HELP!!! Handwriting, Narration, and Copywork for Older kids new to CM Method

Hi and welcome!

For narration, try reading one paragraph at a time. Ask for narration after one paragraph. Keep it short and easy at first. After their narration, go to the next paragraph. They might quickly master short narrations. If so, then expand to a couple of paragraphs and then to a whole page. Eventually expand your reading to a chapter before asking for a narration. Keep in mind there is no rush to get to a whole chapter narration.

If at first they can’t give a narration, don’t re-read the paragraph but rather give a narration yourself to model how it’s done. When I first started narration with my kids, I would say, “Tell me ONE thing about what I just read.” It’s okay to start small and build their skills and attention span. Narration isn’t easy! Find ways to make it successful, like talking about the story in conversation at other times during the day, asking the children to tell their father about a story (or tell the story to him yourself but mix up the details…and watch the kids rush to correct you, lol!).

Make sure the books are you using are engaging and interesting. It’s easy to zone out if the books are dull.

For copywork, it isn’t just for small children. I do my copywork myself in my book of quotations. If you are working on penmanship with your kids, copywork is very appropriate to include in your studies.