Marilee Sprenger, a consultant on neuroscience, agreed that for information to be stored (and remembered), it must be received through our senses (7 Brain-Based Ways to Make Learning Stick, 2018). That is why telling a story can get our students’ attention and keep them engaged; they are more apt to learn what you are trying to teach. Moreover, the way a story is told, the order of a narrative with an exposition, rising action, conflict and then some type of resolution, hooks us into the scene and therefore engages our brains.
When I introduce a lesson, I always try to find a story from my own life or from an experience to hook my audience. Also, when teaching the content, telling a true story from the life of someone you know, from a current event or even a fictional character, can reel in the student and hook them to learn the material. You can even start with, “Imagine you are in…” The brain will take in that sentence starter and be surrounded by the events of your imaginary scenario.
How can we tell if they are connecting with our story? For younger students, as in my daughter’s kindergarten class, they make a fist with their pinkie and thumb extended to show the connection. The teacher seeks to have students make this motion throughout the morning. She can tell they are listening and she can also tell the interest level. When you have their interest and you make them feel important with connections, you have their attention and they are engaged.