Explores the reasons art teaching practices developed by Pestalozzi and Froebel in the 1800's continue to influence contemporary schools, especially at the kindergarten and primary grades. Argues that 19th century school art coexists in contemporary North American elementary schools with school art forms originated by Cizek because each represents…

The nature of children's writing and drawing forms a useful starting point for examining journal writing with young children. Much research and literature suggests the educational value of having children write, yet a controversy exists among writing authorities concerning whether children's drawings are a necessary part of journal-writing…

Considers causes for loss of confidence suffered by older primary children with regard to art, and identifies the passive nature of early arts teaching as a significant element. Suggests this passive approach derives from logistical problems in early childhood classrooms and, more importantly, from a misguided notion of the nature and purpose of…

Interview with artist Ilka List describes her research: collecting 1872 drawings from rural and urban second- and third-grade children to determine the impact of environmental experiences on children's art, sense of self, and cognitive and emotional abilities. Children with a broad range of outdoor, nature-oriented experiences had greater spatial…

Imagination is central to our ability to understand reality. Parents and teachers should foster creative processes which facilitate the development of imagination in children. Expensive equipment or artistic expertise is not necessary to help children develop their imaginations. Instead, it is more important for teachers to allow children the time…

Explores children's systems of combining drawing, talk, and writing (i.e., symbol-weaving) with traditional media and with new information technology. Social aspects of writing are discussed, and new information technology is examined, including clip art software, word processing, graphics, color, hypermedia, CD-ROM, and microworlds. (23…