4Real Forums: Narration/Writing

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Topic: Narration/Writing

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Lisa R
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Joined: May 29 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posts: 789

Posted: July 23 2005 at 4:18pm \| IP Logged

We're starting BraveWriter and The Arrow this school year. I'm so excited about this program!

I have a few questions please.

1. How often to ask for narrations from my children? This will be oral as we're just getting started.

2. If I'm using The Arrow and doing the dictation, copywork and writing excercises from there , do I still have another writing assignment going on? Is that too much?

3. I'd like to use the dictation, copywork and writing from the Arrow to teach grammar and spelling. We've used the workbook approach and it just doesn't stick with them. What do you think?

We also use Beyond Five In A Row.

Thanks so much for your help!

Blessings,
Lisa

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Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy

juliecinci
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Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posts: 294

Posted: July 25 2005 at 10:12am \| IP Logged

Lisa R wrote:

In The Writer's Jungle, I talk about expecting narrations in the fulness of life. It's important not to "drum them out" of your kids but to engage with them meaningfully in day to day life so that they have lots of access to you. If they are with you and you are talking with them, they will naturally narrate about the books they read, the games they play, the music that they love and so on.

If you are looking for more "formal" narrations, we have done both "oral reports" and "exams." I don't do those now so much. But back when I began the Charlotte Mason style of education, we followed her exam schedule. My kids actually loved it! We used a tape recorder and I'd let them talk on topics they drew from a hat based on things we had studied together.

The reason I don't do that so much now is that I am reassured that my kids are learning all the time and they narrate to me so naturally, it just became a redundant practice for us. While you're getting started, though, you might try something like the tape recorded narrations.

I caution you against requiring narrating right after reading a chapter in a book. Often, kids feel that is forced and don't cooperate. So don't push.

Also, projects like lap books, drawing a picture with captions or making a collage will be a narration tool that works just as well. The goal os narration is to reveal ownership of the learning that took place, not to regurgitate information.

Lisa R wrote:

2. If I'm using The Arrow and doing the dictation, copywork and writing excercises from there , do I still have another writing assignment going on? Is that too much?

The way to know if something is too much is to pay attention to your particular kids. Let them be your guides. I usually recommend one writing project per month (meaning a writing project you take through the writing process). Freewriting can be done weekly by kids who enjoy it.

Lisa R wrote:

3. I'd like to use the dictation, copywork and writing from the Arrow to teach grammar and spelling. We've used the workbook approach and it just doesn't stick with them. What do you think?

I think that's a great idea! That's what we do. I gave up workbooks a long time ago. The CM practices are just so much more effective.

Hope that helps!

Julie

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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years

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