Can someone please tell me the frequency of narration for a 6 year old doing narration for the first time in the first grade. How many times a day? (Just one subject?) How many times a week? And you increase the length and frequency as they improve, correct?
I will be using The Aesop for Children, our bible resources, and our history resources. I know that only one paragraph or two is in order for little ones just starting out. I have the Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing if someone can lead me to the correct page where it gives this particular information.
My 6 yo kids start with Aesop, but quickly add in narrations on ALL subjects on a daily basis. Narration is the act of knowing and I can certainly tell a difference when a narration is missed.
Bumping this up as I have the same question. My DD will be 6/1st grade in the fall and beginning narrations. We are planning to do Aesop as well, but she really struggles with auditory learning and retaining information (she is a foster child and had trauma in her past). I feel like when I casually try to ask her about what we read right now (she will be 6 next month), it turns into a huge ordeal and she can’t tell me anything, whether I do a really small section or a large one, whether DS6 narrates first, whether we discuss and take breaks throughout. Do I HAVE to have her narrate in the fall? Can I start slow? Just do Aesop daily and see how it goes? Thoughts?
Mama Nickles, my two youngest also are adopted from foster care and also have various trauma in their history. The foster care exerience and especially the trauma often causes them to be younger emotionally and cognitively than their chronological age. My daughter is doing well in most areas- her biggest challenge is impluse control. My son has challenges in more areas and although he is 5yo right now is more like a 3yo in his thinking and speaking and emotions. I would never ask a 3yo to narrate and my son is basically a 3yo in a 5yo body. I am concentrating on filling in some of the experiences he missed as a little one to help bring him up to his chronological age.
I started narrations with my daughter when she turned 6 in March and she is doing great with it. I expected her to be all over the place but she nails it every time. I was so pleased and excited that it hasn’t been a problem for her at this point.
My son is 10 months younger and I do not plan to start narrations for him after his birthday. I will wait at least until the fall so he will be 6.5. He has speech delays and I suspect some auditiory processing challenges, so when we do start I plan to tailor it to his abilities at the time. My biggest concern will be to not set up a situation where he shuts down or feels overwhelmed so we will be gentle and move very slowly until he gets his feet under him. To quote Aesop, “Slow and steady wins the race”!
Curlywhirly, I was hoping to hear from you as I know you have adopted kids too. I agree that she seems emotionally younger, even though she is advanced in reading. Also possible she has auditory processing issues though I’m not sure. Through the summer I am planning to not really ask her anything about what we read so there is no pressure (which makes her panic big time). Still thinking to try Aesop in the fall. Of course I’d love it for her to be able to narrate Bible so she can actually learn some about the Bible! We are reading from a Bible storybook.
Excellent points, CurlyWhirly. I appreciate your sharing your experience. It is always a process for all kids, but I do not have experience with foster or adopted children working through such difficult issues. I am well versed in CM philosophy, principles, and application, but not with those specific needs. It’s obvious you’ve got the idea of principles and not a system, of meeting the child where he is. I’m enriched by reading your posts.
If oral narration seems too overwhelming, you can also try drawn narration while easing into oral. Sometimes the act of drawing the story can help them have time to process, organize, and express their thoughts. This was a huge help in starting narration with my dd who does have processing issues. Her narrations were significantly better when we did drawn – less pressure on her and far more detailed narrations.