Anne:
In my level 1 classes a few weeks into the class, I draw a stick figure
woman in the center with lots of circles around the outside.  Across the top
I write "My name is Kathy Quinn."  Then I write simple sentences that we
have looked at already.  "I am from.." I speak English"  I live in ...  "I
am married.  "   "I have 2 children."  "I live with.."   "I teach English.
"I am 56 years old.  "My birthday is.."  "I have blue eyes.'"  I have light
brown hair."  Then I give them each a paper with an appropriate gender stick
figure and have them fill in a circle as we look at the sentence in my
circle.  We talk about upper case and lower case letters as I and as they
write.
There are always a few circles left empty so I give them the chance to
suggest other information we can include.  They usually suggest "I like..."
Then we decide to write my story.  We number the sentences in the order we
want to include them and on another large poster we write my story together.
I ask them to write their stories at home.  When they bring them in I have
them read them to the class, always followed by generous applause.  Finally,
I copy them and we put them in a book for everyone to read.  We add a class
picture in the front.

Kathryn Quinn
Frederick Maryland