Sunday, April 9, 2017

I Am Me.


Charles R. Smith, 

2017 Steinfirst Author-in-Residence will be spending the week with us here at Northside Elementary beginning April 17th. 

Charles R. Smith Jr., award-winning, best selling children’s author, photographer, and poet is the author of many critically acclaimed titles including Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration title My People, Coretta Scott King Honor Author Award title Twelve Rounds to Glory, 28 Days, and Brick by Brick. You may read more at this website. http://steinfirstartistinresidency.web.unc.edu/2017-residency-program/
Our students have been busy anticipating for his arrival under the guidance of our librarian Kathryn Cole, who has curated photo sessions of our student population using green screen technology to support Mr. Smith's "I am Me"  project. She and UNC SILS persons have also supported unique 4th and 5th grade book study sessions giving opportunities to small groups of our students to enrich their understanding and experience in advance of the author's arrival.  One especially lively 5th grade session was enjoyed when CJ Suitt spent time with our students as seen in the video clip on Twitter,
(Click on photo)

Students will benefit from Charles' time at Northside by creating written works describing themselves and their identities. The writing along with the photos of themselves will give them opportunity to build forms of identity and awareness of their own personas and those of others. 
Also, Charles will be giving two school presentations while he's on our campus: one to students in grades K-2 and one to students in grades 3-5. He will also spend some time meeting with UNC SILS youth services students discussing his work.