I keep leaning towards collage when I'm trying to come up with an activity for the day. I love the collaboration that occurs when the residents share their ideas with each other and engage in relevant conversations as a direct result from the activity. This seems particularly noticeable during collage. Also, they respond very well to the constructive nature of this kind of activity. As usual, I tried to bridge the gap between verbal and expressive communication- today using text as a crutch. I asked them to flip through magazines and cut out an appealing picture. Then, I asked them to cut out words that they might be able to create a poem from which would ultimately pertain to their picture. They responded well at first- though I encountered more resistance and hesitation than usual. One individual in particular became rather frustrated, and in the end didn't consider her project to be successful. Again- the most difficult aspect of this group has been convincing them that the process is the important factor, and that remains true whether or not the physical results of the activity seem successful.
This idea was much easier to present to my eight year-old sister than it has been to the residents. Kenley has had a few months less than nine years of product reinforcement- compared to the lifetime of ideas that each of the Longview residents have come to place faith in. Most difficult to convince of process-importance have been those individuals who consider themselves to be artistically inclined. I expected this, but I think I have also underestimated these same difficulties in those less familiar with artistic expression.
This idea was much easier to present to my eight year-old sister than it has been to the residents. Kenley has had a few months less than nine years of product reinforcement- compared to the lifetime of ideas that each of the Longview residents have come to place faith in. Most difficult to convince of process-importance have been those individuals who consider themselves to be artistically inclined. I expected this, but I think I have also underestimated these same difficulties in those less familiar with artistic expression.
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