Autobiography Lesson Plans That Start The Year Off Right

It’s not too early to begin thinking about the new batch of students that will be walking through your classroom doors at the summer’s end. They will be excited, briefly at least, to be back in school with their friends. They will also be filled with anticipation about the prospects of making new friends.  Teachers that build on this excitement will set the tone for the rest of the year.The first week is the perfect time to get to know the students, to let the students get to know you, and for them to get to know each other. By building a sense of community from the start you will offer an opportunity for all students to feel a sense of belonging.

Teaching autobiography, and journal writing lesson plans during the first week of school not only provides a great way to get to know the students, but it also gets them writing. You may find that your students are not intimidated by writing about themselves at the beginning of the year. They are familiar with the subject matter, and may even get excited when asked to tell about a personal experience. They may find it less daunting than having to write a book report, or an article summary right off the bat.  With themselves as the subject, they won't get “marked off” for not knowing the subject matter. This seems to build student confidence right away.

These types of lesson can be interesting for students of all ages. Both 8^th and 11^th grade students can demonstrate a willingness to participate in autobiographical writing at the beginning of the year. You could let students borrow a digital camera, and ask them to take a picture of their classmates. You could then put their pictures up on a bulletin board for the first couple of weeks.  They love to see themselves (even the 11^th graders), and it also helps a teacher get to know their students faster.  When they complete their autobiographical assignment, you can staple their picture to the front. When you give it back later on, it can be a keepsake from the first week of school. By using this autobiography lesson plans during the first week of school, your class will be on its way to becoming the community we all need to have a successful school year.

Autobiography and Journal Writing Lesson Plans:

Drawing a Life Map: Have the students create a life map as a prewriting exercise for their own autobiography.  Introduce the following lesson with a sample life map filled in with your own information.  This is a great way for students to learn how to create their own life map while at the same time getting to know their teacher.

So You Want to be a TV Reporter: Introduce the importance of interview skills by letting the students interview each other, and write an article for a classroom newspaper article, or make a video tape for a classroom “news” presentation.  Although this lesson focuses on a TV interview, the handouts can be adapted to teach students to produce a written article if you do not have audio/visual equipment, or the time needed to complete the entire lesson. 

Introduction to Autobiography or Journal Writing: Many teachers use journal writing in their classes.  This lesson introduces autobiography or journal writing through a group activity that allows students to mingle with their new classmates and get to know them a little better.  This activity also incorporates the importance of using descriptive language in their writing.