SCM: Language Subjects

Video 4 CM  Learning w/ Language

Saturday, January 10, 2015

3:33 PM

CM subjects that get living ideas with language

Communicating w/ others

Writing, spelling, grammar, other language

Writing:

Composition

• not have specific composition lesson until high school
•  accomplished by oral and written narrations
• "Between attention and expression lies a whole world of thought." CM bio
• You attend to what someone is telling you. You express what you're thinking to that person. In between a lot a thought...narration
• Encouraged narration to be the composition.  95% a mental process.
• Narration practices this process. We can think faster than we can write.
• Sometimes writing slows the process...CM didn't want that to impede process.
• As they learn to narrate oral composition and can start writing.
• Tip: I get lots orally, but when switching to written...got less. How to transition: have child start narrating orally as usual and dictate that to you.  When she's starting to wind down...you stop and she finishes.   Helpful b/c we know what we'll say and don't have a blank page. Stop sooner and sooner and soon, writing the whole thing.
• Researching composition:
•  4 types of compositions:  narrative, expository, descriptive and persuasive
• CM got all 4 types by wording the narration questions.
• 1-3  tell the story (narrative)--all CM's questions said that.
• 4-6  added expository:  explain how ___ works, How/why--dialetic
• 7-9  descriptive:  adds to narrative. Can draw a diagram and then describe
• 10-12 persuasive:  write letters to editor, state opinion and support it.

• Olders did get a lesson to improve writing 1-2 points at a time.  To strengthen their own style.  Not all sound the same...tutoring.  Correct the one they have done. Hold responsible until they master, then work on next point.
• Don't tweak until very sure/confident.
• Didn't give a formula so that all the writing looked the same.
• They had lots of style examples from their literature.

• May string things together...eventually they'll figure it out.

• Typing rather than handwriting...changes narration for kids.

• Goal of narration:  deal with material, not handwriting practice.
• Sometimes record oral narrations or mom takes dictation to show kids what they are doing. Or record and let them type their own from that.
• If we wait too long, lose some.  Digital recorders helpful when can't do hear it..don't use every time.

Handwriting

• Teach little ones with large muscles..if interested in this, make it on a big white board, sandbox, pan of rice,

• Have them compare it to the model. See where it's not right and make it right.

• Look carefully at what they have done.
• Large muscles before small ones.
• Upper case before lower case.
• Goal when they are ready to put pencil to paper: 
• 1 perfect letter. 
• If give whole page...not quite as careful.--not instilling inattention, sloppy work.
• As into more writing...nudge that to 4 letters.
• Then write words: the idea carriers.
• Write the words they are learning to read. Don't make them dependent on each other.
• Read w/out writing:  tiles.
• OR write without reading--letters only.
• Copywork: not until they can read it.   It's drawing b/c she doesn't know what they mean.

• ALWAYS toward perfection or BEST EFFORT.

• Always good ideas:  mottos, verses,

• As handwriting doesn't need every day practice.: BOOK OF MOTTOs, blank journal. Cull quotes from literature in their best handwriting. One for each day of the year.

Spelling: 

Beginning reading: can you make the word: recreate it--1st step

Copywork: short 5 minutes (10 for olders)

Give passage to copy: pay close attention to how they are spelled b/c when you're done, I'm going to ask you to spell one of them. Pick easy ones.

Habit: look at words as we're writing and reading.

Not lists and tests.

Naturally progress to transcription:  copying a letter at a time, then they start to work at a word at a time, then phrases etc.   Back and forth less often as they progress.

Efficient with our work: precursor to prepared dictation.

Look at whole passage and then write the whole passage as I dictate to you.

Always in context: always spelled ahead of time.

English grammar:

Many people thought CM used living books to teach grammar.

CM said: don't do that. 

Children will be slow to receive this first lesson in abstract knowledge.   Not cut and dry. 

CM postponed parts of speech till 10 years old. Need to be developmentally ready to learn. They learn it quickly then.

It's difficult and uncongenial. They like concrete.  Can't dream parts of speech.  Any grown up twaddle attempting to make it easier...offends them.

Very straight forward when ready: 

Used a little page.  A few examples. Do likewise.

Living ideas came in: in practicing these parts of speech. 

Poem: CM went through and italicized words and the exam at end of term was to analyze, parse each word:  tell what part and how used.

Foreign languages: 

Students in CM schools graduated with 4 languages: read and narrate in those languages.

WE build on something before;

Started w/ French: make sense for English kids...we don't have to.

Stick with the methods b/c they are effective.

Always orally (not showing how words spelled--get confused).

About 4th grade: German and Latin orally and French words written/reading.

Not every day: alternate a language each day.

7th grade: Start read/writing latin/german...they started hearing speaking Italian  just layered them in.

The way taught;

A Geon series approach:  simple sentences about an every day occurrence.

Learn that series in English first,

then break it down to verbs, with actions,

then learn verbs in new language and then whole sentence.

Always doing actions with series and build on it.

Use same verbs but change a word or two.

Need languages they'll hear. Need Latin...helps with vocabulary.

Most college entrance: 2 years of a language--till fluent in it.

Reason for learning language:  kids would be able to communicate with people of other cultures, know their cultures, and be an ambassador...all about relationships….Thus fluency

Great resource for spanish:  class call laliclass  1-2 skype with the speaker and practice.  All scree