Personal Narrative Writing Teaching Resources
Explore personal narrative writing in your ELA classes this year with graphic organizers, writing prompts and more activities created by teachers for teachers like you!
Aligned with both TEKS and the Common Core ELA curriculum, this collection of printable and digital resources is stocked with everything you need to plan lessons on writing personal narrative essays this school year. Explore prompts designed to help students get started writing their personal stories, graphic organizers that can help them prepare their thoughts and plenty more.
Whether it's your first year teaching about personal narratives or you're just looking for some handy tips and tools for your lesson plans, our teacher team has you covered! Read on for a personal narrative definition, examples of this type of writing and more.
What Is a Personal Narrative? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Let's start with a simple personal narrative definition you can use to introduce this writing type to your students!
A personal narrative is a story about something that happened to us. It is a way we can use our writing skills to share our experiences and our feelings about things that have happened with others.
How to Start a Personal Narrative — Tips for Students to Get Started
Like many other forms of writing, personal narratives are made up of three main parts:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
But what does that introduction to a personal story or personal essay actually look like? Personal narratives typically start with the writer sharing an interesting fact in the form of a catchy opening sentence.
The goal of the personal narrative introduction is to hook your reader with something so engaging that they want to keep reading and learn all about your experience!
For example, a writer might grab the reader's attention by sharing a surprising element of their personal story right in the very first sentence.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Earth Day Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
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Spring Writing Prompts for Beginning Writers
Celebrate a new season with Spring writing worksheets for primary grades.
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Memorial Day - Poppy Craft Template
Reflect on Memorial Day and Veterans Day with this poppy template and reflective sentence starters.
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End of Year Writing Craftivity - Summer Plan Gumball Machine
Excite your students for the upcoming summer with a writing and craft activity.
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A Letter to My Teacher Activity Sheets
Get to know your students a bit better using a ‘Letter to Teacher’ template.
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"I Have a Dream" Writing Prompt Page
Observe MLK Day by encouraging students to think about their “dream” for the future by writing it as a speech.
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End of the Year Memory Wheel
Get your students’ minds spinning with this end-of-year reflection activity.
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Weekend Narrative Writing Worksheet
Practice writing personal narratives with your young students with this writing template.
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When I Grow Up...
Explore your students future ambitions with this When I Grow Up worksheet.
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Roll and Respond – Thanksgiving Dice Game
Roll the die and write about Thanksgiving traditions with a fun Thanksgiving Game.
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Grandparents' Day Writing Prompt - The Very Best Day
Surprise Grandma and Grandpa with a special story telling about the Best Day Ever with a Grandparents’ Day writing prompt.
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Easter Writing Prompts - Differentiated Worksheets
Inspire your students to get writing with these easy-to-use Easter writing worksheets.
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April Fools' Day Writing Prompts
Celebrate April Fools' Day in the classroom with these fun writing prompt worksheets.
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St. Patrick's Day Writing Prompt Worksheets
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and write imaginative stories using a collection of narrative writing prompts.
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Valentine's Day - Writing a Personal Narrative Resource Pack
Boost your students’ “sweet” writing skills with a Valentine’s Day Narrative Writing essay pack.
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Presidents' Day Writing Prompts
Celebrate Presidents’ Day and your growing writers with writing worksheets for Kindergarten and first grade.
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Presidents' Day Craft - If I Were President
Learn about Presidents’ Day with an “If I Were President” writing and craft activity.
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Groundhog Day Writing Craftivity
Celebrate Groundhog Day in the classroom and show off your predictions with a printable Groundhog Day Craft.
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Winter Writing Prompts for Beginning Writers
Celebrate winter and your growing writers with Winter writing worksheets for Kindergarten and first grade.
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Write About It! I Am Thankful
Differentiate writing instruction this Thanksgiving with a group of “I Am Thankful” writing prompts for second grade and under.
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"Owl" Stay Drug Free - Red Ribbon Week Craft
Celebrate Red Ribbon Week with this Owl Craft and writing activity!
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Patriot Day Writing Craftivity
Celebrate important heroes with this Patriot Day writing prompt and craft.
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Thanksgiving Writing Craftivity
Celebrate and decorate for Thanksgiving with a turkey-themed Thanksgiving craft and writing activity.
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My Reading Favorites Template
Create a mini-book filled with your students' favorite things about reading with a printable template.
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Playground Narrative Writing Worksheet
Practice writing personal narratives with your young students with this writing template.