Jason Reynolds: Why Storytelling Belongs in Every Classroom

Reflecting on his own journey as a reader, Reynolds shared that he didn’t fall in love with books until he was 17—when a teacher handed him Black Boy by Richard Wright. From that moment, he understood that “there are no reluctant readers, just people who haven’t found the right story yet.” For educators, that message is a powerful reminder that stories can open doors that testing and instruction alone cannot.

The Sound of Life Mattering

Isay opened the conversation with a reflection on the mission behind StoryCorps: to ensure every person knows that their story matters. Through The Great Thanksgiving Listen, a decade-long partnership between StoryCorps and the AFT, students are invited to record interviews with family members over Thanksgiving. Those stories, archived in the Library of Congress, become part of our collective history—a reminder that education begins with listening.

As Isay shared, StoryCorps is “the sound of life mattering.”

This message is both an inspiration and a practical invitation to help students discover that their voices—and the voices of those around them—deserve to be heard.

Jason Reynolds: 'Our Stories Are Our Medicines'

Reynolds, who worked at StoryCorps early in his career, shared how the act of listening shaped his storytelling—and his humanity. He recalled hearing his mother’s stories about the March on Washington and her journey from South Carolina to Washington, D.C. Those stories, he said, grounded him in both history and hope.

Our stories are the most valuable things we own. But they’re also our medicines. The issue we’re having is that we’re not sharing them enough.

This truth can be transformative. Storytelling helps students connect lessons to lived experience. It turns reading into empathy, writing into discovery and conversation into understanding.

Finding Hope Through Understanding

Throughout the discussion, Reynolds and Weingarten reflected on the growing divisions in society and the role schools play in bridging them. Reynolds cautioned against losing sight of each other’s humanity:

My fear isn’t that we disagree. My fear is that we’ve forgotten how to disagree.

From rural Colorado to urban classrooms across the world, Reynolds said he sees the same curiosity and humor in young people everywhere. “You can’t look at me and not see yourself,” he said. “And I can’t look at your child and not see me.”

His words serve as a powerful reminder: Classrooms are where students learn to listen, question and find common ground.

Teaching with Curiosity, Courage and Joy

Reynolds spoke candidly about keeping stories engaging in the era of social media. He urged teachers to meet students where they are—not by competing with technology, but by learning from it. “Make literature feel like it was written for them,” he said.

That approach applies far beyond English class. Whether teaching science, civics or math, educators can use storytelling to make content feel personal and relevant. As Weingarten noted, students don’t thrive on tests; they thrive on connection and meaning. Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to reach them.

A Reflection for Educators

Reynolds’ message wasn’t just about writing—it was about teaching as an act of empathy. His conversation invited educators to reflect: What stories do we share with our students about who they are and who they can become?

“I’m not here to make us more fractured,” Reynolds said. “I’m here to protect my own, love my people, love my corner of the world—and when I can, love yours, too.”

This invitation is for us to nurture classrooms where every story matters and every student feels seen.

Bring Storytelling into Your Classroom

As the webinar concluded, Weingarten encouraged educators to make storytelling a classroom tradition through StoryCorps’ The Great Thanksgiving Listen.

Have your students interview a loved one, record their conversation and preserve it as part of American history. The project builds listening skills, empathy, and reflection—all while helping students see that their stories belong to something larger.

As Reynolds reminded viewers, “A good story is a good story.” Whether it starts in a classroom, a kitchen or a family living room, stories have the power to connect, heal and teach us how to see one another.

Watch the full AFT Book Club webinar with Jason Reynolds, Randi Weingarten and Dave Isay on demand now—and rediscover why storytelling belongs in every classroom.