
classroom, in your school, inyour hallways and everywhere in
between.
And in today's episode, I'mgoing to give you two practical
(01:51):
tips that can help you harnessstorytelling to create
meaningful connections with yourstudents and with your
colleagues.
And then, midway through now,we're going to make a pivot.
Midway through we are going todo our pause for our self-care
tip.
I know for a while those werehappening at the end, but I'm
(02:11):
going to put in the middle nowand we're going to break the two
classroom tips up.
So midway through we'll takeour break.
So let's get started with thefirst tip.
Tip number one is sharingpersonal stories to help you
build connection.
Stories have a powerful way ofconnecting us as human beings.
They transcend age, theytranscend culture, background,
(02:35):
they transcend who you voted forand they really reach straight
to the heart.
And in the classroom, sharingpersonal stories can really help
transform your relationshipswith your students.
It moves you from being Mr orMrs so-and-so to a real person
that they can relate to and thatthey can trust them.
(02:57):
I want you to think about a timewhen you may have struggled as
a student Maybe math wasn't yourstrong suit and you remember
the anxiety of taking tests.
You know, sharing thatexperience with your students
can make them feel a lot lessalone.
You know, for perfect example.
You may say, you know, when Iwas your age I found fractions
(03:19):
very challenging.
I remember feeling frustratedbecause no matter how hard I
tried, they just didn't click.
But I kept at it and eventuallyit makes sense.
And now look at me, I amteaching you how to do fractions
.
You know, by sharing a storylike this, it's showing
vulnerability, which also canstart to encourage students that
(03:40):
it's okay to be vulnerable,it's okay to be yourself.
It humanizes us and creates asafe space for everyone in the
classroom to express themselves.
And another way thatstorytelling is to share a
moment that ignites your passionfor a subject you teach.
Perhaps it was, you know, ascience experiment in college,
or you know something thathappened in high school that
(04:02):
really pushed you into becomingthe science teacher, or whatever
subject it may be that youteach.
For administrators,storytelling can be a powerful
tip for you as well, sharingyour journey into education.
Sharing the highs, sharing thelows, sharing the lessons that
you've learned can reallyinspire you, your staff and
(04:27):
build a culture of openness.
It might be a story about amentor that you had in college,
or maybe it was the firstprincipal that you had that
really took you under their wing, but these narratives can
foster a sense of camaraderieand motivate your team to stay
connected and to continue tostrive to do their best.
And storytelling works becauseit taps into our emotions.
(04:56):
That is why we get so investedin movies, we get so invested in
these shows that are on and wecan't wait for the next episode,
because it makes it feelpersonal to us.
It gets deep into our emotionsand that's what we can do when
we share stories in ourclassrooms.
It can make learning personaland memorable for our students.
(05:17):
It shows students that you arenot just this dispenser of
knowledge, but you're a fellowhuman being that's navigating
life just like they are.
So the reflection I have foryou today is I want us to pause,
not pause the episode, but Iwant you to take a moment and
(05:37):
think about a personal storythat has a lesson or an emotion
that you really want to connectwith your students or colleagues
, deepen the connection you havewith them.
Maybe it's during class, maybeit's with a colleague during
your lunch break, maybe it'sduring a staff development,
(05:58):
maybe it's just during a morningmeeting.
And remember, it doesn't haveto be some big, monumental event
.
Sometimes even just thesimplest stories can have a
really big impact.
And before we dive into ourself-care tip, I want to take a
moment to share somethingspecial with you.
Teaching and leading can beincredibly rewarding, as we know
(06:22):
, but it also can be exhausting.
That's why self-care is not aluxury, but it is a necessity.
Allow me to introduce you tothe Be Well Teacher Academy, the
online community designedspecifically for educators like
you who are juggling the demandsof the classroom with the need
for personal well-being.
We offer a supportive communitywhere you can connect with
(06:45):
other educators who are beingintentional and focusing on
their self-care.
We have monthly workshops.
We self-care.
We have monthly workshops, wehave journal prompts, we have
daily tasks that you cancomplete to build better habits.
And the best part is the first250 members who join the Academy
get lifetime free access to allof these resources.
Yes, lifetime free access.
The community is going to openJanuary 1st, but you can
(07:07):
register and get in now so youdon't have to worry about it.
So head over towwwbewellteachercom to secure
your spot.
Remember, taking care ofyourself is the first step in
being able to take care ofothers.
Now let's shift our focusinward with a self-care tip that
is both simple and profoundlyeffective Practicing gratitude.
(07:29):
Anyone that has ever heard mespeak it does not matter if it
is two students or 2,000educators I always start with
gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful emotionthat can simply improve your
well-being.
It's about intentionallyrecognizing and appreciating the
positive aspects of your life,no matter how small they may
seem.
Aspects of your life, no matterhow small they may seem.
(07:53):
And here's the cool thingGratitude doesn't require some
grand gestures or elaboraterituals.
It's about pausing toacknowledge the good that's
already present in your life.
