Sometimes the same repeating process get to the the same ‘ol, same ‘ol. It gets to be quite boring frankly. The mind needs new and varied input. Eating oatmeal every single day, gets old (I know because we did it when we had food allergy issues here). Boring, turns into drudgery, which turns into dislike, which becomes aversion, and then ultimately refusal. Variation is needed!

This list is what I give to my students to work from to bring some variety into the work of narration. I use it typically for the middle school and high school years. Earlier years are strictly oral narration, at first directly after reading. Later. the narration takes place when time has passed after the reading. Some of the ideas are good for these younger students who have had plenty of straight narration to vary their oral narrations.

I have used this list for years, and, as see, I have over the years developed it to be completely spelled out because I give it to my older students and don’t assign or monitor it. I occasionally ask to see it to make sure they are doing it. So that they aren’t heavy in one type of narration, the check-off spaces keep that running smoothly. Otherwise some students will draw everything, some will turn everything into Lego constructions…. I have found that anything not clearly written out, gets overlooked or undone. This is a ‘no excuse’ list.

Narrations Options for the Term

Written Narrations should follow the same idea as spoken narrations
First what happened…then what happened…next…then what….next…
Do you have any thoughts on the reading?

Cross off the ones you have completed.

–Age 10-12
Every week, do 3 narrations from Group one, 3 narrations from Group two.
4-5 sentences long.
-Age 13-15
Every week, do 4 narrations from Group one, 4 narrations from Group two.
Half a page long.
-Age 16- 18
Every week, do 3 typed narrations from Group one, 3 narrations from Group two.
Half a page long.

Group 1.
___   ___  Literature
___   ___  History
___   ___  Geography
___   ___  Bible
___   ___  Science book
___   ___  Science Natural History book
___   ___  Government, Economics, Philosophpy
___   ___  Current Event
___   ___  Math – tell in word or create an example problem and solution
___   ___  Novel

Group 2.
Draw or paint something from a book/object/activity.
___   History
___   Geography
___   Geography make a map
___   Map – make a map for any book
___   Literature
___   Science book
___   Science experiment
___   Science Nature Walk
___   Picture Study – without looking at the picture, the main features or a detail
___   Composer Study – something the music reminded you of or felt
___   Architecture – a building or structure, or a detail on a building
___   Handicrafts – the process of making something-a tutorial
___   Handicrafts – sketch something you would like to make, include dimensions
___   Poem

Describe an activity.
___   Nature Walk
___   Science experiment
___   Scouting
___   Field trip or place visited
___   Handicrafts – how you made something. Could be a video tutorial

Describe what you were reminded of or how you felt.
___   Composer Study
___   Picture Study
___   Poem
___   History
___   Literature

Create a short story using as many foreign words a possible.
___   Foreign language

Newspaper reporter.
___   Family happenings
___   Current event
___   Nature Walk
___   Field trip or place visited

Graph, chart, outline.
___   Government, economics, philosophy
___   Birds seen – this could be ongoing
___   Flowers growing or blooming – this could be ongoing
___   Calendar of Firsts
___   Something in the landscape
___   Current event
___   Outline the main points of the reading. Age 13-18 use sub points.

You are the author.
___   How will things transpire in the next chapter?
___   What will the ending of the book be?
___   Write a narration in the style of an author

Productions.
___  Live dramatization – in a few minutes, get  props, siblings if needed, can video
___  Build a representation – legos, cardboard, blocks, toothpicks
___  Reenact a scene – legos, blocks, props, can video

Your thoughts.
___   Questions you have after reading a book
___   Questions you have after looking at something
___   Brief description of a character’s actions and tell what was good or poor.

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