Let’s talk about Art!
Do you know the adage that “the way you do anything is the way you do everything?” Have you ever been baffled by this or other sayings? I have. Yet every so often something happens, or a wise person speaks, and momentarily, we understand with clarity what that wisdom means to us. In advising us about “How to Talk to Children About Their Art,” this week’s guest Lower School blog writer, art teacher Ann Schaumburger, vivifies how we should do many things with our children in a way that leads them to dialogue, feel genuine accomplishment, and reflect on their learning. Listen. Slow down. Validate. Observe. Notice. See below for a wonderful read.
~Namita
From the Lower School Art Room
How to Talk to Children About Their Art
by Ann Schaumburger
It is helpful to the growth of your child to validate and appreciate his artwork without bringing in value judgments. By describing the elements of the work and listening to what your child is saying, you are supporting his unique expression and helping your child grow in self-confidence in his visual response to the world.
When your child brings home her artwork and says, “Look what I made to day,” what should you say? Take a deep breath and look at the work. Think about what you notice about the color? What are the lines doing? Are they in a configuration that suggest an animal or a person or a house or are they marks that are long, short, fat or thin going in an up and down direction or zigzagging side by side? Then you might say, with enthusiasm, “I notice those long shapes and that small circle look like a person. I can see those long shapes in blue make the legs and I can see those lines in brown look like the hair.” At this point you might find your child telling you about her work.
As you continue to look together with your child at his artwork, it is helpful to make connections to his previous work. “Last time I noticed how you made this person in green pants and this time the person is in striped pants. I can really tell this person is running because you made bent legs and the arms are out. Last time, I noticed the person had straight legs. You and your child can become visual detectives together by noticing how visual clues convey meaning. “I really can tell it is autumn in your painting because the color of the leaves on the trees are orange, red and yellow.”
By using descriptive language when responding to your child’s artwork you are creating a dialogue for continuing discussion with your child about her growth in art and her growth as a person.
LOWER SCHOOL NOTES & ATTACHMENTS
(click on the links below to view and print information from teachers and specialists.)
- Tasha and Molly’s second grade: (0115-2-TMletter)
- All grades: Please click here for the ‘at a glance’ calendar for the 2008-09 school year.
UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Monday, January 19 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday-School closed
- Tuesday, January 20, 8:45 am – LS POCOC Meeting
- Wednesday, January 21, 6:00 pm – Parent SEED Meeting
- Thursday, January 22, 8:40 am – Adoption Committee Meeting
- Friday, January 23, 8:45 am – “Navigating Social/Emotional Development in Fourth Grade” Parent meeting with Roberta
- Friday, January 23, 5:00 pm – Karamu!
- Note: the January 24 Coffee House is cancelled and be rolled into the February 7 Coffee House
- Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 pm: Bringing the Conversation Home (Charlton Street Library)
- Thursday, January 29, 8:30 am: Bringing the Conversation Home(Sixth Avenue Cafeteria)
- For an up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
* * *
A Message from Phil: As promised in last week’s blog… please click here (http://blog.lrei.org/msnews/mlk-day-service-opportunites/) to read Phil’s blog with a list of community service opportunities for the coming holiday weekend.
* * *
Food Drive Alert! Lower School will be having another food drive for St. John’s Food Pantry during the last week in January. Bins will be placed on each floor, and items should be placed in these bins. Look for signs around the Lower School listing the items that are needed.
* * *
Save the Date for Karamu! Friday January 23rd… Karamu! is a multicultural celebration of music, dance, and food celebrating the diversity of our school and community. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 22nd.…Karamu! always sells out; get your tickets early (discounted tickets available – contact Juliet Burrows: julietburrows-at-mac.com. We need food and volunteers!..Sign up boards are in the 6th Ave. lobby – please volunteer and join this wonderful community building event. If you would like to solicit a donation of food or wine from a restaurant or business please use this letter (PDF) and forward information to Juliet.
* * *
A message from Chap, Director of Diversity and Community
Bring the Conversation Home: Strategies for addressing challenging diversity topics your child brings home, Socioeconomic Class Part II (PDF). Join us for one or both of the following PA Diversity Discussions with Dr. Patricia Romney:
- Wednesday January 28, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium
- Thursday January 29th, 8:45-10:45 AM in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria
* * *
Congratulations again to the members of the Middle School Robotics Teams who continued their winning ways with excellent performances at this past weekend’s FIRST Lego League Manhattan borough competition. Both teams have now qualified for the citywide competition that will take place at the Javits Center in March. Click here (http://www.lrei.org/midschool/robotics.html) for more information and pictures of the event.
* * *
From Middle School principal Mark Silberberg: On the subject of achievement, we want to acknowledge our 2008-2009 Irwin Scholars. The Irwin Scholars program is a merit-based scholarship that recognizes eighth graders for their sustained commitment to academic excellence, active participation in the life of the Middle School, service to the community, demonstrated leadership, and the potential to serve as a community leader in the High School. This year we had a most excellent cohort of applicants; this made the selection process all the more difficult because the quality of applicants was so strong. I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the faculty and administration to all of the applicants for their thoughtful essays and am pleased to share with you the 2008-2009 Irwin Scholars. They are Isabella, Liam C., David, Thomas, Edith, Dominic, and Anna.
Also from Middle School principal Mark Silberberg: At this Wednesday’s Middle School Meeting, we had our annual National Geography Bee Final and Championship round. Prior to this culminating event, students competed in their homerooms to identify our eight finalists (two from each grade). The first round was exciting and challenging. Students pondered a range of questions and supported each other as we worked through this preliminary competition. A number of these competitions were decided by tie breakers, which added to the excitement. This year’s Bee winner, Julian, will take the qualifying exam for the State Geography Bee competition. The state level competition will take place in the spring in Albany, NY. Congratulations to all of the finalists for a job well done!