Keeping a narration facts only or spicing it up?

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  • October 7, 2009 at 6:35 pm
    Abbaschild
    Participant

    My son has a great memory and gives good narrations, but it seems he always leaves out the excitement.  It is pretty much just facts with him.  He’ll be 12 this month.  I have encouraged him the last couple of days to try to include some of that in his narrations.  I’ve gently explained that part of the purpose of his narrations is preparation for real writing and that when lively language that expresses emotion is used, it draws the reader in and helps them to feel like they are part of the story. 

    An example of the way he narrates would be:  Then, Gil jumped in the water to save Bessie.  He caught her by the hair.  The others on the shore threw him a roap and he swam to the rope and held on., etc.  (He rarely, if ever, uses quotes in his narrations like….The others on the shore yelled to him, “Swim to the rope, Gil!”) 

    Am I correct in the above or way off base according to CM methods?  Should I just leave it alone?  Or just keep gently encouraging him in these things?  Is there any kind of guideline out there that helps you to know what to look for at various ages in a child’s narrations or written narrations?

     

    October 9, 2009 at 1:54 am
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    I don’t know of a resource like the one you described, but I think you’re not off base to encourage him to improve. Of course, we don’t want to force a child to give a narration that isn’t “him” and comes across stilted, but gently stretching him to keep him improving and challenged is fine. Make sure you focus on one thing at a time until he has “mastered” it. Then encourage him to improve in another area.

    Have you tried asking him to approach his narration in some other ways — ways that might help nudge him in the excitement area? For example, ask him to write his narration like a letter or a diary entry. Or set it up like an interview. You might find some other ideas on our Narration Ideas page.

    October 10, 2009 at 7:45 pm
    Abbaschild
    Participant

    Thanks again, Sonya, for your help.  🙂  It is much appreciated.

    No, I haven’t asked him to do narrations any differently.  I need to do that.  Thanks for reminding me of that.

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