09 Writing Stories About Me

Lesson Plan

• Look over “Writing Stories About Me” with the children. Talk about Jesse’s happy day and invite them to share other kinds of happy days they may have had: parties, outside adventures, special visits, and so on. List the children’s ideas on the board or chart paper for later use.

Classroom Applications

Large Group

• Inform students that the class will be making a list of things to share about themselves. Put some headings on the board to get everyone thinking: my favorite foods, my favorite game, things to do with friends, things to do with family, things I like to do, and so on. (You may want to choose only a few of these to narrow the focus.)
• As a group, let the brainstorming and listing begin. Choose a topic and model the planning by creating a cluster about the topic. Then, using the information on the cluster, write the first sentence or two of the story.
• Finally, ask the children to choose a topic and begin this same process. (They may also choose from the list of things to share about themselves.) Assign "Writing a Story About Me" from page 68 of the Write One SkillsBook to help students think about details to share.

Small Group

• Some children need extra help choosing a topic and planning. In small groups, guide these students step-by-step through both processes.
• You may also form groups who wish to put their stories into a book for the classroom library. Allow them time to plan and publish.

Individual

• Certain students require more help to organize their ideas. Use “Happy-Time Plan” from page 69 of the Write One SkillsBook to provide these students with specific guidelines. Some children may also need to dictate a rough draft, which they can then copy over or rewrite personally.
• Students who are ready to do so may publish their stories on the computer. Others may make posters or greeting cards based on their stories.