The Profile

Personal Flag Project

          She was withdrawn shy and unresponsive. Her hair fell across her face as if to keep her safe. Occasionally I would catch her sneak a peek across the table.

         She gave up quickly and murmured to herself “I can’t do this!”

         The activity was Tie Dying. Her task was to tie elastic bands around a piece of fabric following instructions from a photocopied hand out. I watched her, carefully I offered help. Her big brown eyes searched mine from under her hair. She wasn’t sure if she could trust me. Slowly she slid the material and elastic across the table just in reach. When I had finished she snatched it from my hand and retreated under her hair again. Not a word was murmured.

          I watched as she plugged her eye pod into her ears and moved slightly to the music. She was writing lyrics in her visual diary...this seemed to be her retreat from the class as the students laughed and chatted around her, she was oblivious in her world. 

           

         I observed her from afar today, she bounced around the room. She wore shorts. It was 12 degrees outside, icy cold. She was confident today with who she was but not with the activity. Standing at the basin giggling and laughing with the girl next to her, she allows the girls around her to do the untying of the fabric.

   

         As I observe from afar I witnessed that her life requires her to be more than just a student, a daughter and a friend...but, this is her secret for now.

         Clearly not in a good place today... Reluctant and rebellious she bit the corner of a students laptop and walked away. Sharing her rebellion she responds to a request to share some time together as “I am not a dog.” Obviously, she is facing challenges today that we are unaware of.

        The task is to take 5 photos of facial emotions. Evasive and disruptive she manages to elude the photo shoot but eventually and unwillingly as time ticks by, allows photos to be snapped.

        The image will divulge a young girl head hung low with a long fringe heavily fallen across her face, hiding her eyes of despair and her hidden anger she holds onto so tightly.

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This is a photo of photocopy of her picture.
She was very reluctant to give a picture of herself

         Pushing through the boundaries today she was accompanied by a friend who shared similar personality traits.  During class her friend threaded a blue pen through her ear lobe and proceeded to walk around class for a reaction. Her efforts went unrecognized and her behaviour unchallenged.  By the end of the session she also had a pencil threaded through her earlobe.

        Though in contrast to her outbursts in class and shock factor activities she has worked hard on her visual diary seemingly effortlessly almost fading in amongst the other students at times.

        In delight to the teacher and I she attempted the personal photos once again after being promised that they will be immediately deleted from the camera and be personal property of hers only.

  

       For the past two weeks she has come to class without her flag. This left her without any work to do. The class has been putting the finishing touches together for the final assessment.

      Her time has been spent with her ear phones firmly imbedded in her ears sitting on the table with her head in her hands. Clearly she knew she had let herself down...for now anyway.

        

         The presentation/expo is in a couple of weeks. Students, family and friends are all invited. I hope she can make it. To everyone's surprise she presented her personal flag finished today, all sown together and completed. She presents with a sense of mystery behind the tough exterior that we see. With full refusal to participate in class and a reluctance to do the work at home I am left wondering...what is her story? Will she succumb to the peer pressure she feels is so real to keep an image that protects her from what hurts her? Will she stop hurting herself and let those who care for her wellbeing help?


The Granary Cafe (the showing)

       I walk so carefully on broken glass and egg shells around her so very mindful of my presence and how she might perceive me.

       As the weeks go by she attends class mostly without her work. Often she sits on top of the table with her ear phones plugged in her ears unresponsive and withdrawn. I have witnessed the slightest of interactions between her and the other students.

      She wears a grey lead in her earlobe every week now. Her ear is of a pinkish colour and very tender looking. Often she will take a quick glance my way and on the odd occasion our eyes will meet. I give her a smile of subtle compassion and she looks away. Sometimes I feel her curiosity but mostly her sadness comes through. I get a sense of her wanting to achieve and participate but she  will she involve herself?

         There is the proudest buzz in the room. The students are showing their art work to family and friends. Cameras are flashing and joyous chit chat fills the room. I scan the room for her, I can’t see her. I ask a couple of the students if they knew whether or not she was coming....no-one knew.

