Narration, Charlotte-Mason-style

We have transitioned to the Ambleside curriculum and I'm very pleased all in all. One of the key aspects of the CM method is to encourage narration after each reading. I have spent the last two weeks "feeling out" this narration process and how to best encourage it without turning it into a big drag. The books are far more rigorous and require more attention and focus than before.

We have had fun using different forms of narration. At times, Wolf acts out the stories himself or with his siblings; he has also used his action figures to tell the story back to me. Often, he'll do this now spontaneously without being asked. I'll ask him to do it more formally at times also. I have instructions now that I feel convey the point of what I'm asking of him: "Focus on the details of the story, and also think about what these characters were experiencing. What motivated them? What caused them to do these things? If you were this character, what would you think?" etc.

Our first experiences with this were a bit awkward. It felt like we were unnecessarily formalizing a process which we already do casually after reading together. Yet the increased rigor of the literature, along with the more complicated details of the story, are pushing him to think at a deep level and to communicate those thoughts with others. I have become very impressed with the process. I believe he's ready for the year 2 material but I'd like to finish up at least a good sampling of year 1 to make sure the foundation is set for what will be a rigorous book list soon enough.

Here are some pictures of how the rhinoceros got his skin according to Rudyard Kipling, complete with a blanket called the Red Sea and a gratuitous baby-bunny (look closely for her tail!). It was a spontaneous reenactment which involved colorful horns. Psalm also designed a flag for this country, perched it on a stick, and hung it up. Didn't get a picture of that part, but we were transported for the morning to a new locale and it was the cheapest vacation yet.