Teaching Media and Life to Middle School Students

A newscaster reports on the closing of a Kensington Pizza shop due to taxes owed and queries passersby on its impact. Another newscaster stands in front of a local branch of the public library which has been closed, forcing local Kensington residents of all ages to flock to the single remaining local library branch.

A team of dedicated educators get into a car service to work with teen students from IVDU, a special needs parochial school on Coney Island Avenue, who cannot afford extracurricular activities, to survey their views on financial literacy for a documentary and to celebrate with one of the students who has just passed his American citizenship test. 

These educators take time to question the new teen American citizen about his concepts of key 2012 American values. The educators from Muslim, Russian and Brooklyn backgrounds also learn about Jewish culture, and values which they decide to use for a future book will publish in June about American principles and values from 1877-2012. 

Another team of graphic artists and designers begin sifting through a vast amount of writings and art to design boards that will be used in a 2012 “L is for Literacy Expo” designed to share their ongoing creativity and that of a broad network of other leaders with a potential audience of hundreds of Kensington neighborhood residents. 

Other poets practice reading aloud their own and peer works using a microphone in preparation for a journey from 700 Cortelyou Rd. to the Bowery Poetry Club for an open mike reading and an afternoon with a working poet to share craft ideas and tips. 

Finally, a young writer works on an article for this site and one for the Florida English Journal as well as a chapter in an upcoming book on literacy and technology for ISTE to be published in 2013.

All of the above are expected and habitual snapshots from the lives of leaders in diverse fields who share the common goal of making a positive difference in a neighborhood/community lives. What is exceptional about the above snapshots of leaders in action is the age of the leaders? They are all middle school grades 6-8 full time students at .

In addition to attending a school helmed by Barry Kevorkian (who has a three decades long tenure at Ditmas as a physical education instructor, assistant principal and now principal) with a reputation for offering a menu of rigorous academic, engaging arts, outstanding sports and law/community service programming, Ditmas has a plethora of student leadership opportunities that “vivify”/authenticate literacy, learning and real life through actual immediate leadership endeavors.

Social Studies Educators—Angelo Carideo, Michael Downes, and David Liotta— work together as creative media team to frame real life, community interactive multimedia (documentary, Power Point, PSA, Video and television) opportunities for students who represent the broad spectrum of Ditmas learners (ELL, Newcomers, enrichment, CTT, special education and talent) to voice their own perspectives on local, national and global concerns as currently affect their lives. 

These 11-14 year olds realize their leadership as they get feedback on their media products and productions from student and adult peers in the community and New York City. With the support of Dr. Rose Reissman, the students have also recorded two podcasts for Teaching Financial Literacy, a teacher education podcast produced by Mark Gura for educators.  

Dr. Reissman’s Writing Institute program validates and makes writing come alive as students work on digital and published student-centered works throughout the school years. In the process of doing so, they assume various real-world publishing roles, including editors, graphic artists, photographers, peer reviewers, writers, illustrators, publicists and marketers.

Students also have the opportunity to learn from outstanding editor, author and literacy leader Andrea Pinkney at Scholastic books. Ms. Pinkney meets with student leaders twice a year. Students ran their own Literacy Expo on February 28^th which shared their ongoing teaching, networking, writing, public speaking, and presenting work with over 400 parents and students plus Ivdu guests. In March, Writing Institute students will go to the Bowery Poetry Club in Manhattan to read aloud from their original poetry (composed in Ms. Xavier and Ms. Rodriguez’s classes) and meet with a published poet. 

On May 5^th, over 20 student leaders from the media programs and the Writing Institute will go to York College for their third annual presentation of their leadership in multimedia literacy program. Their audience will be comprised of York College teacher educators under the leadership of Dr. Lindamichelle Baron. Before the school year ends, students from the Writing Institute will run their own book celebrations with readings from their print books (also to be available online) and an appearance by an adult author.

At Ditmas I.S. 62, civic and literacy leadership is not a projected student outcome, but rather an immediate ongoing outreach program that seamlessly integrates and invigorates rigorous Common Core multi-content learning and living, one book, one newscast  one  news article, and one presentation experience at a time.

Middle school can and should be the place where students assume and exercise educational, journalist, presentation, and civic community leadership roles. In doing so, they can truly experience the ways in which Common Core literacy skills, capacities, and fluencies are necessary for real world leadership success.

For  further information about Ditmas Student leadership opportunities, contact: Barry Kevorkian, Principal bkevork@schools.nyc.gov