Storytelling ~ A Key to Montessori Education

The benefits of storytelling are vast. Whether a tale shared by a grandparent or one woven by the mind of a child, stories enhance learning and relationships. Maria Montessori understood this, and one of the keys to Montessori elementary education is the use of the Five Great Lessons. These stories are the foundation of further exploration – but why?

When you consider the popularity of the arts as a whole, it is clear that words, music and art evoke emotion. A story can be told through a dance or song lyrics, and the ability music has to change a mood is a hidden power. Is it any wonder that children get taken away by their imagination to a land full of daydreams?

But when you consider stories as an educational tool is it any different? The idea behind storytelling in Montessori settings is one which stimulates the inquisitive mind of a child. Far from leaving any stone unturned, these stories leave questions unanswered and when the child is able to follow their own line of interest, they will flourish.

Throughout time, stories have been handed down through generations. Before humans could write, it was the spoken word and images that carried these tales, but in whatever form things are shared they play a crucial role in our understanding of history and culture.

Storytelling is Personal 

For me, storytelling has personal importance having written a memoir myself. The book was written to allow me to share something with my father, and the message of the book is to make the most of the time you have with your loved ones. In return. I learned a great deal from my parents about the second world war, and have been able tell my daughter how things have changed in the last century. It’s probably no coincidence that my grandmother wrote a memoir, and it is one of the most precious things I have.

Stories are our passage to the past, and they are fundamental to our understanding of the present and future. When we allow ourselves time to read, share and create stories not only do we stimulate our minds, but we nurture emotion. We create new memories and we can take a trip back in time to a world different to the one we know. Whether fiction or fact, stories are a crucial part of our existence and evolution.

The Place of Stories in Education

Through the study of the arts and using big picture questioning, we allow the individual to follow their own reasoning patterns. Using art and language to then express understanding reinforces learning. 

I’m hoping that by using my skills as an artist and writer, my Great Lesson PDFs can be a vehicle for creative learning, and my plan is to create resources which span a range of ages. They say a picture can tell a thousand words, and this is never more true than the moment a child creates their first finger painting. They are learning to communicate and it’s our job to listen.

The aim of this website is to inspire others to explore their own creativity. I also wish to highlight the critical need for generations to love, be kind and share time together. I believe that I’ve finally come up with the idea that brings this all together in a way that can be used with all age groups – even adults who wish to write stories in fact!

Using simple prompts to stimulate creative thinking is fundamental to any storytelling project. If you imagine these prompts as the root to a tree you’ll see that the branches, blossoms, and fruits could take a thousand paths. No two trees will be the same, and no fruit will be the same. Likewise, every story and interpretation will be unique.

That is the simple concept behind ‘Take Five Words’ (link to example) which is my planned creative learning project, and it also allows for the stories of the Great Lessons to be incorporated. 

Currently, I’m working on hand-drawn support material for the Great Lessons, as well as the topics that are entwined. I’ll be sharing more about this and sending out a sample activity early in 2022. If you’d like to be on the list to receive this, please join my mailing list or alternatively follow my Montessori Stories Patreon page. 

I’m hoping that all of this will come together in the next few months. It’s an exciting time, because I believe that the experience of education is enhanced and made more enjoyable through the power of storytelling.