Children love to tell what they know. According to ancient writing teachers, telling stories (narration) was one of the first exercises for a child to learn.
Narration is the process that lets you ascertain how much your child remembers and understands. As well, it develops their vocabulary and skill of expression. Ancient educators often had students narrate the stories of history, fable, court cases and scientific discovery. Retelling the stories laid the foundation for subsequent writing exercises.
Quintilian advised having students retell either a story from the end to the beginning or from the middle backwards or forward. Narrations could be told from different perspectives as well. Students recounting the crossing of the Delaware may choose to tell the story from the vantage point of General Washington, or of the opposing British army, or even from the viewpoint of a rowboat which carried American troops that foggy night.
Traditionally narrations fell into three categories.
Mythological/fables (about gods or heroes),
Historical (real humans) or
Legal (real facts about a case).
A good story or narration covers 5 key points.
Who-the Agent (person involved in the conflict)
What –the Action (sequence of events, usually chronological)
Where-the place (location, background, surroundings, size of place, distance from other places
When-the Time-past, present, future, winter, morning
How-the Manner- how did the event happen?
Why- the Cause—reason for the event, motive (gain, pride, valor)
Clay Trumbill, Sunday school founder believed narration to be a key for teaching the Bible as well. He recounted a professor who maintained that the mind of a child is best opened by way of his mouth.
Use narration for review and remembrance. Ask your child to tell you a story and help them grow in their ability to express and explain. How wonderful to have your children recount the story of the first Christmas. How about from the donkey's perspective of carrying Mary to Jerusalem? Any other creative ideas out there for recounting this story?
November 30, 2005, 7:15 am
Narration is the process that lets you ascertain how much your child remembers and understands. As well, it develops their vocabulary and skill of expression. Ancient educators often had students narrate the stories of history, fable, court cases and scientific discovery. Retelling the stories laid the foundation for subsequent writing exercises.
Quintilian advised having students retell either a story from the end to the beginning or from the middle backwards or forward. Narrations could be told from different perspectives as well. Students recounting the crossing of the Delaware may choose to tell the story from the vantage point of General Washington, or of the opposing British army, or even from the viewpoint of a rowboat which carried American troops that foggy night.
Traditionally narrations fell into three categories.
Mythological/fables (about gods or heroes),
Historical (real humans) or
Legal (real facts about a case).
A good story or narration covers 5 key points.
Who-the Agent (person involved in the conflict)
What –the Action (sequence of events, usually chronological)
Where-the place (location, background, surroundings, size of place, distance from other places
When-the Time-past, present, future, winter, morning
How-the Manner- how did the event happen?
Why- the Cause—reason for the event, motive (gain, pride, valor)
Clay Trumbill, Sunday school founder believed narration to be a key for teaching the Bible as well. He recounted a professor who maintained that the mind of a child is best opened by way of his mouth.
Use narration for review and remembrance. Ask your child to tell you a story and help them grow in their ability to express and explain. How wonderful to have your children recount the story of the first Christmas. How about from the donkey's perspective of carrying Mary to Jerusalem? Any other creative ideas out there for recounting this story?