Sharing our stories, making a difference

LISTEN, I READ
BOOK: FISHTAILING
AUTHOR: WENDY PHILLIPS

Using the novel Fishtailing as an anchor text, students will create their own poems describing their relationships with bullies. These poems will be shared with other students as a means of creating dialogue about how the actions of one person can truly make a difference in the lives of others. Students will also create an action plan to engage other students at the school in standing up to bullying, culminating in a video of the students performing their poetry as well as a website with links to anti-bullying organizations.

Update (February 23, 2012)

We have completed our reading of the novel and I have to say, my students totally surprised me. They not only loved the book, but became engaged with the characters and the issues that each character is dealing with. As a class, we have decided that the information that my students share with their peers should focus less on the broad topic of bullying and more on the specific demons faced by the characters; more specifically: cutting, depression, substance use and suicide. Right now we are in the process of really "getting in the heads" of the characters and researching information that can be shared with other high school students.