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Narration help
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We have been doing narration for the past couple of weeks and are having a really hard time with it. My 6ds isn’t understanding the stories. We have bee using Aesop’s Fables as a practice before we get into “schoolwork”. It seems to me to really be an issue of understanding. I am reading one sentance at a time and having him narrate back. After a few readings, separated by some time, he can say the sentance but doesn’t understand what it means. I then ask questions to get him to just tell me the general idea and he can’t do that.
Are the stories of Aesop just too hard to understand in their language, or is this normal and just a time and practice issue? If you think Aesop’s Fables are too hard to understand, what would you recomend starting narration with?
Thanks, you all have helped me in so many areas already. I am looking forward to your advice and support.
Ruth,
Your 6yo is pretty young and new at this. Yes, it CAN be hard. It takes many children a while to get this down. Now, about details. You may very well find that one sentence at a time is difficult to track and do. I don’t think Aesop’s Fables are too hard, but you might need to think about approach. Sentence, narrate, sentence, narrate, is a LOT of interruptions to the flow of the story. Try reading him a whole story and have him draw or act out or something as you go. I’ve looked at a story, seen what we need, we drew a quick fox or whatever, stuck him on a popsicle stick if we were feeling fancy, and AS I read, he would act it out or show me or draw it. THEN at the end I’d have him retell it. This is how I helped my third son. Another thing to try is to do a short strip for each sentence–a few basic words or a picture if you can, for a sentence OR a single act in the story. Have the child find that strip or picture. THEN keep going. AT the end have him retell the entire story. Asking lots of questions can frustrate a young child. Reading the same sentence more than once also tells him that he doesn’t really need to pay attention the first time.
All children aren’t automatically ready at age 6, but before you assume that you can try some different things like the above.
ALSO, try telling simple stories yourself to see if he’s paying attention. A three-step story can be best. Make them fun, based on his interests if you like. For my youngest it was always dinosaurs. T Rex did this, then did this, then this happened. I’d then say the first part again and ask him what happened next. Or I’d describe what I was doing–I’m going to fill the sink, then wash the dishes, then we’ll dry them together. OK, after I fill the sink, what’s next???
At 6 years old, I would keep it light for sure. If Aesop’s isn’t working with your child, save it for later and find something else that captures his attention. Maybe delay doing book narration for now, and just ask him questions about real life. For example, if you go to the zoo, ask him what his favorite animal is and why he chose it. Or over lunch, ask other questions and casually have him recall something else. Gradually get him used to communicating and recalling things in a way that doesn’t feel like “narration”, remembering to be gentle in your approach and also not doing this too much, perhaps two or three times a week.
Also, if you do try another book, maybe choose a good picture book and have him describe what he sees, instead of reading to him a written passage for a few weeks. That might be less intimidating. 🙂
HTH!
What does your son enjoy? Does he really like animals? cars? nature in general? Whatever it is, try and find a quality book and read that to him. For instance, Thornton Burgess writes some of our families favorite books about animals – Old Mother West Wind, Adventures of Peter Rabbit, etc. might be good to read. See if he can narrate back to you from these books, and just keep at it. Slow, patient, and steady. 🙂
It takes quite a while to learn how to narrate, and you have gotten some good suggestions. Drawing pictures of the story can work well.
Some kids need the story broken down a lot (even to the sentance) like you are doing to learn to narrate…. but some kids can’t narrate well at that level and need a LOT more to go on to narrate… they need the “big picture”.
Here is a blog post I wrote a couple of years ago… http://maplehillacademy.blogspot.com/2009/09/narration-with-reluctant-talker.html
What I did at the beginning when we were having trouble with narration is to start with picture books – even ones that are familiar to him. Then he gets the idea of how to tell the narration from something easy. Something with pictures. A story type thing that is a child type of story. The Aesops are not little child sort of stories – as in some children don’t take to them at 6. They are simple, but they aren’t a “The Little Engine that Could” kind of story, KWIM?
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