Story-Sharing Circles as a Strengths-Based and Culturally Sensitive Approach in Supporting Preschool-Aged Children's Narrative Skills

• In Event: Culturally Responsive Literacy Education

Abstract

The present study experimentally examined the impact of story-sharing circles as a context to support children’s discussion and resolution of negative emotional experiences (e.g., a true story about a time they felt scared). Twenty children (M= 62.35 months, SD= 4.5 months) attended 12 story-sharing circles implemented during a 4-week kindergarten readiness program serving a predominantly Black and high-poverty sample, while 12 children served as age- and gender-matched controls. Results from descriptive and inferential analyses indicate high rates of internal state language during the circle sessions, and an experimental effect of attending the circles on children’s abilities to resolve negative emotions. Implications for utilizing story-sharing circles as a culturally-sensitive context to support children’s narrative and socioemotional skills are discussed.

Authors

• Kiren S. Khan, Rhodes College

• Eraine Eileen Leland, Rhodes College

• Meredith Schoel, Rhodes College

• Taylor Duncan, Rhodes College

• Leticia Rosas, Rhodes College

• Marsha D. Walton, Rhodes College