N.F.L. - CEHS Speech Team Takes the Field CEHS teachers Lisa Melanson & Richard Mullen

"Two summers ago, I attended Harvard Graduate School of Education’s summer institute, Project Zero, through a grant from the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation.  The seminar helped me appreciate the concept of performance as a key to literacy.  As David Perkins, one of the directors of the Project Zero Institute emphasized in a memorable key-note address, students must “play the game,” not spend countless years simply learning the rules.  He gave the example of Little League: would we consider instructing young girls and boys in the encyclopedic rules of the game before allowing them on the diamond?

His question caused me to wonder how one could infuse opportunities for performance, and hence, the desire for mastery of literacy skills, in our high school students’ educational experience.  I have striven to incorporate the principles of performance learning into the goals of enriching students’ literacy and presentation skills as the new Speech Team Advisor. Along the way, I have had crucial assistance from community volunteers who have served as assistant coaches and as judges at tournaments. 

The 34 students of the Speech Team have worked over the last four months to hone their technique, attending Saturday tournaments near and far, including tournaments held at Scarborough, Maranacook, Poland, Deering, and Skowhegan High Schools.  The N.F.L. Night served as a warm-up to the state championship tournament in Brunswick on the 31st, where the team earned a Third Place trophy."    Lisa Melanson