Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: narration

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 7 months ago by apsews.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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October 15, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Sara Murray
Participant
My son has several readings a day on various subjects, and I’m wondering how many times a day he should narrate? Should he narrate just once a day or should he be narrating from every reading?

Thanks!
October 15, 2013 at 4:20 pm
apsews
Member
I am curious also because I am reading or hearing(audiobooks) most everything he is hearing. Do you have them narrate those things?
October 15, 2013 at 4:27 pm
TailorMade
Participant
We narrate at least once per day. Younger ones orally, older ones in both orally and written (written 2-3x per week).
If audiobooks are being used in place of read alouds, I’d say use narration alongside it.
October 15, 2013 at 4:29 pm
sheraz
Participant
I have them narrate in one form or another (draw, discuss, write, whatever) all of it because narration is how they process it and remember the material. It is also about allowing them time to make connections and verbalize those connections. I do this even though I heard/read the material because it is about the child’s relationship to the material. I hear something and understand it, but my child may not. Narration by the child helps us know whether or not they’re “getting” it. Narrations/discussions don’t have to take all day for each thing.
October 15, 2013 at 5:13 pm
jotawatt
Participant
My children do separate narrations for each different reading that they do. For longer or more complicated readings, I’ll break it up — have them narrate both in the middle and at the end, or even after individual sections. This means, depending on what’s being studied, that each child does anywhere from 3 to 5 full narrations a day. Some of those may be on “together subjects,” so they’ll take turns narrating part of the story until they’ve covered it all. Some narrations can be done in written form too.
October 15, 2013 at 5:18 pm
suzukimom
Participant
I’m also of the opinion that narration is what really makes the child connect the information from the reading – so we narrate everything.
October 15, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Sara Murray
Participant
Thank you, you’ve all been very helpful!
October 15, 2013 at 5:59 pm
missceegee
Participant
We also narrate all of our readings most days. It’s always the goal, but occ. we miss one. I also utilize handheld recorders for the times when I’m unavailable to hear it personally when they are ready to give it. It helps since I have 4 kids!
October 16, 2013 at 12:00 am
apsews
Member
I’m not trying to hijack the post but hated to start a new one on the same subject.
This being our first year of narration (ds is 12) is it normal for them to not be able to narrate more than a very short story? For example, if he reads a story from Aesolp’s Fables he can narrate beautifully, but if it’s any longer he can’t remember anything but the last few paragraphs and I have to go back and help him along with the earlier parts.
October 16, 2013 at 1:03 am
missceegee
Participant
Apsews – yes that’s normal. Start small. Even with longer books or sections, you can stop and narrate every couple of paragraphs. Gradually it will lengthen.
October 16, 2013 at 4:47 am
apsews
Member
Thank you Christi it helps to know that!!