Dot Day

This book reminded me of an exceptional teacher I had when I was a little girl. Her name was Mrs. Heidi Kline-Line and she was the art instructor for Sherman Elementary School. I had always loved making crafts and art projects at home; collages with my mom or finger painting with my grandpa. When I started school things  got even better. Mrs. Kline-Line would blast the oldies station and we would sit in her colorful room and draw, paint and create. She never had a negative word to say and viewed each student's blotchy sketches with adoring eyes. Students would come into class and exclaim "I can't do this! I can't draw!" She would smile and patiently sit beside them, coaxing them to release their creativity. In the end all her students would manage to make something, and her words of praise would make even the meekest child confident. I remember the feeling in that classroom, it was very free and comforting. There was an unspoken agreement between students and teacher that not a word of judgment would be passed inside the confines of Kline-Line's art room. It was the part of the day where everyone got along. I think both my teacher and the instructor in the Dot Day book cultivated inspiration in their students. Both teachers gave their students confidence to go forward and pursue something. As I reminisce about Mrs. Kline-Line I harbor a hope that one day  a student will remember me with such fondness. It was people like her that made me want to be a teacher. She inspired me and provided a spot in the school day where everyone got along and believed in themselves. If I can accomplish this same enthusiasm in my classroom one day I will be so, so overjoyed.