My son will be turning 7 years old next month and we have added many of Charlotte Mason’s methods in our day and it is such a breath of fresh air for all of us. I have enjoyed using so many of the resources that SCM has available. I have not officially began requiring oral narrations, however would like to begin doing so. We are getting ready to start Outdoor Secrets and the Companion for Science and Genesis to Deut. & Ancient Egypt for History. I am wondering if I should start oral narrations with these science and history readings? I know that I would need to start with very short readings. I see that many others have recommend starting with Aesop’s Fables. Should I use something separate like that to begin practicing oral narrations and just not require narrations when we do our science and history lesson at this point? Thanks!
I would start with the fables for narrations. They have a beginning, middle, and end that are easy to “see” so make beginning narration much easier on all you. 😉
Asking him what he remembers about science and history will work too, but in my experience, the fables were easier at first. And now, the science and history narrations are great.
My kids never cared for Aesop’s Fabels, so I say try out both see what works 🙂
My kids have always enjoyed telling me about stories they heard when little, or retelling them to me over and over LOL, so moving into narration in 1st was just now giving that “retelling stories” a name 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts. I am wondering if I start having him begin oral narrations with Aesop’s Fables, should I begin history and science without having him narrate? I understood that all readings should be narrated to show that they know the material. Would it be better to work on narrating with the fables and hold off on starting science and history until he is more comfortable narrating? I am just a little confused, as I was planning on starting Outdoor Secrets & Ancient Egypt which I know he will enjoy, but if I have him narrate everything at this point, it might be too much too fast. Can you explain how this type of situation would work best?
By all means ask him for one for the others. But don’t expect him to give long detailed ones yet – there are other ways of doing narrations, too. Have him draw a picture, act out a history scene (esp. battles, lol) or something like that so he doesn’t start to dread having to narrate at first. There are so many ways to narrate. You can find tons of ideas online or on SCM.
This was helpful to listen to. Thanks! It brings up a question for me though. I have not been requiring narration during our literature because I had read from many others that as a family they just enjoy it. So we have been using our literature selection as our family read aloud in the evenings. What do you all do? Do you have a literature book going on for your child to narrate from and a different family read aloud? Thanks again.
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