This Lesson's Title:

Memories that Inspire your own Moment Like This

memoir writing inspired by Milkweed's powerful first chapter

This lesson was developed for WritingFix after being proposed by NNWP Teacher Consultant Amy Maniscalco during an AT&T-sponsored in-service class for teachers.

The intended "mentor text" to be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the chapter book Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author, especially from chapter 1 of the book.

Check out Milkweed at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

"Our memoir will come not only from our memories but also from our imaginations."

--Lucy Calkins

After discussing memories and memoir writing by discussing chapter one of Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli, students will plan their own memoirs based on a specific memory from their past or current life. Word choice and details will be brainstormed before students begin drafting. Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

Students will focus on the traits of word choice and idea development. Students will use the lesson's graphic organizer to brainstorm sensory details and pre-plan the words they will use in their writing. The graphic organizer will also help students focus on how they specifically felt, and what they thought in the particular moment.

Recipient of the NNWP's
Excellent Writing Lesson Award:

Because of the quality of its resources and ideas, this WritingFix lesson was selected by the Northern Nevada Writing Project as October 2008's Writing Lesson of the Month. It was e-mailed to thousands of teachers who are members of the NNWP's Writing Lesson of the Month Teacher Network.

To find out how to become a member of this free network, click here to visit the NNWP's webpage. You can have a link to a high-quality writing lesson sent to you every month.