Part Two of my S5E20 @schoolutionspodcast 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 morning
Michelle 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 Storytelling
1:00 - Welcome Back to Part Two with Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh
1:46 - Reminder: Listen to Part One First!
2:00 - Bridge Building Solutions: Why Incorporate Storytelling into Curriculum?
2:22 - Storytelling Makes Teaching Human, Simply Put
2:48 - Traditional Curriculum Misses the Mark: The Gaps
3:09 - Storytelling Democratizes Education
4:00 - Seeing Ourselves as Whole Human Beings, Not Victims
4:26 - Digital Storytelling Tools: Capturing and Creating Stories
5:00 - The Power of Canva: Student Agency in Storytelling
5:31 - Removing Barriers: Not Every Student Wants to Raise Their Hand
6:00 - Adobe Spark and Free Educator Accounts
6:42 - Collaborative Memoir Writing: NCTE Session Inspiration
7:00 - Funds of Knowledge: Interviewing Family Members
7:42 - The 10th Grade Assignment That Changed Everything
8:00 - Meet Michelle's Grandfather: The Father Figure Who Made It All Possible
9:00 - Recording the Interview: A Moment of Intuition
9:42 - Discovering Family History: Seeing Grandpa as a Teenager
10:00 - 2 Years Later: Grandfather Passes Away
10:42 - Creating the Funeral Slideshow: Videos Become Legacy
11:00 - Stories Passed Down to Great-Niece's Twins
11:42 - Guest Speakers: Beyond the Perfect Resume
12:00 - Kids Need Real Human Stories, Not Just Credentials
12:42 - The HBCU Guest Speaker Example: Pastor and First Lady
13:00 - Models Who Look Like Them: 90% Black or Caribbean Descent
13:42 - "How Did You Get From Here to There?" The Stories That Matter
14:00 - Mentorship Through Lived Experience
14:42 - Balance: Expertise AND Human Touch
15:00 - Michelle's Quote: "Stories Resonate, Connect, and Cultivate Community"
15:42 - One Next Step for Monday: Start Small
16:00 - Stories as Entry Points to Learning
16:42 - Video Clips, Podcasts, Student Grandparent Stories
17:00 - Storytelling Is NOT an Add-On—It's the Foundation
17:42 - Connection to Learning, to Each Other, to Content, to Teachers
18:00 - "We're Raising the People. We're Raising the Humanity."
18:22 - Closing: Emotional Engagement
18:42 - Olivia's Reflection: Try One Story-Based Entry Point
19:00 - Preview: Next Week with Maria Walther on Read Alouds
19:42 - Credits and Thank You
20:00 - How to Connect and Share This Episode
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
