For Sandy Anast, principal of George Rogers Clark Elementary, Changing Worlds’ Literacy and Cultural Connections program has proven to be a perfect fit. Located on the west side of Chicago in the Austin community, Clark School is entering into their second year of partnership with Changing Worlds. Teachers of the school have participated in Changing Worlds" Summer Institute, school-wide teacher professional development and the Saturday Seminar Series open to teachers at large and hosted at Clark Elementary. In addition, three classrooms have been involved in the intensive, 15-session classroom residency component of the program that also involved students of Clark"s growing special education population.
According to Ms. Anast, "Changing Worlds" program really piggybacked well with our writing focus. It brought more impact to it and reinforced our writing and arts integration. The ongoing interviewing and writing process has had a definite positive impact on students" writing skills." Principal Anast achieved a second goal with the program, that of involving parents as they participated in the interview process with their children and attended the presentation activities.
Changing Worlds" Literacy and Cultural Connections program partners with Chicago Public School teachers to develop student-centered curricula and educational practices in the classroom. Using reading, writing and the arts with authentic stories that honor and celebrate students" lives, cultures and family histories, pupils affirm their identity, explore other cultures and strengthen their academic skills.
The arts and writing are taught as separate disciplines and also are integrated with one another throughout the program curriculum to build students" creativity. The arts are also used as a tool for students to demonstrate their learning to the broader community in the form of a school-supported exhibition or performance.
