1. Teaching Point: When writers generate ideas they can think of a special person. *Think of a special person; it should be someone you know well and with whom you have made many memories. *List the person in your notebook. *Think of small moments with this person. What special times have you shared? List these by the person’s name. Repeat this with another special person. Shane Breaking his arm in Kindergarten Falling in pond at Mulligan’s Record breaking field goal Kacie Picking her out Her first night Car Rides Horses

2. Teaching Point: When writers generate ideas they can think of a special place. *Think of a special place; it should be somewhere you can describe well and a place that brings back memories. *List the place in your notebook. *Think of small moments you have about this place. What have you done there that is special to you? List these special events by the place. Repeat this with another special location. Cooperstown *Shane’s championship game Buffalo *Orchard park *Nino’s *Kim’s House

3. Teaching Point: Write a little seed story; don’t write all about a GIANT WATERMELON TOPIC. WATERMELON TOPICS This type of story sounds like a list because the topic is TOO BIG. EXAMPLES: my trip to Jamaica, Shane’s championship game, Cedar Pointe... Don’t tell about the whole day, focus or ZOOM IN! Seed topics This is when you narrow your topic down to the most important event. Example: My Summer (Watermelon) Cedar Point (Slice) The Raptor (Seed)

4. Teaching Point: When writers generate ideas they play back the memory like a movie in their mind. What happened first? Next? Then? Finally? How did you feel? What were you thinking? Tell the story step-by-step; this is how writers use specific details! If you are having trouble slowing the story down, try thumbnail sketches. Then write details about what each sketch shows!

5. Teaching Point: When writer’s confer with the teacher, they talk about their THINKING, not their TOPIC. How Writing Conferences Go: What are you working on as a writer? What kind of writing are you creating? What are you doing to make this piece of writing work? What do you think of what you’ve done so far? What will you do next? How will you go about doing that? The teacher’s job is to start the conference, ask questions to make the author think, and support the writer. The writer’s job is to teach the teacher, not about the subject, but about the ways you’ve figured out HOW to tell this story. Then we can help you grow as a writer!

6. Teaching Point: Personal narratives are often organized chronologically; they are told as a step- by-step series of events. Tell what happened first, next, then like a story! Go to the start of the story. Play the movie in your mind. Before you start: Ask yourself “Why am I telling this story?” “What am I trying to show in this story?” (lessons, messages) Avoid discussing the events and listing what happened. Instead be a storyteller. “ There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there has never been a society that did not tell stories.” - Ursala K. LeGuin

7. Teaching Point: Writing allows us to slow down and find the treasure among the everyday events in our lives. We write because it allows us to reflect on what is significant in our life. What are the treasured memories ? Tips 1.Revisit a story. See it through new eyes. What does it say about you? Why is it meaningful? 2.What stories matter to you the most? Why? 3.Star possibilities in your journal. Tell the story that matters; tell the one you hold close to your heart! Teacher note: Share Roxaboxen. Discuss the story!