WINGS students benefit from photography program

Sinclair Laird Elementary School teacher, Natascha Shena, has taken a creative approach when integrating digital literacy in her classroom.  

 Last year, the former art teacher introduced photography to her fifth-and sixth-grade students at the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) school. 

 Having recuperated a dozen digital cameras, she invited a journalist into the classroom to lead a three-week photography module. Students learned the fundamentals of photography, including composition and editing, and practiced writing captions for their images. 

 Inspired by the success of the project, Shena said she was eager to reintroduce photography into her curriculum this year. She is now working with a class of four senior Working on Individual Needs to Grow and Succeed (WINGS) students. Unique to the EMSB, WINGS is a self-contained (or closed) class within a regular school with a smaller teacher student ration, designed for elementary aged students with autism. 

 Despite the additional challenges, Shena was determined to adapt the digital photography project to the needs of her students. 

 “WINGS classes get passed over for these opportunities because people assume that they can’t handle those situations […] but I still think that there’s a lot that they can get out of it,” she said. 

 Each week, Shena’s students participate in a 30-minute photography session led by a journalist. They are assigned a theme and explore different areas of the school – such as the stage or sensory room – using props and creative prompts. Occasionally, they even go on outdoor photo walks, capturing unique shots of the surrounding community. 

 Shena has seen firsthand how photography benefits her students. One “asks for pictures of things all the time now!” she said. Another one is intrigued by the sound the camera makes. Beyond developing technical skills, the project has provided her students a new way to express themselves. 

 “It’s kind of neat to see the stuff that they come up with artistically,” she shared. “It gives you a little bit of a window into what they’re looking at specifically.” 

 Shena added that she has inspired other teachers at Sinclair Laird to follow suit. “I think everybody should be doing this. It’s a very worthwhile program. The kids really like it, and they are improving,” she said. 

 Earlier this month, the senior WINGS teachers helped set up a second photo gallery, displayed outside their classrooms, to showcase the students’ work. Their first exhibition in December was a success, allowing the entire school to appreciate their talent.