Name: Great Homeschool Conventions (Columbus)
Start: 2025-04-24T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-26T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Columbus, OH

This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 8 months ago by Jodie Apple.

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April 13, 2010 at 1:35 pm
anniepeter
Participant
Another thought on narration, and something I’m struggling with myself – Charlotte taught that we shouldn’t try to interpret their books for them – could it be that they’re not getting the same thing out of it that I am? Maybe someone else can give us more insight on this. I’m just beginning to get my feet wet with this too. My kids are older, but we haven’t done much narration partly b/c of Mom’s lack of discipline and partly b/c they don’t like to. We will be doing more now…One challenge is that sometimes IMO they don’t seem to get any real meat out of what we’re reading – and it’s there. I want them to get it. You’ve all felt that way, right? Surely I’m not alone…Maybe they get it and just don’t want to talk about it?? But if there’s anything funny, that speaks to them! They don’t just narrate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – they recite it for pleasure! I never asked them to – but they have large portions of the dialog memorized and have wonderful fun with it over and over. Same thing with (gulp) Hank the Cowdog. (Anyone else let there kids read/listen to that garbage? Hilariously funny, but seriously lacking in noble ideas! I let them have it for a little while and then make them go without for a while. Moderation, I hope.) So, I guess I’m wondering…is it best to just be content with what they give and they will give more and become more comfortable with it as time goes on? And likely I will too…
Julie

April 13, 2010 at 3:13 pm
covingtonclan
Member
Since Im freshly starting the CM methods, I havent gotten all my curriculum in, but we have started with reading from the Bible instead of our workbooks we had through Alpha Omega.
This is all completely new for us as well. I have 3 children, ages 7, 11, 13. I am having them do their narrations from what verses we are reading. Im following the Penny Gardner List from Ambleside Online at this time. Before hand I tell the children you need to really listen to what Im reading because you are going to tell me in your own words what was read afterwards. I start with the 7 year old, and then the 11 year old and end with my 13 year old. By the time we get to the 13 year old, we’ve pretty much covered the verses.
They do not get verse for verse, but my main goal is that they are getting the main idea, and several details. Then after they tell me, I may go back and discuss a little more. I choose a verse, and they write it, and do memorization right then and there. This may not be exact, but we’re working together, learning together. I think this link will give you some good ideas. I think when we havent been doing this, it is a learning process and will only get better with time.
Hang in there, Here’s the CM link that was very helpful for me…

http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/narration/
April 13, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Jodie Apple
Participant
Julie, I couldn’t help but laugh when I read about your kids reciting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for pleasure. Mine do the same thing!!! They think it’s great to quote lines from it and refer to each other as the different people in the book. For example, when our son is stuffing his face with his dessert our oldest daughter will call him Augustus (they each know it’s in fun and aren’t offended). I’m noticing that they are improving as time goes on and they are aquiring a taste for meatier books as they mature; but I’ve found it’s important to have some lighter readings as well so that everything isn’t so serious all the time (even as an adult, that’s not much fun). I also pray alot!!