Ahh coloring. Brings back memories of laughter, swing sets, and trying to find the unused sharp crayon in the pack. It's interesting that coloring has risen in popularity among adults and teens in recent years, with elaborate and beautiful coloring books created just for the purpose of winding down and focusing on something.
But what if coloring needs to be used even more so in the elementary classroom? In the middle school classroom? In the high school classroom? What about college? What if some students can focus more on what they learn by coloring? I personally am one of those people who needs to doodle or write to be able to retain what I am listening to.
This is a music blog. Specifically, an elementary music educators blog. However, it is also a teaching blog where I have the space to share not only my experience but also my research.
Yes, coloring has been researched.
My Experience
Personal experience is important, right? You want to know that what you read about has been tried and tested. That's why reviews are so helpful before we purchase something.
As a music teacher, a major downtime activity I have incorporated in my classroom is coloring by rhythm. I have created two sets on my TeachersPayTeachers (shameless advertisement! Fall themed and hot balloon themed) and this helps students to grasp concepts like rhythm notes. Basically, students have a picture, and they must use the correct colors in places where the note symbols are.
There are other resources out there for other subjects as well, but personally I have seen this help my students as well as give them a breather from learning. Instead, they are unknowingly implementing what they have learned.
The Research
In an article by the University of Illinois, the author highlights how coloring uses both sides of your brain, promoting both calm and creativity. This is very beneficial for students of all ages, especially after a stressful lecture or heavy learning. By allowing students to color, it gives them time to relax and focus on something that to them may seem mindless, but really it is activating parts of the brain that engage visual and fine motor skills (Byers, 2016).
Additionally, Harvard stresses how doodling actually helps memory retention, citing a study conducted on a group that received a phone call where half doodled and half did not. The half that doodled remembered more details of the call than that half that did not doodle. Doodling improves focus (Srini, 2016). So next time you catch your students doodling, don't be quick to assume they didn't hear anything!
Suggestions
For elementary students:
Have a designated time of coloring each day. This includes for older students like 4th & 5th graders. These ages have often begged me to color because they knew I would encourage it in music class despite their teachers not allowing them to.
Allow students to color after they have turned in work. This tool can be used as a way for them focus on what they just learned or even distract themselves after heavy learning.
For middle school & high school students:
Same suggestions as above, but also allow these students to doodle during a lecture. You can of course keep engagement by calling on them to answer questions, but if they're the type that learns best while "doing", then doodling may prove very beneficial to them.
See which students doodle without you prompting them. These are probably the students who work well having something tangible to do.
Resources:
Byers, C. (2016). Coloring - it's not just for kids. University of Illinoishttp://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/family-files/2020-05-16-coloring-its-not-just-kids
Pillay, Srini. (2016). The "thinking" benefits of doodling. Harvard. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-thinking-benefits-of-doodling-2016121510844
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