First, I gave them the prompt, “Imagine a time when you have worked with a partner in class. In a personal narrative to your teacher, discuss this particular time that you worked with a partner.” (or something to that effect…I don’t have my notes with me!)

Then, as I modeled the lesson on the overhead, I had the students make a web, using the middle circle as the topic and using who, what, where, when, why, and how for the “legs.” I modeled exactly what I wanted them to write, and they copied it in their writing journals. Then we edited, wrote our final copies, and published our work by illustrating our personal narratives.

I spread the assignment out over four days, and the kids did really well. Granted, it wasn’t all their own writing, as I was modeling much of it, but they really seemed to understand what I meant by personal narrative, and they were able to figure out what I wanted from them in the way of organization.

I hope this helps! Good luck!