tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post8936289521643992149..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Coloring Within The LinesTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-29487284146606536722012-02-27T10:33:26.328-08:002012-02-27T10:33:26.328-08:00Dear teacher Tom,
Thank you for the post in re...Dear teacher Tom, <br /><br /> Thank you for the post in response to my email. A couple of days ago when I was talking to my son about waxing and waning of the moon he said "amma, when there is no moon I will get into a rocket ship and color the moon white". I think the reason he doesn't sit to paint within the lines is because his mind is racing with so many different ideas. He is into role playing now and is constantly changing clothes or putting on a jacket or a pin to become a construction engineer, train conductor and pilot. <br /><br />Once again, thanks. <br /><br />GayathriGayathrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04813320205543738976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-51273620898316902262012-02-25T12:06:13.107-08:002012-02-25T12:06:13.107-08:00Dear Teacher Tom,
You are my new hero. You deserve...Dear Teacher Tom,<br />You are my new hero. You deserve the cape. I taught 3's for many years and left to start a process-oriented art studio for kids. It's called Outside the Lines Young Artist's Studio. <br />Secretly, I like to color inside the lines myself. I have always enjoyed the challenges posed by boundaries. And in my preschool I advocated for BOTH process-oriented art and art within boundaries. There is value in staying "inside the lines" too.<br />Reading your childhood experience of coloring according to the teacher's directions as "enjoying the process" was very powerful for me. Jarin's story is equally powerful. Art is just so big, sometimes I think every thing fits inside it. Thank you. <br />~ Ms. MelanieMelanie Cramer (Ms Melanie)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13627579207502764763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-10762504129767658432012-02-11T12:49:02.341-08:002012-02-11T12:49:02.341-08:00When my daughter was four, we were given some deve...When my daughter was four, we were given some developmental sheet to fill out. One of the questions was if the child colored within the lines. I realized I had no idea. While art and creativity were/are a part of our every day, she had never had a traditional coloring book. Now in school they have coloring sheets every day as a transition activity, and she hates it. She colors quickly somewhat haphazardly usually in one color then adds her own details to the picture with pencil - her favorite medium. it's just who she is.Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-12082671108215917742012-02-05T14:57:53.811-08:002012-02-05T14:57:53.811-08:00loling about little Jarin pondering, what if i wer...loling about little Jarin pondering, what if i were 2? brilliant!Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07725831025483738258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-91451931960599813512012-02-05T14:54:44.606-08:002012-02-05T14:54:44.606-08:00Gayathri,
You will find a wonderful conversation a...Gayathri,<br />You will find a wonderful conversation about the process vs product theory at Pre-K and K Sharing:<br /><br />http://www.prekandksharing.blogspot.com/2012/02/childrens-art-process-versus-product.html<br /><br />Tom, <br />You are so right to say that hanging up "If 1 were 2" would not adequately portray everything that went into its creation. Thanks for another thought-provoking post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-53480441346333850472012-02-05T12:33:34.344-08:002012-02-05T12:33:34.344-08:00I love the comment by "anonymous" above....I love the comment by "anonymous" above. I think it speaks volumes.<br /><br />Children have their own artistic process. Invariably each year there are children who, when ready to color in the lines, draw their own lines into which they color. I trust children's abilities to create the experiences for 1. which they are ready, and 2. which they will benefit somehow.<br /><br />That said, I have offered children paper with a thick black circle drawn on it, just to see what they will do with it. It's like my own little discovery of what they will do with that circle, almost like a way of getting to know the children better.<br /><br />Thanks, T, for another thought provoking article.stephanieleahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09427676919832135865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68010862059937328802012-02-05T12:33:26.032-08:002012-02-05T12:33:26.032-08:00Ohhhh I do love this post. Guilty in some cases bu...Ohhhh I do love this post. Guilty in some cases but I do try to keep in mind most of what you have written. I particularly like the last paragraph. My husband and I were just talking about how our children love to "recreate the play rules in board games" and they are only 3 and 4 :) But its good to know that they can think out of the box.Lana Kristine Flores-Jelenjevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16657720361107976819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-69367632233198615712012-02-05T12:22:19.437-08:002012-02-05T12:22:19.437-08:00A semi-open ended project of drawing a family port...A semi-open ended project of drawing a family portrait inspired a wall entitled Snapdragon Neighborhood: home of Happy Families. Media was mixed. Variety encouraged.<br /><br />One child looked at his own colorful background and then at the detail of his peers. He kept quietly looking as I said "Don't forget your family". He gravely observed the others and compared them to his own. looking up he said, "Oh, they are there. They are invisible."<br /><br />Problem solved .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com