Teach-With-Stories Method

• Puts facts in context
• Creates meaning through connection
• Inspires action and change

 The TWS Method™ is based on popular education and behavior change principles. 

Using this facilitation approach with experiential learning activities, you are able to engage participants, foster critical thinking and support members through the stages of change process.   

The TWS group process lends itself to discussing multiple dimensions of health and well-being relevant to the daily lives of participants and their families.

 The TWS Method™ offers professional and lay educators a practical way to transform their teaching approaches to meet the growing demand for educational programs that are person/family-centered, empowerment-based, and culturally and linguistically appropriate. 

"I can see a lot of possibilities for this method. TWS works differently than other health programs. It is very unique and special because it has a lot of human values contained within it. The spirit of TWS is wonderful: great respect for everyone and everyone is learning from one another."   

TWS Facilitator

The TWS Method™ is designed to unleash the power and potential of individuals and groups through the on-going spiral process of action and reflection.  
 

Participants cultivate experience and skills in building 3 types of power:

Power-with-others

Power-from-within

Power-as-mastery

These 3 kinds of power play a key role in:

• Health literacy, that is, the ability to access, understand, and use health information in one's life
• Promoting equity 
• Reducing health disparities 

Credit: Figure adapted from Spiral Learning model by Rick Arnold, et al.

The TWS Method™ is more than a process for teaching content, it is way to model and cultivate skills for building a culture of lifelong learning while it heals. 

"Stories are the language of community...Telling stories can be healing. We all have within us access to greater wisdom, and we may not even know that until we speak out loud.

Listening to stories also can be healing. A deep trust of life often emerges when you listen to other people's stories. You realize you're not alone; you're traveling in wonderful company. Ordinary people living ordinary lives often are heroes."
 Dean Ornish, M.D. 

“While much psychology emphasizes the familial causes of angst in humans, the cultural component carries as much weight, for culture is the family of the family. If the family of the family has various sicknesses, then all families within that culture will have to struggle with the same malaises. 

There is a saying cultura cura, culture cures. If the culture is a healer, the families learn how to heal; they will struggle less, be more reparative, far less wounding, far more graceful and loving."

Clarissa Pinkola Estés, PhD

Following the five steps in the TWS Method™, you create a safe place for learning and sharing, while participants build their confidence and strengthen their sense of social support. 

Values

How the steps are implemented is just as important as the steps themselves. The Teach-With-Stories Method™ is rooted these values:

Respect

Personal Connection

Kindness

Present Time

Communication

Family

Trust

The TWS Method™ is a highly adaptable, core process

• Easy to learn
• Educate regardless of literacy skills
• Facilitation skills are transferable
• Tailor to be culturally appropriate for different populations
• Flexible teaching tool for a variety of topics
• Professional and lay educators get excellent results!

The TWS Method™ can also be used with stories in other formats, such as video, theater, and radio.

Contact us to explore creative applications of the TWS Method™.