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cynthia -> RE: Charlotte Mason and learning delays (9/7/2008 2:51:21 PM)
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In narration, you read a passage to your child and have the child tell you back, in his own words, what he just heard. You choose a passage that is at your child’s level, even if it’s only a sentence or two. You work your way up to more difficult passages. This process is naturally adaptive for each child, according to his skill level. You should always choose a passage that is not too long and that your child can comprehend and remember well enough to narrate (or tell) it back to you.
As far as dictation goes, children do not do dictation at the kindergarten level. It will be years before your child can do dictation. You can start with copy work. You write something down, in the way you want your child to write it and have him copy it. For children who need work on motor skills, you start very small, maybe only his name. As his skill improves, you make the passage longer. How I do it is to use the same paper the child is using. I model the passage by writing it in the way I would like to see him do it, on the same paper and font style. This is much easier for the child than to have him copy a passage from a book or something I have typed. As his skills improve, he will eventually be able to copy a passage that is not on lined paper. I used lined paper for all my children until they were able to copy something I had typed out for them, without lines. I purchased Educational Fontware software to put on my computer. This includes the font that my children use, which is Getty Dubay Italic (GDI). I type out a passage for copy work using the GDI font and print off the passage for the child to copy. This works great.
One of my children had dysgraphia; she was unable to write. I had her play with Play Doh to strengthen her hands and fingers. Some people bake bread with their children and have the child knead the bread to build strength. I also had her write her letters in cornmeal and trace sandpaper letters as if she were writing with her finger. These things were very helpful to her. She is eleven now. She still doesn’t have great penmanship, but it is completely legible and doesn’t look horrid. Previously she could not write at all. You said your child has motor skills issues. These suggestions may be of help for him.
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