"And" during narrations

[lissiejo]

My daughter has greatly improved her narrations throughout Bigger this year. The only consistent issue is "and" in between each sentence. I have her read over the page of instructions and try to gently remind her before she begins about not saying "and", but it's there A LOT. Any suggestions on how to start getting her to move away from beginning her sentences with "and"? She knows not to do this when actually writing, but it doesn't seem to translate to oral narrations. She is about 7 1/2 so I know this is still a learning process. I'm just looking for some guidance on how to help her some!

[TrueGRIT]

Can't give you any helpful suggestions. Just letting you know you are not alone in this.
Although my ds uses 'then', instead of 'and'.
Sometimes I repeat his sentences back to him without using 'then'. My basis for that is modeling the narration.
I use his sentence because I don't want him to think it is wrong. Other than that he does great, and I'm sure your dd does as well.

[my3sons]

I had to smile when I read this - Riley has been doing this for YEARS! Now that he is 10 years old, he is JUST dropping the and's. At your dd's young age, I'd probably continue to gently remind her to try to start her sentences different ways, such as with "then" or "first," "second," etc. Another thing that worked, once Riley was older than your dd, is I told him I would hold up a finger each time he said "and" during his oral narration, so he could see how many he was saying. He said, "Mommmmmmmmmmm! Stop it!" with a laugh once he'd reached like ten! We laughed, and I didn't do it again, but it did help him see how much he was really doing it. Just give her time and keep reminding her. She'll drop it eventually!

In Christ,
Julie

[lissiejo]

Thanks ladies! Narration is completely new to me this year and sometimes I feel very lost I feel it is a wonderful learning and assessment tool, yet I also feel like I don't know what I'm doing! You confirmed my "gut" feeling about what to do with her at this age. I just don't always trust myself to know if I'm doing it right.

Thanks again!