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Writing Family Stories
Families have favorite stories. Carlos and Juan love to tell about the Mother’s Day breakfast they made. LaTrice remembers when her Aunt Sharlene met her pet tarantula. What stories do you have?
Sharing Family Stories
Family stories show how families can be brave, funny, or strong. They invite readers to become part of the action. Some stories are short and sweet, while others are long and involved. They’re fun to read and write!
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Sample Family Stories
We’re Not Going to Make It!
Beginning On Mother’s Day, my brother Juan and I got up early to make Mom breakfast. I was mixing up pancake batter when Juan cried, “We’re not going to make it!”
Middle I asked, “What do you mean?”
“We’re not going to have enough!” he wailed, dumping the whole box of mix in.
“Fine. You make them,” I said.
Ending We ended up with 38 pancakes for three people. Even our dog Pepper got one!
What Spot?
Beginning When Aunt Sharlene was over, I put my tarantula Henry on my shirt and walk out into the living room.
Middle “How do you like my new shirt, Aunt Sharlene?” I asked, holding my arms out.
She smiled. “It looks real nice. I like that color on you. What’ s that brown spot, though?”
“What spot?” I asked and walked up to her.
“It’s a monster!” she screamed, flapping her hands and scrambling back to hide behind the couch.
Ending I laughed and held Henry out. “ Meet my pet Henry!”
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Writing a Family Story
Prewriting
Read and Remember 🟪 Think of family stories about the subjects listed below. For example, “food” could make Carlos think about when Juan made 38 pancakes.
animals tricks food games
holidays visits trips school days
Choose a Story 🟪 Select a favorite family story to write about. Answer who? what? where? when? and why? to make sure that you remember the details. You can also ask a family member to help you remember.
Writing a Draft
Begin with an Interesting Idea 🟪 LaTrice starts her story with an unsuspecting aunt and a friendly tarantula.
Provide Details 🟪 In his story, Carlos tells how Juan took over pancake duties in a panic. He shows what results—so many pancakes even the dog got one.
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Revising
Review Your First Draft 🟪 As you read, listen for parts that need work.
- Add sensory details.
- Use specific action verbs.
- Rewrite problem sentences.
- Reorder details until they have the best impact.
Share Your Writing 🟪 Read your story out loud to one or two classmates. Listen carefully to what your partners say. Revise to make your narrative even better.
Editing & Proofreading
Check for Errors 🟪 Make sure all of your sentences are complete and correct. Does each begin with a capital letter and end with a period, an exclamation point, or a question mark? Check for spelling errors. Then write a neat final copy of your story.
Tip
Consider adding a picture. Share your story with classmates and family members.
Teacher Support:
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