How Do I Teach 4th Grade Narrative Writing?

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Laura from YoungWritersWorkshops.com. I'm going to talk about how to teach fourth grade narrative writing. Narrative writing is writing where the writer tells a story. So it has a voice and it has a beginning and a middle and an end. I think, one thing that is really important to remember when teaching fourth graders. Is how they're really grounded in peer relationships at this age. As a writing workshop teacher, I'm more of a proponent of peer conferencing. Than you know, with each year that goes by. I find it's more and more important for students to look at each other as their writing teachers. And listen to each other and respond to each other. So begin teaching the narrative form by building off, of your writing notebooks. If you are working with a group of 4th graders. Have them keep notebooks. Notebooks are a way for them to write down their ideas throughout the year. To gather thoughts and tell us, a little bits of stories. That they'll be able to draw from. So begin by having them choose a topic that they have an idea about. And written in their notebook. Next, guide them through the process of telling a story. What will be the beginning of the story. Write a paragraph for the beginning. Write a paragraph together, as a class for the middle. And write a paragraph for the end. Next, you'll want them to go through the motions of responding to the story. What questions do they have? What do they like about it. Model the peer conference as a class. When you've done this process. Show them how to tell a story. The beginning and the middle and the end. How to construct. Next, you can assign for them to work on a draft on their own. And again, use the peer conferencing aspect of your writing workshop. To really help them to re-read their work. To revise and to build more, more of their voice into each draft. Those are some ideas about how to teach narrative writing in 4th grade."