Jaimejac wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:56 am
You're right, I was afraid she wouldn't be learning the independent skill she is supposed to if I help her too much now, but I probably do need to scale back the independence in this area until she is ready. She loves the independence of CTC in all the other areas, BUT written narrations. I think if she had it her way, I would still read the text to her even though she is full capable of reading it on her own. But I think I have to keep in mind that she is on the younger side... Until now, with CTC where she is learning both detailed and summary narrations. When she had to start doing both, all of a sudden her oral narrations took off and were much easier than summary narrations for her. Go figure!
Congratulations on your daughter making good progress in her written narrations in Preparing Hearts! Also - so glad to hear she is loving the independence in CTC! That is wonderful!!! I know you'd emailed me as well, but I thought I'd answer here too in case it might benefit others to read this too.
When children begin a new guide, some skills will be new, some will be skills they have been exposed to but need to practice, and others are skills they have that they need to maintain.
One of the new skills being taught in CTC is for children to independently (silently, in their head) read their Reading About History books. While they practiced this skill with their Independent History books in PHFHG, it is a new skill to read the history spines (though parents maintain reading aloud the Storytime reading, Genesis study, and Geography book).
For children who are not quite ready to read the Reading About History book on their own, it is an appropriate modification to read aloud a portion of it (i.e. set the timer for 5 to 10 minutes) and let them finish reading it independently after that. Carrie did that herself with one of her sons, and he transitioned into being able to read it all on his own partway into the year. Likewise, for children who have special needs, it may be very appropriate for the parent to take over the reading completely. These are very appropriate modifications in these situations! So, let me say that clearly first!
However, as you shared, your daughter is fully capable of reading it on her own. If you read aloud the Reading About History book, you'll also be reading aloud the history-based Storytime book, and your daughter will not be reading any history on her own. She would then be backtracking from the skill she worked on all year in PHFHG (reading a portion of her history independently). So, as she is 9 yo and able, just as CM advocated, she should read the Reading About History book independently.
Another new skill being taught 20 units into CTC is for children to write their own narrations without the guidance of questions. As with any new skill being taught, this will take time and practice to improve. Children are not supposed to have mastered this skill prior to trying it. So, you can encourage your sweet daughter not to look ahead in the plans or in the guides and worry herself ahead of time about how she will do! She is going to do fine! We would expect her to need real time to transition into this new skill. In fact, that is why Carrie and I thought it best to practice it the last 15 units of CTC. That way, children will have practiced this skill prior to RTR, in which written narrations are simply assigned.
I think it important to note that the only intended guidelines for writing the written narrations beginning in Unit 20 are provided in the daily plans and in the Appendix. The written narration need not be a summary nor a detailed narration. Rather, any written narration that meets these guidelines will do:
Write a 5-7 sentence narration.
Include who/what topic the reading was mainly about.
Include descriptors of the important thing(s) that happened.
Include a closing sentence.
Underline/highlight the main idea.
Use the Written Narration Skills in the Appendix to edit the narration.
Carrie purposely removed any guideline of 'summary' or 'detailed' narration. Any written narration that meets the above list of guidelines should be happily accepted with bravado! The parent then works through the Written Narration Skills in the Appendix one at a time to edit the narration.
The goal is for students not to be anxious about this because any written narration that meets the above guidelines is considered a good narration. Notice we even put "include descriptors of the important
thing(s) that happened" - parentheses to show it could be appropriate to talk mainly about just ONE thing even. Sometimes the reading truly is about one big thing/event/person!
So, looking at the list, I am fully confident from what you shared that she can be successful with this transition! Truly, any five-sentence written narration on topic is considered a success with this new skill of writing a narration without questions. And then, you are there to help edit it.
It might help to read through the Appendix's guidelines for teachers/students as she transitions into this new skill. Little honey just sounds like she gets anxious about doing a new skill perfectly the first time! I have a son who was like that too. It could be the skill for her will be to learn to give herself some grace when learning new skills. There will be plenty of new skills to come, so letting go of perfectionism (which I understand well) will be good to do.
So, I'd not let her think before she's even tried the new skill that she's not going to be able to do it. The truth is, she could do it today! Her narration may not be written as well - expect that - for the new skill of doing it without the guided questions is actually the skill we want her developing. It would be better for her to have a 'not as good' written narration because she took on the new skill of reading it herself and writing it herself than it would be for her to have a more 'perfect' written narration because you read the history aloud to her and gave her guiding questions.
The breakthrough you saw with her oral narrations has come after years of practice. Oral narrations begin in Little Hearts! Think how long she's had to work on oral narration skills! Written narrations begin with 1-3 sentences and total guidance in PHFHG. She will have many years to hone her written narration skills, and she will continue to have breakthroughs just as she has had with oral narrations!
I hope that makes sense and helps! She's got this!!! As she's only 9 though, keep in mind, you can always slow things down if need be - but I wouldn't unless she truly cannot do the reading and/or truly cannot do the writing. For now, she sounds accurately placed. Congrats on the progress she has made! I know she'll continue to make progress in new skills as they come her way too. Keep up the good work you are doing homeschooling your daughter, Jaime!!!
In Christ,
Julie