Teacher perception of storytelling in Social Studies

This study examined teacher perception about using storytelling in the classroom to determine whether teachers perceived the potential benefits of integrating storytelling into the Social Studies curriculum and to determine if professional development was needed in this area. Fifteen teachers grades 4-6 responded to a questionnaire of their knowledge about storytelling and their use of storytelling in their curriculum. Questions were related to: storytelling integration across the curriculum, professional development needs, and the use of digital technology. Three teachers were subsequently interviewed to better ascertain more details of their perceptions about using storytelling in the classroom and to explore examples of strategies they used. Findings indicated that teachers have limited knowledge about what storytelling is and how to use it effectively in the classroom. The researchers concluded that teachers need professional development in utilizing storytelling as a vehicle to enhance the Social Studies curriculum.