Parents came in to tell family stories. Some were stories from everyday life, and some were stories of ancestry. Through two different sessions, it was discovered that one student in our class had an ancestor who was burned at the stake in Salem, and another student had an ancestor who was one of the judges during the Salem witch trials. For many, the time spent with the community at school outnumbers the time spent with family members at home. In providing the time to share stories, I have witnessed the community of the classroom grow stronger, safer, more supportive.
Students look forward to coming to school.
One day during Bisto Caf , someone told the perfect story. So perfect, I can't even remember what it was about or who told it. But it had the most magical and dramatic effect yet because it was the story that got James talking. James is mildly autistic and had never joined in any of our storytelling. But this one got James.