4Real Forums: Saint Narrations (Trouble With)

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Saint Narrations (Trouble With)

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domchurch3
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Joined: July 12 2007
Location: Texas
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Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 3:25pm \| IP Logged

Yesterday we displayed all our saint holy cards on a dead tree limb that will become our Jesse tree. She was so interested in the cards as we hung them on the tree that I thought it would be a lovely idea to have her choose one from the tree each day through the month of November. Today she chose St. Sebastian. We studied the picture for a few minutes (basically me setting the example of studying the card while she looked everywhere else after 30 seconds). After that I read St. Sebastian's brief bio and asked her to tell it back to me. She gladly told a story that did not make much sense but I wrote it down anyways. I had her draw a picture which she gladly did. She wanted to keep drawing so she also drew one of Saint Rosalia and insisted I write down her make-believe story about Rosalia's sadness over losing her dolly. What do I do if after reading a short bio, my child narrates a story that has nothing to do with what was just read? I'm trying to figure out why she would do that? Is it because the material is too hard to grasp? Is it because she's not really listening? If that's the case, how do I gently but persuasively get her to pay attention? Should I stick the made-up stories in her saint book to enjoy in later years or insist on some truth to her re-telling.

Thanks for reading my question,

Elizabeth

eileenonhim
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Joined: April 26 2007
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Posts: 26

Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 3:59pm \| IP Logged

Hi, Elizabeth!

What a lovely idea that is! I will put it in my file!!

I didn't see in your post how old your daughter is, and that could make a big difference in how one might set expectations for a task like this.

My 8yo daughter hates to do traditional narrations, so we don't do it very often in that way. I wrote about it on my blog awhile back, maybe you'd be interested in my take on it? I've gotten lots of great ideas on what I call "alternative narrations" at Simply Charlotte Mason for ways to really capture her attention and engage her imagination in giving back to me what she got from a particular lesson. I thought that site was a gem of a find--maybe some of their ideas will appeal to you too.

It also occurs to me that the brief bio on a Holy Card may not represent, shall we say, great literature?

There are some really wonderful picture books about Saints (Tomie DePaola's books might be a great place to start)that may engage your daughter's interest a whole lot more, especially if she's primary age or younger.

Maybe you could read a book that you find she loves, ask her to tell you the story herself for her saint book (or even to just describe the part of the story she loved the best?), and then to find (or place) the related Saint card on the tree. (Or pick the card and then find the book?) Oh, I also found I have better luck with this kind of thing if my daughter would draw the picture first, and then describe it to me.

My big thing lately is that I'm not going to approach education in my home in a way that causes us to get frustrated with each other--I'm using frustration as a cue to change what I'm doing, rather than an opportunity to engage a battle!

We accomplish a great deal more, and we're all a lot happier, when I take this attitude. Just another thought!

Warmly,
Eileen
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Eileen on Him...at least, I try!

domchurch3
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Joined: July 12 2007
Location: Texas
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Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 9:26pm \| IP Logged

Thank You fellow newbie for your warm advice. I think you're right about the choice of literature. The only book I have that says anything about St. Sebastian and St. Rosalia is The Dictionary of Saints and it reads....like a dictionary.

She was probably trying to make it more interesting and I can't blame her. She's five and we are new to narration. In fact, I'm pretty new at trying to engage her in conversation about the books we're reading. I've read to her since she was a wee infant but I never thought to ask her questions about the stories and really try to get her involved. I love what you said about taking frustration as a cue to change what you are doing. I'm going to ponder on that some more. Thank You for the link to Simply Charlotte Mason - I'll look into that.

In Christ,

Elizabeth

mariB
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Joined: Dec 20 2006
Location: Vermont
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Posted: Nov 03 2007 at 6:04am \| IP Logged

Hey, my now 14 year old when he was 5 used to do the same thing. He loved nature so he'd be daydreaming when I was reading him something and then tell a silly story back that had nothing to do with what I had just read...and the story was interesting. He did this for a while and I thought that he would never get it. Actually, some of the things he'd narrate back to me made me laugh. My husband was concerned. He'd say, "Do you think he'll ever get it?"

What is he like today? Excellent at academics, excellent at narrating, and he does very well at analyzing stories.(I'm not trying to brag too much, but to encourage you that things change so much when the children mature.)

During narration, you might want to prompt your child with questions like,"What happened first?" "What did she ask so and so..." and so forth.
(Not my idea. It comes from lots of sources one of them being Susan Bauer.)
Just my 2 cents:)
Blessings,

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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years

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