- Skip to primary navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- Skip to footer
Thrifty in Third Grade
By Cassie Smith - Engaging Elementary Resources
Using Personal Narrative Examples While Teaching Writing in 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades
When you teach personal narrative writing to your third, fourth, or fifth grade students, you should be teaching them using personal narrative examples to guide your lessons.
Students who are expected to write a narrative piece, should be given an exemplar one to study and learn from.
This is also known as a mentor text.
In this blog post, I’ll talk about using the rubric to guide your lesson and how you can use personal narrative examples to teach your students what you expect from their writing.
Step 1: Teach the Characteristics of a Personal Narrative
Before you begin teaching from the example narrative you should first introduce the characteristics of a personal narrative.
There are several main characteristics that elementary teachers focus on with their students.
- The narrative focuses on a small moment in time.
- The narrative has a beginning, middle, and end.
- It uses words for transitions.
- It includes descriptive details to help the reader imagine the setting, characters, and events.
- It can include dialogue. (Typically saved for 4th and 5th grade)
- Has a strong meaningful ending.
READ MORE>>> 5 Hooks to Teach Your Students for Writing Strong Introductions READ MORE>>> 6 Easy Tips for Teaching Personal Narrative Writing (Small Moment Graphic Organizer)
Step 2: Introduce the Rubric and a Checklist
The next thing you will want to do is introduce a rubric and a checklist.
The checklist is really helpful because it can guide students as they write their narrative drafts.
The rubric is important so students can understand how they’ll be graded. Keeping your rubric kid-friendly is key!
Step 3: Use Personal Narrative Examples to Model What a Personal Narrative Should Look Like
Now that you’ve introduced the characteristics of the personal narrative and gone over your rubric, you’re ready to use the mentor text.
It’s very important to choose a personal narrative example that exemplifies what you want your students’ final writing pieces to look like.
How should I use the personal narrative example during my lesson?
There are several different ways you can use the mentor text.
First and foremost, read it over with your students. Ask them what they noticed about the writing. Compare it to the personal narrative characteristics poster. Does the piece have all of the characteristics?
Below are some more suggestions on how you can use the example narratives:
My favorite idea is to use the rubric to “grade” the narrative using your rubric.
For future years of teaching, save your students’ writing and use it with your next class.
Make sure you white out the student names for privacy and use the writing pieces to discuss the rubric with your students. You can even have “grading” be a center in your classroom.
Do You Need Personal Narrative Examples for Your Lessons?
Check out these packs of example pieces for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades!
Meet Cassie
I’m Cassie Smith and I’m so glad you decided to stop by. I am passionate about creating engaging curriculum for teachers in grades K-5! I believe learning can be fun AND aligned to standards! Learn More
Looking for something?
- About Cassie
- ABCs of Salvation
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Disclaimers
Let’s Connect
Get support.
Come join our Elementary Teachers Support Group on Facebook! You’ll be able to collaborate and get tips from thousands of teachers just like you!
Get a Surprise!
Sign up for our email list and we'll send a surprise freebie right to your inbox!
Reading & Math for K-5
- Kindergarten
- Learning numbers
- Comparing numbers
- Place Value
- Roman numerals
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Order of operations
- Drills & practice
- Measurement
- Factoring & prime factors
- Proportions
- Shape & geometry
- Data & graphing
- Word problems
- Children's stories
- Leveled Stories
- Context clues
- Cause & effect
- Compare & contrast
- Fact vs. fiction
- Fact vs. opinion
- Main idea & details
- Story elements
- Conclusions & inferences
- Sounds & phonics
- Words & vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
- Early writing
- Numbers & counting
- Simple math
- Social skills
- Other activities
- Dolch sight words
- Fry sight words
- Multiple meaning words
- Prefixes & suffixes
- Vocabulary cards
- Other parts of speech
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Narrative writing
- Opinion writing
- Informative writing
- Cursive alphabet
- Cursive letters
- Cursive letter joins
- Cursive words
- Cursive sentences
- Cursive passages
- Grammar & Writing
Breadcrumbs
- Personal narratives
Download & Print Only $6.89
Personal narrative writing
Telling your own story.
In these writing worksheets, students are given a prompt and a graphic organizer from which to plan and write a personal narrative.
These worksheets are available to members only.
Join K5 to save time, skip ads and access more content. Learn More
What is K5?
K5 Learning offers free worksheets , flashcards and inexpensive workbooks for kids in kindergarten to grade 5. Become a member to access additional content and skip ads.
Our members helped us give away millions of worksheets last year.
We provide free educational materials to parents and teachers in over 100 countries. If you can, please consider purchasing a membership ($24/year) to support our efforts.
Members skip ads and access exclusive features.
Learn about member benefits
This content is available to members only.
- Forgot Password?
