My Lens Is My Voice

Send A Message

Fig. 1:  One groups' image with the message they chose to share about the plastics issue.  

Displayed and taken by the students in the group. 

With Bren Slade in Mrs. G's class 2019. 

Day ONE in Mrs. G's Classroom.

I began by administering a quick age-appropriate assessment I developed in researching and planning for my project.  I created it simply to illustrate how the students critical thinking skills may develop over the course and how the students may begin to think more deeply about photography as well as all images around them.  My background in education and experience with this age group in the classroom was pinnacle in having ideas about how to go about this.  The children completed the open ended, paper-based assessment quietly and individually at their tables.

A LITTLE MIND TRICK 

AND INSTA STREET CRED

I know from experience in working with children it is important to establish a relationship and desired atmosphere as quickly as possible.  Typically I do this through my own style of child management that leans toward a classroom community atmosphere and mutual respect.

After the kids finished the assessment I asked them to stand.  I explained that I used to teach in the 4th grade and one thing I was pretty good at was remembering students names.  Very quickly I asked them to state their first name and they did so down the line and rows of students.  As soon as the entire class has had a turn to state their name I asked them to cover their name tags and I began at the beginning and re-recited all their names correctly.

MIND BLOWN!

I've found this little exercise gives me instant 'street cred' among the students.  They respect me for being 'with it' but really I believe the respect actually comes from the affirmation they get when I call them each by name.  Names are power.
(confession note- though I pride myself on being a with-it teacher I am quick, but not THAT quick.  Obviously I went around and learned their names from their name tags while the students quietly completed the assessment. Tee hee hee.)


ANTICS OVER

NEXT we got down to business.  I gathered the students in the area we call the 'kiva' which is a row of stairs curved in a semi circle and great for presentations.  We started with a slide show and discussion on the very first cameras then followed through with all the different reasons someone might take a picture.

I was validated in this approach after reading chapter 4 in Wendy Ewald's book, I Wanna Take Me a Picture; Teaching Photography and Writing to Children (2002). This is JUST how she begins with the children she works with.

We then talk about their GeoChallenge and the messages they might choose to share through photography.  Each child quietly brainstormed all the many messages that might encompass the issue with Plastics and the environment and then together as groups they choose one message to share white board and marker style.

This exercise is also a strong practice for team building.  They work together to decide on a message but also have to start distinguishing between the strengths and weaknesses of each team member.  Which member is best to write on the card?  Who and how will the image would be displayed?  Which member will work the camera? 

We talked about long messages and short.  Spelling things correctly and capturing them so the message is what stands out.

Fig. 2:  A second groups' image with the message they chose to share about the plastics issue.  

Displayed and taken by the students in the group. 

With Bren Slade in Mrs. G's class 2019. 

The children exhibited high levels of engagement.  There was well executed dialogue between many of the groups.

We started with WORDS since this was a strength of the students in the class.  The next activity will then challenge the group to express the Exact SAME Message but in imagery only.  This will help the students start to transfer to 'seeing' things more visually.

THESE Students are passionate and want to have a VOICE.  I'm excited to help them share that voice through the lens of photography.  

EWALD, Wendy. 2002. I Wanna Take Me a Picture; Teaching Photography and Writing to Children. Massachusettes; Beacon Press.