MMS biographies presented
STEVE HARTMAN/DAILY FORUM
Maryville Middle School computer applications instructor Cari Cline, center, poses with two of her “biographers,” MMS seventh graders Sarah Clawson and Kennedy Walker, after being presented with a copy of her biography Tuesday as a part of Ashley Anderson’s seventh grade language arts biography project.
Maryville Middle School seventh grade Language Arts teacher Ashley Anderson wanted to find a project for her students that covered several facets of Language Arts, such as note-taking, interview skills, graphics design and writing.
After taking a class at Northwest Missouri State University on “Engaging Learning Experiences,” Anderson found what she was looking for as her classes produced biography books for teachers and staff members at MMS.
“I wanted a project that made them work together and involved different responsibilities and skills,” Anderson said. “The students really liked this project, and I’m very pleased with the final product that we’re giving to the staff members.”
Each student was part of a three or four member team that was assigned to a teacher/staff member. Each team had a designated leader who delegated the responsibilities to each team member depending on his/her personal strengths. Together, each team interviewed the teacher/staff member for whom they were “working” for and designed a cover, collected personal pictures from throughout their subject’s life and designed double-page spreads, including the written text and graphics/pictures, for the book.
Each team had to meet weekly deadlines for submission of written text and to approve pictures and layouts. The whole process took almost three weeks to complete.
“We started the project in early February,” Anderson said. “We finished up our part in early March, and received the books right after Easter. Then it became a challenge to keep the books a secret until presentation day today.”
Anderson said each team was able to do the design for their particular book on-line, and it only took about a week for the publisher, Student Treasures, to print the books.
“Student Treasures Publishing from Topeka, Kansas was our publisher,” Anderson said. “They produced one free book for each project submitted, and also sold many copies to the students who created the books, their parents and the teachers and staff members who were the subjects of the biographies.”
Anderson said once she learned about Student Treasures and the biography project, she was very anxious to try it with a group of students.
“This seventh grade group was a perfect option for being the ‘guinea pigs’ for such a huge undertaking because they are virtually fearless and love being the first ones to do anything,” Anderson said. “Proud doesn’t even begin to explain my feeling when I opened the box and saw all the finished books. The kids did such a quality job and I am pleased with how they have stepped up during this project.
“As a teacher, projects like this are very rewarding to watch develop.”
MMS principal Kevin Pitts, who’s biography team included students Tyler Haer and Tate Oglesby, featured an Iowa Hawkeye logo on the cover and a senior picture on the inside of his biography book, was quick to compliment the project.
“This was an awesome project,” Pitts said. “Look at how excited both the students are about presenting the books to the staff members and how excited the staff members are about getting them.”
