Voices of Oakland Magazine Project

ASCEND K – 8 School, Fruitvale District (2008)

This literary magazine written and illustrated by 7th graders was a collection of student answers to the questions: What is the power of words? And how does literacy affect our lives? Students interviewed friends, family and teachers about their literacy. Hearing stories from the past, students learned about their interviewee’s opportunities and experiences learning to read, write, and speak. They also learned how literacy has affected the lives of the adults they interviewed. Each student progressed in his/her research and writing skills during the project. In addition to writing for the magazine, students also created an original portrait of themselves or the person they interviewed to accompany their published essays. They studied the human face through portraiture, and then used a transfer technique and applied tints and shades using black and white acrylics to create their portraits. Throughout this creative process, students gained communication skills and a greater understanding of the challenges faced by people in their community.