As I have mentioned in my past entry Charlotte Mason for Pinoys 101 ,  narration can be easily adapted by families who are homeschooling the CM way.

To our family, narration is probably one of our more engaging "indoor" activities yet is not confined to our home. We also have witnessed narration-at-work in the car, during field trips, in our leisurely walks and while shopping! It is now quite a natural and spontaneous thing for the children to narrate back what they have read, heard, seen or experienced. Sometimes, they would even talk at the same time drowning each other voices, I would have let them simmer down and take turns telling us their recent finds. These are wonderful to sometimes crazy moments, ha!

No, we do not have so perfect. We went through a slow grind and still go through it yet less frequent. During our transition from written quizzes and long tests to oral narration, we had a most difficult process of trying to learn the ropes. But that paid off after they have found their niche and felt more comfortable honing their skills around it.  Narration enhances the communication and analytical skills of a child. It also allows for organization of logical flow of thoughts before expressing them verbally, either in oral or written form.

In the past, I always had guide questions with me yet it had been awkward asking them at first what they learned from what I have recently read aloud. What are the right questions to ask so as not to preempt the answers? Are the questions too easy? Should it only facilitate and motivate them to think?

Too often, I wouldn't be satisfied by the very little details they would say about a chapter or lesson. I felt like they didn't understand anything. My husband would help by asking them what the best part of the book, movie, trip or play they like best. It seemed better without a written script of questions, the children were more comfortable and spontaneous. This method built up their confidence in narrating orally. Now, they are narrating more from the reads and experience without being prompted.

We have employed the use of various forms of narration. These forms were applied at one time or another. We also stretched our imagination a bit  and combined the use of two or several forms in many topics of study. Here are the forms of narration we have already done.

1. Oral narration.

2. Notebooking

3. Lapbook

4. Lap-notes. A combination of lapbooking and notebooking in a study.

5. Timeline with oral narration

6. Mind mapping

7. Mix-match of 1-6

There are more, I am sure. Other forms of narration can be found in this list by The Parker Family . I will post more about each form we have used in future blog entries.

Well, it is just like storytelling. But, the children get to tell the story back to you as you listen =).  Allow me to say, we do still have lots of room for improvement but it is going great.