In the summer of 2011, a group of 24 rising sixth graders from the Beginning with Children Charter School and the Community Partnership Charter School studied poetry and photography through a new initiative launched by the BwCF Pathways Program. The program’s curriculum was mapped to the newly released Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and provided discreet opportunities for students to analyze literature, compose writings, explore and create socially relevant art, and exhibit their work publicly.



The Poetry and Photography Program engaged students in an interdisciplinary learning process designed to strengthen reading fluency, literature analysis, cooperative learning, and artistic and presentation skills. The program introduced students to the basics of 35mm film photography and helped students analyze the ways in which visual elements contribute to meaning, tone, and beauty of text.



This publication highlights the work of the first installment of the Foundation’s Creative Approaches to Literacy Series. We hope you enjoy this collection of poems and photography created by our students.