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Beginning narration
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Hello to all, and happy beginning school year! Well, we (6 1/2 yo and myself) began our year on Monday. Even though I used some CM thoughts with our older kids, this is my first serious foray into the world of narration. It’s almost funny, but we’re having a bit of a challenge. I thought I would be so low-key and not start with too long of a passage, and I explained that the idea is to tell back in her own words something that seemed interesting about what I read. But what she keeps doing is parroting back the last 4-5 words of a 2 or 3 sentence section, like, “…in which to live.” I tried to model for her what I mean, but that didn’t seem to help. Then at lunch she narrated eloquently about a movie she’d seen about a polar bear! She has always loved books and being read to so much, and I think she’s not happy to have it interrupted by my requests for “telling back.”
So I’m considering giving a longer passage a try, thinking that it might help create a fuller picture in her head for narration, plus decreasing the “interruptions.” I would be humbly grateful for any other thoughts or suggestions!
Thank-you!!
Nancy G.
You may want to give opportunity for different kinds of narration. Here are just a few ideas:
Drawing pictures (and I would sit down and start drawing my own to ‘draw’ the child into the activity)
Asking what happened first, next, last
Allowing your daughter to ask you a question about what was read and then telling you whether you are right or not
Asking her if she could do something that was done in the story (walk like a monkey, scream as loud as…that sort of thing)
Spring off of the story. Let’s say, in the story, a person gives something to someone. Ask why they did that and if she would like to give something away
Patience is always helpful. It may be that your daughter is visual versus — what’s the word for learning more easily by hearing?? You may want to limit screens for awhile. If so, I’d do that secretly by just quietly cutting back rather than announcing what your plan is so you do not make it feel like a punishment.
You can certainly experiment with the length. I’d keep it on the shorter side of long, though. Our poor first children…my 20yo still calls himself the guinea pig.
Blessings,
Cindy
A couple of thoughts come to mind: First, you know she can do it because of the polar bear movie. That’s great! I assume you told her that she had just narrated beautifully, and that that’s what you want her to do with the books.
Second, while we should start with shorter passages, it seems like Charlotte also put an emphasis on reading a whole episode. I can see why your daughter might get annoyed if the shorter passages are interrupting the story line. So you might look for stopping points that still encapsulate a whole thought before the break. Does that make sense? (You’re probably already doing that, but I thought I’d mention it.)
And of course, try some of Cindy’s great ideas.Don’t get discouraged, Nancy. Narration is harder than it seems, and it may take a little adjusting before you both find your stride. But it will come. It sounds like your daughter has the potential to do wonderfully with this method.
I’ve been communicating recently with another mom with the same problem, and I’ve been thinking. I do not KNOW that any of these would help, but offer these as suggestions only.
Perhaps your child is simply focusing too keenly on just the specific words, stressing over remembering them. Perhaps you could try reading for a bit, then YOU narrate a bit, maybe once or twice, THEN ask her, so that she isn’t expecting exactly when you will stop and ask her.
OR possibly, she just needs time to adapt to such an oral-language learning method. Does she often wiggle? Have you thought of letting her try holding a squeezee ball or sit on the floor and color while you read? Maybe this would take some of the pressure off of her.
OR, perhaps she needs a little time to “gell” her narrations? I have one son who gives sometimes poor narrations right after the reading, but can do better when Dad gets home, or after a little time passes. You might try that, I suppose it can’t hurt.
Also, be sure and “intro” in to each reading, asking what she remembers from last time. How does she respond in those times? You might say something like “Oh, yes, yesterday Heidi brought home those kittens. Let’s listen and see what happens today! What do you think will happen?” then read a bit.
Dont’ know if any of these will help, just tossing out ideas that came to me as I thought of another mom’s similar problem.
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