There's something about a good story that makes you lose track of time and draw you into the plot. Stories are capable of transcending time and space. They re-shape perspectives and give you a point of view you didn't think of before. Stories can be compelling, persuasive and hypnotizing. Stories can let you gain access to world's you never dreamt of and can either add to knowledge you already have on a certain topic or educate you and provide you with wisdom that you can take with you all your life. Stories can let readers acquire tolerance and acceptance of other cultures. Overall, stories shape societies and can be past on from generations to generations for others to enjoy.

Here are some creative ways of applying story-telling into the classroom:

• Collaborative Collection of Stories: Create or collect stories from family members or people in the community either on their culture, stories they have heard from elders or stories participants might want to create and share.

• Podcasts: Add technology to the classroom and add stories to a class podcast that can be curated by students and shared as a year-long project to share with the community or School at the end of the year.

• Recordings: Use recording programs or recorders to collect stories in the community.

• Self-publishing Books: Have students create their own self-publishes books or graphic novels to share in an end-of-the-year exhibit.

• Poetry or Read- Aloud: Create opportunities for students to share their stories through oratory presentations.

Journaling is a therapeutic and self-reflective process that can be a good process to add to the classroom. Journals can help students practice their writing skills. Journals can be something students do not share, share only with teacher for feedback or can be shared with small groups or whole groups. Journal writing can be a vulnerable process, as such, it is suggested you set ground rules as a class, that reminds students of safe spaces and respect toward one another.

• Tapping on Prior Knowledge: Students share their experiences and create community among one another.

• Builds Culture: Students learn from each others cultural background. Students also create thier own school culture through similar experiences.

• Writing Skills: Students practice free-form writing skills.

• Building Vocabulary: Students are exposed to new vocabulary.

• Build on listening, speaking, writing and reading skills.

• Students have an active role in the classroom.