- Comprehension
- Computation
- Measurement
- Number Sense
- Word Problems
- Classroom Set Up
- Differentiation
- Teaching Reading
- Teaching Writing
- Teaching Math
- Teaching 101
- Classroom Management
- Digital Activities
Personal Narrative Writing
Ideas for teaching personal narrative writing to first, second, and third graders.
This post contains affiliate links.
Where to Start with Teaching Personal Narrative Writing
Before students start to write their own personal narratives, they need to be exposed to a good example or two. Read a personal narrative mentor text like one of those below.
Knuffle Bunny by: Mo Willems
It Takes a Village
Kitten’s First Full Moon by: Kevin Henkes
The Dandelion Seed by: Dawn Pubns
The Relatives Came by: Cynthia Rylant
Thunder Cake by: Patricia Polacco
Fireflies! by: Julie Brinckloe
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible … by:Judith Viorst
Smoky Night by: Eve Bunting
Roller Coaster by: Marla Frazee
A Chair for My Mother by: Vera B. Williams
Salt Hands by: Jane Chelsea Aragon
Owl Moon by: Jane Yolen
During or after reading point out some of the important characteristics of a personal narrative:
- It’s a story from the author’s life
- It has a beginning, middle, and end
- The author zooms in on a small moment and stretches it out with details
I think the term “personal narrative” is a lot for kids to get their heads around. This chart breaks it down a little. At the bottom, I borrow from Lucy Calkins . She encourages kids to write “small moment” stories. This means that instead of skimming the surface of an entire day with their writing, kids should choose a small moment and dig into it with details. My chart reminds kids that we can include sensory details or internal details (feelings).
Planning a Personal Narrative
I try to push my students toward using a sequential type of plan when they write personal narratives. A web-style plan wouldn’t help kids focus on the structure of a personal narrative.
The first few times students plan a personal narrative, I like to use a “my turn-your turn” approach. I write my topic, then I have them write their topic. I think aloud about my setting and write it down. Then they write down their setting. I think aloud about what happens at the beginning and write a few notes, then they do the same.
This plan comes from my personal narrative writing unit .
A Week of Instruction
Here is a way to structure a week of instruction on personal narrative writing:
You might go through this cycle 5 or 6 times to make up a complete personal narrative unit. Each week you can pick a different teaching focus. Some writing skills you might choose to focus on include:
- Using transition words
- Writing a good lead
- Using capital letters and end marks
- Including sensory details
- Using interesting words
Assessing Personal Narratives
I like using rubrics to assess writing so that kids understand exactly what they are doing well and where they could improve. Click on the picture below to get a free rubric for assessing personal narratives.
Save yourself some time!
Feel confident teaching personal narrative writing with daily lesson plans, posters, planning graphic organizers, writing project templates, and more:
I hope you found something useful!
Author: Hannah Braun
Hannah Braun is a former teacher with 8 years of experience in the classroom and a master's degree in early childhood education. She designs engaging, organized classroom resources for 1st-3rd grade teachers.
Personal Narrative Writing Rubric
Description
I created this rubric as a means to assess my students' personal narrative writings. The rubric includes categories, such as content, organization, voice/structure, word choice, and mechanics. In each category, the students may receive 1, 2, or 3 points, with each category containing details of the expectations for each rating. Thank you for purchasing my product! I hope this is helpful in grading your students' personal narratives in the future.
Terms of Use:
The content of this purchase may be used for personal and classroom use only. This license is not intended for use by multiple users, including within school districts, schools, or multiple teachers within a grade level. Please purchase additional licenses at half the price. This product may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without written permission from me. Thank you for your consideration!
Follow me on TpT , INSTAGRAM , and PINTEREST to get updates on new products and classroom happenings!
Questions & Answers
Fifth grade flava.
- We're hiring
- Help & FAQ
- Privacy policy
- Student privacy
- Terms of service
- Tell us what you think
- International
- Schools directory
- Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search
Grades 5-6 Narrative fiction rubric (New Cambridge syllabus)
Subject: English language learning
Age range: 7-11
Resource type: Assessment and revision
Last updated
9 November 2021
- Share through email
- Share through twitter
- Share through linkedin
- Share through facebook
- Share through pinterest
Grades 5-6 must know how to write a narrative fiction based on their personal experience as well as knowing how this event might have changed their life. This rubric is designed according to the new Cambridge syllabus. It aims at covering the success criteria required to succeed in writing skills. The rubric consists of 25 marks.
Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?
Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 71%
A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.
Letter writing - Story writing - Persuasive text and argumentative essay sample
Creative writing is taught to all English language students. It is typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary devices This is a bundle resource for different writing genres such as story writing, letter writing, persuasive text and sample argumentative essays.
Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.
It's good to leave some feedback.
Something went wrong, please try again later.
This resource hasn't been reviewed yet
To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it
Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.
Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
L.5.6. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal contrast, addition, and other logical relationships (e.g., however, although, nevertheless, similarly, moreover, in addition). 5th Grade Narrative Writing Rubric (Continued) Construct Measured 3 = Meets
a form of writing in which an author explores and shares the meaning of a personal experience and relates this experience to ideas. 4. 3. 2. Style. Writer's Voice, Audience Awareness. The writing is honest, enthusiastic, natural and thought-provoking; the reader feels a strong sense of interaction with the writer and senses the person behind ...
Narrative Writing Rubric: Grade 5 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. 4 - Advanced 3 - Proficient 2 - Developing 1 - Beginning Reading Connection A RI.5.1 W.5.9 Connections to source materials enhance the narrative Connections to source
2. Sample lesson plans- It is intended to be taught over several days- about five 30 minute blocks over 1 week.3. Basic paragraph rubric4. Sample paragraphs 5. A list of 5 topics for practicing how to write their own paragraphsStudents learn- 1. The parts of a paragraph (topic sentence, details, and closing sentence.
• Genre Format & Voice: Student has written a Personal Narrative that has: a story with a beginning which defines the setting, includes story details with an interesting plot, and an ending with a story resolution that expresses a new
Scope and Sequence Grade 5. Lessons, including Reading, Writing, Grammar, Morphology, and Spelling activities. A Unit Assessment that evaluates students' reading comprehension, understanding and retention of academic and domain-specific vocabulary words, as well as the grammar and morphology skills targeted in the unit.
6 Strong, engaging, positive words contribute to the main message. Every word counts. 5 Strong, positive words help make the message clear. 4 Strong, positive words are used, but some may be too negative. 3 Many words need to be stronger and more positive. 2 The same words are used throughout the essay.
Grade 3: Narrative Writing Rubric. Writes narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. Note: Descriptors in bold are taken directly from the CCSS for this grade level. Some of the language used in this rubric has been adapted from the SBAC and PAARC rubrics.
Browse 5th grade personal narratives rubrics resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.
Description. This rubric is designed to assess a personal narrative. The rubric is written based on Common Core writing standards W.5.3a and W.5.3c. The rubric is divided into writing and conventions to allow teachers to assess specific writing standards and mechanics/conventions separately. The rubric is easy to use and helps students also ...
Narrative structure is noticeable, but the reader may have to infer it-sequence of episodes moves logically through time with some gaps. Some appropriate paragraphing. Evidence of coherence may depend on sequence. If present, transitions may be simplistic or even redundant. Structure is attempted, but reader may still have to infer.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing (including multi-paragraph texts) in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
Use the same rubric to score their personal narratives at the end of this unit to show what they have learned. Post-Assessment Instructions: At the conclusion of this unit, administer the same on-demand assessment and look for improvements in your students' ... Launching: Refining the Personal Narrative: Grade 5 ...
Pictured above: A poster teaching the characteristics of a personal narrative and a personal narrative rubric. (From: Grades 2-5 Personal Narrative Writing Units) READ MORE>>> 5 Hooks to Teach Your Students for Writing Strong Introductions READ MORE>>> 6 Easy Tips for Teaching Personal Narrative Writing (Small Moment Graphic Organizer) Step 2: Introduce the Rubric and a Checklist
Elementary Personal Narrative Rubric. This rubric is suitable for elementary grades. Modify the categories to fit the writing skills you've taught. For instance, the grammar focus in this rubric ...
5th Grade Personal Narrative Rubric- Common Core Standard 5.3. This rubric is designed to assess a personal narrative. The rubric is written based on Common Core writing standards W.5.3a and W.5.3c. The rubric is divided into writing and conventions to allow teachers to assess specific writing standards and mechanics/conventions separately.
grade 5 narrative writing rubric - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site.
In these writing worksheets, students are given a prompt and a graphic organizer from which to plan and write a personal narrative. Worksheet #1 Worksheet #2 Worksheet #3 Worksheet #4 Worksheet #5 Worksheet #6. Worksheet #7 Worksheet #8 Worksheet #9 Worksheet #10. Similar: Fictional writing Fantasy Writing.
Here is a way to structure a week of instruction on personal narrative writing: You might go through this cycle 5 or 6 times to make up a complete personal narrative unit. Each week you can pick a different teaching focus. Some writing skills you might choose to focus on include: Using transition words. Writing a good lead.
Description. I created this rubric as a means to assess my students' personal narrative writings. The rubric includes categories, such as content, organization, voice/structure, word choice, and mechanics. In each category, the students may receive 1, 2, or 3 points, with each category containing details of the expectations for each rating.
Grades 5-6 must know how to write a narrative fiction based on their personal experience as well as knowing how this event might have changed their life. This rubric is designed according to the new Cambridge syllabus. It aims at covering the success criteria required to succeed in writing skills. The rubric consists of 25 marks.