Narration Is an Art

"Narrating is an art, like poetry-making or painting, because it is there, in every child's mind, waiting to be discovered..." — Charlotte Mason, Home Education

Today we will dive into one of the cornerstone practices of a Charlotte Mason education: narration. Narration is essentially retelling. The act of narration is quite natural; even as adults, we often retell things we've seen, heard, or experienced to others—and you've likely noticed that children generally have a knack for wanting to tell about all the things they've experienced as well.

The Foundation for Composition

Narration is the foundation for composition in the later years. In the younger years (generally ages 6–10), children narrate orally. As children get older (around age 10), we introduce written narrations. This progression allows children to gain fluency in organizing and communicating their ideas. Delaying written narrations ensures that the physical act of writing does not hinder the creative outpouring of a child's thoughts.

When faithfully implemented, narration removes the need for a formal writing curriculum.

Karen Glass writes in her book Know and Tell:

"The consistent use of narration builds mental habits of thinking that operate beyond the classroom and lesson time. Paying attention, ordering knowledge, and then articulating it—these are high-level thinking skills, and students who use narration regularly will be able to apply those skills wherever they are needed."^1^

Key Principles for Implementation

There are a few important things to note in order to implement narration properly:

One Reading Only

First, the child should be allowed only a single reading of the material to be narrated. This practice helps foster the habit of attention.

Living Books Matter

Second, narration is only as good as the quality of what has been read. In other words, the books we use to educate our children should be of high literary quality—what Charlotte Mason referred to as living books. Textbooks, for example, are not good candidates for narration.

Narration Is Not Grammar

Additionally, the primary purpose of written narrations is not to teach language mechanics. Other aspects of Charlotte Mason's philosophy address this area, such as copywork and dictation.

The Progression of Narration

This excerpt from Know and Tell beautifully summarizes the progression of narration:

"Because oral narration is already comfortable, there is no great difficulty about 'composition' or 'what should I write about?' The child is used to composing his thoughts and narrations orally, and the only part of the process that he has to work on is putting those same thoughts on paper. That is enough to keep him busy for a few years. Consistent written narration will build his ability and fluency naturally, just as he learned to speak when he was younger."^2^

The Heartbeat of Charlotte Mason Education

Narration is the heartbeat of a Charlotte Mason education. If you haven't already read Karen Glass's book Know and Tell, it is the most comprehensive resource I've found on this subject.

What questions do you have about narration? How does this practice differ from how you were taught growing up?

Sources

Karen Glass, Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, p. 14
Karen Glass, Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, p. 76