Margaret N. and Adrian Selby Grant: Rick Labadia Author Illustrator In-Residency
- School Year: 2016-2017
- Applicants: Kirsten Sanderson, Lead Teacher
- School: Charter Oak
- Subjects: Visual Arts, Language Arts
Over a four month period residency Rick Labadia published author, illustrator and former West Hartford educator, will help students in grades K-3 at Charter Oak International Academy to see the connection between visual arts and writing in order to develop a more holistic sense of literacy. Each of the 14 Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes will meet with Mr. Labadia for four one hour sessions. Classroom teachers and school-based IB coaches will collaborate with Mr. Labadia to help students see writing and illustrating as an inquiry process that helps them both express themselves and take action on their interests and beliefs. Students will create and publish a variety of writings and illustrations and will publish their work in both traditional and digital formats; and share their publications with peers (within and across grade levels), teachers and families at our annual Inquiry Gallery, an author’s celebration and/or a student assembly. Student created publications will also be displayed in the Inquiry Room and library. The International Baccalaureate (IB) transdisciplinary theme, “How We Express Ourselves,” invites students to “discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values, [and to] extend and enjoy their creativity [and] appreciation of the aesthetic.” Each grade level will focus on one genre of writing related to their English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, integrated with their IB units and other relevant content area standards. Students will then choose from a variety of media to extend and deepen their self-expression. This project will benefit students by supporting the development of their writing skills, the connection between writing and visual expression, and their pride in persevering to create a polished final product. The project also connects to the International Baccalaureate philosophy, where students learn the importance of being well-rounded by possessing certain qualities called “learner profiles” and “attitudes