Keepin' It Real (Click for Project Description)
Teacher Reflection: This is our second year working with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and their amazing team of artists and educators. We feel so incredibly fortunate to work with such talented and passionate people, and really excited about the possibilities of what students can dream up and create. This year, we worked with Ms. Akiko, Mr. Christian, and Mr. Max, and instead of only one 9th grade team working on this project, it was an entire 9th grade level project. Students worked on projects connected to issues they care about--stereotyping, gender norms, social expectations, humor, culture, fear, technology, and so much more. There are a lot of challenges when doing projects with students that have multiple different possible outcomes. In this project, our team of 60 students were working on 16 totally different projects, with different themes, questions, research, and products. Managing so many pieces of work is a challenge, but it is a challenge that we accepted because in accepting it, we also invited in student voice, choice, and passion to enter our work together. Each project was radically different, but when students are asking the tough questions, how can we stop them from exploring the answers? Exhibition was absolutely amazing. Over 500 people showed up to see our students' work, to question it, interact with it, appreciate it, admire it, and celebrate it. There was a wait to see the exhibition--it was so full, it was at capacity! Our students were incredibly eloquent as they talked about their work. They were able to articulate complex ideas in simple ways, and everyone who came up to us to give feedback including the curators, parents/families, and donors/patrons, were wildly impressed by our students, their work, and the beautiful and professional ways that they carried themselves throughout the evening.
