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Congratulations on getting started!

It is definitely a skill that builds over time. If she is new to chapter books without pictures, she's just learning to see the story in her mind. I wouldn't worry about it, just keep going. You'll see improvement as time goes on. It may take a few chapters or a few books.

It could even take the whole guide (or almost all of it).... and it might seem like one day she gets it and one day she doesnt'. Or there might be spells where she doesn't get it for weeks and one day she'll have no trouble, then more days of not getting it.

Any of that is ok because it's all to just get them used to the process and thinking about the book.

TOTALLY TOTALLY normal. One thing I did was to go to google images and print out pictures of the Burgess characters. This gave my children a visual of what the characters looked like and seemed to help. Of course, asking the questions that are in the guide will help too. Best of luck. Stay encouraged. Things will improve. Keep in mind that Charlotte Mason did NOT recommend narration for any child under 6. So that tells you a BEGINNING point for the skill.

I totally agree, it's a learning curve. Huge leaps and bounds this year with my daughter (6 in Feb, finishing LHFHG next week/end of K). Coloring pictures of the animals may help, so will the acting out that's sometimes prompted in the storytime box.

We loved this fox toilet paper roll craft and I think it helped her acting out the story, by the way And the picture of a live red fox too.

(Link removed by board moderator per board rules.)

How about during other times that you read to her (not HOD) read to her without her looking at the pictures. Let her look after you finish the page. I started reading longer books to my children at a young age, no pictures. They would draw or color while I read. When I choose books that my olders would enjoy I always have youngers sit and listen, doing something while they listen.

When my kids were going through Bigger, I ALWAYS had a coloring sheet for history. My kids NEEDED something to do with their hands at that stage. I weaned them to these hand "egg"sercisers after that. Now they need nothing.

I DO STRONGLY believe in burning the Peppermint candle during school. The neuroscience behind it helping concentration is staggering, and it has really helped my kids!

I love this advice...

MomtoJGJE wrote:It could even take the whole guide (or almost all of it).... and it might seem like one day she gets it and one day she doesnt'. Or there might be spells where she doesn't get it for weeks and one day she'll have no trouble, then more days of not getting it.

Any of that is ok because it's all to just get them used to the process and thinking about the book.

We've done LHFHG from start to finish 2 times now, and we are on our third time through it with our third ds now. The Thorton Burgess books are so narrative and engaging. The short chapters lend themselves well to helping little ones learn to listen instead of just look at lots of pictures as we are reading. One thing I remind myself of when I begin reading books with fewer pictures to our dc in LHFHG is that the skill they are learning is actually to listen attentively to books with less and less pictures. This is a new skill to be honed all year, and it is not one that is picked up overnight. Young dc have been used to board books or short picture books books with bright, splashy pictures across every page, with lots of page turning that gives the eye more pictures to look upon quickly and often. These first books we read to our dc have little text on each page, and they are usually short enough to be read in one setting. When dc begin to listen to books like the Thorton Burgess books, they are being asked to learn to listen with their ears more than look with their eyes, and they are also being asked to follow a storyline in the same book from day to day, chapter to chapter. These are all new skills for them to slowly develop, and as MomtoJGJE took note of - this can take real time.

It helps to have dc tucked under our arm on the couch or somewhere equally inviting, as if this is our time to "cuddle up and concentrate on reading". This physical presence and choice of location says "we are going to focus on this book carefully together for the next 5-7 minutes" because it takes real concentration and is important to do. It also lends itself beautifully to the next step of "listening carefully" to read alouds, as it encourages dc to follow along with the text as we read aloud, as they are able to read more themselves. This in turn helps dc to then take over the reading themselves with success as they grow older. Thorton Burgess books do have pictures, scattered throughout the book that are helpful to look at, but more importantly for this stage of read alouds, they have short 2-3 page chapters, familiar characters from book to book, and a narrative, engaging writing style to draw the listener in.

The Thorton Burgess books have become so beloved in our home that we own them all. Even our older dc enjoy reading and rereading them time and time again. I want to encourage you that they are the beginning of a love of listening to good reading of books with fewer pictures, and that by encouraging your dc to sit near you and truly focus on the short readings, you will be helping them focus on growing these skills bit by bit, as well as on enjoying these special reading times together to the hilt! Keep on reading mama - soon your sweetie will be hanging on your every word and begging for more of Burgess!

In Christ,
Julie