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Book Reports
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I feel a little silly asking this question but I was wondering if anyone would have suggestions on how to get your children started with book reports. I’m sure there are several formats I could use? I like the idea of doing posters with more visual stimuli as opposed to just a written book report (although I’m sure there will be some of that too). I would love any links, tips, thoughts that others could share on this topic! Thanks!
We went to our local library and our librarian printed us out some templates for written book reports. I don’t see why you couldn’t have them draw a picture of a favorite part of the book though, or even a story board of the book.
We don’t do book reports. Unnecessary. Have your children narrate. You can write down their narrations if you like. As they get older, THEY write them. By high school, begin teaching essay form. Book reports are nonsense. Adults do not write them. (REVIEWS are different—an essay making an argument about a book. This is an essay skill for junior high or high school.)
Hi ANMcc171,
I would also skip the book reports. I did them some many years ago with my oldest kids and I found they tended to suck the life out of enjoying literature for my kids, not to mention boring me to tears. Written or oral narration, depending on the age and skill of the child is a much more gentle and effective means to get them to connect with the book and share what they learned. Are you familiar with Narration? Here is a link to a wonderful article about Naration by Sonya Shafer. http://simplycharlottemason.com/2008/07/17/the-charlotte-mason-method-of-narration/
HTH
Hi nash_mom,
The difference between narration and a book report is simple-
In narration you give your child an opportuity to share what they recall from the reading selection in the context of relationships. Having the contect of relationship- with you and with the book and other facts/information the child may already have helps fix what the child has retained in their memoy. The act of recalling, organizing and speaking or writing (depending on the age/skill of the child) the information works on composition skills, and other vital higher level processes. In a book report there is a set body of information for the child to produce. A book report is essentially “filling in the blanks” while narration is an essay question requiring higher level thinking skills. And yet, even a 6 year old can produce a good narration with the apropriate assistance.
Check out the link I posted before about what a narration is for more information.
HTH
I’ve been thinking about this post. Maybe it will help if I post my recent experiences. My daughter just turned 6 years old and we have begun narration. We started with Aesops fables since they are short, great stories and really capture kids interest. I read one fable per day aloud to my daughter. I remind her to pay full attention before we start and I only read it once. When I am done reading I ask her to tell me everything she remembers. She tells me what she remembers and I try hard not to prompt or “give hints”, but rather let her make her own connections with the story. After she has told me everything we will occassionally discuss the fable futher if we really liked something about it. Usually, she is able to retell the whole story although not always in correct order or with a lot of detail. Of couse she is only 6, and we started this process about 3 weeks ago so we have plenty of time to practice. She is already improving her ability to put things in the correct order and draw out the “moral of the story”. These are composition skills and inferring from the text- more advanced skills than your typical book report. Over time we will progress to longer passages and she will eventually begin to write her own narrations, but it will happen gradually and without busy work to bog her down.
For older kids you can start the same way- pick simple but engaging 1 paragraph stories and let them tell you “everything they remember”. Older kids will progress more quickly to longer passages and written narrations (around 4th grade). Narrations can also be done with drawing pictures, etc. for variety.
Narration is hard to see as writing sometimes. If you’re looking through a traditional lens. I think it takes experience with narration to really begin to see its outcomes. And the transitions are unique to the child … how one goes from simpler texts to longer ones will be different than how another does …. and how one transitions from oral narrations to written ones will be different than another too. It doesn’t look like traditional writing class because it’s not. But my understanding and experience is that the more recognizable writing (essay forms, creative writing, etc.) come after the mastery of written narrations to some degree. And that they come more easily too because the skills are there and just need to be called forth to tackle these more traditional writing lessons.
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