Storytelling connects us to one another. It gives us a peek into the future and ties us to our past. We have always told stories. As humans, we have distinctive perspectives which mold our own stories and our existence, and thus make it an interesting art form and every day need in our lives.
 
Storytellers learned that people love to listen to stories with a beginning, a middle, and an end structure. We also seem to be drawn to stories that have characters and people that look like us or act like us—or at least share characteristics we can relate to. We like action, thrilling climaxes, followed by an ending, or satisfying conclusion. We like to use our imaginations, to wonder, and sometimes not to wonder, and prefer to inactively have a story told to us, that engages all of our senses without us having to try. And we enjoy being moved by a story, emotionally, physically, psychologically.
 
Just as adults can be engrossed by a story, children are no different. A good storyteller and story are key to sparking interest in a subject or a lesson. It creates empathy. It provokes and inspires. We see ourselves and find friends in the characters. We learn cautionary tales. It’s escapism and at the same time teaches us a history of other cultures.

A society and culture pass on its values through stories, through novels, through textbooks, through the stories we tell not only in our day-to-day lives, but also those we select to read aloud to our children. Our stories are our mirrors, reflecting both what we believe and want to perpetuate. It shows us where we have come from and where we are going. They educate and entertain us. They are what make us human, and connect us, no matter our differences or our languages.
 
Open up a story. Tell a story. Be a storyteller. 

​It is common knowledge that schools, and parents correctly emphasize the importance of reading stories to their children as a way to increase vocabulary and begin language development, in both native and second languages. However, it is also vital that educators and parents expand their activities to be engaging and, quite literally, hands-on so that children find meaningful ways to express themselves and learn new vocabulary. One hands-on activity is making art.
 
Young children love to make art. Children love to touch and play with objects. Hey – even adults do too! Children use paint, glue, glitter, stickers, crayons, or markers to observe and show the world around them. Through this process of creating art, it also teaches children to use words about colors, shapes, verbs, nouns, and textures.
 
By following instructions to make the craft, it introduces children to prepositions. For example, “put the sticker on the tree”, “put the stick through the witch”, “place the mouse inside the house”. Thus, allowing young English language learners to instinctively and naturally learn one of the more difficult parts of speech. Furthermore, they learn to use imperatives and use verbs when putting their craft into action. Finally, children are allowed to make sense of the world around them, be expressive, be given instructions, but have the autonomy to deviate from making the exact same craft as the student next to them.
 
Teaching language is not only about sitting at a desk with worksheets or learning from flashcards. Through art children will not even know they are learning a second language as they are simply just having fun.

Nos encanta este camino en el pasillo de un colegio en los Estados Unidos - no te gustaría tener uno en tu colegio? O quizás ya haces algo parecido? Una manera fantástica de encauzar la energía de los peques, soltar la tensión sensorial en un niño sobreestimulado, y mejorar el funcionamiento cognitivo!

We love this sensory path in the corridor of a US elementary school - would you like to have one in your school? Or maybe you already do something similiar? What a great way to channel all that energy, release tension in an overstimulated child and increase cognitive functioning!

Nuestros talleres de cuentos en inglés son divertidos, educativos y muy cómodos, porque nos encargamos de todo. Traemos un divertido mini teatro al colegio, con manualidades, juegos y cuentos. Todo la material esta incluido en el precio.
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Desde 3,50 euros por niño, y ahora reservando las actividades en septiembre, hay un 10% descuento.
​ Reserva ahora!

Después de haber conocido al gran Philip Pullman en La Noche de los Libros en Madrid la semana pasada, queremos compartir esta cita con vosotros. Disfrutad de este día celebrando los libros, los cuentos y la lectura.

After having met the great Philip Pullman last week in La Noche de los Libros in Madrid, we wanted to share this quote with you. Have a wonderful day celebrating books, stories and reading.

It's time to go back to school! Y  te traemos una oferta especial, reservando los talleres en septiembre te regalamos 50 euros en libros en inglés.
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¿Conoces nuestro taller de cuentos de The Mixed Up Chameleon? Es perfecto para niñ@s de 7 - 9 años y incluye un cuentacuentos, juegos de camuflaje y una divertida manualidad. Reserva una sesion en tu colegio, más información en 635 244 070 o info@lahoradelcuento.com
Esta actividad es fantastica para acompañar la historia (via The Dad Lab)

Do you know about our Mixed Up Chameleon story workshop? It's perfect for 7 to 9 year olds and includes storytelling,  camouflage games and a fun craft. Book a session in your school now, contact us for more information: 635 244 070 or info@lahoradelcuento.com.
This activity would be fantastic to do after reading the book! (via The Dad Lab)

Dream Snow is a gentle Christmas story by Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. A farmer looks after his animals and dreams of falling snow.
Watch the video and download free resources for this book!

Dream Snow es un cuento de navidad en inglés por Eric Carle, autor de La Pequeña Oruga Glotona. Un granjero cuida sus animales y sueña con una caída de nieve.
Puedes ver el video y descargar recursos gratuito para este libro!

Muchas gracias a Kids in Madrid por recomendarnos en este artículo interesante.
​http://www.kidsinmadrid.com/preparando-la-semana-cultural-inglesa-escolar

You can also read the article in English!