Having students start their writing journey through the lens of personal experience encourages them to stop and reflect on the moments, people, and places in their lives. Reflection can be difficult at any age, but students are rarely given an opportunity to dig deeper into what they have learned from their experiences, and more importantly, what others might also learn from those shared stories. Activities like this help build a writing community that will continue to grow as the school year progresses.
This year, I asked students to reflect on their life experiences by designing a book jacket that encompasses not only the memories that have impacted them the most but also encapsulates their personality, style as a writer, and images they feel represents them best.
The Process
Start with the writing:
Students start by creating a chart to collect the people, places, and moments that stood out in their minds as important or impactful. We spent several days flash drafting and conversing in small groups about our lives, friends, family, beloved pets, and fondest memories. I wanted students to know that writers write from their own lives; they write from places of both joy and pain.
Mentor texts as Inspiration:
Students were encouraged to pick books for their independent reading that would reinforce the narrative style they are practicing in class. Memoirs, autobiographies or fiction told from the 1st person POV set the tone for our daily quick writes, discussions, and mini-lessons. I also shared my writing territories with them and modeled how helpful feedback can be during the writing and revising process.
Tech tools for creating and publishing:
We used Canva.com to create our books. This on-line tool offers many free templates, designs, fonts, and images students can utilize to design a final product they are proud to share with their peers.
Publishing and sharing:
Projects are due on Tuesday, September 10. Students will come to class with a print out of their title page with a QR code that links us to the full version of the project. Writers will walk around reading each other’s work, leaving positive feedback for their peers, and celebrating their hard work. More pictures of that process to come!!!!
Sincerely,
Ms. Zucha