What adults have to say about Jeanne Leffingwell’s Art and Teaching:
“My 10 year-old son Daniel had a great experience in the Million Bead Project. The geometric nature of the patterns, as well as counting the beads in both the individual and collective projects were excellent real-world and aesthetic applications of his love for mathematics. He came home nightly and designed new patterns and worked on his loom creating them; and even when the school project was over he continued to do so. A really exciting program.”
- Jay P. Feldman, University of Idaho, Department of Philosophy
“My students loved this project. They volunteered to stay in for recess. They really enjoyed the opportunity of being ‘Beading Buddies’ with the 1st and 2nd graders.”
- Gail Sipe, 5th Grade Teacher, McDonald Elementary
“…[Jeanne] is an excellent artist, teacher and professional. She is passionate about using the arts to educate our children and enrich our community. As an ICA rostered artist and former grant recipient, she is organized, hardworking, dedicated and thorough in her approach...
“This innovative project, combining art, math, science and exponential literacy provides an exciting opportunity. K-12 students, UI art education majors, and members of the community are working together to visualize some very complex information through the arts."
- Sally Machlis, Commission Member, Idaho Commission on the Arts
and University of Idaho Associate Professor of Art & Art Education
“The Million Bead Project with Jeanne Leffingwell provided a unique opportunity for students to learn about the art of beading and mixed media, to quietly create their own pieces, and to contribute to a large-scale work. Through each step of the process, students found a sliver of peace that many seldom experience in their hurried family schedules…
“Jeanne has made a positive impact on our students this last month, and I would recommend the exceptional Million Bead Project to any school wishing to supplement their art curriculum.”
- Stephanie Sant, Movement Specialist, McDonald Elementary
“Dear Jeanne, I just had to let you know how grateful I am for your work with our kids… The work is breathtaking, and the depth of your commitment is as beautiful to me as the art itself. You’re such and encouragement – thank you!”
- Keely Emerine Mix, Trustee, Moscow School District
“It’s great in home-schooling because our bead class became a big part of our math lessons for this term. By drawing the designs on graph paper and then transferring it to the loom and then counting it all out, a whole bunch of lessons came into play, and now [my doughter] is writing about it as a record in her journal.”
- Erin O’Rourke, Home-School Parent
“My kids love to bead. They talk about it all of the time.”
- Jodi Bice, Parent, Moscow Charter School
“This hands-on opportunity for students to investigate number concepts and geometric design and to experience a unique collaborative art form generated a great deal of enthusiasm, which continues on through our enjoyment of the mounted project. It has been such fun to watch students working with you through their lunch hour and after school.”
- Gretchen Wissner, GT Facilitator, Moscow School District
“Yes, You go girl!! We need a book.”
- Sue Cable, 3rd Grade Teacher, Washington Elem, Pendleton
“People sit down in front of the TV to ‘connect’, but it just doesn’t work. We need more projects like this. It’s like taking a fresh breath of air to do this.”
- Susan Zylstra, GT Facilitator, Moscow Junior High School
“Jeanne’s enthusiasm and artistic intensity captured the interest of my 4th grade daughter’s class completely. I’ve rarely seen the entire class so engaged…”
- Angie Freeman, Parent, Moscow Charter School
“…Jeanne was very good with the students. To be honest I thought the students would have a lot of difficulty with the beading project… but that was not the case. Her teaching skills and ability to explain and show the process of beading at their level assured that the students knew what to do. She didn’t talk down to the students. They were quiet and attentive while she was explaining because she was imparting information in a way that they could understand…”
- Carrie Hendricks, Principal, Freewater Elementary School
“I enjoyed learning how to do loomwork with beads and design for the loom. I liked it best when there were over 20 people in the art room at lunch working on the beading projects! I also enjoyed the collaboration with Ms. Leffingwell to create a mural piece which is part of a larger visionary installation project, the Million Bead Project. That is really exciting!”
- Blue Leitch, Art Teacher, McLoughlin High School
“It is absolutely wonderful…it encompasses such a wide variety of our student body…”
- Bob Celebrezze, Principal, Moscow High School
“This was a very valuable project for the mind and soul!”
- Margi Smith, 4th Grade Teacher, Lena Whitmore Elementary
What kids have to say about Jeanne Leffingwell and her projects:
“This is the first time the bell has rang [sic] and nobody moved.”
- Will, 6th Grader, Lena Whitmore Elementary
“This is the most fun thing I’ve ever done in [art time].”
- Jon, Student, McDonald Elementary
“…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE beading!!”
- Stacy, 6th Grader, McDonald Elementary
“Why can’t we do this the rest of the year?”
- Daniel, Student, Moscow Charter School
“Beeding [sic] is my most favorite fun ever.”
- Iverson, 4th Grader, Washington Elementary
“Could you maybe be here all year!!!!!”
- Brendan, 4th Grader, Russell Elementary
“Please stay all year!!!!!
- Danyon, 4th Grader, Russell Elementary
“From my poked fingers to your wrist, thank you so much for the old loom that you gave me. I am planning on making a lot of beadwork with it. On that note, I made you something in return… Thanks to you, I now love to do bead working. Sincerely,”
- Taylor, 6th Grader, McDonald Elementary
“I wish beading was a sport.”
- Alex, Student, Russell Elementary
Selected Evaluation Comments from Art Students of Blue Leitch at McLoughlin High School in
Milton-Freewater Oregon, Spring 2005:
“I liked everything, especially the attitude of the artist towards the project. That’s what got me going to just keep beading.”
- Gabriela
“I learned that you can do a lot of fun things without having to go out. I liked best that we got to do a bracelet to keep for ourselves.”
- Andreina
“I liked that we got to make different types of beadwork and pick our own patterns and colors.”
- Stephanie
“I liked learning about all the different kinds of beads.”
- Teresa
I liked best that she (the artist) believed that we were going to get more beads that the other school.”
- Marla
I learned that people have been beading since a long time ago.”
- Vicky
“We got to be around an actual artist who makes a living from beading and stuff.”
- Jorge
I liked the beadwork that we did. I learned that beading can be hard and takes time.”
- Salvado
“It was interesting because everyone worked equally.”
- Narcisco
“I liked best seeing the finished beaded piece after it was done.”
- Jesus
“I thought it was really fun. I really got into it.”
- Jovita