Academic Success is Woven from the Threads of Social Development

Allegra and her mom Cindy enjoy a few hours of weaving. 

According to social development research, social development is the cog wheel for academic success. (Yovanka and Winsler, 2006; Parker and Asher, 1987;Coie et al. 1990) The work of Eric Erikson shows that social development is an ongoing process that takes place throughout the entire lifespan.  In today's industrialized society mainstream propaganda has bolstered academic learning while neglecting the continuous social foundation to why and how an individual learns.  In response to the link between social development and academic success, peer based learning and socially based expressive arts experiences have the  potential to manifest academic success throughout the lifespan. 

 "I love it at Weaving Connections. Weaving is great occupational therapy and most of all Lorenzo is an awesome friend to weave with." Robert 

   The work of SAORI provides opportunities for social development and thus leads to cognitive development. As participants co-create with fibers, they collaborate as a community of learners. This process involves reciprocity, joint attention, pragmatic language,  problem solving, critical thinking, self-regulation and the ability to communicate ones needs,  recognize emotions and produce appropriate solutions, and make choices. The aforementioned skills  come together to make up a person's ability to engage effectively in complex social interactions as well as provide prerequisite skills for academic success.   

Lorenzo problem solves how to wind the bobbin. 

Expert shuttle threader Nastassja lends Sam a hand. 

"When I go back to school I am going to write about what I created at Weaving Connections." Taylor age12 

"We all learn from each other in the studio." 

"When I was weaving I felt happy and expressive. I created something that was all mine. " Isabelle age 10

"SAORI weaving has become a meditation for me. My creative expression at the loom brings calm to my day. A calm that I share with my friends and family through the projects I create." Sue-adult  

In many cases while working in a SAORI studio the most unsuspected agent emerges as a leader, facilitating and deepening the studio experience. The leadership, led by the self-directed intuitive principles of SAORI generates the depth of the experience. When something is made by hand it has a part of the maker and makers in it. It is from our hands, our imagination and thus becomes a synthesis of our life experiences. Creating a piece of SAORI woven art work is a  unique and sacred process, and because of this, it tells and validates our story. The process of creation informs our relationships, the evolution of our social development, self-efficacy, and agency, thus proving an ever developing foundation for academic success.