It's January 23rd ... Why Are We Still Talking About Bethlehem?

"It is in retelling stories that we 
make them our own." 

- Maya Angelou

This is not just a sweet poetic sentiment, but there is hard science backing it up...

When children hear a story,

they want to hear it again, 

... and again.
(Remember that blog on monotony?)

Then they start to tell the story!  

(We did this in a big way this year!)

And tell it again,

and again.


Retelling a story that we have heard is the best way for it to imprint upon our brain.

 (It's as if children know what is best for them.)

Retelling helps us to remember a story down to the many details.

"Baby Jesus, don't worry about the sheep. They are so stinky, but they are friendly." - Andres

"They golded him, and frankincensed him, 
and myrrhed him." - Cole

Retelling helps us learn story elements and structure.

Characters.

Setting.

Problem.

"'I can't breathe!!!'" said Mary. 'Joseph, DO something!'" 

- Emma

Solution.

A beginning.

"This is gonna be the most longest shoot for the history of the Advent at this school." - Henry A.

A middle.

And an end.

Retelling gives us an opportunity to explore the themes of the story in different ways.

"The three kings are here! And Jesus is also a king. And Herod too. It's confusing." - Cameron

By using your own language to tell the same idea.

"Run away from Herod now. He wants to be the only king. He is grumpy and dangerous!" - Nari


"Follow the star! It keeps moving! 
Star, why are you so tricky?!?" - Riley


By experimenting with, and changing the narrative.

"And then all the farm and zoo was there for a party." 

- Kayla

"There is room in the inn now! Someone saw a Baby Jesus so cold and said, 'Here's my room.'" - Claire

"And the many children sang to him for sleep." - Helena

Or by placing yourself in the story. 

"Jesus, don't be lonely. You can play with me. I'm not afraid of your magic!" - Henry H.

Dr. Smith's gift of beautiful felt nativity figures certainly breathed new life into our passion for this tale — make sure to thank her if you see her! 

How wonderful it is to be able to spend so much time with a story in order to learn so much about what a story is!  And to learn about being storytellers.

 And this story in particular.

In the words of my favorite hymn:

I love to tell the story;
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest.

I love to tell the story;
'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet. 

Our little town of Bethlehem, as it has been built and rebuilt, has been telling and retelling the story of this baby being born and reborn, day in and day out.  Is there any better story* for the children to claim as their own and to tell so joyfully? 

*Well ... there is another. The children will tell that story too, but you have to wait until late April. Stay tuned!