Memoir Books

You may wonder why we are named Upper Grade Memoirs.  Are we a bunch of writing teachers?  No, at least that isn't ALL we teach.  We just started a discussion about what we could be named and memories came up.  Small moments, stories from our classrooms, and memories from our past were shared as we got to know each other.  Memoirs are all about sharing stories and we enjoy sharing a small peek into our lives and classrooms with you each week!

When it comes to teaching memoir writing, many times it is best to start from your own memories.  When you share a personal favorite book, it leads to discussions and memories you have with that book.  For me, any time anyone mentions The Baby-Sitters Club, I remember my piles of books, the re-readings of each edition, begging to go to the book store because a new edition was out, and never leaving the house without at least 1 BSC book in hand.  I could tell a lot of stories that stem from that series.  I could write a memoir on any one of those memories!

I asked my fellow Upper Grade Memoir bloggers to share a favorite book from their memory OR a book they enjoy using each year to teach memoirs.  There were so many great books shared!  Here is our list for you to possibly use in your classroom.  Were any of these YOUR favorite books?

What is your favorite book?  What books bring back special memories?  We would love to hear!

December Memoirs from My Family to Yours!

Welcome to another day of December Memoirs here at Upper Grades Memoirs! My name is Jennifer Smith-Sloane and most of the time you can find me over my blog 4mulaFun. 

December to me is a time for family, traditions and making memories and always has been since I was a little girl. I grew up loving the Christmas season and all that was in store each year. We always put up our tree after Thanksgiving and decorated it full of ornaments. Now that my husband and I are making our own traditions we have started to go and cut down our tree as I never did that growing up although he did.

Besides decorating it with our ornaments each year we do switch out on our lights that go on the tree. I am a WHITE LIGHTS kind of girl but he is all about the COLORED! HAHA! We decided last year that we would switch each year so that we could each get our favorite.

And another tradition that we have is that we alternate spending Christmas Day (well actually the week of Christmas) with our families since they live 700 miles apart (Dallas, TX to Omaha, NE). This is an Omaha year which means I am on the road to see my in-laws. Thankfully we have rented a hotel this year and I hope to do some work in the car on the way there but we all really know that means take as much of a nap as possible!

Here's to hoping I get to play in some snow while I'm in Nebraska. There is an 80% chance for rain/snow tomorrow (Tuesday)!