Hannah's story (Sidelnick & Svoboda 2000, pp.174-184) is a specific example of how art can help a child who is struggling with language.
Hannah was a 7 year old girl who especially struggled with reading and writing. Whenever she was given a sheet to do in class, if it was blank on the back, she would have drawn a simple picture instead. Although she could write her name beautifully, diary notes were often written for her, and she would just trace over these in a different coloured pencil. Through drawing, Hannah was able to express herself and her understanding of topics covered.
As she progressed with her expression, she began to learn letters and words by drawing the pictures first. For example, in one lesson she would concentrate on 'f' words and so draw all the things she could think of beginning with 'f'. She would then practice (tracing at first and then writing it herself) this letter underneath. Hannah became far more confident with her work and while other students in the class would work on spelling and vocabulary, she would be working on consonant sounds and pictures that matched.
Meanwhile, the pictures on the back of her sheets became more detailed and showed her understanding of the task she was supposed to be doing. Hannah continued to progress in her expression through drawing. Her writing and reading also progressed, which is something she would still be struggling with had she not been given the opportunity to practice it through something she was capable of &endash; art.
Children with learning disabilities are often developmentally and emotionally several years behind their actual age. This means that written language is more difficult for these students and the physical act of simply forming the letters can be a struggle. Writing can become a task that is dreaded and avoided in some cases if these children aren't given the opportunity to express themselves in other ways. Children like Hannah need to be given the freedom to learn by displaying their knowledge via the means of expression most suitable to them. This will allow them to be satisfied with their efforts and give them a sense of achievement and the confidence to continue trying and learning.
Overall, artistic expression gives children with special needs, opportunities to translate what they know and perceive in a medium they understand. This is a clear example of how drawing can be used to motivate children to learn and write. "To deny children like Hannah these artistic, creative experiences is to deny them the potential for achievement." (Sidelnick & Svoboda 2000p.177)
This clown was
made by a male student, aged 5 years and 5 months.
The subject for which it was made was Literacy, and
the children were focussing on the letter 'c'. It
is an excellent example of how children can learn
their letter sounds, and eventually how letters are
written through art.
