Writing About Yourself
Background Information & Activities

Children naturally draw from their own experiences and they begin to practice personal writing from an early age. Personal writing is any kind of writing about oneself and is considered nonfiction. Personal writing can come in the form of journals and diaries, letters, autobiographies, memoirs, and personal essays.

A diary or journal is a book where you write private thoughts, feelings, and ideas. A diary can include a description of what happened during the day, a list of goals, or a stream of consciousness about a problem. A diary does not have to follow a narrative form or even be written in complete sentences. A diary allows the writer to keep track of important events or write private thoughts about a particular problem. It’s important for your children to understand that in a diary, you can write whatever you want. Diaries are private and should be respected.

An autobiography is a book someone writes about himself or herself. Many children read autobiographies by historical figures, but it is crucial for them to understand that anyone can write an autobiography, not just famous figures. An autobiography follows a narrative form; there is a beginning, middle, and end. Autobiographies chronicle a person’s life, and in general they describe events in the order that they happened.

A memoir is a collection of personal essays or stories. A memoir does not have to follow a traditional narrative arc, though usually the stories build on themes explored throughout the book. The stories or essays in memoirs usually focus on and develop a specific event or moment and may jump around in time.

Personal writing requires specific details to bring the stories to life. Many children will write about one event after another without stopping to develop each event. Explain that details are pieces of information that support the main idea of their stories. Details bring writing to life, draw readers into the stories, and help them understand the writer. Encourage your children to write with strong verbs and vivid adjectives. Personal writing is a great way for students to write with their senses.

One of the best ways to develop writing skills is to keep a daily diary or journal. Children will be able to keep track of important events in their lives, and also see how their writing changes over time.

Writing About Yourself Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Writing About Yourself Family Activities – Click Here!

Writing About Yourself Teacher Activities

Writing Everyday

The best way to foster writing skills and get students excited about writing is to set aside a few minutes each day for writing. Students can keep journals and write whatever they wish, short stories, letters to friends, poems, etc. Encourage students to write with the senses and use strong verbs and adjectives. They should not just list what they did that day, but explain how they felt and what they thought.

My Point of View

Explain to students that many people go through the same experiences but have different points of views, thoughts, and feelings about them. Together with your class, brainstorm and pick an experience that everyone shares, such as having a birthday party or going on a family vacation. Have students write personal essays and stories about their experience. Encourage students to describe how they felt and thought. Then invite student volunteers to share their stories with the class. How are the stories similar and different? What does everyone have in common?

Timeline

Remind students that a timeline is a graphic organizer where you write a date or year and an important event that occurred during that time along a straight line. A timeline allows you to easily see a sequence of important events in someone’s life. Have students make timelines for their own lives. You may wish to brainstorm important events together, such as dates of birth, when they moved to a new home, when they got a new sibling, when they first learned how to ride a bike, etc. Have students decorate their timelines with pictures or even bring in photographs from home. Post the timelines around the room so students can share their work.

Writing About Yourself Family Activities

Photo Diary

If possible, have your child take a picture of something he or she does during the day. Then have him or her print out the photo and write a diary entry describing the activity. Encourage your child to use descriptive language and strong verbs. He or she should use specific details and discuss thoughts and feelings to bring the writing to life. If possible, have him or her take a picture and write everyday. Practice writing on a daily basis will help your child improve his or her writing skills and become more comfortable writing.

Memoir of a Moment

Remind your child that a memoir is a collection of stories you write about yourself. Go to the local library or bookstore and find examples of memoirs. Remind your child that the stories or essays in a memoir usually focus on a specific event or moment in a person’s life. Have your child pick an important moment in his or her life. It could be the day your child got a sibling or went on a big family trip. Then have your child write a story about it. Each week, have your child pick a different moment to write about and collect all the stories to make a memoir. Your child may wish to decorate the cover or add photographs.