Levi answered questions in ways that the children could understand and they soon became relaxed in his company. By the end of the project, their attitude towards him was close to adoration. They wanted to copy him, making and wearing headbands like his, and even copying how he stood, so it was inevitable that they absorbed his love of words and philosophy that 'words paint pictures'.
Levi worked with the children in all curriculum areas, talking, discussing and weaving in stories, and the children began to respond with confidence.
He told them stories from his African motherland and asked the children to suggest endings. He talked to the children about rhyme, rhythm and alliteration, and together they made up poems, sometimes based on nursery rhymes. The children quickly grasped the concept of rhyme and produced a booklet of their own work which included this poem: I was playing with a ball and bat
I was wearing my sun hat
I tripped and fell on the mat
And I squashed the poor old cat.
Levi had written a poem about books, to be published in his new book From page to stage (Headland Publications, 2005) and the children adopted the chorus as Levi's theme song so that whenever he appeared they chanted: BOOKS are cool
BOOKS are fun
BOOKS should be read
By everyone.
They wanted to hear the poem again and again, and Levi would recite a section, such as ...
BOOKS with Witches
Casting spells
BOOKS that you can
Scratch and smell
picture BOOKS
that have no words
BOOKS on insects
BOOKS about birds
... and the children would come in again with their chorus.
At the end of the project, Levi and the children gave two poetry-reading performances for older pupils, parents and the community. As a result of the project, the children's communication, language and literacy skills have improved dramatically. They have developed newfound rap (rhythmically applied poetry) skills and can identify a Jamaican accent with ease.
