Fable: The Little Red Hen from Speakaboos

Narrative Writing

In this session, I learnt about narrative writing. It is one of my favourite types of writing because it allows me to stretch my imagination to capture the reader's interest in a creative way. Also, I love writing about different narrative topics. I get to explore my creativity and writing skills. 

This type of writing tells a story. The story may be fact (real) or fiction (imaginary). There are 5 elements of narrative writing:

1. Characters- animals, objects or people in a story.
2. Setting- the time of day in the story, where the story takes place, weather conditions in the story.
3. Plot- The sequence of events and the mood of the story.
4. Conflict-the challenge or problem in the story.
5. Resolution- the way in which the problem was solved.

*Theme- the lesson/moral/message to be learnt from the story.

A story map is a tool used to help organizing ideas for narrative writing.

In the video above, you can have an idea of what a narrative story should be like. You can now identify each element in the video and write down details in the story map. In addition, you can include the theme (if any) into the map. Description of the characters' moods have not quite been expressed. Be sure to add some details there. You can also change to story around with your students. Creativity is key! Create your own little class fable!

In class, my lecturer and I discussed the fable: "It's Mine!" It was a nice fable which had a very valuable lesson to learn. Each element discussed are as follows:

Characters:

3 toads: Hilton, Rupert and Lydia.

Setting:

dusk, dawn, Rainbow Pond, small island, next morning.

Conflict:

3 frogs argued all day for things which they thought they owned.

Plot: 

Each frog argued for something in Rainbow Pond which wasn't his or her own.

At some point the clouds began to change.

They became afraid and cold when rain started to fill up their island.
They tried to find a place of safety.

Resolution:
They realized they were not on a rock but on a large toad.
The sun came out and the water was gone.
They frogs were happy together.
They now shared everything in Rainbow Pond.

Theme:
When the frogs co-operated with one another, they were all able to find shelter in the story.

Personality determines the plot and how problems will be resolved. Personality should come into play in a story as in allows a change in the make up of the story.  The setting may begin in one place and end in another place.

In the classroom, teachers need to immerse students in narrative writing. Typical examples are replay, retell, innovate stories read to them. Activities include: grand conversations, draw, dramatize, use scripts, prompts, Youtube videos, etc..

Teachers should also use electronic versions to help students develop a love for writing.

Teachers ought to ask students what they want to write about. They can also have a class story based on any topic chosen. It is also important that students add moods and emotions to the characters and create dialogue in their narrative piece. It help keeps the reader engaged and makes the story more alive and vivid.

Planning story writing with students is essential in the writing classroom. Using the story map is great for planning and easily helps the students create all elements of the story. 

In guided practice, the teacher can have students be placed in pairs or groups to develop the conflict and resolution. Teacher may want to add ideas after students have done so.

Above all, remember teacher modelling is key to set the foundation for narrative writing.

I will now show ideas which were develop for a story in a class setting.


Here we can see a topic has been created in the writing classroom. It is wise to move out of the vague, general topics (as in A Day at the Beach). A Drowning at Sea is more much specific and vivid.

Prewriting Stage:

Details of each element have now been included in the story map, using the top. It was a fun filled activity!

         

Theme: It is never wise to play old tricks/Children must always be obedient to parents.

A great lesson taught. I would advise teachers to use this strategy in your classroom. Let students think on a topic familiar to them. That way, they are less likely to have writer's block. Use as much sensory details, dialogue and emotions as possible. Allow them to work in groups to create their stories. You will definitely see some really good ideas coming into play. Allow students to act out their stories. Make the learning classroom fun! More importantly create a collection of class fables/novels to showcase their work. 

This session has help me tremendously on how to go about teaching narrative writing.

Quote: "If a story is in you, it has to come out." -William Faulkner.