MzTeachuh is a resource blog providing educational links for professional development, timely articles for special needs, ed tech and STEM, as well as interesting and amusing posts in the Fine Arts and the Humanities.
Sunflowers. 1888, Vincent van Gogh. National Gallery, London
Info from the British National Gallery:
This is one of four paintings of sunflowers dating from August and September 1888. Van Gogh intended to decorate Gauguin's
room with these paintings in the so-called Yellow House that he rented
in Arles in the South of France. He and Gauguin worked there together
between October and December 1888.
Van Gogh wrote to his brother
Theo in August 1888, 'I am hard at it, painting with the enthusiasm of a
Marseillais eating bouillabaisse, which won't surprise you when you
know that what I'm at is the painting of some sunflowers. If I carry out
this idea there will be a dozen panels. So the whole thing will be a
symphony in blue and yellow. I am working at it every morning from
sunrise on, for the flowers fade so quickly. I am now on the fourth
picture of sunflowers. This fourth one is a bunch of 14 flowers ... it
gives a singular effect.'
The dying flowers are built up with thick brushstrokes (impasto).
The impasto evokes the texture of the seed-heads. Van Gogh produced a
replica of this painting in January 1889, and perhaps another one later
in the year. The various versions and replicas remain much debated among
Van Gogh scholars.
This is one of four paintings of sunflowers dating from August and September 1888. Van Gogh intended to decorate Gauguin's
room with these paintings in the so-called Yellow House that he rented
in Arles in the South of France. He and Gauguin worked there together
between October and December 1888.
Van Gogh wrote to his brother
Theo in August 1888, 'I am hard at it, painting with the enthusiasm of a
Marseillais eating bouillabaisse, which won't surprise you when you
know that what I'm at is the painting of some sunflowers. If I carry out
this idea there will be a dozen panels. So the whole thing will be a
symphony in blue and yellow. I am working at it every morning from
sunrise on, for the flowers fade so quickly. I am now on the fourth
picture of sunflowers. This fourth one is a bunch of 14 flowers ... it
gives a singular effect.'
The dying flowers are built up with thick brushstrokes (impasto).
The impasto evokes the texture of the seed-heads. Van Gogh produced a
replica of this painting in January 1889, and perhaps another one later
in the year. The various versions and replicas remain much debated among
Van Gogh scholars.
All kids find sensitive moms a blessing, but children with disabilities in particular. Soon I will share more information on 'Gentle Teaching' and other non-aggressive forms of behavior modification.
Emotionally Disturbed is a category of learning disability. The learning team is made up of family, medical staff, teaching staff, and, of course, the student. This is an article from the L A Times about a little girl named January diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Jani draws a picture of her imaginary pet, 400 Cat.
How is mental illness and other processing disabilities identified? BTW, I don't know why this article places learning or processing disorders under the category of mental illness.
One is not connected to the other.
Teacher for the Emotionally Disturbed teaching reading
An effective class for the Emotionally Disturbed is orderly, interesting, and empowering. Here is a glimpse of one that made it to the news--there are thousands of great programs that do not get publicity.
"As hard as it is, Luna doesn’t let sympathy for her students
interfere with her ability to help them. Her teaching style is loving
but firm. She sings fun songs, imitates animal sounds and ends books
with a spirited shout of “Ta da!”
"At times, she is picky about even the little things, like whether
students raise their hands and how they walk across the classroom. It's
all part of retraining their brains to behave in a school appropriate
manner. They won’t get out of completing their work, no matter how much
they whine, protest or act out."
These are comments from her administrator.
“Jennifer is structured yet flexible and genuinely cares about every
student she has,” Alexander said. “The children know they can count on
her. She works and works and works until something works.”
Lots of individual attention--here is hand-over-hand writing.
Here is an incident during the schoolday:
One morning in early December, Luna sat with a student wading through
a book about babies. When they finished, Luna turned back to the first
page so they could read it again.
The student, who had not learned to control his emotions, banged his left fist on the table.
“Why are we reading it again?” he demanded. “I don’t want to read this dumb baby book.”
He continued to slouch in his chair and then threw himself on the floor. Luna made no eye contact.
Teacher reading with student.
When she got up to help another student, the boy moved to the top of a
table. By the time Luna returned, he was back in his chair. She started
to read the book, and slowly he began reading with her.
"Because of bad experiences in preschool, this student is working
through old hurts." Luna said students often feel bad because they don’t
know how to read or do math problems as well as others do. Compared to
what he used to get upset about, Luna says this incident was minor.
“In May, he’ll be walking back to table to read without whining,” she said with confidence.
A wonderful accomplishment: playing together.
I have experience teaching students designated emotionally disturbed. This teaching assignment is very rewarding as well as requiring authentic professionalism on a superior level. Our students had family, counselors, teaching staff and other therapists that were tremendous. It was a privilege to serve on their teams.
Here is a dramatic graphic presentation of Van Gogh's painting 'Starry Night.' Vincent Van Gogh was hospitalized late in his life for what sounds now like bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. But did that affect his painting? Who knows. New research suggests he may have been murdered. This is a moving creation of his work. (Sorry about the pun.)
We had the opportunity to see "Sunflowers" at the National Museum in London last summer--a deep experience of profound communication from the artist to the viewer that I can't fully explain. Wouldn't it be powerful if all of us-- labeled 'handicapped' or not-- could find our venue to reach out to others like Vincent Van Gogh did?
Don McClean's "Starry, Starry Night" beautifully describes Van Gogh's effect on people. This is a slow version of the song. The YouTube presenter's choice of paintings is exquisite. Maybe YouTube should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize afterall.
The dying flowers are built up with thick brushstrokes (impasto).
The impasto evokes the texture of the seed-heads. Van Gogh produced a
replica of this painting in January 1889, and perhaps another one later
in the year. The various versions and replicas remain much debated among
Van Gogh scholars.
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