Stories Resonate—This Is Why Teachers Should Capture Them

Part Two of my S5E20 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh, learn about effective digital media and edu tech tools that give students creative agency, fostering interactive learning. In this episode, you'll discover: 🎯 Why traditional curriculum fails and how storytelling bridges the gap 📱 Digital storytelling tools: Canva and Adobe Spark 🎤 The guest speaker strategy that actually resonates with students 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How a 10th-grade interview assignment preserved family legacy ✨ The difference between "supporting" and "RAISING" classrooms 🚀 One actionable next step to start Monday morningMichelle shares how a simple 10th-grade assignment—interviewing an elder family member—became an irreplaceable treasure when her grandfather passed two years later. This is storytelling as legacy, connection, and curriculum combined.💫Check out Part One & Digital Tools Mentioned: • Canva for Education  • Adobe Spark • Microsoft Clip  Chapters:0:00 - Introduction: From Why to How—Taking Action with Storytelling1:00 - Welcome Back to Part Two with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh1:46 - Reminder: Listen to Part One First!2:00 - Bridge Building Solutions: Why Incorporate Storytelling into Curriculum?2:22 - Storytelling Makes Teaching Human, Simply Put2:48 - Traditional Curriculum Misses the Mark: The Gaps3:09 - Storytelling Democratizes Education4:00 - Seeing Ourselves as Whole Human Beings, Not Victims4:26 - Digital Storytelling Tools: Capturing and Creating Stories5:00 - The Power of Canva: Student Agency in Storytelling5:31 - Removing Barriers: Not Every Student Wants to Raise Their Hand6:00 - Adobe Spark and Free Educator Accounts6:42 - Collaborative Memoir Writing: NCTE Session Inspiration7:00 - Funds of Knowledge: Interviewing Family Members7:42 - The 10th Grade Assignment That Changed Everything8:00 - Meet Michelle's Grandfather: The Father Figure Who Made It All Possible9:00 - Recording the Interview: A Moment of Intuition9:42 - Discovering Family History: Seeing Grandpa as a Teenager10:00 - 2 Years Later: Grandfather Passes Away10:42 - Creating the Funeral Slideshow: Videos Become Legacy11:00 - Stories Passed Down to Great-Niece's Twins11:42 - Guest Speakers: Beyond the Perfect Resume12:00 - Kids Need Real Human Stories, Not Just Credentials12:42 - The HBCU Guest Speaker Example: Pastor and First Lady13:00 - Models Who Look Like Them: 90% Black or Caribbean Descent13:42 - "How Did You Get From Here to There?" The Stories That Matter14:00 - Mentorship Through Lived Experience14:42 - Balance: Expertise AND Human Touch15:00 - Michelle's Quote: "Stories Resonate, Connect, and Cultivate Community"15:42 - One Next Step for Monday: Start Small16:00 - Stories as Entry Points to Learning16:42 - Video Clips, Podcasts, Student Grandparent Stories17:00 - Storytelling Is NOT an Add-On—It's the Foundation17:42 - Connection to Learning, to Each Other, to Content, to Teachers18:00 - "We're Raising the People. We're Raising the Humanity."18:22 - Closing: Emotional Engagement18:42 - Olivia's Reflection: Try One Story-Based Entry Point19:00 - Preview: Next Week with Maria Walther on Read Alouds19:42 - Credits and Thank You20:00 - How to Connect and Share This EpisodeWhen teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, they create schools where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged, supported, and ready to thrive.