Making the Connections

As an English teacher, I could easily fall into a pattern of doing the standard or conventional types of writing assessments.  "Write what you did over summer vacation...write about a family vacation...what did you learn from a sad experience..."  Though these conventional writing prompts have merit, a pattern of writing could be established that does not challenge a student's abilities or critical thinking skills.  Pulling in and utilizing different modalities allows the teacher to stretch the confines of a student's thought process.  Instead of writing an research paper, a student could film a re-enacted scene from the play or novel.  Another student could use their talent in art and paint a scene depicted in Les Miserables.  A student with a proficiency in technology and machines could  construct a device which demonstrates a concept or theme from The Jungle.  Using these type of genre and discipline breaking assessments tells students they relate their interests and talents to reading and writing achieving the same level of comprehension as the naturally-gifted readers and writers in the class.  Trying to encourage students to read presents an ever present battle for English teachers.  Presenting an option for connection to literature other than the English teaching conventions ropes that student into reading not only for enjoyment, but also for the collection of knowledge.