I have read many articles on the benefits of
narration. As I read these articles, I knew this was one
thing I wanted to implement into our studies. We are
starting off small. :) This year, I have been having the
kids narrate an Aesop Fable each everyday. They really enjoy
this.
I narrated the first one for them and told
them what I was looking for, which was not perfection. I did
not want to make them close up. Once I told them that like
anything else they will get better with practice and time,
they felt more free to express.
Donnie would add his own things to the fable
sometimes! I would let him finish, tell him he did great
with retelling but that he added a few things that were not
in the original story. He has gotten better at staying true
to the story.
MaryEllen was trying too hard to tell it word
for word. I had to let her know that word for word was not
necessary. That what I wanted was a summary in her own
words. She has gotten better too.
There is still room for much improvement, but
just what they have accomplished this year is an
encouragement.
They also get narration in other parts of
their studies. MaryEllen is doing LLATL and they have her
narrate out of her reader. Before we start our read aloud, I
will call on one to tell what was happening when we put the
book down last. During other readings, I will stop every so
often and ask what was happening. This is also a good time
to clarify words the kids might not know and to ask if they
understand why so and so did this or that.
A neat thing that happens a lot, is the kids
drawing out their narrations. Usually during read-aloud
time, I allow the kids to draw. I don't tell them what to
draw, but they will usually draw what they are hearing me
read. After they will show me their drawings and I will ask
about each one and they will tell me what is happening in
the drawing. MaryEllen has also made a few small books. Once
was on Moses and the other Joseph. This was done on her own
without prompting, but I know she understands by what she
has drawn and written.
So really, at this young age of narration, we
let the passages they narrate be short, they are oral and
sometimes they are in the form of a drawing. Variety keeps
it interesting.
Here are a few links on narration
http://amblesideonline.org/Narration.shtml
http://www.homeschoolhighlights.com/02_narration/
