Ninth Grade Literature Project

For the literature part of the English class, the 9th grade students read a book titled, Numbers.  At first, they were not motivated to read the book.  Therefore, we read four chapters in class to get them involved in the story.  After this, they started to enjoy the story and become interested in reading more.  They then continued reading the story on their own with follow up in class.  To begin comprehension evaluation, the students took an exam based on the first four chapters.  I felt so excited by their enthusiasm that I came up with the idea of a book project.  This project consisted of a movie poster, a book cover, a collage, representing the actions in the book, characters and plot, which included a one page summary explaining what the pictures represent, and a two page journal entry as if the students were one of the characters, also a paper bag book report.

For the paper bag, they had to first decorate the outside of the bag relating it to the theme of the story, then, fill it up with six items  that represent important events and characters from the book.  They also had to write a lost chapter, which was another ending, made up by themselves. Finally, they had to write a half a page long explanation for the reason each item was in the bag. The most exciting part of the project was a song writing, where the students developed the ability to write the lyrics for a song that tells about the book and sing it in class.   Some of them were first shy to sing their song, as they started reading the song they ended up singing it with the help of their classmates. 

Each student as part of a grade presented all of this in class, a way to reward them for their hard effort and dedication while reading the book.  As the students happily presented their literature project in class, they were practicing their pronunciation, reading and grammar skills.  The students were so excited that they even acted out many scenes and presented everything with enthusiasm. 

I, myself felt very excited about the creativity and English capacity of our ninth grade students that I felt the obligation of spreading their positivity and creativity to the entire school to motivate their willingness to read more.  Therefore, I decided that decorating the main level of the school with their movie poster might be a good way to accomplish this.   Other students then became interested in finishing their literature books expecting to do the same project. 

Through this work, I noticed the progress the students have made throughout the year and a half that I have been working with them, expressing themselves totally in English.

Thierribaldy Pasquet

English Teacher

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