Comments for Art Within Reach http://www.artwithinreach.org Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:40:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on The Importance of Art in My Kindergarten Classroom {Guest Post by Megan Smith} by Peggy Broadbent http://www.artwithinreach.org/the-importance-of-art-in-my-kindergarten-classroom/comment-page-1/#comment-1006 Peggy Broadbent Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:40:58 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=775#comment-1006 How outstanding that you find art to be one of the most influential and important resources you use within your classroom. Congratulations!! I agree with all your beliefs about the importance of art in the classroom – in addition to kindergarten it’s just as vital for nursery school and elementary grades. I’m retired now but taught for many years. In my combined first and second grade classes, children freely participated in the art center during Choice Time. Readily available supplies were bought with school money and parents supplied a huge variety of junk materials. Much of art for the young child involves exploring a wide range of materials. It should include the process that is emphasized. During this process, they have opportunities to develop the very same cognitive traits necessary to succeed in academic areas. See my 2 entries about an art center for young children: http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Children%27s+Explorations+in+an+Art+Center http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Young+Children%27s+Cognitive+Gains+Through+Art How outstanding that you find art to be one of the most influential and important resources you use within your classroom. Congratulations!! I agree with all your beliefs about the importance of art in the classroom – in addition to kindergarten it’s just as vital for nursery school and elementary grades.

I’m retired now but taught for many years. In my combined first and second grade classes, children freely participated in the art center during Choice Time. Readily available supplies were bought with school money and parents supplied a huge variety of junk materials. Much of art for the young child involves exploring a wide range of materials. It should include the process that is emphasized. During this process, they have opportunities to develop the very same cognitive traits necessary to succeed in academic areas.

See my 2 entries about an art center for young children:

http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Children%27s+Explorations+in+an+Art+Center

http://peggybroadbent.com/blog/index.php?s=Young+Children%27s+Cognitive+Gains+Through+Art

]]> Comment on Facilitating An Artistic Child When You Aren’t Artistic: Part I by Cynthia Raso http://www.artwithinreach.org/facilitating-an-artistic-child-when-you-aren%e2%80%99t-artistic-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Cynthia Raso Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:32:37 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=1062#comment-1003 Bren makes an interesting point that reminds me of a recent trip to my daughter's 1st grade classroom. Since she has been in preschool, art has always been an integral part of the classroom experience. This year, however, it has all but disappeared. I feel like it will be up to me to nurture her artistic interests in a more consistent and meaningful way. Bren makes an interesting point that reminds me of a recent trip to my daughter’s 1st grade classroom. Since she has been in preschool, art has always been an integral part of the classroom experience. This year, however, it has all but disappeared. I feel like it will be up to me to nurture her artistic interests in a more consistent and meaningful way.

]]> Comment on Facilitating An Artistic Child When You Aren’t Artistic: Part I by Bren Larsen http://www.artwithinreach.org/facilitating-an-artistic-child-when-you-aren%e2%80%99t-artistic-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 Bren Larsen Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:50:21 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=1062#comment-1001 I really do believe that many artistic children do grow up to be un-artistic adults--at least in the traditional sense. I think of how many hours I spent doing art projects, imagining, and creating when I was 5 years old compared to now! How would my artistic inclinations and skills differ if I had continued spending that same amount of time on art throughout my life? I don't sense that identifying with both the artistic child and the un-artistic parent as unusual. Artistic skills seem to be more valued in very young students. From observation of classrooms and personal experience, drawing (or art in general) is often an afterthought. It something students are allowed to do on the back of their paper when they are finished with the more "pressing" work. I know that those experiences have influenced the way I look at how and when I take the time to do art. Your comment about focusing your creativity in other ways is insightful. Your expressions of creativity are just as valid as, say, a well-known painter. (How do we measure creativity, anyway?) I really do believe that many artistic children do grow up to be un-artistic adults–at least in the traditional sense. I think of how many hours I spent doing art projects, imagining, and creating when I was 5 years old compared to now! How would my artistic inclinations and skills differ if I had continued spending that same amount of time on art throughout my life? I don’t sense that identifying with both the artistic child and the un-artistic parent as unusual. Artistic skills seem to be more valued in very young students. From observation of classrooms and personal experience, drawing (or art in general) is often an afterthought. It something students are allowed to do on the back of their paper when they are finished with the more “pressing” work. I know that those experiences have influenced the way I look at how and when I take the time to do art. Your comment about focusing your creativity in other ways is insightful. Your expressions of creativity are just as valid as, say, a well-known painter. (How do we measure creativity, anyway?)

]]> Comment on Facilitating An Artistic Child When You Aren’t Artistic: Part I by Laura DiSciullo http://www.artwithinreach.org/facilitating-an-artistic-child-when-you-aren%e2%80%99t-artistic-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-992 Laura DiSciullo Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:54:09 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=1062#comment-992 This is a great list! Do you think that many artistic children grow up to be un-artistic adults? As a child, I loved painting and coloring as much as the next kid, and like many adults, I've grown up without learning the techniques of a professional artist. I could see myself as *both* the artistic child and the un-artistic (future) parent described here, and I'm wondering if that's common. But I definitely think I benefited from art as a child. It was fun, and perhaps it's part of the reason that now I focus my creativity in other ways. This is a great list! Do you think that many artistic children grow up to be un-artistic adults? As a child, I loved painting and coloring as much as the next kid, and like many adults, I’ve grown up without learning the techniques of a professional artist. I could see myself as *both* the artistic child and the un-artistic (future) parent described here, and I’m wondering if that’s common. But I definitely think I benefited from art as a child. It was fun, and perhaps it’s part of the reason that now I focus my creativity in other ways.

