Our students come to us from all around New York City after starting at other high schools. One of the ways that they join our school community while maintaining their neighborhood identity is by documenting their life at home or their trip to school or a significant aspect of their neighborhood.
When traditional schools don't work for our kids, they come here.
For many this is the first chance they've had to truly explore the wonders of photography. We are an extremely diverse school, ethnically, socioeconomically, and in terms of learning styles and abilities. Many of our kids come from incredibly difficult home situations, and all have left their previous high schools for one reason or another. To help them rediscover the joys of learning, our classes are built around our students' curiosity. In photography this means teaching kids to observe their surroundings and see what's important and interesting to them. Our students actually become young photographers, creating photo documentaries of their worlds. And when our kids are personally engaged in their work, they thrive as artists and as students.
My Project
Our photography class (each semester) needs these cameras so that every student in the class can take home their own camera to focus on whatever they're most interested in. Some of them will shoot and edit photo essays of their families, some will focus on people in their neighborhoods, and others will spend their time shooting the rooftops or the water towers or something else that piques their curiosity. They will present their photographs in a workshop with the rest of the class. Their classmates will critique the individual photographs and will also give them feedback on how the group of photographs works together. They will continue working to improve their collection of photographs and to make sure it says what they want it to say. If they are using this project as their Creative Arts Proficiency, a professional photographer will critique their work, and they'll then complete the project using that feedback.
Through creating their own photo essays our students grow as young photographers and editors.
They also develop confidence in their ability to see and interpret their own world. Donating to our project will give our students the equipment they need to truly flourish as young artists and students!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Walzer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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