Their Stories, Their Voices

Using Personal Narrative to Empower Student Writers, Grades 6–12

Personal narrative writing has taken a backseat to other forms of writing in the classroom, such as research essays and literary analysis. Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman share a step-by-step, build-your-own framework that helps students excel in writing, showing how personal narrative harnesses students’ natural urge to tell stories.

Benefits

• Approach writing instruction in a scientific way
• Learn how to hold a workshop, allowing student writers to explore and receive feedback.
• Take advantage of three-, four-, and five-week unit plans by trying them in their own classrooms.
• Use personal narrative in sensitive ways while considering student trauma, diversity of voices, and applicability to all learners.
• Help students understand how they can use words to inform others, analyze difficult questions, persuade others to make changes for good and facilitate valuable reflection.