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Oral Narration & Other LA Questions
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I think I need more info on oral narration. How often should a child be asked to narrate? Does it span across all subjects? Meaning, would I ask him to narrate for Bible, History, Science, etc.? Daily, weekly?
My oldest is 6-1/2 yrs if that helps. I think that written narration begins in 4th grade but should he be doing any “creative writing” at this age? We have done some but I am just wondering if I need to plan any for this upcoming school year. Or just handwriting/copywork?
Thanks!
Sonya discusses this in the new DVD set. Charlotte required narration from ALL readings. Sonya said that she always had a family read aloud that was purely for enjoyment, she did not require narration from that.
As for the creative writing, I don’t not know the answer but I don’t think that a 6 year old needs to be doing it. Unless of coarse they want to, but I probably wouldn’t require it.
All readings should be narrated as narration is when the child acts upon the material and knows. Charlotte even said a reading not narrated was wasted. A family read aloud or free reading choice need not be narrated, but all school books should.
Other things to cover:
– Penmanship (forming letters) and then copywork which continues all through.
– beginning reading
Around 9/10 as ready add:
– dictation
– written narration
Thank you for your helpful replies! Wow, every reading? That sounds overwhelming. Or am I making too big a deal out of it? He loves to be read to but I wonder if I asked for narrations every single time, would he no longer love it? So far, he has amazed me with how much he learns just by listening to me read. It often seems like he’s not paying attention at all but then he is always able to tell back everything I just read (when I ask). In his own words too. He definitely seems like an auditory learner (big strength for him). I just don’t know about asking for narrations after EVERY reading… and isn’t it one paragraph at a time? That sounds like it would take all day…? Several narrations per day? Narration also seems difficult with such a noisy younger crowd around the house ;). So to be doing it that often… I just don’t know. Or maybe I am scheduling too much reading.
If I were to just get Queen’s Language Lessons, how much of our LA would that cover? Thanks again!
No, it needn’t be one paragraph at a time. As his facility at listening and narrating improve, you can work up to 15-20 minutes of reading with a narration at the end. THIS IS NOT necessary at 6 1/2, just what you are moving TOWARD. If he is doing well with short sections, then I’d increase the time a bit to see how he does. I often look for a passage that has a “beginning-middle-end” to check on how a child is doing. Also, if a child is struggling in narration, then many of us ease the child in slowly, especially with more difficult readings, and expect a bit less. But yes, in the next year or so, your child should narrate every reading. Plan a little time at least at the end of your lesson time. Yes, it’s hard to do with a houseful of other voices. He can’t yet do a written one, however, so to help him perform this “act of knowing” you need to set aside some time for this. It’s that important. It will, in fact, become one of the bedrock pillars of what you are doing.
No creative writing is necessary. If he enjoys writing stories or something, you don’t need to discourage him. But don’t push it either. It’s really not a terribly necessary skill. 🙂 Unless one wants to become an author. Some kids will love it. Some would rather have slivers driven under their nails. 🙂
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