The Importance of Fine Arts in the Classroom
Executive Summary about education for kids by Debbie Cluff
Teachers “have very little understanding of the arts as disciplines of study. Fine arts expand the boundaries of learning for the students and encourage creative thinking and a deeper understanding of the core subjects, which are language arts, math, science, and social studies. Teachers need to incorporate all genres of fine arts, which include, theater, visual art, dance, and music, into their lesson plans because the arts gives the students motivational tools to unlock a deeper understanding of their education. Teaching the arts is the most powerful tool that teachers can present in their classrooms because this enables the students to achieve their highest level of learning.
It was then compared to those students who received computer training which involved no fine art components. This study shows how one little change in the way students are taught through the arts can have a powerful impact on their learning achievements and understandings. Teaching the arts needs to be incorporated in every teachers daily lesson plans because, based on these studies, students who are taught through the arts raise their test and learning levels.
Jacobs explains,
Teaching though the arts requires students to engage in the act of creative art. Teaching through the arts helps students experience concepts rather than simply discussing or reading them. (Jacobs, 1999, p. 2)
Three, veteran teachers at a public elementary school did a case study which involved teaching through the arts. They believed “our students had to experience cycles of inquiry wherein they learned about the arts and through the arts, and that they needed to see teachers of different disciplines collaborate” (Berghoff, 2003, p. 2).
The study was based on teaching a history lesson unit on Freedom and Slavery through the arts. (Berghoff, 2003). The students had learned more from this lesson because they were able to use all styles of learning and were taught from an angle which is rarely used, through the arts. “Studies indicate that a successful arts integrated program will use these components to guide student learning and assess growth and development (Swan-Hudkins, 2003). Teaching through the arts are the key elements of learning and the traits teachers strive to establish and reinforce in their students. By working through the arts, instead of about the arts, the students’ educational experience will be achieved in a different way than just teaching the standard style of learning. Recent Reports from the National Art Education Association (NAEA) confirmed with Governor Davis when they reported “Students in art study score higher on both their Verbal and Math SAT tests than those who are not enrolled in arts courses (California Art Study, 2003, p. 5). Attached is a copy of the test scores of students in the arts and students with no arts coursework.
This company understands the importance of incorporating arts into the classroom. Teachers need to gain a better education of teaching their students through the arts. Teaching through the arts is the most powerful tool that teachers can give in their classrooms because it enables the students to achieve their highest level of learning.
With the lack of attention art is getting outside of the classroom, teachers cannot afford not to incorporate dance, theater, visual arts, or music in their lesson plans. Fine arts is the core curriculums constant and most important companion. Cycles of Inquiry with the Arts. Connecting Arts Education Policy and Research to Classroom Teaching. Teaching Core Curriculum Content through the Arts. The Effect of an Elementary Fine Arts Program on Students’.
Readmore »»
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Character Education
Character Education In The School
Executive Summary about education for kids by Brent Sitton
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits. One way to supplement your child's character education is to act as a filter for the movies and
television shows your child watches, and to review the books your child reads.
The stronger the message, the more it will contribute to your child's character education.
Following are some ways in which the virtues can manifest as character traits in children's books, movies, and in television shows:
Self-Discipline: A character discusses his feelings of anger rather than impulsively striking out.
Honesty: A character admits to himself that he isn't trying his hardest.
When evaluating character traits and virtues in kids' books, movies, and television shows, also look at negative behavioral influences. Profanity: Does the character use foul
language, sexual language, or take God's name in vain?
Nudity: Does the movie, television show, or book show or describe suggestive styles of dress or partially clothed or nude characters?
Sexual Content: Do the characters engage in implied or overt sexual behavior, or do
they engage in aberrant sexual behavior?
Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco: Do the characters use or abuse legal or illegal substances?
Negative Behaviors: Does the character show disrespect to his parents?
By evaluating
both the positive character traits and negative behaviors of movies, television shows, and books, and selecting those that reinforce the values and virtues that are important to you, you'll go far in developing your child's character
education.
Readmore »»
Executive Summary about education for kids by Brent Sitton
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits. One way to supplement your child's character education is to act as a filter for the movies and
television shows your child watches, and to review the books your child reads.
