Putting pen to... dress! Second grade teacher rewards students' hard work by allowing them to color all over a plain white frock during class - then surprises them by wearing it to school

  • Haley Curfman is a teacher at Blackwell Public School in Blackwell, Oklahoma
  • The 25-year-old decided to buy a white dress for her second grade students to draw on in their free time 
  • Haley shared a picture of her wearing the dress on Facebook that has been shared more than 200,000 times
  • She said: 'It's the second year in a row I've brought a white dress to school and this is one of my favorite things to do' 

A second grade teacher went above and beyond to ensure that her students had a unique outlet for their creativity.   

Haley Curfman, 25, of Blackwell, Oklahoma, is a teacher at Blackwell Public School and last year she bought a plain white dress, which she set up at a station in her classroom for her students to decorate, encouraging them to go and draw on the dress whenever they had free time, or had finished an assignment.

She said she uses the dress as an incentive for the children to behave well, while giving them a chance to exercise some of their creativity without fear of getting it right or perfect. 

Best teacher: Oklahoma teacher, Haley Curfman, bought a white dress for her students do draw on during their free time 

Best teacher: Oklahoma teacher, Haley Curfman, bought a white dress for her students do draw on during their free time 

Blue ribbon: This is the second year in a row she has done this and last year, her class won the blue ribbon for their masterpiece (pictured above)

Blue ribbon: This is the second year in a row she has done this and last year, her class won the blue ribbon for their masterpiece (pictured above)

Hayley set up a station at a table with the dress and some colored markers so that her students can draw on it whenever they have free time or finish their work, having first seen the idea on Pinterest. 

After the kids had finished the design, she then surprised them all by wearing the dress to class, sharing images of herself in it on Facebook in a post that has since gone viral, with over 200,000 shares.  

The post read: 'It's the second year in a row I've brought a white dress to school and my students have filled it with their artwork. This is one of my favorite things to do in my class!'

She added: 'This is something I'd seen on Pinterest a few years ago and I fell in love with the idea. I think every teacher should do this! It's a great project and an even better keepsake.' 

For teachers looking to do something similar for their own students, Hayley revealed that she bought the cotton/spandex dress off Amazon for less than $20 about six months ago and pre-washed the dress before she started the project.

She used fabric markers from Walmart and usually only wears the dress for a class and then puts it on display afterward.

Happy artwork: Haley said she tells her students to draw things that make them happy

Happy artwork: Haley said she tells her students to draw things that make them happy

Creative release: Haley wanted her students to have a creative release because there isn't an art program where she teaches 

Creative release: Haley wanted her students to have a creative release because there isn't an art program where she teaches 

She said: 'To do the project, I set up a station at a table with the dress, markers and piece of cardboard to put between the fabric. It takes anywhere from two weeks to a month to complete as we just work on it here and there when time allows.' 

'Teachers have been sharing their dresses, aprons, quilts, T-shirts, etc. with me that they've been creating since the 1950's with the same concept. Which is awesome, and I love that you are sharing them with me! Thank you all so much for your kindness and support,' she wrote on Facebook.    

Haley wanted her students to have a creative release because the school where she teaches doesn't have a an art program. 

She told Scary Mommy: 'We don't have art in our school, so, I always try to do little creative projects when possible.' 

She added: 'When the dress is finished, I surprise my students and wear it to a party.'

Last year, she showed her students their finished masterpiece at the class Christmas party and this year she showcased her student's work at the Valentine's Day party. 

She also entered last year's dress in the county fair and got a blue ribbon. 

Dressed to impress: Haley donned a Founding Father costume for Constitution Day in September 

Dressed to impress: Haley donned a Founding Father costume for Constitution Day in September 

Cat in the Hat: She also dressed as Cat in the Hat for Dr Seuss week 

Cat in the Hat: She also dressed as Cat in the Hat for Dr Seuss week 

She said: 'I think I will do that again this year, so all the students can see it proudly hanging at the fair.' 

Haley said she tells her students to 'draw things that make them happy and to not X things out'. 

'I teach second grade and they like to mark things out and start over,' she told Scary Mommy.

'Having that rule is also why last year's dress has a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man that takes up the whole back. That's what makes them great.' 

Haley has dressed up for her students before and shared adorable images of her costume to her Instagram account. 

Last September, she celebrated Constitution Day and dressed as a Founding Father and months before that wore a Cat in the Hat ensemble to celebrate Dr Seuss Week at her school.