Can creative projects improve the language and literacy skills of ...
Source: www.standards.dfes.gov.uk
Topic: Graffiti
Sort Desciption: visual language and vocabulary through graffiti art. Twenty ... develop their visual language, as well as their graffiti art. skills. ...
Content Inside: Can creative projects improve the language and literacy skills of our pupils? This summary was commissioned by the National Teacher Research Panel for the Teacher Research Conference 2006, which explored and celebrated teacher engagement in and with research. All conference materials are available at www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ntrp Aims The aims of this project were to: • improve the language and literacy skills of our pupils both written and verbal; • extend pupils’ vocabulary; • introduce pupils to a different way of learning; • improve pupils’ confidence and self esteem; and • provide pupils with positive role models. Dimensions of the study Both Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) pupils have been involved in the project. The whole project has been in three stages. • Stage one involved 20 Year 10 art & design pupils and two teachers working with four graffiti artists. • Stage two involved 20 Year 10 French pupils and three teachers working with three rap artists, two of whom were French, and one break-dancer. • Stage three involved 450 KS3 pupils and thirty teachers working with 24 artists, rappers, dancers, designers on projects linked with the geography and history curriculum. Summary of outcomes Evidence showed that at all three stages the project had an impact on the learning and behaviour of all the pupils who were involved. The main outcomes for pupils were: • improved language and literacy skills; • an increase in motivation and a decrease in behavioural problems; • increased confidence and desire to learn; • a greater awareness of the opportunities that were available to them post 16; and • an improvement in self esteem, especially among the less able pupils. Background and context The project began after a discussion with other members of staff at a curriculum working party meeting. Staff from various areas of the curriculum expressed their concerns about the pupils’ lack of vocabulary and understa ...
language,
graffiti ks3 projects