         The night was coming to an end and people where leaving. I was saying goodbye when I looked across to the door there she was head down walking in alone. The teacher made a quick comment about making her feel welcome and bee lined straight over to her.

        I listened as she was told how wonderful it was she could make and how proud she should be of herself. She shrugged her shoulders head hung low and walked away... I felt gutted. This young girl struggled to hear how proud her teacher was of her for getting this far. And she looked absolutely lovely, it was obvious she had made an effort.

        I truly hope she takes someone's hand in the future to help guide her way, I feel she wants to hold someone's hand and be guided.

                   I am truly proud of her achievement!

A student writes what they are grateful for.

(Week Six) The excursion

  I was lucky enough to accompany the students on an excursion today to the National Art Gallery of Victoria. They are genuinely happy for me to be there. We set off on the bus and everybody was chatting excitably.

  When we arrived we were split into two groups. Meagan and I took a group of fifteen students and the library teacher took the remaining students.

  Our tour began. The students were engaged and focused. Freely asking questions as they moved along. I was able to answer their questions and confidently read information aloud to them. I became aware of the different way in which the students processed the information, some students acted out the information in short drama scenes. But they all worked well visually retaining information. Most students benefited with information read aloud and having their questions answered in simple terms.

  The group were respectful at all times genuinely enjoying their morning. After lunch we participated in a Zen Buddhism and tea drinking workshop with Tia Chi and an art work shop. The workshop was a great success and the students showed a high level of maturity through their curiosity.

  Today was an opportunity to work with the students on a different level in a different environment and for them to work with me. I had a wonderful experience today from managing a small group of teenage students on an excursion to clarifying and sharing knowledge and information. I felt a special bond was created today with a different level of respect that was rewarding for all of us. I feel a big shift within the group; they are growing and maturing through their art work and positive psychology. There has been a decrease in negative vocabulary, students have become supportive and encouraging to one another. It is truly wonderful to experience a shift with students that showed reluctance in the first few weeks.

(Week Five)

   The girls have a catch up meeting this morning so I am by myself for now.

  When I walked into the classroom I was greeted with lots of smiling faces and good mornings. It was a good start. Today the students are putting the finishing touches to their personal flags, sowing and decorating. Quite quickly students started to ask for assistance it was great to see they they were starting to accept me in their classroom.

Buttons for decoration

  I noticed a table of students that had not begun to decorate their flags. They looked lost. I made my way over to this table and asked them were they would like me to help them get started. Plans were made and progress begun. Their faces were amazing, they showed emotions of happiness and relaxed chatter and laughter filled the room. Even the most disgruntled of students that felt reluctance to participate were engaged.

Stamping and painting

Beads and beads

Ironing out Personal Flag

Sewing

More sewing

A Flag sewn together

Sewing the flag together

  The morning went by so fast that I didn't want it to be over. During the break I caught up with the other pre service teachers. A quick run down on the mornings meeting and a brief summary of character strengths in regards to the students.

  Back in the classroom the dynamics changed a little. The students withdrew slightly, some got louder, but the room was different. there were now four teachers in the room.

  From the meeting and earlier conversations, character strengths the students processed was on the agenda. I didn't enjoy this. I feel that this journey has been difficult for all and this morning for the first time all walls had been removed and a sense of security had been established.

  From afar I have observed students using humor to push through difficult and confronting activities in class. One student is very dramatic and plays out scenarios of a task dramatically and loudly. These students are amazing, all have conveyed courage. For some students making a personal flag has been  incredibly confronting, tears have been shed, defiance has been demonstrated, reluctance has been a common emotion for most of the students through this journey. Today I have witnessed students forgiving themselves for not producing  perfect art pieces, however, proud of producing a part of them.

  At the end of the day most flags had been finished, I looked across the room and watched a student who is autistic standing with her arm outstretched holding her flag. She was proud of what she had created and achieved.

  I am personally proud of all the students and have learnt much about them and myself through this personal flag activity.