]]> Comment on Facilitating An Artistic Child When You Aren’t Artistic: Part I by Carol Larsen http://www.artwithinreach.org/facilitating-an-artistic-child-when-you-aren%e2%80%99t-artistic-part-i/comment-page-1/#comment-983 Carol Larsen Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:39:18 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=1062#comment-983 I wish I were a kid again taking your class :) You make it sound so fun! I wish I were a kid again taking your class :) You make it sound so fun!

]]> Comment on Kids, the Ditigal Age, and the Art Museum by Reflections: Early Childhood Arts Experiences with Curator Debra Diamond | Art Within Reach http://www.artwithinreach.org/kids-the-ditigal-age-and-the-art-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-687 Reflections: Early Childhood Arts Experiences with Curator Debra Diamond | Art Within Reach Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:31:32 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=681#comment-687 [...] Kids, the Ditigal Age, and the Art Museum [...] [...] Kids, the Ditigal Age, and the Art Museum [...]

]]> Comment on Schedule by GreedyDeal » Blog Archive » $39 for a Six-Week Children’s Course at Art Within Reach ($125 Value) http://www.artwithinreach.org/museum-tours/schedule/comment-page-1/#comment-618 GreedyDeal » Blog Archive » $39 for a Six-Week Children’s Course at Art Within Reach ($125 Value) Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:11:14 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/wordpress/?page_id=13#comment-618 [...] Within Reach’s interactive museum tours are designed to give children ages 4–7 (with an accompanying adult) a fun and engaging study in [...] [...] Within Reach’s interactive museum tours are designed to give children ages 4–7 (with an accompanying adult) a fun and engaging study in [...]

]]> Comment on On Being a Mom and Running Your Own Business by Maru Willson http://www.artwithinreach.org/on-being-a-mom-and-running-your-own-business/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Maru Willson Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:03:22 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=621#comment-539 My son was in your afternoon class for the first time today. Mostly out of the necessity for this entrepenurial mom's need to craft "more time" to meet some horrid deadlines. But necessity often bears a blessing. I loved the work he did. You provide them very high quality art materials. I loved the Art Detectives Badge too. He asked to display it proudly on his backpack. So you should indeed feel your work is worthwhile and done above par. M. Willson, Uppercase Living Demontrator and Master Wall Whisperer. http://maru.uppercaseliving.net My son was in your afternoon class for the first time today. Mostly out of the necessity for this entrepenurial mom’s need to craft “more time” to meet some horrid deadlines. But necessity often bears a blessing. I loved the work he did. You provide them very high quality art materials. I loved the Art Detectives Badge too. He asked to display it proudly on his backpack. So you should indeed feel your work is worthwhile and done above par. M. Willson, Uppercase Living Demontrator and Master Wall Whisperer. http://maru.uppercaseliving.net

]]> Comment on Art & Early Childhood Education by Gemma http://www.artwithinreach.org/art-early-childhood-education/comment-page-1/#comment-523 Gemma Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:40:11 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=591#comment-523 Childhood early education is so important! Thanks for the article =) Childhood early education is so important! Thanks for the article =)

]]> Comment on First Week of Kindergarten by Clara coront http://www.artwithinreach.org/first-week-of-kindergarten/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Clara coront Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:51:56 +0000 http://www.artwithinreach.org/?p=432#comment-44 Sadly, kindergarten is truly the beginning of the next phase in our children's lives. It is scary, sending them off into a world we can no longer control. That is the problem - we know the reality of what is out there and we fear the worst. We just have to remember what we have taught our children will prevail. One of the jobs a parent has is teaching their child to live without them. We teach them skills needed to be healthy, strong adults. The best way to approach the start of kindergarten is to congratulate yourself. This is precisely what children should be doing and they were prepared for this by you, their parents. We also need to look at this as an exciting time when they begin learning. Watch their knowledge develop in front of your eyes. Watch them turn into an individual, who you may not always agree with, but will respect for having the courage to speak their mind. Think about all the milestones she has yet to reach, all of the experiences you get to be a part of and guide her through. Each day she will reveal the newest piece to the puzzle that you and her father have created. Be glad that you shared such special times with her and remember, her parents are the ones who prepared her for this step forward. Relish the school years just as much as you relished the past 5 years. Those too will fly by and the next thing you know it will be your grandchildren starting kindergarten, and even though you will know better, the cycle of the anxiety will begin all over again. Sadly, kindergarten is truly the beginning of the next phase in our children’s lives. It is scary, sending them off into a world we can no longer control. That is the problem – we know the reality of what is out there and we fear the worst. We just have to remember what we have taught our children will prevail. One of the jobs a parent has is teaching their child to live without them. We teach them skills needed to be healthy, strong adults. The best way to approach the start of kindergarten is to congratulate yourself. This is precisely what children should be doing and they were prepared for this by you, their parents.

We also need to look at this as an exciting time when they begin learning. Watch their knowledge develop in front of your eyes. Watch them turn into an individual, who you may not always agree with, but will respect for having the courage to speak their mind. Think about all the milestones she has yet to reach, all of the experiences you get to be a part of and guide her through. Each day she will reveal the newest piece to the puzzle that you and her father have created. Be glad that you shared such special times with her and remember, her parents are the ones who prepared her for this step forward.

Relish the school years just as much as you relished the past 5 years. Those too will fly by and the next thing you know it will be your grandchildren starting kindergarten, and even though you will know better, the cycle of the anxiety will begin all over again.

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