My first project with k-2 is to have them write their name, copy
their teacher's name off the board and draw a person. By second
grade the person is a picture of themselves doing something they
like. When I taught upper grades I asked for more: a landscape,
a building, an object of some sort. I may ask them to write a
sentece or two to tell about the picture. I keep these for
reference and comparison throughout the year. I learn which kids
can write their names, which have emotional problems (sometimes
before the classroom teachers figure it out), which are
developmentally immature and may need extra help, which one has
and uncle who is a pimp, and other surprising bits of info. It
took two class periods to discover that a child had been bumped
from prekindergarten to first grade. Her vocabulary was so
advanced and her drawings so immature that I knew to inquire of
her classroom teacher. There is so much to be learned from this
type of drawing and it gives you a chance to ask questions and
learn about your ki