Approaches to Drawing

WEEK 5 (June 4)

This week I was very sensitive to sound and light since I was recovering from a concussion. I appreciated that Jan was playing music during our drawing exercise because it helped to drown out some of the stimulation and kept the chatter down. The music was relaxing and the environment was calming. I have really come to appreciate sensory overload issues since having my concussion, and for the first time in my life understand how some kids might feel when they are overstimulated. It is hard to describe, but basically light and sound require brain power to process, and when you have a concussion your brain is wired differently for a while in the area that was bruised and it takes up a lot of energy and attention in the processing. So regular classroom overhead light can feel like one of those doctors flashlights shining in your eyes and it causes something between pain and irritation and you have to close  your eyes - it’s like you have no choice in the matter. So being in class with a concussion, especially when you want to be there or have to be there, is a constant balancing act of shutting out certain stimuli so that you can participate in the task. And all the while you are trying to: A) not freak out on anyone, B) not seem like a weirdo introvert and totally disengage, C) not feel sorry for yourself because you can’t laugh and joke with your friends, D) try to hide the fact that you are in pain.  I took a special education class that focused on Autism this summer and I could relate to almost every single sensory overstimulation or under stimulation aspect. I am so thankful to have had that experience, and it will make me a much better, more proactive and empathetic teacher for all of my students, especially those with neurological, developmental and stimulation concerns.

We drew with wet chalk pastels that we dipped in water. I liked that it was a combination of drawing and painting. Sometimes drawing can feel very technical and a lot of kids and adults feel pressure to make something look realistic. This was a great choice of materials because  it was easy to use and a bit more expressive and experimental feeling than using a pen, pencil or marker. 

Again Jan gave us a lot of choice in the use of materials, working in series, working with water or not, and using spray fixative afterwards. Choice seems to be a key elements of creating a really dynamic class.

Assessment is tricky with this one since I feel like I was in a fog during the class and really appreciated the time to freely produce some artwork and play. An exit slip or some journal writing following the exercise reflecting on the process or perhaps one or two elements and a principal may have benefitted me in that circumstance. And also this would have given the teacher an idea of what I was experiencing. Thinking about this overstimulation experience makes me realize that assessment for learning can be a really powerful tool in understanding where your students are at so you can understand how they are learning and feeling.