English 7 students are finishing up their novel study on Jordan Sonnenblick's Zen and the Art of Faking It.

 Much of the story centers around identity, standing out/blending in, and what makes us us. Using the characters as examples, students worked to identify and articulate how our choices and behavior can be a reflection of our values and experiences. The unit culminates with an Identity Project, where students make an in-class presentation about key moments in their lives, the lessons they learned from those moments, and some of their values.

Students have benefited not only from presenting about themselves but better understanding the life experiences and perspectives of their peers. The presentations also provide an opportunity for students to practice their public-speaking skills as they work on making strong eye contact, avoiding a monotone voice, and presenting with confidence.