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We're using the emerging readers set from Beyond with Little Hearts for my almost 6 yo. We finished Unit 8 and this week she has really surprised me with giving me really detailed narrations of what she has read. Granted, these are pretty short chapters, but it's a big difference from when we started and all I got was "I don't know." She is really proud of herself and I'm super proud of her too. She doesn't quite understand how to answer some of the questions directly yet, but I know that'll come in time too.

Amazed to see an obvious improvement so fast and wanted to share.

Yippie!!! that is so cool!

Wow! That is awesome! I think narration is a tough skill to acquire. I have trouble myself sometimes. It's wonderful that she is picking it up so well early on. I bet she'll have some awesome written narrations by the time she gets to Preparing! Yeah!

How wise of you to really take note of this progress, and I am celebrating with you and your little pumpkin today! This kind of reflecting is so important to do as it fills our emotional "tanks" for homeschooling our dc. May your dd continue to surprise you in such a good way!

In Christ,
Julie

pjdobro wrote:...I think narration is a tough skill to acquire. I have trouble myself sometimes.

I had to laugh when I read this! This is so true. I think multi-tasking is so second nature to us as women, that focusing on a single task at hand can be a challenge. That's what narrating requires for me. I remember one time I was reading the history and mentally choosing what to make for supper while I was doing it. I finished and looked at the plans only to realize I was to model an oral narration that day. Panic! I couldn't have told one thing I'd read that day. I sheepishly confessed mom needed to work on her habit of attention and skimmed it before narrating. I've noticed in CM's volumes that many of her comments she jotted down while observing students narrating to parents/teachers are in regard to how the teacher/parent is listening. She suggests listening with an animated look upon our faces, leaning forward as if interested, and and focusing more on what is said than on what must be done next. That so hit home for me. Anyway, thanks for the good humor here!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks for sharing your funny story Julie! It made me feel better about my own mind wandering at times. I sometimes have problems focusing too and narrating definitely takes focus! That is great advice about the animated look while listening. I need to work on that!

How exciting! I will tell you form my own experience having started out from the get go with HOD vs my kids that did not, the two that did just get it all so much more quickly. You are going to be so glad for your choices in HOD later on as well. Cangrats!

Shimmer,

What an exciting turn on your sweet daughter's narrating skills. I am so proud of her! Thanks for sharing her progress! I have my own hesitant "I don't know" child right now as we're doing LHTH, and I am waiting for his progress in answering the simple questions there. It is a progression of skills to learn, isn't it!

Blessings,
Carrie