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BY MATTHEW G. SOLOVEY msolovey@leader.net
Tuesday, February 01, 2000 Page: 10
For the past 15 years, Greater Nanticoke Area senior English teacher Ray
Rutkowski has assigned his students a project he hopes develops a better
appreciation for literature and the English language.
Students need to put together a poster, a video, construct something,
sculpt, or if they want, even a live performance, Rutkowski explained. They
must have applicability in terms of my subject matter.
This year, students’ projects have included the lady in the lake from King
Arthur and a steamboat based on Mark Twain stories. In the past, projects have
included a sculpted bust of Edgar Allen Poe and an elaborate reconstruction of
the Globe Theater, where Shakespeare’s works were performed, with working trap
doors.
In the past, a group of students videotaped a version of the short story
Rip Van Winkle.
They recreated the short story with music, credits and were honest to the
text itself, Rutkowski said. There are no written reports. This is not a
research paper were doing here.
For students who may not be artistic, Rutkowski allows posters highlighting
rules of punctuation and grammar. Students who enjoy writing may write an
original poem or story. I give them a great deal of flexibility, Rutkowski
said.
Rutkowski hopes this approach will tap into students strengths, while they
learn about his subject.
I hope this gives students a better understanding of that particular time
or author by creating something original, he said. To put a steamboat together
you get a good idea what a steamboat looked like when Mark Twain was on the
Mississippi as an apprentice. Im forcing students to look in greater detail
and learn something about their project at a greater depth than they would
normally.
Rutkowski said many students enjoy the twice-a-year project.
Its something that breaks the routine of lectures, he said. It allows some
natural abilities to surface. Rutkowski said many students grumble when the
project is first explained to them. They soon change their minds. A lot of
times, when theyre finished they say it was neat and they didnt mind doing it
after all, he said.
The project also brings out the creativity in the students.
Its a side we dont always tap into, Rutkowski said. We have a lot of
talented kids. We dont see it until we give them something to bring those
talents out.
Rutkowski likes to assign at least one project per marking period. Next is
a portfolio.
Im going to have them asses themselves where they are and where they are
going, Rutkowski said. It makes students sit down and think about themselves.
They can do anything – cut and paste, extract from magazines, draw cartoons.
Students will also complete a research paper this year.
DAVE SCHERBENCO
1: Nanticoke Area Senior High School English teacher Raymond Rutkowski
stands next to a model of the Globe Theater, one of many creative projects
submitted twice a year by his students to develop a better understanding of
literature, authors, and the English language.
2: Senior Dave Wilkes looks at one of many English projects displayed in
teacher Raymond Rutkowski’s room.