We had a conference with Abby’s first grade teacher recently, during which she expressed mild concern over Abby’s interest in school. She asked us specifically if anything really motivates Abby, since she doesn’t seem to do anything more than the necessary work in her academics. While she’s perfectly capable of doing the work, she doesn’t really get enthusiastic about it.
Abby’s always been her own self, and the one thing that she really does get enthused about is art. Abby really likes to draw, and even her teacher remarked that she’s significantly advanced compared to her peers. She notices details that they don’t and I have noticed that she is able to put abstract images on paper that I wouldn’t even have thought of.
There is one particular crayon-coloring that sticks in memory. It was one of those “color this - win lunch” things that they give the kids at Ron’s Schoolhouse - a picture of a backpack. I think Berta or I idly asked her to draw some things in around the backpack, not really specifying, but I was really expecting some basic school-related doodles. Instead, Abby drew a bunch of things to scale with the backpack. Some in the foreground, some in the background. There was even someone’s foot and leg visible from behind the bag, and it amazed me that she could put the backpack in this whole scene - just see it in her mind and draw it.
So we haven’t yet taken Abby’s teacher’s advice for getting Abby outside art lessons, but I have been trying to think of ways that we can expand her interest in reading and writing by way of art. I was hoping to continue the book writing that we started a long while ago, where she would dictate stories and I would write them in a notebook. Then, she could draw pictures to go along with each story.
Today, Abby came home with a poem she had written, I think as part of her free time, because it wasn’t graded or marked-up. Nonetheless, Abby’s teacher was extremely complimentary of her work in class. I think this poem is an important step in a long journey of relating written word to art for her. For a six-year-old, I think this poem is outright amazing, even considering that I could simply be a proud dad.
In any case, here is Abby’s poem, entitled I Can’t Wait.
I can't wait til Christmas. There is snow all around. Please, my little dear, just lay your head down. The chimneys are smoking, lights all around. Please, my little dear, lay your head down.