A student sewing her Flag together.

(Week Four)

  Last week I was in class without the other pre service teachers due to various reasons. I was totally exhausted after that day, hence no reflection.

  Today the students were creatively painting, stamping and stencilling their material with words, poems, lyrics and pictures that had an appreciation of a part of who they are.



Preparing to decorate personal Flag



Personal Flag coming together

  The slight hum of excitement and busyness could be heard streaming throughout the classroom. Each and every student was occupied, almost. One student had not taken her medication because she had lost her tablets. She lay across the table crying whilst the other students went about their business. It is quite strange to see students accept this 'behaviour' as normal and do not question it.

  I have to wonder how beneficial it is to ignore this? Towards the end of the period she came to desk I was working at and asked what she could do. She had missed the instructions handed out to her earlier. No reference was made to her lack of participation in the project. She busied herself with song lyrics.

  Walking into the class in the mid of morning is slightly difficult. (This is due to our small team having meetings with Jo, Tarquem and Marcelle in the mornings). I feel that if I was in class from the start of the day I would feel better informed of what is expected of me and the students and could better allocate myself to the tasks at hand. This would also give me a better understanding of how the students are starting out their day emotionally.

  I worked closely with Mrs Murdoch (the year 12 Art teacher) today and asked her lots of questions about her teaching and her insights into teaching art. She was very open and patient with my questions. She is a very confident lady whom I feel I could learn a lot from both professionally and personally.

  After lunch I spent some time with Meagan trying to get the computer to print the students pictures out onto the tie dyes. This proved to be a challenging task. I was not fully understanding of photo shop but learnt quickly. We had  constant voices of 'is it fixed yet?' and a small group of students had gathered around to watch while they waited. I enjoyed the challenge that this computer and printer dished out and managed to learn more than I had expected. I was surprisingly calm and curious at the same time. Not once did frustration creep in but a sense of achievement because just before the bell went I successfully printed a picture onto the material.

My job next week is to station the computer and print the pictures for the students. I am also lucky enough to be able to accompany the group on an excursion to the art museum and a Chinese P.D. Meagan has briefly given me a run down of my responsibilities. It will be a personal challenge for me as they will be outside school and may very well behave differently.

Personal reflections, thoughts and positive aspects of individual students in their Visual Diaries

(Week 2)

  Today the class activity was to photograph five emotions.




   
    I was hoping that I could participate more in the activity. I was allocated to accompany four girls to the toilets as this is where they chose to take their photos.

  After the mornings talk with Jo I was a little more than apprehensive about being with them. Two of the girls were a bit more outgoing than the others and seemed to push the boundaries a little. I wasn't particularly confident with them.

  I ended being with the two outgoing girls. I stood at the entrance of the toilet door as they giggled in the mirror whilst applying their makeup. One girl proceeded to apply an ear extender in her ear. What is my role here? I stood there lightly prompting them to take photos. Not at all liking the situation I felt powerless just standing at the toilet door. Eventually they took photos giggling and then deleting them...

   On our walk back to the classroom a teacher stopped to make some light hearted jokes to one of the girls. She commented that she liked this teacher and then lengthened the conversation to tell me about her family. I listened and smiled giving her my full attention. I was pleased she had initiated a conversation with me and had shared a little of herself .

  Back in the classroom the students were working in their visual diaries planning out their personal flags. The two girls I had just spent the last hour with were now winding tape around their hands together. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of this.

  I shared my visual diary with two of the girls I had talked with last week and they shared their thoughts on 'If I were...' I feel like I have made a small connection with these girls, they were very comfortable in sharing with me and I was at ease with them. The girls asked if I would go outside and take some photos of their facial emotions.

A poem in a Visual Diary

  We shared some laughs and then suddenly things turned sombre. One of the girls revealed she had low self esteem because she didn't have a boyfriend. Inside myself I panicked. For the girls I nodded and listened. Are they confiding in me or are they testing me? Do I avoid these conversations or let them talk? I let them talk, though I did feel sick in the pit of my stomach. I feel like they are talking to me like a big sister. I am not sure I am comfortable with this. I have an open mind but Jo's words were floating around in my head. I took in every word they said but looked for an opportunity to change the subject effortlessly.

