Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 8 months ago by Karen.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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August 24, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Karen
Participant
Right now we’re going through a phase where my 9yo is reading a book she’s not enjoying – the Louis Pasteur book by Tiner. Ch.3’s narration was “I didn’t like it….he married a lady named Marie….nothing else happened.”
So, please tell me – what do I say to that?!! I took the book and read it and was intrigued that he saw this stuff about crystals pointing right or left; I saw the name Ampere (or something similar) that I’m guessing will turn out to be the guy we named Amps after (amps like electrical power stuff, not like a guitar amp). And Marie took a long time to decide to marry him.
There! That’s my narration a day after I skimmed ch. 1-3. Now I understand that she has no clue about “amps”. But couldn’t she have told me about the crystals pointing left and right? Even if she didn’t understand it? (I certainly have no clue about these crystals).
My non-CM teacher training wants me to create a sheet for her to fill out while she reads….you know – What old characters were in this chapter? What new characters? Were there any conflicts? Was anything resolved? etc. By I’m thinking that’s not a CM way to handle this.
So, what do you think?
Thanks in advance!

August 25, 2013 at 2:01 am
Sue
Participant
It sounds a little to me as though she just doesn’t want to write anything detailed about it because she doesn’t like it. That, to me, is rather rebellious. If you are not sure you have explained your expectations to her clearly, I would sit down and tell her what you want to see in her narrations. Perhaps you could even give a bit of a narration just like you wrote in your post so she can see what it would be like even with only a few details.
If you have read better narrations from her before this, I would be firm with her that shoddy narrations born out of a dislike for the book are unacceptable. Give her consequences for this lack of effort (ex: if you write one sentence and tell me ‘nothing else happened,’ you will have to copy the entire page where you started reading today) so she’ll know that you will not accept substandard narrations.
As far as a sheet asking about conflicts and resolutions, I’d avoid doing that at this age. I assume she is just beginning to narrate in writing, so she needs time to just get used to putting what she remembers down on paper. And Charlotte Mason encouraged parents & teachers to allow children to make their own connections while reading. The deeper details will come later as she practices written narration.
August 25, 2013 at 2:42 am
Karen
Participant
Thank you for your suggesitons. I’ve never exactly explained what I wanted in a narration because I’ve always asked her to “tell me about” what she read – even non-school things. I say I’ve always asked – I don’t mean in a “school-teacher voice”! I mean we have always discussed books. I tell her about what I’m reading (usually) or mention in passing something I remember from a recent book.
So I think you’re spot-on with the suggestion that she’s being rebellious. I’ll talk with my husband more and see what we can come up with. He’s generally better at relating to her than I am – I think we’re too similar, actually!
Is copying an entire page an age-appropriate consequence?
Thanks!
August 25, 2013 at 2:44 am
Monica
Participant
Maybe it is difficult for her to narrate because she is just not connecting with the story. If that’s the case, maybe she could use an index card as a bookmark and use the index card to jot down a few words or phrases that will serve to jog her memory when she does narrate back to you.
Also, I’m not familiar with the book, but is it possible that it is slightly above her reading comprehension? If it is a book that is challenging for her and a subject she just doesn’t like, I can only imagine her difficulty!
August 25, 2013 at 3:47 am
HiddenJewel
Participant
I have chosen instead of pushing for forced narrations from school readings to encourage dd9 when she IS narrating something to me whether it is about some place she has been, something she has done, or something she has read. For me this is a more natural approach that still builds her composition skills without sucking the enjoyment out of school.
August 25, 2013 at 10:52 am
LindseyD
Participant
For my ds9.5, who is a great narrator but hates dictation, I have to tell him that there are always going to be things in life you don’t like doing or don’t enjoy but have to do anyway. I don’t expect my children to love everything we do. As they get older, things are getting harder and taking longer, and I understand that they don’t like this or that because sometimes I don’t like such and such. BUT, I believe Charlotte would have wanted the child to learn to persevere with diligence and give their best effort so that they can get it over with. Perhaps you could explain this to your dd.
Also, begin working on the habits of diligence, mental effort, and fortitude. I highly recommend Laying Down the Rails and Laying Down the Rails for Children.
