Life Stories

  How many times have you heard, "I don't know what to write about," or "I have nothing to say"?  One of the hardest things to do in writing is to get kids to come up with ideas to write about.  We know that writing about what you know and have experienced, either personally or in your own reading, makes for stronger writing pieces.  There are several websites that provide picture prompts, but think about using personal pictures as the source to draw from. 

  At the beginning of the school year, teachers often plan lessons for students to get to know them and activities to help students get to know each other.  This is very important to build community.  Think about choosing personal pictures you could share with your students as you model writing.  Pictures of the important people in your life, pictures of your childhood, pictures of your favorite places, the pictures that make the story of you.  Through these you can model and teach many craft lessons as kids get to know you.

   I have done this with students and they love knowing that I almost crashed my uncle's car when I was little by putting it in neutral while on a hill.  They laugh at the stories of my little brother and my big sister.  They like knowing the crazy things my children have done.  They've traveled around with me to many places.  And, they know the times I've hurt when losing a pet or a loved one.  As personal things happen in their lives or as learning happens, many times students would bring up one of the stories of my life.

   If you send a welcome letter to students over the summer, or as you meet students at the beginning of school, ask them to bring in a small photo album, like a "grandma bragbook," with pictures that tell their stories.  Let them know that the pictures will be used throughout the year for writing.  At the end of the year, the stories and pictures will make a priceless record of their stories.