Oral & Written Narration - A Funnel
During our Office Hours discussion on composition, we shared this chart that shows how eloquence in both oral and written narration develops from 1st grade through 12th grade and throughout the rest of our lives.
Oral and written narration can be thought of as a funnel. As a student begins in 1st grade, they are just getting started and working through the process of putting their thoughts together, thinking about what came first and what came next, and figuring out what words to use. As they get older, they will become more eloquent in their oral narrations and continue that process through 12th grade.
Around age 10, written narration will begin, and the beginning stages are challenging for students and their narrations are not as eloquent as their oral ones. Over the years the students will grow in their written narrations as they become more proficient in spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. However, in high school, they will also learn how to summarize and be more succinct in their narration and not just retell as much as they can remember. This is displayed with the top triangle on the graph. Students are taught to be selective and concise in their narrations. They also practice this skill in the writing of poetry where they need to express their thoughts in a form where every word counts. You can find further explanation and other helpful advice about composition in this video from our 10.11.23 Office Hours.
What growth have you observed in your children's ability to narrate? Let us know in the comments of this Hive post.
Notes
1. Blue Open Door: Looking for a short but deep dive into how we learn (and some continuing education credits as well)? Join Lisa Cadora (past CMI Board Member) for “The Nature of Learning,” a 6-week intensive beginning October 31st.
2. Employment Opportunities: We are looking for a full-time (remote) administrative assistant to join our team. Are you someone who loves details and is ambitious and passionate about our mission? Application Deadline: TODAY!
3. CM Community: Are you interested in collaborating with other families using Alveary? We just released our new directory of Alveary co-ops, schools, and hybrid organizations to help encourage community. If you would like your organization listed, please use the “Contact” button to let us know.
4. Blue Orchard Bee: Planning for high school with a neuroatypical student? Listen to (or read the transcript of) Kerri Forney’s conversation with Danielle Merritt-Sunseri for insight and encouragement
5. Reflective Practice Plan Book: If you’re finishing Term 1 or beginning Term 2, now is a great time to refer to our Reflective Practice Plan Book for ideas on the following topics:
Making decisions for the end of Term 1
Getting ready for exams
Exam week
End-of-term evaluation
Scoring exams and providing feedback
Reflection on the term
Planning for the next term
6. Fall Survey: Thank you to all who filled out our member survey. Congratulations to Kim, Bianca, and Catherine on winning a special thank-you gift. We love to hear from our members and value your feedback! Also, if you forgot to send your thoughts before the deadline, we’d still love to hear them!
7. Office Hours: Dr. Carroll Smith will join us to talk about narration on Wednesday, November 8th at 3:30 pm (EST). Please submit your questions by noon on November 7th.
