Artist-in-Residences
literacy Through the arts / king middle school
King Middle School in Portland, ME, serves the most diverse population of middle school students in Maine. More than 28 languages are spoken, and 17 countries are represented. MECA Art Education Teacher Candidates partnered with Kirsten Cappy, owner of Curious City, and Marcia Salem’s class of English Language Learners (ELL) from King Middle School, to create a bridge between art and literacy. Curious City designs and implements creative theme-based marketing for children’s authors and illustrators, aiming to strengthen relationships between children and the literature created for them.
MECA Art Education candidates read aloud the book, GOAL! written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by A.G. Ford, to Mrs. Salem’s class. Each student received a personal copy of the book. GOAL! told the story of a team of friends who come together to play soccer, and through working together, realize they can accomplish anything in spite of obstacles. Determination and team effort, universal qualities inherent in the international sport of soccer, are values inherent in Mrs. Salem’s class of ELL students as well. Opportunities to share and learn from each other transcended language boundaries in an environment where the collaborative spirit of soccer helped strengthen students’ command of action words through visual imagery.
During several visits to King Middle School throughout October, MECA Teacher Candidates worked with Mrs. Salem’s class to illustrate action verbs relating to the game of soccer. Student artwork was digitally scanned and printed onto iron-on transfer paper. MECA Teacher Candidates designed a logo for Mrs. Salem’s class
“team,” and used the student generated images of action verbs to create jersey-style T-shirts, complete with their own player numbers on the back! King students’ illustrations of action verbs were also used to make laminated posters which Mrs. Salem could display in her ELL classroom to further reinforce the ties between art and literacy. Working with Mrs. Salem’s class of ELL students at King Middle School reminded us that art connects us through a universal language, and was an extremely rewarding experience that we feel so grateful to have been a part of.
MECA Art Education candidates read aloud the book, GOAL! written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by A.G. Ford, to Mrs. Salem’s class. Each student received a personal copy of the book. GOAL! told the story of a team of friends who come together to play soccer, and through working together, realize they can accomplish anything in spite of obstacles. Determination and team effort, universal qualities inherent in the international sport of soccer, are values inherent in Mrs. Salem’s class of ELL students as well. Opportunities to share and learn from each other transcended language boundaries in an environment where the collaborative spirit of soccer helped strengthen students’ command of action words through visual imagery.
During several visits to King Middle School throughout October, MECA Teacher Candidates worked with Mrs. Salem’s class to illustrate action verbs relating to the game of soccer. Student artwork was digitally scanned and printed onto iron-on transfer paper. MECA Teacher Candidates designed a logo for Mrs. Salem’s class
“team,” and used the student generated images of action verbs to create jersey-style T-shirts, complete with their own player numbers on the back! King students’ illustrations of action verbs were also used to make laminated posters which Mrs. Salem could display in her ELL classroom to further reinforce the ties between art and literacy. Working with Mrs. Salem’s class of ELL students at King Middle School reminded us that art connects us through a universal language, and was an extremely rewarding experience that we feel so grateful to have been a part of.
To Learn More,
visit: GOAL! project blog- http://playrungoal.com/2012/11/04/goal-dribble/
Curious City- http://visitcuriouscity.wordpress.com/about/
King Middle School- http://king.portlandschools.org/
visit: GOAL! project blog- http://playrungoal.com/2012/11/04/goal-dribble/
Curious City- http://visitcuriouscity.wordpress.com/about/
King Middle School- http://king.portlandschools.org/