Personal
narratives are what many elementary, junior high, and high school
teachers begin the year teaching and students begin the year writing.
One of the main problems that students have when they are writing a
personal narrative, at any age, is they try to tell too much
information. Personal narratives are best when they are specific and
narrowed down to one event. - See more at:
http://margodill.com/blog/2009/10/14/wacky-wednesday-lesson-plans-on-teaching-writing-a-personal-narrative/#sthash.1tsItLst.9C7t0575.dpuf <!--
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Every year I start the school year by writing personal narratives One of the main problems that students have when they are writing a personal narrative, at any age, is they try to tell too much information. Personal narratives are best when they are specific and narrowed down to one event.
Personal
narratives are what many elementary, junior high, and high school
teachers begin the year teaching and students begin the year writing.
One of the main problems that students have when they are writing a
personal narrative, at any age, is they try to tell too much
information. Personal narratives are best when they are specific and
narrowed down to one event. - See more at:
http://margodill.com/blog/2009/10/14/wacky-wednesday-lesson-plans-on-teaching-writing-a-personal-narrative/#sthash.1tsItLst.9C7t0575.dpuf
Personal
narratives are what many elementary, junior high, and high school
teachers begin the year teaching and students begin the year writing.
One of the main problems that students have when they are writing a
personal narrative, at any age, is they try to tell too much
information. Personal narratives are best when they are specific and
narrowed down to one event. - See more at:
http://margodill.com/blog/2009/10/14/wacky-wednesday-lesson-plans-on-teaching-writing-a-personal-narrative/#sthash.1tsItLst.9C7t0575.dpuf
I use Patricia Polacco books as an example of a personal narrative. She is one of my favorite authors and I simply love reading her stories. Many children pick too broad a topic when they write their personal narratives (such as their entire life story from birth to the present grade). Patricia Polacco writes about many childhood memories in her picture books, and she always focuses on one specific time or event in her life, such as when she learned to not be scared of storms or she learned to read.
Here are the titles of some Patricia Polacco books she has written about her family members or herself:
Some Birthday - Lexile 590
Thank You, Mr. Falker – Lexile 650
The Bee Tree – Lexile 680
Chicken Sunday – Lexile 650
The Blessing Cup – Lexile 740
Thunder Cake – Lexile 630
The Keeping Quilt (sequel to the Blessing Cup) – Lexile 920
Click on the link to access the resource:
2. Patricia Polacco Website
Suggested Class Discussion Questions for the Keeping Quilt
1. Besides the obvious uses for the quilt, what unique things did it become for this family over the years?
2.
What were the traditional gifts given on special occasions and what did
they signify? How do they compare to the gifts in your family?
3. From memory, draw a small replica of the quilt. Explain the designs and their origins.
What things in the story would have changed if:
· Anna's family had not immigrated to the US?
· The family had not stayed in New York?
· Anna had not learned to speak English?
· The family had returned to Russia?
4.
What things have been handed down in your family? Search out the oldest
thing in your household that has been handed down from one generation
to another. If possible, bring it to school and tell its story.
5.
Find Ellis Island on the map and think about the twenty million or more
people who came through that station. What things in America would be
different today without them?
6.
Anna's family had been dirt farmers in Russia. Does that mean they
raised dirt? What employment did they find in New York? Were they richer
or poorer in each succeeding generation?
Visit my Greater Public Schools (GPS Network) site to join me in a conversation about these resources. This site is free and its the largest professional learning community in the nation. Click on the link HERE to take you there.
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