Our Visual Art Ciphers establish the intersectionality of visual arts and literature. These Ciphers require students to read a speech, discuss the themes, and then express the themes by way of a visual representation. A facilitator moderates the session, but students have the opportunity to explain their artwork to the other students. EXAMPLE: School for…
DetailsYouth demonstrate greater reading comprehension when they are provided with frequent opportunities to respond to what they read. The purpose of the Reading Cipher is to create a space for students to have meaningful discussions based on a pre-selected book. Authors participate in our Reading Ciphers and students have the opportunity to meet many of…
DetailsReading inspires the imagination and sparks the thought process. Writing transforms the imagination and thought process into action. That’s the premise behind the Words Take Flight, a program in which the YB Literary Foundation (YBLF) partnered with the Brooklyn Aviation Flying Club to introduce young people to the joy of aviation. It’s a real-life metaphor:…
DetailsStudents from A Philip Randolph, Bread & Roses Academy, Central Park East Secondary, Frederick Douglass Academy I, Frederick Douglass Academy II, Manhattan Center, Thurgood Marshall Academy, Urban Peace Academy, Wadleigh Secondary, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School participated in a cipher that featured Randall Kennedy’s Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word. After reviewing the history…
DetailsThe goal of the Sound Cipher is for students to create a contemporary soundtrack for a selected book. With the YB facilitator, students engaged in a discussion about how the songs presented connect to the characters and themes of the book. Students articulate why songs should make the final cut. Music, just one component of…
DetailsWe have several formats for our Author ciphers but they all include an onsite visit from the Author. Read and Go Deeper In this cipher the author students have the opportunity to fully engage with the Author by asking questions about the writing process, the author’s motivations for writing, themes associated with the book life…
DetailsThe Visual Art Reading Cipher incorporates the visual arts and literature. These Ciphers require students to read a speech at the site, discuss the themes verbally, and then express the themes through visual art. The speech used in this Cipher is one that was given by Shirley Chisholm in May 1969 on the floor of the House…
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