When looking at Grosse Pointe Public School Systems, most think the correct method of learning is sitting down, reading a book, and writing an essay. In other words Grosse Pointe’s traditional teaching method. In Mr. Provenzano’s Freshman English classes students are doing a new, productive, and fun way of analyzing our book, Romeo and Juliet. We made a movie and split five scenes with another high school, Van Meter. Countless years spent writing essays for the Grosse Pointe Public School Systems students over-analyze and lose interest in reading. Most think essays are the better teaching method, but Projects are the best teaching method.
When getting prepared for an essay the average student reads the book, analyzes it in class, and finds a few quotes to support their theme or opinion. It seems like other students just follow the opinion of another student, the one seems to know what he’s doing, even if it’s not really what they feel. When taking on Mr. Provenzanos project, students are obligated to do work that really takes thinking and effort, on their own time. Although this project takes more on your own, there is a lot of group work. To make this movie everyone was assigned a position. Two or three students had the same job for class. Directors, Actors, Camera men, Sound track, Costume designers, Writers, Prop-masters, and Advertisers are all of the jobs that the students got to choose from. No matter what the job there was, everyone was involved and had weekly tasks to fill. This project was memorable but it wasn’t always fun and games.
Every week for the past month, all the students, no matter what period or job, had to answer a discussion question on Turnitin.com and leave a four paragraph response to the question given. Not only did they answer those questions, but they also had to blog about what they are doing in their jobs, depending on their particular job of course. The school board believes we aren’t discussing or making progress in class, when in fact students are doing more than that. Reading and Discussing is happening in Mr. Provenzano’s classes. In-depth reading is also happening. Requirements are being done. The project that was done did more than just writing an essay for the book.
The students have fun while analyzing the book. It also prepares for the near future. In a job someone most likely works or converses with a group about the task at hand. In Mr. Provenzano's classes students work with our group and brainstorm. Ideas are shared with one another and friendships are made. This is easily one of the main reasons Mr. Provenzano's classes got more out of "Romeo and Juliet" , then just sitting down and reading along. This project really spoke to students. It is good to try a little change once in a while.
Overall, this epic "Romeo and Juliet Project" helped students learn in a different and more productive manner. English class doesn't have to be boring and analyzing a book doesn't have to be so meaningless. In some teens cases reading used to appeal to them, but then English classes made them over analyze and read every word as if it were brilliant word choice. Now students don't like to read anymore. It's almost as if it hurt them. Most think essays are the better teaching method, but Projects are easily the best teaching method.
