Mirrors & Windows: A Closer Look
*The event has already taken place on this date: Fri, 08/06/2021
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August 2 – 6
5 Sessions, 3 hours
Ages: 10 – 13
Deadline to Register: July 26, 11:59 pm
Instructor: Tracy Nemecek
Reading can act as a mirror, offering us the chance to see our stories reflected back to us. It also can be a window, providing views into someone else’s experiences. But what happens when the mirrors and windows we encounter in books do not reflect everyone’s stories, and do not provide accurate views? This camp will engage middle school students with exploring children’s literature from the past several decades and considering which stories have been privileged over others. Looking closely at words and illustrations, as well as noticing narratives and images that have been excluded, we will grapple with the importance of representation in literature. Using what we have learned, we will write, or re-write, stories for children that more fully embrace diverse perspectives.
Tracy Nemecek is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. As an undergraduate, she majored in Psychology and English, and discovered that bibliotherapy (the application of storytelling, reading, and literature as sources of healing) is the perfect nexus between her interests in people and stories. In her counseling work, she has applied bibliotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychoeducation to assist children, teens, and adults in both private practice and school settings to learn more about themselves; set and achieve realistic goals; and strengthen their coping skills.
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