We are huge believers in using art journals to teach children emotional literacy, and help them combat stress and explore their complex thoughts and feelings. It’s not just a theory we’ve been intrigued by; we’ve seen, first-hand, the positive benefits of art journals in the classroom and how they can completely transform students’ attitudes and behaviors.
Art journals are similar to written journals, except they also incorporate colors, mediums, drawings, patterns, and other materials as a means of expression. They’re a form of creative self-care and can help children (and adults) understand emotions and process feelings on a deeper level. When combined with teachings that focus on specific topics, the art journal can be a powerful tool in the emotional development of a student.
Here’s how Kristen Richter, AMS Elementary I-II and certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and Teacher Facilitator, was introduced to the art journaling practice and why she decided to bring it into her classroom.
“Years ago, I found myself struggling in my classroom—it was a challenging time to say the least. Children were often rude and disrespectful, and at times I felt like I had lost control. I tried every trick in the book to get them to change their behaviors. I’ve been teaching for over 25 years, and throughout those years, I’ve developed some classroom management strategies, but for some reason, this time, nothing I did was working.
I was frantic and I felt like I had reached my limit. I was planning on finishing out the year, and then moving on because I felt like I had used up all my teaching moments and had nothing else to give.
But somewhere along the way, I had a mindset shift. You know the old adage, if you want to change something, you need to begin with yourself? Well, that’s what I did.
In the midst of this turbulent season, I had been practicing some self-growth exercises and had purchased an online course from Brené Brown that integrated ideas from her book, The Gifts of Imperfection. The course went through the book, methodically used art journaling to convey the major concepts.
That’s when it dawned on me, I realized this is what I need to be doing in my classroom.
Once I started bringing emotional literacy lessons combined with specific art journal activities into the classroom, I saw a change; the students had a chance to process their thoughts and the concepts. I continued to experiment and developed more art journal opportunities for my students. That’s when things started to shift. It didn’t happen immediately, but slowly over time, their behavior improved and our classroom became a more understanding and accepting space.”
The practice of processing emotions is a lifelong pursuit. We have developed a method that allows children to learn to be really present with their emotions. By using art journals, along with specialized lessons, students are free to reflect on new concepts, express some of their own emotions, and identify or name some feelings that otherwise they might not have known and begin to be able to empathize with others. You can learn more about our proprietary art journal techniques and teachings by joining our Facebook group and registering for our next webinar.
One Quick Implementation Strategy: Sign Up for Our Next Combating Stress with Mandalas Masterclass!
Art journaling is just one technique (of many) that helps children understand and process their emotions. One emotion in particular—stress—can have a huge impact on children’s self-esteem, confidence, and ability to learn in the classroom.
In our masterclass, Combating Stress with Mandalas, we share the emotional and mental benefits of mandalas, and talk about how simple art activities like doodling and coloring can make a tremendous positive difference in children’s stress levels. We also take some time to talk about the emotional literacy cycle and how you can guide and support children (and yourselves) in combating stress through art and art journaling.
You can register for our next Combating Stress with Mandalas, on DATE, by clicking here.
If you are interested in finding out more about the work we are doing and joining one of our free webinars or masterclasses, sign up for our weekly newsletter and join our private Facebook group!
By Spramani Elaun & Kristen Richter
© 2020 All Rights Reserved
What a great experience for teachers and the students. I,too, have had class groups that were similar to the one described by Kristen. How I wish I’d had this concept as a resource. Keep up the good work.