I unraveled the papers from my seven year old’s Hello Kitty backpack after a weekend of birthday fun. There was T-minus ten minutes until the bus was to arrive, and I was in my Emmy award winning mad-Monday-morning-dash. I quickly glanced through her cluster of papers for me to review. I pulled out her spelling test, smiled proudly at the 10/10 with a star, and then read this note from her teacher:
“No Doodles Miss Riley”
Maybe I’m overreacting, but my heart sank a bit. Okay, it sank a lot. Not because my daughter was corrected, but that doodling is discouraged in a second grader.
My husband tends to side with the teacher (although he was never a doodler himself). He said that the school system is not discouraging creativity, but there is a time and place for it, and on a test paper isn’t one of them.
Hmmmmm, still pondering this one. I’m not discouraging my daughter from obeying her teacher, or becoming insubordinate or will not be promoting picketing the front lines of her elementary school tomorrow morning, but I still am having a hard time with this one.
I can hear all the pro-home education parents now, this is why we home educate!
In all fairness to her wonderful teacher, I have not had a discussion with her about this yet. I’m excited to find out her thinking on the subject.
I posted this picture on facebook and instagram and got a good amount of reaction to it. Here were some thoughts on this subject:
Seriously? I think her paper is beautiful.
She still got a 100%, I say, let her doodle.
I’d have to break the rules.
As a grown up doodler, I can say it helped me get through a lot of boring lectures in college and also inspired new ideas. Perhaps you could come up with a compromise and allow her a doodle pad that she can have on her at all times. That is what I did when I got called out by one of my professors.
The doodles say to me – she was so smart that she had extra time after her test to be creative.
Oh my gosh, let her doodle! Really? Seems sad. It shows creativity, and shows she’s happy! I personally would write the teacher a note and let her know you hope always to see these doodles and they are encouraged. If she were in high school, I might agree with your hubby. Either way, she’s lovin’ life (from her hearts on her paper), great job Mama!
I do love doodles though and secretly a part of me is so proud of her when she explains she was riding herself of pent up energy in a quiet, positive way while waiting for everyone else in class to catch up with her. Hello second grade! Love these creative girls.
My doodles made a bigger impact in my life than any spelling test.
SEE HER CREATIVITY OVER HERE
and over at her SHOP! I’d say, doodling paid off!
SEE HER CREATIVITY OVER HERE
and over at her SHOP! I’d say, doodling paid off!
Either way, I’m glad to finally make the connection between doodling and a happy heart. I’m thankful to have a daughter who is happy, care-free, and full of life, spunk and creativity! May you go far in life, sweet girl!
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