As an experienced teacher and professional storyteller, as well as a Special Edu... cation teacher, I see a direct connection between listening to stories and competencies in reading. As a Special Ed. and English teacher, as well as a storyteller, I see listening and reading not only important and vital to learning in language arts. But these oral and printed stories teach important life lessons. They boost confidence in each student. Furthermore, stories lift the listener or reader out of the ordinary world into the heroic world, no matter what the listener’s or reader’s age is. Because we all need to discover our purpose in life; we all need to be heroes of our own story. Whatever our age is. Indeed this specifically, applies to children just beginning their language experiences or teenagers beginning to explore the world at large, my particular talent in teaching reading and storytelling stems from my skilled listening to where each student is coming from and how they need to learn. Here I am referring to each student's learning style, as well (visual, auditory, kinesthetic and combinations of these). I have achieved a large measure of success as teacher and artist because of this. ability and, of course, my love of teaching teenagers and children. read more