The Peck School has launched a new Personal Narrative class for seventh graders, designed by Head of the Upper School Virginia Savage and Upper School English Teacher Megan Boyle to nurture creativity and self-expression.
While the seventh-grade English curriculum focuses on literary analysis, this new class offers students the opportunity to explore creative writing by crafting personal stories. The class bridges the gap between sixth grade (when students take a public speaking course) and the second half of seventh grade (when students begin Secondary School Counseling)—offering yet another opportunity for students to articulate their personal experiences, goals, and beliefs.
Throughout the course, students learn how to write compelling narratives about themselves, a skill that will not only aid in their eighth-grade speeches but also in their secondary school applications. By the end of the class, each student will have completed two personal narratives, equipping them with the tools to confidently share their own stories to prepare for these future milestones.
“It’s fun for students to write about things that are meaningful to them and their own experiences instead of analyzing someone else’s story. They get to write about things that matter to them and have to find a way to express it in a way that is creative and artful, fun but clear and organized at the same time,” says Upper School English Teacher Megan Boyle.