One student, Fiorella, took a basket of colored pencils and began drawing a picture for a story. When the last details of the drawing were finished, she showed it enthusiastically to me and said she was ready to write the story. We sat together and sounded out the words for her sentences. She then wrote the sentences, first in regular pencil, then carefully going over each letter with colored pencil. Even during recess, Fiorella was determined to stick with her project until it was done. The look on her face as she admired her finished work was one of pride and satisfaction. What a rewarding moment!
Inspector Clouseau and Albert Einstein. Drawings by Henry. [Click for larger image]
Another student, Henry, came in one morning and said he had something to share with the class. He proudly pulled out a notebook with a picture of Albert Einstein he had started drawing at home. He told his classmates about this famous scientist. Later that morning, we left for a picnic. He took the notebook with him, saying, “I need to work some more on my drawing.” Sure enough, after a quick snack, the children began playing and there, seated on a big branch of a fallen tree, was Henry, totally focused on the details he was adding to his picture of Einstein. The following week he had a new project up his sleeve — a paper doll of Inspector Clouseau. There’s no end to creativity when it comes to young minds at work!