After loads of hard work and dedication, social studies teacher David Mitchell’s classes just finished their four-chapter family biography book.
The family biography project was introduced in the first week of school and ran all the way through the end of May when students turned in their publication copy. Each student picks a special family member to write a story of their lives and show history through their eyes. The book starts ten years before the birth of the chosen person and spans to the present day.
“When I first heard about the project, I thought it was a great idea, and it was. As we were going through it during the course of the year, I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of work that it was,” said junior Alex Barrera. “In hindsight, I really think it was a great project because not only did it improve my writing but it taught me how to meet deadlines, work productively, and produce a product that was high quality.
The family biography project was first introduced in the 1990s by former social studies teachers Peter Delani and Chris Fay. Delani then later went on to be Masco’s principal before retiring and Fay has recently retired. Mitchell now has his students doing the project every year and has been pleased with the results and stories students have turned in.
“What makes it special is the fact that students get to spend time with a loved one and learn about their lives. In interviewing periodically over the course of the year, they get to see how their lives are important stories to pass down to younger generations,” said Mitchell.
As enjoyable and fascinating as the project is, it’s far from a walk in the park. It requires student preparation, effort, and time management. Within a week or two before the closing of each quarter, each chapter was due. Chapter one was on the ten events that occurred ten years prior to the birth of the student’s family member and had a requirement of 2-3 pages.
“In my first chapter, I did absolutely horrible but I knew I had to make changes for the coming chapter so I put in the work and time after school and on my own time going from a C- in chapter one to an A+ in chapter two,” said Barrera.
Chapter two then was focused on childhood and adolescent years spanning to when the family member moved out of the house, and that had a requirement of 8-10 pages. Chapter three also had to be 8-10 pages and followed the journey from moving out of the house to the first grandchild. Then chapter four capped it off with more present historical events as it was from the family members first grandchild’s birth to the present, being 4-5 pages.
“Upon finishing the project, the home stretch was pretty difficult because of the revisions to be made to each chapter but I think checking over our work was a good skill to learn,” said Barrera. “The project is so wholesome, I love my family and it’s a great way to show an important person in your life that you appreciate them. We also get to alleviate the fear that old people have of being forgotten. Telling my grandfather’s story is a great feeling.
For many students, the best part was just the time they spent with their family member and the stories they were told.
“My favorite part about family bio was the amount of time I got to spend with my grandmother and truly understanding her journey to America and her upbringing,” said junior Achilleas Koutoulas. “The hardest part was the language barrier; I had to have my mom translate. My grandmother coming into this country didn’t understand the language and didn’t understand the historical significance of many U.S events.”
Despite some of the challenges, students will now have the joy of sharing their family member’s story and gifting the finished product. Even with the amount of work required, students loved the project and will continue to look back on it in a positive light.
“As long as we have loved ones to share their stories, viewpoints and wisdom, there will always be a home for an oral history project of some sort,” said Mitchell. “The students get to see history through the eyes of their grandparents. The project helps us stay connected to our family stories, to our collective past, and ultimately to each other. That’s what sharing stories and breaking bread together is all about.”
The family biography project is more than just a history project, it’s a journey through time and a tribute to loved ones. With each chapter written, students not only improved their writing skills but also gained a deeper appreciation for their family’s past. As the books are finalized and shared, these stories will live on, preserving legacies for years to come.