4Real Forums: Written Narration/Journal for Early Years

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: Written Narration/Journal for Early Years

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Kathryn
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Posted: July 17 2013 at 8:08pm \| IP Logged

Here I am again...

DD (almost 6) will be starting first grade. She loves to doodle and write and draw and when my oldest 2 were in traditional school they had a "journal" in kindergarten and 1st grade. I'm just wondering about getting something like that for her. I won't make it mandatory but in reading so much about narration it sounds like I really shouldn't expect anything written till around age 10.

I'm thinking along the lines of not writing a narration of what we've read but maybe jotting names of characters or new words or drawing a picture. ???

I know from older kids they would do things like write a grocery list by looking at the weekly ads or list their family names.

I don't know. It was special to them and I still have the journals.

Anyone have any guidance on how to implement something like this for her by still making it gentle and personal?

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mami bonita
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 1:20am \| IP Logged

Well, my dd just finished 1 st grade. I have used a journal for her as a copy work keeper. I just got the Mead primary journal at Target. It has picture space on the top and 7 handwriting lines on the bottom half. After we read a picture book, I pick a sentence that is easy enough for her to copy. Then she could draw a picture from her memory of the story. If she isn't ready for copy work, certainly she could draw a picture. Later on as they start to read, they like to look over their previous work. I think it is very useful and the papers stay in one place, she can get into the routine for getting it out after read alouds, etc.

My opinion is that even picture drawing is beginning narration and that is good. It can facilitate oral retelling when she is ready.

Have fun.

SallyT
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 7:08am \| IP Logged

I love those Mead Primary Journals! My youngest daughter adored them as a young primary-er.

And I agree that drawing can constitute narration. We have done exactly what Mami Bonita describes: simple copywork (which teaches good written English), plus illustrations. I still treasure my youngest kids' copybooks from first and second grade -- my daughter's, especially, are really sweet (my son's illustrations ran mostly to stick figures fighting with light sabers, no matter what the copywork had been about, but I kind of treasure that, too).

Sally

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Grace&Chaos
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 2:22pm \| IP Logged

Hi Kathryn, around age 6 is when my children start narrating to me. In the past I've typed some of their narrations and printed them out. They've never been longer than a page so I paste them on one side of a sketch notebook and leave the other side empty for them to draw out their narration as well (which they are usually eager to do). And of course, like most things CM this becomes a habit/routine that they enjoy. I don't mandate it but by the end of the year they have a pretty nice notebook full of their own words and drawings because they enjoy the process. (Caution, as they get comfortable narrating those typed passages get smaller font because they have more to say

)

The notebooks I have really are precious and delightful to go back and read.

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Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
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