Are you familiar with narration?
Narration, the art of telling what you know, is an essential element of a Charlotte Mason education.
To narrate is simply to tell back what was heard or read. While it sounds straightforward, narration is a very challenging skill! It requires the habit of attention- we must pay attention to what is being said or read, and give it the full power of our mind. We must then comprehend the material, and tell it back in a way that is meaningful.
Narration is to take place after a single reading. This helps our children to pay attention the first time and give their full effort to the lesson. It also honors our time in lessons.
We often narrate naturally in our days- we tell about a book we read, or we describe a story that happened to us. We tell back what we know and experienced. By telling back our lessons, our children take ownership of this knowledge. It becomes theirs and grows their self-education.
In Lessons
Children begin with oral narration. After you read the passage, the child can tell back what they heard in the reading.
As children become older, they transition to written narrations.
Recommended Resources:
The most thorough resource that I've found on narration is the book Know and Tell by Karen Glass.
Podcast episodes:
A Delectable Education - Narration 2.0: The Art of Knowing
A Delectable Education - Narration Q&A 2.0
A Delectable Education - Narration Beyond Lessons
The New Mason Jar - The Foundation of Narration with Karen Glass
Simply Charlotte Mason - 3 Reasons You Should Use Charlotte Mason Narration
Simply Charlotte Mason - 5 Steps to Successful Narration
Simply Charlotte Mason - Tips for Narration with Multiple Children
The Commonplace - Ep 12 Narration Tell It Back to Me
