Cage Elementary and Project Chrysalis: Read, Write, & Create after school program funded by CASE
The Read, Write, & Create Art! Program at Cage Elementary is for grades Pre-K through 5. The students study the creative concepts and techniques of famous artists such as Diego Rivera, James Denmark, and Wassily Kandinsky.
The students shared their after school art with their school day teachers. This "learning connection" served as a bridge between school day and after school hours.
Mrs. Annel Monreal, Cage K-5 Ancillary teacher participated in “learning connection” and made these comments when interviewed about the program:
“I believe this class provides a great opportunity for students to express their artistic abilities. The teachers are great with the students and always encourage them to be creative, especially when they come across a concept that is difficult to understand. They also provide a safe environment where students are allowed to make mistakes without being embarrassed. I always hear both teachers encourage and then say something like, ‘that piece is very creative. I like the way you drew that and how you used your colors.’ The teachers have always provided positive reinforcement even when the students doubted themselves!”
The students in the writing program at Chrysalis Middle were older than the kids in the Cage art program. The basic ideas and procedures that worked with the kids on the Cage campus succeeded with the older middle school students at Chrysalis. Respect, praise, creativity, and encouragement meant as much to the Chrysalis students as it did to the Cage kids. Writing employs a child’s knowledge, empowers a child’s capacity to learn, and enables a child’s potential to grow and become fulfilled. Themes and ideas were presented to the students for their own reactions, interpretations, and expressions. The initiation and completion of projects proceeded in an environment that was structured but wasn’t excessively pressured. The students were shown the same basic respect we have for the innate creative capabilities of every girl and boy. Our respect for that capacity enhances the student’s self-respect and self-confidence.
The students enjoyed translating their writing projects into multimedia presentations. They expressed themselves with more clarity and speed as the year progressed. Some of the students even included photos they had taken themselves in their multimedia Power Point presentations.
The student writing from the program at Project Chrysalis will be published this summer in Orbit.
We would like to thank CASE which is a part of Harris County Department of Education for funding this After School Initiative program, Cage principal Dr. Jose Covarrubia, Ebony Blacklock, after school coordinator and Read, Write, & Create Art! teachers Reginald Sidney and Francisco Montes.
CASE AFTER SCHOOL INITIATIVE IS FUNDED IN PART BY:
