Young people are encouraged to use this writing journal for kids as a means to think, write, and be creative. The journal helps children to explore their worlds, learn about their families, and record their memories, feelings, and dreams. Following explanatory sections for parents, teachers, and the writer, the journal contains these sections:…

Creative writing should be a spontaneous experience in which primary-age children are free to express their ideas in their own unique ways, unhampered by having to conform to "correct" standards. (NQ)

Describes how having students draw both their own and a literary character's reality not only introduces students, quite painlessly and concretely, to a large number of literary terms, but also suggests that literature appreciation demands an imaginative extension into the life of another. (MM)

Maintains that expense and lack of experience with glazes and firing the kiln need not prevent teachers from using clay in the classroom. Describes how author experimented with clay and fibers and subsequently devised numerous art activities for elementary school students. (KM)

Children are motivated to write when they produce their own rubber stamps to use in their stories. Suggestions for making rubber stamps in the classroom are given. (DF)

A discussion of ways an adult can encourage and participate in a child's self-expression through movement and dance. (BD)

Describes methods of introducing ceramics to preservice teachers, emphasizing creativity and enjoyment rather than skill building. Maintains that these methods are less intimidating for new students and that they will encounter the necessary skills while being creative. (KM)

Describes how three groups of twentieth-century U.S. artists--Landscape and architectural artists, pop artists, and the photo-realists--used the object as the primary image in their artwork. Maintains that this approach to studying still life may be more relevant for teachers and students today. (KM)

Describes a cultural arts program of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA) that encourages K-12 students to explore their thoughts and express them through the arts. The 1988-89 theme was "Proud Experiences," around which students created artwork that depicted feelings of accomplishment as well as national and family pride.…

Described are ways in which a classroom teacher may recognize creativity's primary processes in the behavior of children. Suggestions are made for developing creative learning activities in the classroom. (CS)

Describes how middle and high school students can learn the principles of layout and design through calligraphy. Outlines how students selected their own poems and decorations, and discusses how to arrange them before creating the artwork. (KM)

Describes a U.S.-Soviet mural project where citizens from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and citizens from Leningrad created two peace murals--one in the United States and the other in the Soviet Union. The murals were exchanged. Participants made their own clay using dry clay and water before creating their impressions of peace and friendship. (KM)

Describes the origin and function of Tibetan lineal books. Outlines a lesson plan that can be used by students in all grades to create their own lineal books. (KM)

Maintains that students need to be exposed to different forms of book construction to increase their awareness and conception of books as an art form. Outlines goals, instructional concepts, integrative aspects, and evaluation criteria to help students at all levels design their own books. (KM)