Maybe it's the smile from thestudent that finally got it, or
the support from a colleaguethat helped you out, or even the
warmth of that first, second,third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
second, third, fourth, fifth,sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
tenth cup of morning coffee forthose coffee drinkers.
(08:15):
But here are some simple waysthat you can incorporate
gratitude in your daily routine.
One of the things is gratitudejournaling At the beginning of
day or the end of each day, youcan just write down three things
you're grateful for.
They can be as simple as I aneasy ride to work today, or I
enjoyed a lovely conversationwith the principal or with
another counselor, or whateveryour position is.
Next is mindful moments Takinga few moments during the day to
(08:39):
just pause and mentally notesomething that you're thankful
for in that moment.
And third is express it.
Don't just keep your gratitudeto yourself.
Tell a colleague or a loved onethat you appreciate them.
Not only does this boost yourmood, but it also strengthens
your relationships.
Gratitude doesn't requireanything fancy.
(09:00):
It is just a willingness topause and acknowledge the good.
Take a moment at the end ofeach day and write down three
things you're grateful for.
When you focus on what is goingright, it can completely shift
how you see your day.
The science backs it up.
(09:22):
Studies have shown that regulargratitude practices can
increase happiness, reducestress and improve physical
health.
So why not give it a try?
Physical health so why not giveit a try?
It's a small investment thathas a significant return and a
significant payoff for yourwell-being.
Feeling a bit lighter, I pausedso you could take a second to
(09:46):
be like, yes, I am feelinglighter because now we're going
to start expressing gratitude.
But now that we've taken thatmoment for self-care, I want us
to return back into storytelling.
But this time it's how we canfoster a culture of storytelling
amongst our colleagues tostrengthen our school community,
deeper bonds amongst staffmembers in schools and staff can
(10:07):
often feel very isolated, evenwhen surrounded by others.
It's a weird feeling whenyou're in a building with 1,000
students and 75 educators andyou still feel alone.
(10:28):
But that happens more oftenthan educators probably want to
admit.
So we want to begin to foster aculture where stories can be
shared by breaking down some ofthese barriers and some
practical ways that we canencourage storytelling amongst
our colleagues.
Is number one have story sharingsessions.
You know, dedicate the firstfew meetings of a staff, the
(10:50):
first few minutes of a staffmeeting, to talk about a story.
At our leadership meetings, wealways start with our staff
sharing wins, and it's notalways wins for work, sometimes
it's just a win that happenedoutside of work, but it allows
us to really, really connect andit also sets a positive tone
for the meeting and allows us tolearn more about each other.
(11:12):
Another thing that you can dois create a physical or even a
digital space where you can poststories or just moments that
you're proud of.
This could be a bulletin boardin the teacher's lounge.
It could be a digital board weuse Slack, it could be something
like that but really justcreating that visual reminder
(11:34):
that we all have thesecollective experiences and we
all have this success, butallows us all to see them and
celebrate them as a team.
And the next is and really inthe third one is encouraging
staff to share stories abouttheir colleagues.
Maybe someone witnessed ateacher going an extra mile for
a student or a staff memberhandling a difficult situation
(11:58):
with grace and sharing thesemoments and these stories that
we see that our co-workers aredoing not only recognizes the
individual, but also spreadsbest practices throughout our
building.
And then the last one would beincorporating tips in
professional development, orincorporating storytelling in
professional development, usingthese stories to illustrate
(12:21):
concepts, to help shareexperiences with teaching
methods and to discuss how someof the challenges we're facing
as a school community wereovercome.
And for administrators and foradministrators, leading by
example is critical.
You must be willing to shareyour own stories openly and
encourage others to do the samewhen leadership models
(12:44):
vulnerability and openness.
It creates a safe environmentfor others to share Benefits to
this.
A culture of storytellingamongst staff can lead to
increased trust.
It can lead to increasedcollaboration and it leads to a
stronger sense of communitywithin your school.
(13:05):
It allows for the sharing ofdifferent perspectives and it
fosters empathy, which issomething I think we're missing
the most in this world right now, which is essential in a school
setting, in this world rightnow, which is essential in a
school setting.
Consider how you, as a schoolleader, or you as a principal,
can introduce storytelling intointeractions with a colleague
(13:25):
this next week.
Is there a story that you'vebeen hesitant to share?
And I'm not saying that you gotto put all your business out
there.
Please don't be putting allyour business out there but what
I'm saying is is there a storythat you've been hesitant to
share that could potentiallyinspire or support someone
that's nearby to you?
Because what I want us toremember and I learned this when
(13:46):
I got into speaking is thatsometimes the struggles and the
stories that you have can beexactly what someone else needs
to hear to overcome what theyneed to overcome.
Now we're wrapped up.
I want to just take a moment tothank you for joining me on
this storytelling journey today.
(14:08):
That is a tongue twister, and Iwant you to remember that when
you take care of yourself andthose around you, you're
building a stronger and moreconnected school community.
I need you to keep believing inyour students, keep believing
in your colleagues and, mostimportantly, keep believing in
yourself.
Until next time, stay inspired,stay connected and keep growing
(14:34):
you.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.