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Narration, Dictation, and Living Books, Oh My!
May 22, 2024
Deborah Wuehler
Helpful Stepping Stones
Todd Wilson
Nix all the “Shuns” Except for the Vacation!
Heather Vogler
What Is Education?
Adam and Dianne Riveiro
Reading: It’s So Much More!
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Mercy Every Minute
Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor
Helpful Stepping Stones
I didn’t know all these homeschool buzz words in the beginning of my homeschool journey in the early ‘90s. When my kids were young learners and started disliking our daily workbooks, I just knew I needed a different way of teaching. At the time, everyone was talking about The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola. I found a copy at a conference and began reading it and my homeschool philosophy and our educational journey began to change for the better!
Narration
You read aloud to the child, or they read independently, but then you have a time where they orally narrate back what they have read in their own words. Discussion and analysis can transpire at this time through simple conversation. This will also help us understand their level of comprehension. If they are old enough, they can begin to write this narration in their own words in a copy notebook.
Dictation
You read a piece of good literature, and they write it in their notebooks. They learn attention to detail and listening skills. This makes connections between what they hear and what they write, especially helping auditory learners discern and comprehend. Start with very short, simple sentences, and gradually move to paragraphs of great literature. Questions about grammar and vocabulary can be answered in this process as they learn what constitutes good writing.
Living Books
Providing abundant reading material, whether read-alouds or independent reading, is a foundation for home education. A living book is a book that tells a story rather than a book of facts. It is someone’s personal experience or expertise well told and full of life. Charlotte Mason basically described them as “inspiring tales, well told.” (Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 263).
These ideas are not things you “must” do, they are things that may help you in your learning journey. Enjoy this time of learning right along with your children. It is a window into the past and a stepping stone into the future. And you “get to” be there for all of it.
~Deborah
dwuehler@theoldschoolhouse.com
Thoughtful poems + whimsical illustrations + Bible verses = fun family devotional times and meaningful Christ-centered conversations! Order online wherever Christian books are sold.
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Todd Wilson
Nix all the “Shuns” Except for the Vacation!
Hey Mom,
I’m sorry I don’t like most “shuns” . . . that is, narration, dictation, dissection, and dissertations. They just sound too “schooly.” I grew up in the public school system doing all the “shuns” and it felt pointless. I would study for them and do them. They would be graded and I would receive my ‘A’ for doing them correctly . . . but it didn’t mean anything to me. So . . . I’ll leave all those “shuns” to the other panel experts and talk about the one “shun” I can get into . . . VACATION!!!
We’re coming up to the end of the year which is the perfect time for a vacation. Now I know some who pride themselves in never taking a vacation . . . but to me, that’s just plain criminal. Everyone needs a vacation. You need a vacation, your spouse needs a vacation, and your children need a vacation.
It doesn’t have to be on a tropical island or in a foreign country, but it does need to be away (don’t get me started on staycations). I was just at a campground the other day and saw all the kids running around playing games, walking paths, and roasting marshmallows. That’s the stuff that matters. Those are the memories that stay with them when they grow old and you’re gone. Those are the memories you’ll cherish when you’re in the nursing home eating red Jello. Those are the “shuns” that are way more important than the dictations and narrations.
So, if you have to skip some “shuns” skip those, NOT the vacation. Here’s your assignment: If you have a vacation planned for the upcoming months, talk about it with your kids. Get those vacation glands salivating. If you don’t have plans, talk with your spouse and make some.
Be real,
Todd
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