INSIDE STORIES: STORIES WITHIN Personal Narrative in the Classroom SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING DEGREE AT THE SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAINING BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT

This discussion of a project conducted in 2004 involved two ESOL Middle School Students. The project used personal narrative and autobiographical elements to produce booklets based on these students’ experiences which created a bridge into the academic community, for themselves and their families. This paper discusses the elements that made this project successful and the reasons that personal narrative is so powerful and meaningful for all students and, most especially, second language learners. ERIC descriptors: English(Second Language), Autobiography and Second Language, Second Language Instruction, Literacy Education, Personal Narrative Cultural Awareness, Teacher Effectiveness, Teacher Developed Materials