This post is by member Joseph Pizzo.
Every effective teacher I know has flourished in the classroom setting because one goal remains paramount: to give students every opportunity to thrive in a productive learning environment. Moreover, when a student produces something truly special, the effective teacher seeks ways for that student to gain additional recognition for a job well done.
As my students were reading Lois Lowry鈥檚 , in which color plays a significant role, I assigned a special project: , or poems written in text but presented in a digital format. Platforms included films, posters, screencasts, , and more.
The results were amazing. Students created slideshows, screencasts, and posters that were intricate in both design and description. One screencast contained a poem so powerful that I knew just assigning it a grade would not be enough. Michael, one of my most gifted writers, deserved additional recognition for his digi-poem.
Michael had approached me during the composition phase of the digi-poem assignment to let me know he was having a problem. He wanted to change the focus of his poem from general colors to the red, white, and blue of our American flag. I told him to follow his instincts and begin his new poem.
During our class the next day, Michael returned with the draft of his new poem entitled 鈥淪tars and Stripes.鈥� His description of the color red included 鈥淎 cardinal spreading its feathers鈥� and 鈥淎 copper forge bursting with sparks.鈥� White included 鈥渁 melange of colors in opalescent form鈥� and 鈥淭he chilly, crisp snow crackling beneath your feet.鈥� Blue included 鈥淭he foamy bubbles at the tops of waves as they crest鈥� and 鈥淲aves filled with the sorrow of a thousand sailors.鈥� Michael had honored our flag by noting that 鈥淭he morals / Purity / Innocence / Vigilance / Valor / Hardiness / And justice coalesce into a great country.鈥�
Since Michael had written such a powerful and inspiring tribute to our American flag, I knew at once that I needed to share his work with our military. I proceeded to reach out to as many sources as I could think of, and I received two wonderful replies. The first came not from the military but from Dr. Sylvia Lyles, director of the US Department of Education鈥檚 Office of Academic Improvement. Dr. Lyles, who received my email on Flag Day, praised both Michael鈥檚 efforts and that of all my students. She stated that she would keep my contact information for future reference. Michael though this was 鈥渃ool.鈥�
The Office of Veterans Affairs asked me to write a guest blog featuring Michael鈥檚 digi-poem and an explanation of the project. I was honored to author a , especially since it was scheduled to appear on the website of the Office of Veterans Affairs on July 4, 2016. When I mentioned this to Michael, he smiled the broadest possible smile.
When I shared the aforementioned replies with 起点传媒Vice President Jocelyn Chadwick, she told me she would like to feature these events on the 起点传媒website. The Fordham University Graduate School of Education posted my guest blog containing Michael鈥檚 poem. Both Michael and I received an invitation from New Jersey Congressman Leonard Lance鈥檚 office. Congressman Lance presented to Michael an American flag that has flown over the Capitol, as well as a certificate of achievement. NCTE, the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, the National Education Association, and the New Jersey Association for Middle Level Education have all requested photos from the ceremony at Congressman Lance鈥檚 office. US Senator Corey Booker sent Michael a note in which he told Michael that 鈥淸i]t is an honor to congratulate you as your poem, 鈥楽tars and Stripes,鈥� is . . . a wonderful tribute to the members of our armed forces.鈥� Furthermore, Executive Director John Keith Schwarz of the U.S.S. Houston CA-30 Survivors Association and Next Generations has invited Michael and his family to attend the association鈥檚 2017 annual conference, where Michael will read his poem to begin the conference and lead the Pledge of Allegiance the next day.
All of this recognition for both Michael and his poem has energized both Michael and me. Most important, I believe I have done the job I originally set out to do: find additional ways for a special student to gain additional recognition for a job well done.
Joseph S. Pizzo has taught English for 41 years (42 overall) at Black River Middle School in Chester, NJ. An adjunct professor at Centenary University and Union County College, a member of Fordham University鈥檚 Digital Literacies Collaborative and of the NJ Schools to Watch, NJCTE, and NJAMLE Executive Boards, and an Educator of the Year recipient from NJCTE and NJAMLE, Pizzo was one of the first inductees into WWOR-TV Channel 9鈥檚 A+ for Teachers Hall of Fame. The host of NJAMLE鈥檚 鈥淭he Top of the Middle鈥� online, Pizzo is also an active author, poet, church lector, and Boy Scout merit badge counselor.