A FLOWING THROUGH: A Series of Artistic Explorations That Flow from Simple Starting Points, Pass by Milestones and Finish with Polished Achievements by David Esling

David Esling, the author, is well-known for his creative approaches to teaching and learning during his 37 years as a Primary school teacher. This book is a narrative outlining his creative and artistic approaches to teaching and learning in a socially disadvantaged primary school in Tasmania. The school is located within a suburb of Hobart.

The author shares inspirational stories about the children and their responses to his creative approaches to learning. The stories will captivate the hearts and minds of student teachers, teachers, teachers of teachers, and all those who love to work alongside children.

The book includes not only descriptions of the author’s creative ideas, but also photographs taken by the author of real students and their work. He also includes relevant and interesting conversations between the participants. Together, they bring the stories to life and invite the reader to sit alongside and participate in the explorations and experiences.

The children’s art was often outstanding, but the journey, rather than the destination, carried the greater significance. The author used art as a means of reaching out to the children. Many of them had no wish to attend school.

Their shared successes brought about a dramatic rise in the children’s self-esteem, which in turn gave them a more positive attitude towards learning, as well as improved their relationships with each other. School became an exciting place as the teacher and the children together played the active roles of teachers and learners. They were learning how to learn.