Problems!

How many written narrations are you expecting?  My children are younger, so I don’t have experience with written narrations, but I’ve read that some people recommend a full year of only oral narrations before even introducing written narration.  Then each year you would add one written narration per week.  If you have just started homeschooling this year, you might be expecting too much too soon.  Remember that reading and narrating is a much more difficult task that anything most children have done at school. 

Also, how much other writing experience does your son have?  A good solid background of copywork and studied dictation will help strengthen writing skills in preparation for written narrations. 

It’s a big adjustment moving to homeschooling, and some of the small steps that would normally have been done in the younger years still need to be done for older children who don’t have experience with a CM style education.  Take it slowly and steady and build up those writing skills. I spent many years tutoring children in all subjects, and I don’t remember ever meeting a 10yo boy who enjoyed writing! 

You also mentioned him whining about everything, so maybe this is more than a writing problem.  When did you start homeschooling?  Did you have a chance to ‘deschool’?  That means spending some quality time together just getting ‘school’ out of both of your systems before trying to do much formal homeschooling.  The recommendation I see most is a month for each year spent in public school.  If you haven’t had a chance to do that, you might consider it.  Do a web search for ‘deschooling’ and you’ll find more advice about it.

Good luck!  Don’t give up on a good thing yet!

Joanne

When my son was that age, we started “written” narrations with me typing while he spoke.  After we did that for about six months (and he got a good foundation in typing in the meantime), I let him start typing his own narrations.  He does pretty well now.

Writing – – he never would have done that.  Writing is far too frustrating for him because he knows he can type faster than he writes.

I think this is very normal.  Or at least there are several other posts along these same lines.  I really think that for some boys this is a time of conflicting maturity.  On the one hand they really want to be bigger, older, more mature.  On the other they seem almost unable to accept that same maturity in terms of accepting that expectations for their lessons will increase, or that they need to take over some activities that they previously had to be reminded to do, etc. 

Breathe deeply.  I am in your boat with my own son and have been since about 9 1/2/4th grade to present.  I am focusing on our relationship.  I know I can teach him anything at any point.  He’s bright and learns easily.  What is most important to me right now is that we not tear our relationship apart over his behavior.  I know that sounds counterproductive.  It’s not.  I need us to have a close relationship that is open and loving in order to continue to help him through his teen years.  If I burn that bridge now and create a relationship based on contention and frustration and a lack of communication/understanding … well, I don’t think I’ll have much hope of “being there” for him later.

I *think* what also may help, as well, is being very specific about what is to be written.  When I leave it too open for my dc, they can sometimes feel overwhelmed with all their thoughts and ideas.  I have been known to ask them to share their favorite part, the personality of the main character (or their favorite character) or, what they would’ve done differently if they were in the shoes of the character/s.  I have have even asked if they would like to live in the time/location of where the story takes place. No matter their opinion they are free to share.

You may need to start as slow as one sentence at a time and praise his efforts to the maximum…no criticizing or he’ll not want to repeat the process.  Then give him very specific instructions as to when you may expect 2 sentences next time…building up after he has some confidence, of course. This will be just as hard for you as it is for him, trust me.  You may feel that the process is as slow as molasses, but eventually he will write more, it just takes time.  My oldest will never write a novel, but he does write when necessary and still feels “less is more.”  I still have to encourage him to share his thoughts/ideas/details he recalls from his readings.  He is a minimalist and just doesn’t like the mess of details. 

Anyway, good luck to you and your ds.