Duke Ellington in the Special Ed Classroom

Today I had the pleasure of observing students in an elementary special education classroom individually interpret the music of Duke Ellington through art. Under the guidance of Helen, a Chinese-American student teacher in an alternative route to certification, children of a variety of cultures explored some of the roots of jazz. Each child drew or painted what the music meant to them. Several children clearly found the beat of the music, displayed in a variety of lines with peaks and spaces, colors and patterns. Others drew dancers, instruments, and musicians. Each picture was unique and beautiful. There were plans for writing about their interpretations and posting of their work in the hallways. I was taken by the honoring of culture across cultures. The uniqueness of their drawings told a story of attention to both the music and each child's own inner drummer. As we walked down the hall after class Helen told me of how tired but satisfied she is at the end of the day. Her smile gave genuine confirmation.