Dear Reader,
Writing is one of the most difficult subjects to teach and to learn. Even the most experienced language arts teachers still finds him or herself at an occasional loss for how to help their students get motivated and inspired to write. One simple strategy teachers can implement to get their students excited about writing is to give them the opportunity to draw. Whether its drawing as a form of brainstorming for ideas, illustrating already written work, or melding the two together to form a multi-dimensional work of art, drawing stimulates the imagination and helps the student find their voice.
My research began with the simple question of "can we get children to be more successful in their writing if we incorporate art into the lesson?" As I soon found out, I was not the only person who had also pondered that question as, there was numerous studies already conducted on that very topic. In every book, article and teacher's website I read, I found that drawing and other forms of visual art had a significant positive impact on student writing performance. Students who drew at all different stages of the writing process were found to write longer, write in more detail, and exhibit more signs of forethought and creativity. Even students classified as special needs or English language learners found improvements in their writing when accompanied with visual art.
The following website was designed to help teachers include art in their writing instruction. The children's book was created so teachers would have something to read to their students to encourage them to use drawing as a brainstorming tool. The journal was written as a fictional account of how visual art can be used to assist special needs students in their writing. The additional smaller pieces were made to highlight the different uses and benefits of drawing in a language arts class.
Writing is one of the great passions of my life, and a huge contributing factor to why I wanted to become a teacher. Writing, like any art form, can open up a part of a person they did not know exist and unleash a creativity they did not know they were capable of. I want to give my students the chance to experience that for themselves. Art and drawing in the classroom should be used to unlock students' true potential and encourage them to express themselves in writing for years to come.
Sincerely,
Hope Vaughn
My research began with the simple question of "can we get children to be more successful in their writing if we incorporate art into the lesson?" As I soon found out, I was not the only person who had also pondered that question as, there was numerous studies already conducted on that very topic. In every book, article and teacher's website I read, I found that drawing and other forms of visual art had a significant positive impact on student writing performance. Students who drew at all different stages of the writing process were found to write longer, write in more detail, and exhibit more signs of forethought and creativity. Even students classified as special needs or English language learners found improvements in their writing when accompanied with visual art.
The following website was designed to help teachers include art in their writing instruction. The children's book was created so teachers would have something to read to their students to encourage them to use drawing as a brainstorming tool. The journal was written as a fictional account of how visual art can be used to assist special needs students in their writing. The additional smaller pieces were made to highlight the different uses and benefits of drawing in a language arts class.
Writing is one of the great passions of my life, and a huge contributing factor to why I wanted to become a teacher. Writing, like any art form, can open up a part of a person they did not know exist and unleash a creativity they did not know they were capable of. I want to give my students the chance to experience that for themselves. Art and drawing in the classroom should be used to unlock students' true potential and encourage them to express themselves in writing for years to come.
Sincerely,
Hope Vaughn