Paint and Pages

One of the things I love most about art is how engaging and therapeutic the process can be, especially when we’re navigating life’s hard spots.

October is always a hard month for me. It’s the anniversary month of some challenging life events and the October sights, sounds, and smells often bring them to my thoughts against my will.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep busy in October. I love painting and carving pumpkins with my children. We like going on walks and collecting different colored leaves. It’s a beautiful time of color and creative inspiration.

In preschool this week, I read the Caldecott-winning “Radiant Child” to my students. When life handed Jean-Michel Basquiat plenty of challenges, he found refuge in his art. We discussed sad feelings and things that have made us feel sad. We talked about things we can do with those sad feelings and how we can help others with their sad feelings. We discussed how sad and scary it would be if one of our parents became sick and had to leave our home.

After reading Radiant Child, we painted a leaf using a loofa and fall colors. The process was engaging and unique, just like Basquiat’s art. I was tempted to hang these beautiful works of art in our hall, but several students asked if they could take them home so everyone took theirs home the next day.

A veteran teacher taught me to laminate large sheets of construction paper to use as a placemat for painting. What a great idea! It made putting items on the drying rack so much easier and students were not worried about getting paint on the table.

Another book we read this week is one of my new favorites: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. I first learned about this book as a member of the University of Northern Iowa’s Literacy Initiative. A few of my colleagues had received the books and after perusing, I just had to add it to my collection.

One thing I like to do while reading, is involve my paraprofessionals in the conversations we’re having. Both of my paraprofessionals have diverse backgrounds and we often share stories of feeling as the characters in stories felt.

I shared how growing up my family did not have money for air travel. The first time I rode on an airplane I was eleven (a work trip with my mom) and I was often envious of my friends who took family vacations to Florida every summer. I related to the feeling of being stuck at home while it seemed everyone else was having adventures.

We shared how we all like different things and come from different places and how that’s WONDERFUl. We have so much we can love, learn, and appreciate when we connect and share. We talked about kind things to say if someone is eating, wearing, or doing something unfamiliar. We talked about hurtful things that we shouldn’t say and what to say instead. I shared that our classroom is a safe place where everyone belongs.

Making art accessible is a priority for me as a teacher. I have an art center that is full of art materials that are easy for students to independently locate and use: stamps, markers, crayons, colored pencils, water colored paints, play dough and carving tools, paper, dot markers. Two large tables are next to the art center.

I also have a double-sided easel that has paper, paint, and smocks available for painting everyday. I want art to always be accessible for my students.

Students enjoyed singing a song in a minor key this week. Blowing in the Wind is beautiful and interactive. We sang this many times. I gave each student a scarf and we enjoyed dancing with our scarves to this lovely song. It’s easy to set aside your troubles when watching colorful scarves dance and float like the autumn leaves.