Personal Narratives and Holiday Writing

[Anna J. Small Roseboro]

 

The holiday season is upon us. Families will be celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa and the New Year. Writing about holidays is a wonderful way to share cultures in words, pictures, and music. Yes, holidays also can be an emotionally difficult time for your students. So, being sensitive to these emotions, you can design lessons for which students can write about real or imagined celebrations. You know your students and can adapt the lesson to fit the setting in which you teach.

What are some of your favorite and successful holiday writing assignments?

Now is a good time to plan writing assignments that draw on their real or imagined experiences with family and friends. This is a prime opportunity to tap into their creativity in writing sensory images – literally and figuratively, as you help your students hone their narrative writing skills.

Your assignment could include an invitation to publish on your class website or share with students in other classrooms across the world using one of the websites, like The Global Poetry Project or the National Gallery of Writing. Also see EDUTOPIA.COM "Taking Your Class to the Internet". Remember, to confirm new sites with your administrator before launching a class site for your students.

I’d recommend beginning the assignment before the holiday breaks and picking it up when the students return. Starting prior to break will encourage them to be alert and maybe even journal while away school. Hey, I’m the eternal optimist. This linked assignment “Holiday Memory” can get you started.

Please share some of the assignment prompts with us here.  If you have other great links, and if you grant me permission,  I'll add them to my website TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS at the Resources from Other Educators tab.