For nearly 14 years I have been taking a photo (nearly) every day and posting it to social media, specifically to Instagram (you can find me @kd0602. In many ways it is a part of my writing practice. The camera helps me pay attention and when I pay attention words begin to flow. (I also started my blog at about the same time)
I’ve also gotten in the habit of sharing my photography practice with my students, specifically teaching them some techniques to try on in their photography. Last week I showed first graders examples of photos taken from a bug’s eye view, a bird’s a view, and using the rule of thirds. They were excited to try this out! We headed out to our school garden where students were to take three photos using each technique. (And to try not to all take the same photos!). We returned to the classroom to take a close look at the 9 photos and select the one that would then become the basis of the writing we would do.
I was pleased with these first grade photos. I can see the bug’s eye view, the rule of thirds, and the bird’s eye view (and my students were eager to explain their perspective to me!).
Thinking Through My Lens 
I always enjoy your posts about teaching your little students with photography. I am so impressed that you are able to have them take their own pictures, rather than just look at them. It makes me want to throw away all my years of teaching literature and just take photographs and have writing workshop with little kids! Your first line is so poetic, and you should definitely do something with it later on. Your students writing is brilliant and you should tell them that a big grown-up teacher from far away thinks they are amazing!
I also always enjoy reading about how you incorporate photography in your classroom, and am forever impressed by how you teach your kids about figurative language. I don’t enjoy how you add to my book bill regularly when you mention amazing texts! lol Yes, I just ordered How to Sing a Song.
I’ve been using Kwame’s book How to Write a Poem in my poetry workshops in the schools. We talk about all the figurative language. He is a master. Thanks for sharing the work of your amazing students.
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