Wednesdays with Words {03.25.15}

Here are two posts about narration I've been reading:
Narration Helps at AO's blog, Archipelago
Narration for the Newbie by Carroll Smith

From decades of working with educators in schools, homes and colleges, I unreservedly say that narration is both an essential key to learning and a most satisfying and worthy life possession. ~Carroll Smith

From the beginning, narration is an essential part of a Charlotte Mason curriculum. It is not enough to read the excellent books- the children need the mind work necessary that goes into narrations. They need to think about what they have read, to go over it in their minds and think about what it is they are going to say about it. ~Wendi Capehart

We can only get at what Miss Mason intended with regard to narration if we go back to the reason for which she suggested the use of it. In her books, she lays the stress upon attention, and the habit of attention, and all considerations with regard to narration must centre round the question how far any way of using narration - and there are scores of ways - gives each child, either in a home schoolroom or a class, full opportunity to use his power of attention. We may not consider the attention of two or more children, either in a home schoolroom or in a class. The attention given by each individual child must be considered. ~Elsie Kitching (from one of the linked PR articles in Wendi's post)

It is interesting when I read about narration that it is not what the teacher 'wants to hear' or even what the 'teacher has taught' necessarily but rather what the student has taken for themselves. It is a necessary step that no matter how the information is presented, the student must make it their own. 

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.