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doris
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| Posted: Aug 23 2006 at 9:14am | IP Logged
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help!
i've just started doing narrations with my eldest dd (nearly 6).
she did the first few fairly willingly and of course i praised her lots and lots. i was *really* encouraged as well because, as per theory, she read them back really well. (reading has been a struggle because she gets so frustrated and there's such a big gap between what she enjoys listening to and what she's able to read.)
BUT now she says 'i don't want to do orations' (!). this is fairly typical i must say -- she's resistant to lots of what i want to do with her. i think in part that practice will make perfect, and also that maybe i haven't chosen the best texts to use.
any advice? also, specifically, has anyone used the booklists in 'real learning'? i've managed to get the september set from the library for cycle c (brambly hedge) but is the whole book intended as a basis for narration? in chunks or all at once? it seems very long...
sorry for vagueness and waffle. any advice gratefully received.
elizabeth
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Leonie
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| Posted: Aug 24 2006 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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I tend not to call it narrations but to just encourage a more natural "talking abputy what we read" session.
Sometimes, I narrate and this inspires narration from my dc. And is good for me, too. 
I also find that narration works best after small chunks of reading, especially when the dc are young. So, in using the Real Learning booklists, I might suggest a narration after a couple of pages or even after only one page, depedning on the book.
Just some thoughts.
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Marybeth
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| Posted: Aug 24 2006 at 8:10pm | IP Logged
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Doris,
It sounds like my ds and your dd are very much alike! We are going to do narrations on Wed. It is the best compromise for us. This way it is just scheduled and known beforehand. I still have him tell me about his day, tv shows, walks with Daddy, etc. all of which is narration without him realizing. I'm sure you do the same!
I hope to build up our narrations as the year progresses.
I learned to take it slow from my dear friend and a wonderful first grade teacher. So, I am keeping it simple and starting out slowly to keep interest high and whiny attitudes low (on both our parts )
Marybeth
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Dawnie
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| Posted: Aug 25 2006 at 11:03am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth,
In the Charlotte Mason method books I've read, For the Children's Sake, and A Charlotte Mason Companion, age 6 or 7 is the age at which formal narrations are first required. Any narrations before that age are supposed to be informal. I think we need to keep in mind that whenever we are given an age guideline that some children may be ready before or after the "average" age a child is "supposed" to be ready to do something.
That being said, I've encountered the same kinds of problems with my dd, who is 7yo. At times, she's very resistant to giving a formal narration of something I've read, but she can informally narrate chapter upon chapter of Little House on the Prairie. I think the key, for her, is choosing books that really stimulate her interest. I've also noticed that she does better w/ narrations when the book has pictures that she can look at to jog her memory. However, I still ask for narrations from books that aren't as interesting to her. She'll usually narrate just a sentence or two, and I praise her for that and move on. I think it's a skill she'll develop more as she gets older.
Here are some other things that have helped: in the books I mentioned above, it is suggested that a parent begin by reading just a paragraph when beginning formal narration. Then, as the child develops the skill, the parent reads longer passages.
Another thing I have done, and this REALLY helped my dd's attitude toward narrations, was to point out to her, "Hey, you're narrating!" when she was excitedly giving me an informal narration. Once she realized that all narrating was is a telling back of something you have seen, done, or read, she was a lot more willing to do it when I asked for a formal narration as part of school.
Also, when children "act out" in their play, things you have read to them, that's narration, too! My dc often act out Little House on the Prairie with their Little People toys and My Little Ponies. They hitch up the My Little Ponies to a basket w/ shoelaces and load the Little People into the basket--"It's a covered wagon, Mom!"
My 4yod is really good at narrating already. You'd think she wasn't paying a lick of attention when I'm reading, b/c she just stares off into space and sucks her thumb, but she can often give a more detailed re-telling of something I've read than my 7yod can. Go figure!
Anyway, keep trying, maybe lower your expectations a little until dd can do what you ask of her easily, then gradually increase the length of passage you read before you ask for a narration. Or, maybe back off for a little while and just encourage her informal narrations until she's a little older then try again.
Hereis a link to another post where a mom asked a similar question about narrations.
I hope that helps and good luck!
Dawn
Dawn
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momwise
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| Posted: Aug 25 2006 at 6:32pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth and all...
In organizing my school papers into a binder I came across "49 Ways to Narrate."  I'll post a few a day on a different thread starting later tonight or Sat. Only problem is, I don't know the author but it may just be a compilation I picked up as a hand-out somewhere. 
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doris
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| Posted: Sept 03 2006 at 2:55pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, thank you. I'm just back from holiday and found these lovely, encouraging posts. I will try to take this great advice on board, and most of all just to relax about it!
Elizabeth
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Rebecca
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| Posted: Sept 03 2006 at 3:16pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth,
My six and a half year old cannot read a lick. He is just learning the vowel sounds and can't seem to get past "a". I would not worry about whether she is reading back the narrations yet. Maybe you can say something like "Tell me about all about Primrose" or "Why did the mice travel to the sea?" rather than having her narrate the entire book. Brambly Hedge books are not long but they are chock full of detail.
I have used the booklists from the Reallearning site with my oldest son (10) since Elizabeth wrote her book. He has become a very adept narrator. My second son can narrate without difficulty but does not want to do so each and every time. He would rather run off and play cowboys... 
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: narrations AARGH
