The Creative Teacher 4: Expressive Marks, Painting & Drawing from Udemy

Early childhood educators, special education professionals, cultural educators and artists will gain in-depth knowledge on how young children learn through mark making, painting and drawing to harness their artistic and creative potential.

The Creative Teacher programme is made up of eight separate courses, each of which can be watched as a stand-alone course or as part of the whole programme. It is recommended to watch at least the first course in addition to any other you choose if not purchasing the whole programme.

This is the FOURTH course in the programme and sets out the foundations for nurturing young children's creative, social, cognitive and sensory development through the visual arts.

In this course you will learn:

How children communicate deeper meanings through art, without needing words
The two stages of drawing development described by Viktor Lowenfeld for 2-7 year olds
The potential of visual art forms for embodied expression
How children develop drawing schema to organise their knowledge about the world
Spaces for experimentation that strengthen children's memory and narratives
How to read children's art works
The importance of introducing children to the work of contemporary artists
Real world examples of how to facilitate a child's embodied approach to drawing
Practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive and creative engagement
A personal story illustrating children's purposefulness in using observation skills
Further reading and resources to support you in developing your creative curriculum

Join me on this adventure and discover how to bring to life your own and your children’s awesome creative talents.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Mark making, painting and drawing

Drawing as embodied expression

Following children's threads of thinking

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores how children communicate through art, which can help educators understand and support their students' development

Introduces the drawing development stages described by Viktor Lowenfeld, a key framework for understanding children's artistic growth

Offers practical ideas for harnessing sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement, which can be directly applied in the classroom

Recommends watching the first course in the series, which may be necessary to fully grasp the concepts presented in this course

Examines how children develop drawing schema to organize their knowledge, which is relevant to cognitive development

Highlights the importance of introducing children to contemporary artists, which can broaden their artistic horizons and inspire creativity

Reviews summary

Understanding & facilitating child art

According to students, this course is highly insightful and applicable, particularly for educators and artists working with young children. Learners say it completely changed how they look at children's artwork and that the sections on reading children's art and practical examples are especially useful and fantastic. The instructor is consistently described as knowledgeable and engaging, making the learning process inspiring. While some found it slightly theory-heavy or a bit basic if they had a strong existing background, the consensus is that it provides actionable strategies and a solid understanding of child art development stages, making it highly recommended for those newer to or seeking practical application in this area.

Most relevant for preschool/kindergarten age.

"Would recommend for preschool/kindergarten teachers."

"As someone teaching slightly older kids (7-8), some parts were less relevant, but the core principles still apply."

Covers theories like Lowenfeld's stages.

"Lowenfeld's stages were explained well."

"Learned a lot about the stages children go through."

"Slightly theory-heavy in parts, but balanced with application."

"Provides a strong foundation in understanding child art theories."

Instructor is knowledgeable and inspiring.

"the instructor's passion is evident. Highly recommend..."

"The instructor is knowledgeable and engaging."

"Very inspiring and gave me new ideas..."

"The instructor reinforced the focus on process over product beautifully."

Helps interpret the meaning in children's art.

"The section on reading children's artwork was particularly useful."

"The discussion on reading art was helpful."

"completely changed how I look at the art my preschoolers create."

"I gained a new perspective on reading children's artworks."

Provides actionable strategies for teaching art.

"The practical examples were fantastic. I immediately started incorporating some ideas into my kindergarten class."

"The practical tips are the most valuable part for me. It made me rethink some of my activities."

"the practical ideas were a good starting point."

"Learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Best suited for those newer to the topic.

"felt a bit basic. If you already have a strong background in child development or art education theory, this might not offer much new information."

"Good if you're completely new though."

"Solid course, covers the basics well."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Creative Teacher 4: Expressive Marks, Painting & Drawing with these activities:

Review 'Drawing with Children' by Mona Brookes

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Familiarize yourself with fundamental drawing techniques to better understand how to guide children's artistic development.

View Drawing for Older Children & Teens on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Drawing with Children'.
Read the chapters on basic shapes and forms.
Practice the drawing exercises in the book.
Reflect on how these techniques can be adapted for young children.

Review Child Development Theories

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Strengthen your understanding of child development theories, particularly those related to artistic expression, to better interpret and guide children's artwork.

Browse courses on Developmental Psychology

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Review notes on child development theories.
Focus on theories related to cognitive and emotional development.
Consider how these theories relate to children's artistic expression.

Document Art Activities

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Create a portfolio of art activities suitable for young children, documenting the materials, process, and potential learning outcomes.

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Select a variety of art activities suitable for young children.
Document the materials and steps for each activity.
Include photos or videos of children engaging in the activities.
Reflect on the potential learning outcomes for each activity.

Four other activities

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Experiment with Expressive Marks

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Practice creating a variety of expressive marks using different materials to better understand the possibilities for children's artistic exploration.

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Gather a variety of art materials, such as pencils, crayons, paint, and brushes.
Experiment with different techniques to create a range of marks.
Reflect on the emotional qualities of each mark.

Read 'Young Children Reinventing Writing' by Susan Bredekamp

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Explore the connection between drawing and writing to understand how children develop literacy skills through visual art.

View Beyond Stories on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Young Children Reinventing Writing'.
Read the chapters on the relationship between drawing and writing.
Reflect on how these insights can inform your teaching practice.

Analyze Children's Artwork

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Analyze examples of children's artwork, applying the concepts learned in the course to interpret their meaning and developmental stage.

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Collect examples of children's artwork from different age groups.
Analyze the artwork based on the principles discussed in the course.
Document your interpretations and insights.

Design a Sensory Art Space

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Design a sensory art space for young children, incorporating elements that stimulate their senses and encourage creative exploration.

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Research different sensory art materials and techniques.
Develop a plan for a sensory art space, considering the needs of young children.
Gather the necessary materials and set up the space.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the space in promoting creative exploration.

Career center

Learners who complete The Creative Teacher 4: Expressive Marks, Painting & Drawing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Early Childhood Educator

The role of an Early Childhood Educator focuses on fostering the holistic development of young children. This course, which is part of a broader series on creative teaching, helps early childhood educators understand how children use art to communicate and express themselves. By learning about the stages of drawing development, educators can better support children's artistic exploration and creative growth. The course provides practical ideas for engaging children's senses, physical abilities, cognitive skills, and creativity through visual arts. Understanding how to interpret children's artwork guides educators in facilitating embodied learning through drawing and painting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Educator

Special Education Teacher

A Special Education Teacher works with children who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. This course helps special education teachers gain insight into how children with diverse needs can express themselves through mark making, painting, and drawing. Knowing how to read children's artwork enables educators to better understand the children's perspectives and emotional states. The course offers techniques to spark sensory, physical, cognitive, and creative engagement through art. Given that the course focuses on visual arts as a form of embodied expression, prospective special education teachers find it especially useful.

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Art Therapist

As an Art Therapist, you use creative methods like drawing, painting, and sculpting to help clients express themselves and explore their emotions. This course, with its emphasis on understanding children's artistic expression, may be useful tool for art therapists working with young children. The course provides insights into how children communicate through art, even without words, and how they develop drawing schemas to organize their understanding of the world. Art therapists can use this knowledge to facilitate embodied expression and support children's emotional and cognitive development. Note that this role typically requires a master's degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Therapist

Elementary School Teacher

An Elementary School Teacher is responsible for educating children in the early grades, fostering their academic and personal growth. This course on expressive marks, painting, and drawing helps elementary school teachers integrate art into their curriculum. By learning about the stages of drawing development, teachers can tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their students. The course provides practical ideas for engaging children's senses, physical abilities, cognitive skills, and creativity through visual arts. Elementary school teachers find that this course is especially helpful for reading and understanding children's artwork.

See salaries and explore the career path for Elementary School Teacher

Museum Educator

A Museum Educator designs and implements educational programs for museum visitors of all ages. This course helps museum educators working with children learn how to engage young audiences through art. The course highlights the importance of introducing children to contemporary artists and provides real-world examples of how to facilitate embodied approaches to drawing. Museum educators can use this information to create interactive and engaging exhibits that encourage children's creative expression. The focus on children's creative narratives as a window on life is very useful.

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Arts Integration Specialist

The Arts Integration Specialist combines arts education with other subjects like math, science, and history. This course gives Arts Integration Specialists a foundation for understanding the role and purpose of mark making, painting, drawing, and other forms of embodied expression in the classroom for early learners. This offering may particularly help those in the role understand how children communicate meaning and organize their knowledge through art. The instructor covers a variety of key prompts and starting points to get students engaged.

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Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design and create educational materials for various subjects and age groups. This course provides curriculum developers with insights into how young children learn through art, informing the development of arts-based curricula. Understanding the stages of drawing development and how children communicate deeper meanings through art, is important to curriculum developers. The course may be useful for creating engaging and effective art programs for early childhood education.

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Play Therapist

Play Therapists use play as a medium to communicate with and help children work through emotional or behavioral problems. This course may be useful to play therapists. The course touches on how art can be used for embodied expression. The course may give Play Therapists additional modes of understanding how children organize their knowledge and express themselves.

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Child Psychologist

A Child Psychologist focuses on the mental, emotional, and social development of children. This course may be helpful to child psychologists seeking to understand how children communicate and express themselves through art. The course provides insights into how children use art to convey deeper meanings and how they develop drawing schemas to organize their knowledge of the world. Child Psychologists can use this knowledge in their clinical assessments and interventions. Note that this role typically requires a doctoral degree.

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Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals and families facing a variety of challenges. This course may be helpful to social workers working with children and families, is the ability to understand how children express themselves through art. The course offers insights into how children communicate deeper meanings through art, even without words, and how they develop drawing schemas to organize their knowledge of the world. Social workers can use this knowledge to better understand children's perspectives and emotional states.

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Instructional Coordinator

Instructional Coordinators develop and implement educational programs and teaching standards. The course may provide instructional coordinators with insights into how young children learn through art, which may then inform the design of effective teaching strategies and curriculum improvements. Additionally, the course may help Instructional Coordinators evaluate and improve the effectiveness of art programs within schools or educational institutions. Those in this role may find particular value from the course's coverage of drawing development.

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Preschool Director

Preschool Directors oversee the operations and educational programs of preschools, ensuring a safe and enriching environment for young children. This course may be useful for preschool directors. The course provides information about how young children learn through art, and how they communicate their thoughts and feelings nonverbally. Specifically, the course's discussion of mark making and painting may inform preschool director's policy decisions.

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Camp Counselor

Camp Counselors supervise children in a variety of activities at summer camps. This course may be useful for those who work with children in outdoor settings, as it stresses the importance of mark making, drawing, and painting. The course may give Camp Counselors new ideas for activities that combine art and the outdoors.

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Youth Program Coordinator

Youth Program Coordinators plan, organize, and implement programs and activities for children and adolescents in community centers, schools, and other settings. This course may be helpful to youth program coordinators. The course may aid in designing age-appropriate art-based activities, as the course focuses on young children's artistic expression and cognitive development.

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Teacher Assistant

Teacher Assistants support lead teachers in the classroom, providing assistance to students and helping with administrative tasks. This course may be useful for teacher assistants. The course may give Teacher Assistants insight into how children learn through art, and how children use artistic expression to communicate.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Creative Teacher 4: Expressive Marks, Painting & Drawing.

Drawing for Older Children and Teens

Save

Provides a structured approach to teaching drawing skills to children, focusing on building confidence and encouraging creativity. It aligns well with the course's emphasis on nurturing children's artistic potential. The book offers practical exercises and techniques that educators can adapt for their classrooms, making it a valuable resource for enhancing their teaching methods. It is especially useful for understanding the foundational skills needed for expressive marks, painting, and drawing.

Drawing for Older Children & Teens

Paperback

Drawing For Older Children & Teens: A Creative...

Hardcover

$$$

Beyond Stories

Save

Explores how young children develop writing skills through drawing and mark-making. It provides insights into the connection between visual art and literacy development. The book valuable resource for educators seeking to understand and support children's early writing experiences. It offers practical strategies for integrating art and writing in the classroom, enriching the curriculum and fostering creativity.

Beyond Stories

Paperback

Beyond Stories: Young Children's Nonfiction...

Kindle Edition

The Creative Teacher 4

Expressive Marks, Painting & Drawing

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Understanding & facilitating child art

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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