  The day was disappointingly short, although as I walked to my car feeling overwhelmed, however questioning how I express my own feelings and thoughts. It dawned on me I don't show any emotions other than happiness...

What counts to these teenagers

What is important to this student

(Week One) The Journey of Art & Positive Psychology

  The Grange Secondary College and Victoria University banded together through a Project   Partnership with pre-service teachers to incorporate a positive psychology Project for year nine students through art.
  It has been widely researched that students around the ages of 14 & 15 begin to become disengaged with school for various reasons.
This Positive Psychology Project through art is devised to engage students in a relaxed school environment through their own personal experiences through art.
  This is the first year the project has taken place. It was a success with some minor improvements to be made. Students were apprehensive at the start but soon relaxed and became engaged in a positive manner. Friendships were created with students as they came from different backgrounds but soon found common similarities amongst themselves. 
  
  Victoria University asked if I was interested in a Positive Education Project with year nine students at The Grange Secondary College in Hoppers Crossing.

 We would be working in a small team with the principle Jo, Tarquem and Marcelle from VU and Meagan the students teacher. There would a team of four students from VU involved.

    The students were to create a Personal Flag.

The Personal Flag is a personal statement of who the students are and what makes them whom they are. Some students drew on religion and others musical lyrics. The students were able to decorate their Flags with beads, materials, paints, wool, ribbons and anything that was relevant to them. The students worked with a visual diary documenting each step of their flag. VU students worked along side and with the Grange students but it proved to be difficult, therefore the VU students were instructed to solely work with the year nine Grange students.

  At the end of the term the students work was put on exhibition at The Granary in Sunshine. Maureen from VU organised this in conjunction with the VU students and the Grange staff. All of the students personal flags were hung on display, food and drink was provided and speeches were made. Majority of students attended with either family or close friends. Everyone whom attended looked exceptionally well dressed with the students proud of their achievements.
  The night was a huge success as was the project.

Week One at the Grange.

  Sitting in the foyer of the office my heart is beating loud as my stomach swirls with the unknown. Small talk circulates our small team as we wait patiently in the foyer.

  Suddenly Jo walks in with this life-size smile and an abundance of energy. Welcome words are spoken soothing and comforting. I feel my nerves slowly sliding away with my mind now being filled with eager anticipation and enthusiasm.

  We are lead to the classroom with the quickest introduction and Jo leaves. Standing there in silence and eyes of questions are searching us. For an instant I feel like I am a student myself waiting for instructions or a task to be given. The class continues as we stand on the side watching.

  I move to the corner of the table and smile as I say 'Hi'. I'm very conscience of my presence at the table. The students talk amongst themselves aware of my presence at the table but sceptical of talking to me at this stage. The task of following the tie dye procedure starts. I join in with passing the materials around and taking some for myself. I grasp this great opportunity to mingle and ask questions though very mindful of my presence.

   As I join in I ask for reassurance of the task at hand. I didn't direct my question at any any student in particular I left it open for any of them to respond to me. I was mindful of be relaxed and respectful as I talked.

  Slowly the students were correcting my procedures and asking for my help. I was so grateful for their acceptance of my sudden intrusion into their classroom.

Students glued first attempt of Tie Dye into Visual diaries describing the type and method.

Concertina Fold

Traditional

A finished product of two different colours of Tie Dye

  After lunch I positioned myself in the same position. As the girls created in their visual diary's they asked me questions about why I was there. The small talk lead into a conversation about their families and their backgrounds. I was slightly overwhelmed at their sudden openness. I listened and at the end of the day I thanked them for their help with the Tie dying procedures.


   The day was not an easy day, but it was an insight into teenagers and whats important to them. I am left wondering what my role is in the classroom. Do I focus on their concerns? I am very mindful of what they are sharing with me...should I be redirecting their concerns to the task at hand?