OK OK so just what does “process not product” REALLY mean???
♥ It means NOT having bulletin boards covered with 24 identical penguins and you saying, “But I let them glue the eyes wherever they wanted.”
♥ It means not “making” the kids do art
♥ It means having H-U-G-E sheets of paper available
♥ It means seeing the possibility of painting with things other than brushes
♥ It means no more dittos, patterns and cut out art
♥ It means that a copy machine is NOT required
♥ It means it doesn’t have to look like anything. Ever. Even if it is “fish week”
♥ It means being aware of the stages of scribbling (samples on the next page!) as identified by Rhoda Kellogg
♥ It means not making models or examples for the children
♥ It means not drawing for the child
♥ It means refraining from over commenting

A nice rule of thumb:
If it takes YOU longer to get it ready than it takes THEM to do it….
Chances are it is NOT process oriented art!

A FEW MORE MORE CREATIVE SUGGESTIONS
Always ask a child if he or she wants his/her name on the paper. If they say YES, ask them “WHERE do you want your name?” Write it wherever they indicate! If the child says, “I can write my own name”, give them the pen. If a child says “I DON’T want my
name on my paper” let it alone. And don’t sneak back and write it when they aren’t looking. Children know their work and will keep it if they want it.

Resist the urge to say WHAT IS IT? Resist the urge to really SAY anything about their work/art. If a child comes running to you saying LOOK LOOK LOOK! Then do just that - look look look!! The child did not say look look look and comment.

If a child asks, “DO YOU LIKE MY PAINTING?” Put the question back to them and ask, “Do you like your painting?” Then you can be clever and turn the paper around, upside down, or 45° and say, “How ‘bout when I hold it this way? Or this way?” “Lay down and tell me if you like it better when I hold it over you.”

After a child has indicted that they are finished “working” or painting, creating, printing, coloring, etc. say, “Can I get you more paper?” or “Do you need some more paint?”. Get donated paper from your local newspaper or printer.

Never make models for the children to copy. Avoid ditto sheets, cookie cutter art, coloring books, cut & paste projects and pattern art AT ALL COSTS! Give the children an area to work at that is filled with the materials they need like: coloring markers, chalk, crayons, glue, scissors, paper, masking tape, hole punch, envelopes and sticky dots - - the loose parts of art!

If you must sit to “work” with the children, although I do not recommend it, use your non-dominant hand and copy what the children are doing! Let them lead you, otherwise they will all copy you and without realizing it you have made a model and an example for them to try to copy. Inadvertently you have shown them a “right” way to make something. They will begin comparing their skill level to yours and to each other. Not only does this create competition, it also creates frustration and dissatisfaction.

IF THE PARENTS COME IN, LOOK AT THE BULLETIN BOARD AND WHISPER IN YOUR EAR, “WHAT IS IT?” YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK!
THEIR ART WILL NOT AND SHOULD NOT “LOOK LIKE SOMETHING”!

Did you know there are 80 Stages of Scribbling before they can WRITE!??