Bookmark This
La flor amarilla. 2003.
This picture looks so warm and silky, quite in contrast to how my throat and nose feel.
It's at times like these, when I can't dredge up enough energy to follow through on a frustratingly ill-timed burst of creative mental activity and resolve, that my thoughts flow downhill: I don't require my kids to narrate enough, I don't do enough memory work with them, I haven't even gotten them all the way through the Greek alphabet yet... And soon I have a river of negativity worthy of a street winding down a Guatemalan mountainside during the rainy season.
But sometimes this can work to my advantage. When I realize that I can't do as much I ought to, I look for ways in which to transfer responsibility to the kids. Okay, so I can't always remember to call them in to narrate a chapter of a book they're reading; I'll devise a system in which they come to me.
But does that really need a system? Yes, it does. The kids become involved in reading, and they forget to stop at the end of the chapter. They pick up the book at odd times, when I'm unaware that a narration might be required.
So I've made a Narration Bookmark. It consists merely of a list of chapter numbers and two checklist columns: "Read" and "Narrated". There is a place for the book's title and author at the top, and it comes with a duplexing option for books with more than 25 chapters.
The system requires the student to write his name on the back of the card and fill out the book information on the front of the card. He inserts it at the end of the chapter he's currently reading, and when he arrives at the bookmark, it's time for him to trot off to Mommy or Daddy for his narration. His work is checked off on the list, and he has a visual record of the work he's completed. Plus, the homeschool has a paper record of the books that have been read.
I don't know if the system will work as I envision it today, but I pray that it does. I'd like to think that my difficulty in falling asleep last night (when I'm sick and need it the most) can be redeemed somehow. And if others can benefit, that would be great, too. So let me know if it works for you!
from Acts 8:
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
posted on Friday, September 22
Comments
• Friday, September 22
Ummmmm...
Posted by debtor2mercy
Now I feel guilty for not doing things I didn't really think to do...*sigh* I know we are called each to teach our children as God calls our individual families. I saved your bookmarks...Thanks!
Sorry your throat doesn't feel all warm and silky (sorry that made me laugh) I do hope you are better soon though. :)
• Friday, September 22
Dreaming of you
Posted by Ebenim
Sorry I slept so soundly as your thoughts kept you awake.
I appreciate all you do and think the book marks are a great idea!
• Wednesday, September 27
That is very smart!
Posted by Dana
I like it.
And I think I can do this too.
Sorry you feel yucky -
but you sure were productive.
• Friday, September 29
Hey-great!
Posted by AmoScribo
I printed a sheet to copy for future uses. Three of my boys are now reading with your bookmarks! THANKS! It's a great idea.
Hope you feel better soon-
Allison
• Friday, September 29
Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
I hope your feeling better!
The bookmark sounds like a great idea.
Rebeca
