Read first 15 minutes of class. Memoir worthy experiences.  Take time to collect some of your most memorable moments before choosing which topic you want to write for your memoir.  Use the Questions for Memoirists to help you bring up those memories.  You should complete at least a page worth of ideas.  Check out the examples from me and a middle school student .
Homework: Read.  .

Tuesday

LIBRARY DAY.  Yes, I know it’s Tuesday, but we get to go to the library early this week.  Report to our classroom for attendance.  Then we will go to the library where Miss Bowman will offer suggestions on how to find the perfect book for you.  Then it’s all about the books.  Return or renew books and check out new ones before sinking into a chair to read.
Homework: Read.

Wednesday

Read first fifteen minutes of class. Beginning-Middle-End. Good memoirs have a focus on the most important part of the experience.  Choose one of your memories from your list of Memoir-Worthy Experiences.  List the main actions of that experience.  What is the heart of your story–the important moment?  That is what you want to focus on.  Narratives (a memoir is a type of narrative or story) have a beginning, middle, and end.  Now think about that important moment.  Where does it begin?  What happens in the middle?  How does it end?  Sketch out the beginning, middle, and end of your story.  Share with the people in your group.
Homework: Read.

Thursday

Read first fifteen minutes of class .Narrative Leads.  It takes work to get a narrative off to a good start. Writers may focus on the action occurring, the dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts and feelings of the main character.  (That’s you, the writer, in a memoir.)  Look at the examples in your notes and then write three different narrative leads for your memoir.  Each lead should focus on the same beginning moment.  Choose your favorite and keep writing.  Second period will miss most of class today for the fundraising convo beginning at 8:45.
Homework: Read.  Typed draft of memoir due Tuesday.

Friday

Read first fifteen minutes of class.  There is a convo this afternoon that will take up most of 5th and 6th period.  That means seventh period gets to blog!  Write a blog post on a topic of your choice.  You could write about a book you are reading or write about the convo you just saw.  If you have time, leave a quality comment on someone else’s blog.
Homework: Read.