This teacher has an understanding of honoring the child's interpretation of the final product. During a study of trees, after being exposed to various images of trees in various fiction and non-fiction story books, magazines, online images, and video clips the art activity "task" was to make your very own tree. She understands the skills developed through the process (child's perspective and interpretation, free choice of colors, materials, shapes etc in order to create, fine motor development, etc.) are far more important that the appearance of the product which should NOT look exactly like any other image or representation of a tree. They should NOT all look the same as other children's work created from pre-cut patterns. This teacher is comfortable with displaying children's work the way the child wants it to be and not concerned with others wondering whether or not children actually "learned" what a tree looks like.
YES!!! Could not agree more. It's vital for teachers to appreciate the value of the method of creating open ended art as well as the product. It encourages children to make independent/free choices on the materials he/she wishes to use. If we took the time to step back and watch them at work, we could learn as much from them as they do from us. " One Teaches, Two Learn"