IMPORTANT: lets have us a champagne jam

[lastnightlives]

i am teaching a digital photography/photoshop class to children in grades 4th-8th at Athenian school in Danville.

my first class period is monday at 12:45.

Does anyone have any suggestions as for 1. talking to children 2. projects 3. topics that might be of interest to humans in that age group.

brainstorm friends of the internet. go go go!

and

Comments

[moonlitnights]

illustrate everything that you are trying to teach them really slowly and really thouroughly.
Dont just explain stuff to them, have them do exactly what you explained as soon as you explain it. keep things categorized into small and simple steps.

be energetic and goofy. be positive with what they do, and encouraging. kids need a lot of positive enforcement.

you'll probably encounter a lot of different personalities. there will be shy kids, energetic kids, lonely kids, outgoing positive kids, annoying kids, dramatic kids, show offs, angry kids, goofy kids...
you have to treat them all equally but sensitively to their different needs. this means be very straight forward with the kids who are causing trouble. keep your voice low and serious with them and let them know that they are dissapointing you when they arent being nice. but let them now that they always have second chances to prove to you that they can make better choices. let them know you are interested in seeing what sort of dramatic things they can produce and interpret. as for the shy-er kids, be encouraging and joke-y with them. try to keep things positive with them and let them know you are excited to see their perspective on things.

kids can be a lot deeper than you expect if you give them a chance to really be passionate about what they are doing. let them think that they can change with world just by taking a picture, and they will believe you if you are serious about it. kids just need encouragement and inspiration.