Skip to main content

Seeing With New Eyes


"I was thrilled to have Sandy work with my 5th graders using photography to enhance visual literacy.  She captured the interest of all students and motivated them to see differently.  The result was student engagement that resulted in commitment to learning and improved writing skills.  Each year that Sandy facilitated learning in my classroom, students reported that photography helped to make middle school learning memorable." 
~ Linda Koebert, 5th grade teacher

A very important part of my mission as a photographer is to connect young people with the power of photography, and their own power to make a difference.  For six years I have been going into classrooms and teaching children, primarily 5th graders, how to create photographs and how to connect to the world around them through this medium.


When I first began my work in the schools I connected with a program I found online, called Through Children's Eyes, Inc.  The Executive Director, Winifred Meiser, is a woman passionate to do just what I had in mind, and I signed on to participate in her program.  There was a great deal of motivational and specific informtion which helped shape that project, which I titled Seeing Ithaca With New Eyes.  The children would explore their town, taking pictures, and telling stories through their images.  What they found was amazing.


The community embraced the project, and the children presented their photographs and findings to the Rotary Club, the Lion's club, and other community businesses.  They also presented at the Youth Advisory Council Showcase, the organization which provided the grant to run our basic project.  Great experiences.  And the project paid off.

This small town community was so thrilled with the results that they took two photographs from each student and had them framed.  The larger prints now hand in the county courthouse, library and other community businesses.  The small prints are framed and hanging in the school library - prominently displayed for all to see.  I still have teachers, community members and students talk to me about that time of excitement in the lives of their children and community.  It was thrilling for everyone.


The program continues, tweaked each year to match the needs of the school, teacher, and students.  I will be highlighting their work on other pages, and through more ongoing posts.  I will also be exploring more avenues to get cameras in the hands of our young people, teaching them to look at the world around them and to find their place in keeping the world a beautiful and spirit-giving place.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100 Blessings

It's funny how a project takes on a life of its own. I started out making a list of things I'd like to take pictures of - piles of M&M's, rocks on the beach, license plates hanging on an old garage door. Then I decided it would be interesting to find 100 items about "me," celebrating my 100th post with items about me/my life/etc. This way I could tie my compulsion to blog in to my theme. So, I started THAT list. And when I was done I decided all the things I was collecting, ideas as well as items, were actually blessings. Things about my life that make me who I am and allow me to keep striving to be the best I can be at what I do. Each activity isn't necessarily a blessing, it's my ability to do the things I love to do, and be with the people I love to be with. This became an introspective activity, and that's probably where I am in my life right now. If the shoe fits..., so to speak. So, welcome to my 100th Post ! Without everyone I've met thr
23 comments
Read more

Macro Monday + One

With a little help from my friend (+1=not macro, though taken with my macro lens) Things I Love About Summer (in no particular order, though I see food appears higher on the list than does exercise.) Picnics Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Celebrations Fireworks Family reunions Quiet, country mornings Showy meadows Gentle rains Thunder storms Family gatherings Children's laughter at dusk The sound of dogs barking Windows open Gently blowing curtains Big puffy clouds Being warm Sandals The smell of fresh cut grass The sound of lawn mowers Sitting on the porch reading Time The colors Flowers GREEN Leaves on the trees Adventures Photo ops Waves on the beach Ice cream Long walks Riding bikes Having church outside at the pavilion Camping Boating Fairs Sunrise and Sunsets The Great Lakes I'm sure this isn't the entire list, but it's a good start. It could also become a "things I'm grateful for" list, as well. We need to take time periodically to reflect on all t
16 comments
Read more

Hidden Gem

Thank you, Georgia , for helping me focus on the hidden gem, the place we love to go and not be found. Not far from home...it IS home. We call it "out back," and once there we are transported to a private place, not visible from houses or road or the casual observer. I couldn't choose just one photo, so I created a collage of this special part of our world. Enjoy.
11 comments
Read more