Where the project started.
THE IDEA
The Rethink Homelessness project actually started in two of the junior English courses. A small group of four students planted the initial seed for the focus on homelessness when they showed interest in the issue during first trimester. From there, Mrs. Mason built the project around the driving question "What is our community's perception of homelessness and how can we help prep for the school wide service project third trimester?" She launched the project with her English 11B students, who would serve as the pilot group, in January 2015. The focus of the project progressed as students dug deeper and deeper into the issue.
THE PILOT GROUP
The pilot students in the junior English courses read excerpts from various novels that discussed homelessness, including Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard, current articles that focused on the issue, studied photographs by Lee Jeffries, and even watched the Hallmark film, From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. Throughout this process students discussed their personal perceptions of what it meant to be homeless and how their family views as well as community views dealt with the issue at the local, state, and national level. Then, the question of what causes homelessness came up in discussion and students worked in groups to research and present on an issue of their choice. Issues included youth homelessness, elderly homelessness, veterans, addiction, race, and many others. Students then presented those issues to the class.
In the second phase of the pilot project, Mrs. Mason posed the question, “How can we modify this project for the third trimester school wide service project in order to raise money and awareness? Students shared feedback on their favorite parts of the project including what they liked or disliked about certain readings, reflections, discussions, and activities. Then they worked in groups to create a timeline proposal -- or six week calendar in which they suggested activities to keep (or toss) as well as the order activities should be rolled out to the student body. They came up with the three phase structure -- education, taking action, final celebration. These phases can be see at the navagation bar top of this page. Click on one to read more.
SCHOOL WIDE
The students who participated in the pilot project believed it was important to discuss and educate the students on what it truly meant to be homelessness. So many of these pilot students changed their views and perceptions throughout this process that they wanted others to do the same. Then in true Eagle Tech Academy fashion, they wanted the student body to take action by answering the simple question, “What can we do about it?” After taking action they wanted the school to be able to come together to celebrate our new insight into the issue of homelessness. These are the three phases that were implemented from March until the end of the school year.
The learners in the junior English courses were truly the guinea pigs for this project and their efforts, patience, and insight were really a large part of making this project happen.