People and Places

In September a new course was launched for the high school international students at Evangel: Intermediate Literature. It is designed to train the students in reading strategies used for deeper understanding of texts and to give the students more exposure to the English language. So far it has done both and more! The Queens Public Library found out about the class and asked if we wanted to participate in their People and Places Program in which thought provoking short stories (mostly written by immigrants) are read and reflected upon. Although each story had to be screened and the program modified for use in a Christian environment, it grew into a valuable experience for all and culminated in a party hosted by Ms. Echols at the newly built 21st Street Public Library. 9th, 10th and 11th grades each divided into groups and created posters for the event. Some groups focused on the symbolism found in a given short story, such as Abalone, Abalone, Abalone, others on comparing and contrasting two stories, and some added the adages, idioms and similes we learned. I was very impressed by the 11th graders who were able to compare given verse from the Bible with the prose poem Girl by Jamaica Kincaid. They did such a fabulous job that Mrs. Echols sent the posters to the founder of the program. I am so proud of those students who participated!

As we wrap up this section on short stories and do review for midterms, I look back at the interesting ways the students showed what they learned; from complex graphic organizers to acting out different parts of a story, from making big books about symbolism to making posters for all the stories, and I am amazed what the students have accomplished. Our next adventure will include nonfiction as we segue into the Academic Fair time of the year.

Mrs. Kemp

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Topics: 10 Tenth Grade, 11Eleventh Grade, 9Ninth Grade
Date: Thursday, January 24th, 2013 3:42 pm