Hello from San Diego!

This is my favorite blog to write each year because it gives me a chance to pause, count my blessings, and give thanks for all the things I’m most grateful for in 2019.

As teachers, we have a responsibility for raising and teaching our students the meaning of gratitude, including being mindful of world peace. And I know at times it can be truly difficult since there’s so many negative things going on across the globe. But, as Mark Frost put it, “there is no light without darkness;” that means, in spite of the darkness, there is still so much to be thankful for!

So this season, pause with me. In fact, I’d encourage you to grab a piece of paper or notebook and jot down a few of the things you’re grateful for this year. As for me…

I’m grateful for so much this year—my children, my work, my dearest friends (coaching me daily), my mother’s recovery from a heart surgery, traveling and meeting beautiful friendly people in different parts of the world—but I have to say, this year, my gratitude focus is on being a teacher and being able to share my passions with all my young students.

I’m also grateful for and want to acknowledge the amazing teachers that get up every day to teach young minds. I work with children almost every week, but it’s been a while since I’ve had to teach a class daily like most of you do.

When I am teaching a class, one of my favorite things is listening to my art students share stories of things they’ve learned in their classrooms and all the fun they’ve had at school; you might not realize it in your day-to-day, but you are truly appreciated!

This year, I’ve also heard some very tragic stories from teachers I work with, about young students dying and having to help their whole classroom cope with such loss, or learning some students only get to eat at school and realizing those children are going home to poverty or broken homes every night. I’ve also talked to so many teachers that are battling it out with students who have behavioral problems—even some physical altercations or violent outbursts—and if you’re experiencing anything like that, my heart goes out to you!

I am very grateful for all you beautiful teachers who head into class every morning. Our children need their teachers!

A teacher recently told me that he had a student track him down on Facebook this year to thank him for his support and encouragement in the classroom. It had been more than 25 years since the student was in his class, but he clearly had left a great impact on this young person’s life.

I can relate to this story, and I’m sure if you’re a teacher, you can too. I remember my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Martinez. She gave me the desire to be adventurous and want to travel and she supported my creative spirit.

So while you are off and out of the classroom this week, spending time with your loved ones, just know that I—and so many others—are grateful for all you do.

Thank you for touching the lives of your students, and thank you for showing up here and sharing my art teaching adventures with me!

Wishing you and your family a very warm, happy holiday in this season of Thanksgiving!

谢谢, gracias, cảm ơn bạn, teşekkür ederim,

Warmly,

Spramani

Sign-up to receive video

The Phases of Art Development is a quick digital course that explains how art making can help students develop their creativity, fine-motor skills, and focus. More importantly, I share what types of projects students at every age are capable of completing safely, and without making a mess.

Best of all—it’s free! To sign up for the course, click here.

Buy Guide Now!

All rights reserved © 2024, Nature of Art®

No part of this blog may be used or be reproduced in any manner whatsoever including reproducing, publishing, performing, and making any adaptions of the work – including translation into another foreign language without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Nature of Art® Publishing P.O. Box 443 Solana Beach, California 92075.