Today we began talking about our new unit for Writer's Workshop....
Personal Narratives
We learned that a personal narrative brings to life an experience from the author's life through the use of sensory details, feelings, talking, thinking, and sounds. Personal narratives tend to be focused on one event that is significant to the writer. The author shows rather than tells the event by using story elements like characters, setting, and plot.
Often authors write personal narratives about something "big" in their life, firsts (like first time jumping off the diving board or making a basket), times of strong emotions (meeting a new sibling, falling off their bike), or celebrations.
Today we worked on distinguishing between Watermelon Ideas and Seed Ideas.
Watermelon Topics: very broad, unfocused, too many details, too many moments, not zoomed in
Seed Topics: very specific, focused in or "zoomed in", one specific detail or moment
We then talked about how Watermelon Ideas often have lots of Seed Ideas inside them and we need to pull out the ones that would create the best stories. Stories that will entertain. We worked hard on coming up with some Seed Ideas and have been given the task for brainstorming some more at home. Please see the Yellow Sheet that came home in our folder today (or look in the January folder on the right for another copy). I can't wait to read the stories you create!
A great activity to try at home or in the car is retelling a Seed Idea as a personal narrative. Get the whole family involved and have fun with it!
Bear Hugs,
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