And like someone else mentioned, she just may not have formed a connection with the book. Can she narrate other books well and with energy or excitement? Have you tried having her narrate from your literature or science readings? If doing an oral narration, can you help her by writing a few key words or people down? Charlotte called that “little hooks on which to hang their narrations”. Also, do explain to her what you expect; but also expect that it will take her time to meet your expectations if narration is a new skill for her. We’ve been narrating from the beginning with my dd8 (over 2 years now), but this year she is FINALLY giving good narrations.
At the SCM JAX Conference I attended recently, we, the mothers, were put into a CM Morning of Studies, and asked to give both oral and written narrations. Let me tell you, it wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be! Narrating is hard, especially if the child feels pressure that they’re not doing “enough”.
Blessings,
Lindsey
August 25, 2013 at 11:04 am
Karen
Participant
I wondered about the book being a bit above her – but it’s the recommended 4th-6th grade book for Mod. 6. And this daughter is a reader. She reads and reads and reads. I would guess she’s at least slightly above grade level in comprehension just because her CAT for 3rd grade she got 19/20 correct.
I wonder if I should read the chapter ahead of her, then have her read it – perhaps then I can ask her pointed questions. OR explain things she might not understand.
I like the idea of an index card for her to write on – but (you’re right – she does lack diligence, mental effort, and fortitude – in other areas, not just in school work) I fear that asking her to jot down what she doesn’t understand would meet with resistance.
Also, this is the first year I’ve required her to read anything totally on her own and then narrate to me. In years past, we have read books together (because we had two copies, we’d each read a chapter at night – and that was a “required” book and she didn’t like it, either – The Door in the Wall!!! I think perhaps she didn’t like it because it was “required”).
I certainly do appreciate all the suggestions.
August 25, 2013 at 1:00 pm
missceegee
Participant
I would recommend two things. First you pre-read the chapter or book and you make note of any words that may trouble her or that warrant special attention. Then BEFORE she reads the chapter, show her the list and very briefly go over it orally. This gives her some mental hooks for her reading. The second thing is habit training, actually I should have made this the first thing, it sounds like she’s developed a bit of an attitude that she only wants to do or read what she chooses. I would nip this in the bud right quick. Lindsey is right, we all have to do things we don’t like. On last thing, does she read twaddle? If so, that is another problem. Often times kids who like to read, but who are used to twaddle, find the mental effort too much for real, living books. I suggest this only because she is disliking some rather good books and your mention of required reading.
Warmly, Christie
August 25, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Karen
Participant
Thanks, Christie.
She doesn’t read twaddle (much, anyway) – I would guess the Encyclopedia Brown’s and the occasional animal-saving-series book would be twaddle. But we live in a rural area and go to a bookmobile, not a library. So I usually pre-select all the books and have them waiting for us when we go to our stop.
I’m thinking she is just straining against the restraints of having to read what she didn’t pick about a person she didn’t pick.
I like the suggestion to pre-read and go ovr things she might not understand…..ah, more to read! *L*
August 26, 2013 at 1:15 am
cdm2kk
Participant
I am an up front kinda person, so with my kids, I call it like I see it.
So I would say something like – Honey, that was a pretty blah narration of this book. Do you think you did the best you could?
If she answers No, then let her know that sub standard work isn’t ok and have consequence.
If she answers yes, then ask if she feels it is so blah because she doesn’t like the story or because it was too hard to understand.
If she answers that it was boring or she doesn’t like it, then again sub standard work, assignment didn’t say narrate story only if you liked it, LOL, so consequence.
If she answers too hard to understand, then I would read it together and have her try again after discussion.
Just how I roll here….with my whopping less than a year experience. I have been having my kids narrate a passage from stories I read to them since they were 3 and had no idea it had a name until this past year. LOL I guess I’m a born home schooler and have just found my calling.
August 26, 2013 at 1:21 am
Karen
Participant
Thanks so much for the suggestions! Thankfully, I have a couple of days of canning to do (pears and tomatoes) so we won’t do school until at least Wednesday. That will give me time to read the next chapters and jot some notes to discuss with her. And work up a monologue on sub-standard work! *L*

August 26, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Sue
Participant
Canning and reading??! Where do you find the time, LOL!
August 26, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Karen
Participant
! Late at night when I should be sleeping!! *L*