“The truths are universal: Every kid knows fear. Every kid knows family and friendship. Loss, love, laughter. Everything else is just detail.”

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Media Studies and English teacher Leah Di Vincenzo on a fantastic project. This project marked the end of an extensive author study on Jason Reynolds, where students selected one of his books to read and analyzed various techniques used by writers to convey meaning and direct reader attention. To compile their portfolio, they utilized mind maps, a writer's notebook, and a reader's notebook. I joined in the final phase of the project where we delved into visual language and communication across fields such as cinema, advertising, and art. This aspect of the project reinforced the unit's emphasis on visual communication, and it was inspiring to witness the students rise to the challenge of visually representing their characters and conveying meaning through their imagery.

Through this project, students were able to explore and create within the expectations of the Ontario Curriculum, specifically in Understanding Media Forms, Conventions, and Techniques. They gained a deeper understanding of how their images convey messages to their audience and were able to experiment with different media forms. This project aimed to enhance their knowledge in the field of visual communication and showcase how everyday tools, such as a pen, can produce exceptional visual results. Moreover, we aimed to make image-making more accessible and engaging for students.