According to Theodore Zeldin, “Conversation puts you face to face with individuals, and all their human complexity.”1 Creating compelling conversations is vital to effective learning. This paper describes an effective tool in generating powerful classroom conversations through storytelling. [Stories] “…comfort, they nurture, they capture our imaginations, they ignite our creativity, they take us away to a place where time stands still. They invest our lives with meaning, and render our lives more meaningful.”2
Creating effective stories within classroom conversations allows learners to expand the current position of stories-as-ways-to-reflect to stories-as-ways-to-project. Creating preferred images of future (projections) emerges as vital to enhancing youth resilience. The process of listening to and creating one’s own future stories through classroom conversations better prepares individuals for complex decision making. Engaging youth in compelling conversations in which they create preferred futures, therefore, serves as a foundation in resilience and effective learning. ___________________________________________________
1 Theodore Zeldin. 2000:93. Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Live. Harvill Press: London.
2 Michael Gabriel. 1999. “Learning and Growing Through Stories.” New Horizon Online Journal, vol. IV, No. 4, page 1.
______________________________________________
Learning Objectives
1) Educators will view a clear, visually attractive, and complete description of this learning strategy.
2) Educators will be able to secure copies of sample of classroom tested Compelling-Conversations© lessons.
3) Educators will be able to discuss any questions with the researcher (Grochowski), who has used this strategy in 5-12 classrooms over a two year period with follow up.