The Memoir Multigenre Project

The Memoir Multigenre ProjectSarah Andersen

@yaloveblogyaloveblog.com

Fenton High School / Fenton, MI

Keep it?...and focus more on reading?

or

Replace it?...and focus more on writing?

The Internal Debate

Who am I?Where am I going?

How will I get there?

The Senior Exit Presentation

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

So. Much. Argumentative. Writing.

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Memoir Multigenre Project

My Primary Resources

● Students wrote a 3-5 page minimum memoir based on an event in their life

● Prompts to direct their thinking○ “The Road Not Taken”○ Forgive My Guilt○ Watermark events

The Memoir Anchors the Project

Using Picture Books as Mentor Texts

● Poetry● Lyrics● Journal entries● Photos● Top 10 List● Scrapbook● Videos● Letters● And more

Our Multigenre Menu

Creativity, Depth, and Layers

● Tom Romano○ From Heinemann’s website for Fearless Writing by Tom Romano:

“Tom Romano illustrates the power of multigenre papers to push students beyond the ‘safety zone’ of narrative and exposition into a place where fact meets imagination, and research meets creativity. A place to try the untried.”

● Different genres inserted into the memoir● Pushed students out of comfort zones

Poems as Mentor Texts

● Not everyone is a poet

● Dyslexia● Divorce● Missions Trips

Alyssa wrote about her struggle with dyslexia

Tyler wrote about his parents’ divorce

Conferring is Everything!

● Narrowing their focus○ Proposals and Drafts

● More mentor texts● Getting to know my students

Memoir Multigenre Project Presentations

● Presenting a genre or piece of the memoir● Revealing private, vulnerable moments● Many tears and hugs

Words Have Power

● Empowerment● Student connections● Seeing another side of students

“His story is just like mine.”

● Bullying and suicide● Cancer● “You should be a writer.”

Am I a writer?

● Opportunities for success at all levels

I’ll Never Look Back