I am still learning. After 39 years of teaching preschool, I still learn from children. Thank goodness! Today was one of those days, or I should say one of those ‘moments’.
It happened like this…
We’re learning about woodland animals. Bears have been very popular. Our loft has become a bear cave, we had a Teddy Bear Clinic with a nurse, and we made a giant Brown Bear, Brown Bear with ‘tear art’.
Children are working hard.
Today we created our own bears. We had many circles of different sizes and shades of brown. Watching children select the sizes of the circles, and how they placed them for bear parts was a joy. Every child’s perception was different. Vastly different. Art and creativity flowed.
And then there was Maddie…
She’s one of the older children. She loves art, so when she glued this I was surprised:
“Maddie, can you tell me about your bear? Is that the body?”
Silence.
I pointed to different circles and asked her to tell me about them.
Dead silence.
Okay, Jennie. You know when to let it go. So, I handed Maddie the Sharpie pen to draw the face, or decorate the bear. This is what she drew:
OH MY! Of course that’s a bear! And that’s one of the most creative bears I’ve seen. I never saw this in her circles. I looked hard, but I couldn’t see a bear. I doubted Maddie. No, I didn’t understand her thinking. I was ‘in the box’ and she was ‘out of the box.’
Thank you, Maddie. You were my teacher today.
“Every child is an artist.” ~Pablo Picasso~
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
This is just amazing!!! Wow! I called my coworkers over who have small children and they were as amazed as I was. Thank you for sharing this. Yay, Maddie!!!!
I wish I’d been a fly on the wall. Wonderful, and thank you!
What a wonderful ‘Out of the Box’ drawing.. Like the bear is standing on a mirror and we are looking up from the mirror at him… LOVE it.. And the imagination of young children..
Always teaching us to look from a different Perspective 🙂 ❤
Yes, indeed! I will carry this memory and ‘out of the box’ reminder forever. Thank you, Sue.💕
Go Maddie!
Yes!
Ahh, perspective…
Yes!!
I think Maddie is well on her way to being a graphic artist! I’ve seen them use circles in the same way to build an image.
I think so, too! When Dad dropped off at school today he told me he never gets choked up, but he did reading this post.
His reaction must have been very gratifying.
It was, Liz.
Maddie taught us all something today. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
She did, indeed! Best to you, Pete.
This is terrific – thanks for sharing!
Thank you, John!
That child will go far in life!
I think you are right!
Yay for Maddie’s creativity and style. She knew where she was going with this, and the pen provided the finishing touch.
Spot on, Bruce!
Amazing Maddie!!!
Yes!!!
All of what’s been said already! I’m thinking Maddie might be a ‘Bear Whisperer’ in the making, too!
😉
Ooo…you might be right!
Awwwn I love this. Way to go Maddie!!
A bear looking down a well. Excellent.
Yes! And I never saw it. Way to go, Maddie.
Way to go, Maddie.
Yes, indeed! 😀
Life-long learning… ❤ Nothing like it! Kids are amazing teachers. xoxoxo
They really are, Bette. 😍
Oh how cute!! I didn’t see either. Her bear is great!
Yes, yes!! Thank you, Deborah.
Lessons like this teach us about problem-solving and realizing that we have different abilities and creative ideas. The best part is that I know you used this moment as a teaching tool for them.
You are so right, and yes I did! I know you can picture the moment I saw her drawing. It was a great teaching moment, far more for me than the children.
What an artist.
Oh, yes!
brilliant, Maddie! love when we learn from them )
Yes, yes!!
Never Underestimate Children’s Creativity – love that statement.
Thank you, Kara. It took me many years of teaching to understand that.
Oh children are so creative. Really lovely
They are. Thank you!
Splendid, Jennie! Hugs on the wing.
Thanks, Teagan! Hugs!
Jennie, thank you for this wonderful post!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Charles!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Please enjoy another wonderful post from the brilliant teacher, Jennie!
Thank you, Charles!
Once again it proves that kids are amazing!! I love her bear. The future is bright with kids like this.
Yes, yes! Kids are amazing, open, and creative. I love watching their moments. I definitely think they have a bright future ahead.
Jennie, you have no idea how much I love this. Our daughter once drew a picture from a different perspective (the side of her mother’s face) because that’s the way she saw her when she was little and being held. Instead of your amazement, the teacher told her she drew it wrong. We corrected the teacher. Years later, our daughter graduated, sums cum lade, from the Hartford Art school with her BFA.
What a story! I’m so glad you told me. Of course I bristled at what Faith’s teacher said. Thank goodness you corrected the teacher. You must be very, very proud of Faith. I certainly am. Thank you so much, Dan. Your comment made my day.
We are proud of Faith, but I wanted to let you know that we are proud of you. Encouraging children can be as simple an act as not discouraging them.
Thank you, Dan. I know 🥰. Yes, all it takes is encouraging a child to make a difference.
That’s awesome. Cheers to Maddie … and your joy of learning.
Kind of off-topic. This is an interesting 2 minutes. https://youtu.be/WWOdE8iDmp8 The kids are older, but you’ll appreciate it.
Thank you, Frank. Your video is not off topic at all. It’s what matters most, and the reason teachers need to pay attention and connect with children. Imagine if I had brushed off Maddie’s bear. That would have left a scar. I’m writing about this very topic. Stay tuned. 🙂
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Thank you, Michael!
Maddie really made the day! That is fantastic. xx Michael
Yes, she did! What creativity, and I never saw it. Thank you, Michael!
Love Maddie’s interpretation. Every artist has their own interpetation. ❤
Yes, indeed! 💕
Love the creativity! I try to nourish this side of Charlotte too, she has so much pride in her creations it pains me to reduce the clutter lol
Can you believe I never saw the bear and doubted the child? Shame on me, and huge kudos to Maddie and her creativity. I know what you mean about reducing the clutter of her creations. When it gets ‘over the top’, you can take photos and create a memory book. Charlotte would like that.
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Thank you.
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I think the more open-ended projects we can offer children, the better. Thanks for sharing this lesson.
Beautiful 😍😘
Thank you.