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Written by Maryellen Rogusky
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Wednesday, 17 May 2006 05:29 |
Just Buffalo and CEPA’s collaborative program at Native American Magnet called Listen! is designed to improve student performance in the English Language Arts and Photography, to provide a unique learning environment and opportunity for expression, to involve parents directly in the program and to expose the larger community to the work and accomplishments of young people in grades five and six.
Through artist-led classroom workshops, students are instructed in the creation of original photographs, poetry, and personal essay. Senior teaching literary artist Karen Lewis from Just Buffalo and senior teaching photographer Amy Luraschi from CEPA joined Native American Magnet teachers Robin Fischer, Nicole Kenney, Special Education teacher Lawrence Ronald, Principal Sixto Indalecio and staff from Just Buffalo and CEPA to create a program that, in addition to achieving ELA and Art academic goals, would involve parents in the art-making activity. The team chose Listen! as a theme rich in meaning and importance for learning in educational, social and personal domains.
After instruction in the art of photography, with slide reproductions of exemplary art photography, students involved their parents, guardians or other significant adults in the selection of subject and creation of 27 photographs. Curated for artistic merit by CEPA, one image was chosen from each student's collection to enlarge for exhibit. Next, after instruction in poetry and personal essay, students created literary art inspired by the photographic image. From the range of written work a triptych will be designed & matted, consisting of the enlarged image, a reflective essay and a poem. After a workshop for parents in literary expression, parents will produce a reflective statement or poem about the process to accompany the triptych, completing the artwork for exhibition.
The work produced will be exhibited at Native American Magnet during its Multicultural Festival in May. As an added incentive to participate, family portraits will be offered that evening at no charge by CEPA and participating students. A pubic exhibition of the work will take place in August at CEPA Gallery, celebrating this project and CEPA’s sister project Doors at Harvey Austin School.
Achievements:
- Institutionalized ESP project in state mandated School-Wide Plan; Project Director serves on Site Based Management Team;
- Joined with other programs serving the school, including Buffalo State College Junior Participant program and America's Choice program;
- Formed Consortium research Project with MUSE and YAWNY to explore the impact of ESP Partnerships in three Buffalo Public schools, with support from the NEA;
- Full participant in the Western New York Regional Leadership Network (WNYRLN);
- Leading the development of a Web Site. Secured web domain www.nams19.org.
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