Click on the links below to see individual class photo slideshows and Padlet collages with correspsonding creative writing. A special thanks to Ligon PTA, teachers and staff for the opportunity to work with Ligon 8th grade students and teachers. I really enjoyed seeing the world through their lens and words.
Below: sample of student photos from all class periods. See specific class period link for their A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words final products.
Here are some excerpts of students' writing shared during the open mic on the last day of our residency, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.
This is one of my favorite prose pieces from the residency.
"Exit"
By: Saliman P.
Don't exit life with regrets. I'm scared, really scared. When I'm an adult I don't want to be lying in my bed thinking that "I should have done this or I should have done that differently." Perhaps I'm thinking way too far in the future. I just want to be a kid. I feel like I have a lot of pressure on me as a kid. Or it could be teenage hormones. I feel like my life is not that bad. Other people have it harder than me. I'm just scared of the future, that's all.
What I'm scared of.
I'm scared of the unknown.
I'm scared of not being successful in life. I'm scared of letting my parents down. I'm scared of not going to college and getting an education.
"Exit"
By: Saliman P.
Don't exit life with regrets. I'm scared, really scared. When I'm an adult I don't want to be lying in my bed thinking that "I should have done this or I should have done that differently." Perhaps I'm thinking way too far in the future. I just want to be a kid. I feel like I have a lot of pressure on me as a kid. Or it could be teenage hormones. I feel like my life is not that bad. Other people have it harder than me. I'm just scared of the future, that's all.
What I'm scared of.
I'm scared of the unknown.
I'm scared of not being successful in life. I'm scared of letting my parents down. I'm scared of not going to college and getting an education.
Below are photos I took of Ligon Middle School. I shared these photos with students and teachers to frontload the photography aspect of the residency because it was condensed from a five-day residency to a three-day residency. Here is the link to the frontloading (Flipped) lesson teachers shared with students before my visit.
See individual class links (above) for students' written work. Student photos and written work are on Padlet collage board.
If you are interested in learning more about Megan Oteri's program, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words on the United Arts Council and other rosters throughout North Carolina, contact her at [email protected]. Megan also offers STEAM residencies and workshops that use LEGO® manipulatives as a learning tool. Visit BrickScholars.com for more information or contact [email protected].