12/5/2023 0 Comments 6 words memoirsThis same idea can be repeated as an independent reading activity, a literature circle discussion prompt, or a way in to a partner reading conversation. They might even write six-word memoirs from these characters at different points in the story, showing their perspective as it changes (or doesn’t) over time. In this book, students can write six-word memoirs from the perspectives of Rump, Red, Opal, King Barf, the aunts, the trolls, pixies, Frederick and Bruno, and the miller. As an example, let’s take a look at a current favorite of mine, Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, by Liesl Shurtliff. Certainly, very few books would have enough characters to assign every student a different perspective (we’re not reading Game of Thrones in elementary school!), but it’s always interesting to see how students write the same character differently. There are so many ways six-word memoirs might be used within the context of reader’s workshop! Thinking for a moment of a whole-class read-aloud, each student might be asked to write a six-word memoir from the perspective of a different character at the end of a book. While six-word memoirs and all of the applications are exciting, this is a particular favorite of mine. The choice within the structure is theirs and theirs alone. They can share their favorite book, the number of siblings they have, or the fact they miss someone who is no longer here. When using six-word memoirs as a method of introduction, students can pick content and decide how much of themselves to share. The beauty of six-word memoirs is that structure is built into the fabric of this writing, but so is choice. Writer’s workshop is a model emphasizing both structure and choice. Older students might want to watch the version of the six-word memoir project compiled by in order to find inspiration and mentor texts. Six-word memoirs offer students a safe way to share a small piece of who they are and what matters to them. As teachers, regardless of where we teach, we never know who is joining our community or what they bring with them. Others have summers filled with taking care of younger siblings, staying indoors and watching television, angry adults, and unhealthy food. Some have summers filled with camp, vacations, books, and wonder. Students come to a class with different life experiences. Here are our top five ways to use six-word memoirs in a classroom:Īs a Form of Introduction. Together, we came up with a list of how they might use six-word memoirs with the students they came to know and care about over the course of the semester, and how they imagine using six-word memoirs with students they have not yet encountered. Then we get to the point where we need to move beyond reflection and ask “So what? What does this have to do with teaching kids? How might we use this in a classroom?” This is an important question in a methods class, where the line between theory and practice shifts, and students start to own what it means to be teachers. Their six-word memoirs run the gamut from funny to moving to irreverent, as you can see from the memoirs my created this semester. I show them the funny, moving, irreverent YouTube video created by SMITH Magazine and Harper Perennial called “Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure,” and, after watching, I give them some time to write. Photo credit: woodleywonderworks via photopin ccĮvery semester, on the last day of the literacy methods course I teach, I ask my pre-service teachers to write a six-word memoir as a form of reflection.
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