What Is the First Person Point of View for Elementary Students?

First Person -- What It Is

• A text that uses first-person point of view means that the story is told from the perspective of the main character or the author. If a story utilizes first-person point of view pronouns like I, we, and us will be used frequently. No information is given in the story that would not be known by the main character. In an informational text, first-person point of view is sometimes used when the author has been the primary resource for the piece, for example, a book about gorillas written by Jane Goodall might be written in first person as she relays her personal experiences about the species.

How to Recognize It

• Hallmarks of first-person point of view are the use of personal pronouns, like I, us, we, my, mine and ours. The second way to recognize a first person point of view is by judging the personal or intimate nature of the text. For elementary students, picking out personal pronouns is the most effective way to recognize first-person point of view.

Using It In Narratives

• In order for students to understand how to effectively use first-person point of view, it is important for them to understand that writing in first person is the same as telling a personal story to a friend. Usually this is the most natural point of view for young students to use. Have students make sure they are using personal pronouns within their piece and check to be sure they do not waiver between first and third by accident.

Teaching the Skill

• It is helpful to teach students the difference between first and third person so that they can recognize both. One activity that can be effective is showing the children a fish in a fishbowl. Ask the students to write about the fish as if they were the fish, thus creating a first-person point of view essay. A possible sentence within this essay may be, "I see large faces looking at me through the see-through wall." Then, have students write about the fish as an outside observer, creating sentences like, "The fish swims in a glass bowl." Helping students create the different points of view themselves will enhance their ability to recognize these points of view in other authors' texts.