Have any of you ever checked out on Pinterest to see how many things have been pinned from your own blog?
For me, the most pinned post was all about the Glitter keys DIY.
Second place has been all art projects which I think is great--up until I saw this:
Are these moms completely out of touch? This poster was made to show students HOW TO STAY IN THE LINES. How in the frick does this HINDER their creativity?!?!?
Anyone that teaches Kinders will tell you they have the attention span of a nat. They will and do, hurry through everything. The words "I'm Done" fly out of their mouths quicker than you would believe because they already want to do the next thing.Teaching them "No White spaces" teaches them to color SLOWLY and stay in the lines! That's a bad thing? I think not!
Most schools operated on "colors" often "flip your card" behavior charts for the younger grades. Smiley faces is the most easiest way for them to identify where their stand with their behavior, so why is coloring any different?
There are numerous art blogs I follow that have entire NO NO bulletin boards dedicated to things they don't want children to draw etc etc I am NOT a teacher that does that. What's a no no? Well in some art teachers eyes, this means No "Broccoli" trees, no stick people, no putting the sun in the corner of your paper, no drawing birds as the letter "M". Get my drift? I would NEVER do that to my students. I can vouch that many teachers esp on the blog world DO do this. To me, now that is HINDERING a child's creativity!
Can't win. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Ridiculous.
Pretty sure I went to college, I got the art education degree, therefore I know what is and isn't hindering to a child's way of learning to color properly!
I understand why you're upset/frustrated. You also need to take a second, breathe, and realize that people will comment on anything. And many of those people believe that they know everything about everything (which is *obviously* why they are spending their time commenting on Pinterest instead of inventing the next cancer cure). Don't let a few people, who have NO idea what they are talking about, get under your skin. YOU and the people at your school know that you're a good teacher, and that you encourage your kids to be the best artists they can be. That's what matters. Not some dumb dumb behind a computer screen who has an opinion about anything and everything. Chin up! :)
ReplyDeleteOh girl...don't let them get under your skin. I know as teachers, it happens to us quite often. But like you said, you're the one with the art degree, not them. I have similar posters in my room only they're for writing. They simply serve as reminders to our students to slow down and do their best work.
ReplyDeleteLet the naysayers complain, because I'm pretty sure YOU were nominated for teacher of the year;)
that is ridiculous! and sometimes people don't have anything better to do than argue about something. I can't get over the one that you had arrows too. really?? I'm frustrated for you! : ) I'm no art major, but am a teacher and know that students need visuals of their expectations. especially the younger grades! and that is a great visual! But really can't let people you don't even know make you mad - you just keep doing that great job you are doing!!
ReplyDeleteI would be SOO annoyed if I were you. These moms need to find more important things to worry about!
ReplyDeleteEwwww, that is one of the bad things about the internet, people feel they can judge and write mean things because they don't KNOW who you are as a person and are protected behind a computer screen.
ReplyDeleteI am NOT a teacher in anyway, but I do believe there is ORDER that needs to be learned. IF the kids are tasted to DRAW a certain scene they need to learn the sky is blue and the grass is green. If they are given free drawing time, that's a great time to scribble.
I'm in your corner CMAE!
xoxo
Oh my goodness! Those people are idiots! You are right. Children at that age have an attention span of a gnat!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work! The art I see that you post is great! It shows you are a great teacher!
I've seen some of my blog photos pinned to Pinterest with negative comments too. It's so sad that people take the time to negatively comment on pins. The point of Pinterest is to pins things you like, and to ignore the ones you don't. I think all of your kids artwork is beautiful, and I'd be honored to have my kid in your class, so there!
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy! How do you find stuff taken from your blog? I am concerned now!!
ReplyDeletewow.....people are just heartless and RUDE!
ReplyDeleteWow...people are just so negative these days. From what I see...you do a great job with your kids...I love seeing ALL the art you post. Obviously others know you are doing a wonderful Job or you wouldn't be getting awards as a teacher :)
ReplyDeleteDon't fret pretty lady...people are just rude.
WOW! I can't believe they have that much time on their hands to hate-comment on a kid's art project.. haha.. Sheez. I read something somewhere about how parents used to defer to teachers for their kids' education. Today, they expect the teachers to defer to them. So frustrating! You keep on keepin on, girl!
ReplyDeletepeople are straight idiots
ReplyDeleteHow discouraging. Why do people feel the need to criticize? I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I sent this poster to a friend whos a second grade teacher and she loved the idea.
ReplyDeleteI teach pre-k. I guess I "hinder creativity" too. I'm always saying, no scribbling or you left too much white. And we discuss the color of things before we do our work almost everyday. There are still tons of chances for the children to be creative. But they also need to learn to do nice, neat work as well! I really like your poster actually!
ReplyDeleteAs an art teacher of older kids, I may steal your poster idea.
ReplyDeleteWHAT?! These people are WAY out of line. I'm sorry they are being so negative towards your pins. I would LOVE to have you as my nonexistent child's art teacher :)
ReplyDeletewww.livingbarefootandcrazy.blogspot.com ♥
oh dear!! i mean, for goodness sake, i don't know why people want to spend their energy writing negative things on the internet! but i mean, you're teaching children, come on people. i think i want my kids to at least learn how to color in the lines before they make an artistic decision not to :)
ReplyDeleteThis is just ridiculous. You are a TEACHER. your job is to help kids improve and I think that your reminder art is such a cute way to help! You send children to school so that they can learn and better themselves. If they want to "scribble" on their own time then fine but thats like saying that no prompts should be given when writing stories or essays because it hinders their creativity. Well news flash.. Kids will never learn or better themselves if you dont help them. I know its hard but ignore all the negativity. You have far more supporters than doubters. :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have been as harsh as the one lady, but I would get offended, it's in my nature since I nurture my childrens creativity, like oh no someone's going to stifle it...but I digress you made the argument very black and white. Even in art there still needs to be guidelines and you have clearly stated those. This is a great explanation that sometimes people will not see till it is pointed out to them, sort of there's another side to every story. Thanks for explaining it. Sometimes I can get offended even at conferences and then I have to step back and say you know she has to teach, what would I do if I was in that situation, would not be that easy. Again Thanks, Christina
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