Dr. Seuss - Happy Birthday to You!

Ted Geisel's talent for writing and drawing didn't always impress his teachers. Once in art class, the future Dr. Seuss turned his painting upside down to look at it. He wasn't exactly sure why he did it, but he found out later this is how an artist can check a painting's balance. If the painting is balanced, it will look good upside down or right side up. His art teacher, however, thought Ted was fooling around and claimed that real artists never turned their paintings upside down.

"That teacher wanted me to draw the world as it is," Ted said, "and I wanted to draw things as I saw them."

Ted rejected his art teacher's advice not to pursue art as a career. He resolved right then and there to be an artist someday.

Even though he was shy, uncoordinated, and had a unique sense of humor, his stubbornness is what pushed him into the spotlight.

What does an artist look like? He may not be the pretty one, the graceful one, or the evident genius.

He may be the one you least expect to succeed because he follows the beat of a different drummer. Listen for that offbeat, and pay closer attention to the drummer.

Encourage the artistic soul discovered in your students.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
For party ideas for Dr. Seuss' birthday