The stronger the message, the more it will contribute to your child's character education.
Following are some ways in which the virtues can manifest as character traits in children's books, movies, and in television shows:
Self-Discipline: A character discusses his feelings of anger rather than impulsively striking out.
Honesty: A character admits to himself that he isn't trying his hardest.
When evaluating character traits and virtues in kids' books, movies, and television shows, also look at negative behavioral influences. Profanity: Does the character use foul
language, sexual language, or take God's name in vain?
Nudity: Does the movie, television show, or book show or describe suggestive styles of dress or partially clothed or nude characters?
Sexual Content: Do the characters engage in implied or overt sexual behavior, or do
they engage in aberrant sexual behavior?
Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco: Do the characters use or abuse legal or illegal substances?
Negative Behaviors: Does the character show disrespect to his parents?
By evaluating
both the positive character traits and negative behaviors of movies, television shows, and books, and selecting those that reinforce the values and virtues that are important to you, you'll go far in developing your child's character
education.
Readmore »»
BE COME A TEACHER
Becoming A Teacher-Parent - Giving Your Children The Goal Of Success
Executive Summary about be come a teacher by Steve Wickham
Where do noisy people get off? They tend to venture through life completely uninhibited, totally free from responsibility for their boisterous behaviour. It's even worse if you have a friend or colleague who displays this type of behaviour. Now, coffee shops are quite noisy places at the best of times I've found, what with coffee machines and many patrons happily producing a symphony of 'harmonising' decibels together. It was a golden opportunity to observe group human behaviour of young people who'd not yet discovered the art of (or the desire for) containing their egos.
As the meeting progressed, one of the girls said, words to the effect, "Why'd I get sacked (for bad language) from pushing trolleys - why didn't they recognise my 'good' performance (16-25) trolleys." Certainly pushing trolleys at a supermarket fits in the 'working with the public' realm and uncontrolled bad language just doesn't fit into the job description.
Had no one taught her some social graces?
It seems at this age, social life is "it." Ninety percent of the time it only highlights the dysfunction that the parent in question cannot see, after all 'they did a fine job' in raising their kids! I think this young woman's story highlights the value of teachers. Teachers in life provide the basis for learning; academically, socially, developmentally, morally, spiritually. Teachers don't just exist in schools. Teachers are incredibly gifted and loving people in the main; investing themselves in the future of others, leaving a legacy to the world that will exist long after they've perished. A person playing the role of teacher probably helped us get there. Teaching in this way is inspirational-it is the best gift you can give your children-sound, firm but fair, teaching. "It takes fortitude, interest, and love of learning to stay in a teaching career."
Parents have a role as teachers. The good teacher-parent knows this and attends to it; the parent who thinks only teachers teach is crudely unaware of this hugely important life truth, and they're on a highway to ruination of their son or daughter.
Furthermore, the adult parent who isn't a teacher behaves more in their "child state" because they've never matured or been properly weened themselves-there is little hope for kids of parents like this, unless there is someone else willing to step in and mentor them in life. Chances are these kids will attract the wrong types of mentors and friends and will never learn the way to life.
What is Good Teaching?
Executive Summary about be come a teacher by Glenn Schuyler
A foremost characteristic of good teaching is expert knowledge of the subject matter, and of teaching methodologies (Woolfolk, 2004). I personally have seldom ever experienced good teaching by someone with weak knowledge of subject matter information. However, expert teachers with little expert knowledge in subject matter may exude expert teaching through acquired skills and expertise in other areas such as, knowledge of general teaching strategies, proper use of curriculum material, knowledge of characteristics and cultural background of their students, the most appropriate settings in which students best learn, and overall knowledge of the general goals of education (Woolfolk, 2004, p. 6). An example of characteristics mentioned above is supported by a position statement of the International Reading Association in which they argue, "Every child deserves excellent reading teachers because teachers make a difference in children's reading achievement and motivation to read," (International Reading Association, 2000, p. 235). According to the International Reading Association, excellent reading teachers share several critical qualities of knowledge and practice:
1. They understand reading and writing development and believe all children can learn to read and write.
2. They continually assess children's individual progress and relate reading instruction to children's previous experiences. Gore's work (as cited in Montgomery & Thomas, 1998. p. 372) suggests that the ideas of reflective teaching methodology in teacher preparation go back to Dewey (1904, 1933). `What do teachers do that helps? What do teachers do that hurts? What advice do you have for teachers? The students (all females) were divided randomly into two groups. Humor was used in one, and the same teacher taught the second group without using humor. The above-mentioned characteristics of good teaching reflect the feedback from students, results from scientific studies, and reflection by teachers. One more source of input on what constitutes good teaching is derived from those who hire teachers, namely the school administrators. What qualities do school administrators seek in prospective teachers? Establishing positive classroom climate
Building/maintaining rapport with students
Knowledge of subject matter
Extracurricular work
An interesting note about the differences between good female teachers versus good male teachers emerged from a 1993 study by Goodwin and Stevens. Patricia Montgomery (Montgomery & Thomas, 1998) sums it up best:
I told them that I was a college student studying to be a teacher.
Readmore »»
Executive Summary about be come a teacher by Steve Wickham
Where do noisy people get off? They tend to venture through life completely uninhibited, totally free from responsibility for their boisterous behaviour. It's even worse if you have a friend or colleague who displays this type of behaviour. Now, coffee shops are quite noisy places at the best of times I've found, what with coffee machines and many patrons happily producing a symphony of 'harmonising' decibels together. It was a golden opportunity to observe group human behaviour of young people who'd not yet discovered the art of (or the desire for) containing their egos.
As the meeting progressed, one of the girls said, words to the effect, "Why'd I get sacked (for bad language) from pushing trolleys - why didn't they recognise my 'good' performance (16-25) trolleys." Certainly pushing trolleys at a supermarket fits in the 'working with the public' realm and uncontrolled bad language just doesn't fit into the job description.
Had no one taught her some social graces?
It seems at this age, social life is "it." Ninety percent of the time it only highlights the dysfunction that the parent in question cannot see, after all 'they did a fine job' in raising their kids! I think this young woman's story highlights the value of teachers. Teachers in life provide the basis for learning; academically, socially, developmentally, morally, spiritually. Teachers don't just exist in schools. Teachers are incredibly gifted and loving people in the main; investing themselves in the future of others, leaving a legacy to the world that will exist long after they've perished. A person playing the role of teacher probably helped us get there. Teaching in this way is inspirational-it is the best gift you can give your children-sound, firm but fair, teaching. "It takes fortitude, interest, and love of learning to stay in a teaching career."
Parents have a role as teachers. The good teacher-parent knows this and attends to it; the parent who thinks only teachers teach is crudely unaware of this hugely important life truth, and they're on a highway to ruination of their son or daughter.
Furthermore, the adult parent who isn't a teacher behaves more in their "child state" because they've never matured or been properly weened themselves-there is little hope for kids of parents like this, unless there is someone else willing to step in and mentor them in life. Chances are these kids will attract the wrong types of mentors and friends and will never learn the way to life.
What is Good Teaching?
Executive Summary about be come a teacher by Glenn Schuyler
A foremost characteristic of good teaching is expert knowledge of the subject matter, and of teaching methodologies (Woolfolk, 2004). I personally have seldom ever experienced good teaching by someone with weak knowledge of subject matter information. However, expert teachers with little expert knowledge in subject matter may exude expert teaching through acquired skills and expertise in other areas such as, knowledge of general teaching strategies, proper use of curriculum material, knowledge of characteristics and cultural background of their students, the most appropriate settings in which students best learn, and overall knowledge of the general goals of education (Woolfolk, 2004, p. 6). An example of characteristics mentioned above is supported by a position statement of the International Reading Association in which they argue, "Every child deserves excellent reading teachers because teachers make a difference in children's reading achievement and motivation to read," (International Reading Association, 2000, p. 235). According to the International Reading Association, excellent reading teachers share several critical qualities of knowledge and practice:
1. They understand reading and writing development and believe all children can learn to read and write.
2. They continually assess children's individual progress and relate reading instruction to children's previous experiences. Gore's work (as cited in Montgomery & Thomas, 1998. p. 372) suggests that the ideas of reflective teaching methodology in teacher preparation go back to Dewey (1904, 1933). `What do teachers do that helps? What do teachers do that hurts? What advice do you have for teachers? The students (all females) were divided randomly into two groups. Humor was used in one, and the same teacher taught the second group without using humor. The above-mentioned characteristics of good teaching reflect the feedback from students, results from scientific studies, and reflection by teachers. One more source of input on what constitutes good teaching is derived from those who hire teachers, namely the school administrators. What qualities do school administrators seek in prospective teachers? Establishing positive classroom climate
Building/maintaining rapport with students
Knowledge of subject matter
Extracurricular work
An interesting note about the differences between good female teachers versus good male teachers emerged from a 1993 study by Goodwin and Stevens. Patricia Montgomery (Montgomery & Thomas, 1998) sums it up best:
I told them that I was a college student studying to be a teacher.
Readmore »»
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Multi-Media in the Classroom
Why I Love Online Learning and Teaching
Executive Summary about Multimedia teacher by Kay Wais
I have spent over 4,000 hours in online classrooms as both a student and a teacher – long enough to have established an opinion on the topic of online versus traditional classes. I am not with the majority when I say I overwhelmingly prefer the online environment to the physical classroom environment for project management learning. 1. Impartiality
2. The Internet is the work field for Project Management
Learning project management online helps us practice in the same virtual environment where many project managers will be working. Most professional project managers today are working with multiple virtual team members and vendors. In today’s business world, some project managers rarely meet their project stakeholders, communicating primarily through posting project reports and information to project portals and tracking systems. Therefore it is important to feel comfortable communicating and working online. What could be a better simulation of this than online courses?
Memories of speeding to campus to make it on time, struggling to find a parking spot, plugging the parking meter, and running up steps to get to class is a big part of my student life memory.
4. Students tend to learn best when they are relaxed and comfortable.
Sitting at home with bunny slippers up on the desk, sipping a cup of tea and working online at a time of convenience is absolutely the best learning environment. Critics will retort that there are too many distractions at home.
5. Geographic and organizational diversity of students
There are a few tends in the types of students who choose online.
Physically disabled people. All in all, the online classroom provides a wider pool of teachers and students, which greatly adds to the richness of the group discussions.
6. Skip the busy work
The online environment does not tempt instructors to “fill up” class time with low-value activities. When teaching and learning online the courses tend to be structured to jump into the topic, work with it to help ensure learning, and then move on when the student has individually mastered it.
7. Deadline orientation The physical classroom tends to treat learning as a timed meeting.
Different students work at different paces. Some people are new to the material and need more time, others might be slower readers or workers, and it can be very difficult to accurately estimate the time it takes a students to do an exercise. Classroom time is often structured for exercises to be lecture breaks for the instructor. The online environment is structured around milestones and deadlines, the way real work projects are. There is no wasting of time. Students learn to complete assignment deadlines rather than to just show up.
8. Safety
Many adult learners attend evening classes that often conclude around 10:00 pm. After class there is the long, dark walk to the car. There are personal safety and public safety issues involved with this scenario that are completely eliminated in the online environment.
Online courses provide students with the opportunity to “see” the reality of the course much earlier than the traditional classroom setting. The online course is an open book to students.
Multi-Media in the Classroom
Executive Summary about Multimedia teacher by Michael Hines
It can lead to more collaborative learning experiences while allowing students to learn with multi-media or from multi-media.
Once the student forms a mental image, then the concept is ‘understood’. Visual Learning and multi-media lessons can be very time consuming with regards to teacher preparation.
Readmore »»
Executive Summary about Multimedia teacher by Kay Wais
I have spent over 4,000 hours in online classrooms as both a student and a teacher – long enough to have established an opinion on the topic of online versus traditional classes. I am not with the majority when I say I overwhelmingly prefer the online environment to the physical classroom environment for project management learning. 1. Impartiality
2. The Internet is the work field for Project Management
Learning project management online helps us practice in the same virtual environment where many project managers will be working. Most professional project managers today are working with multiple virtual team members and vendors. In today’s business world, some project managers rarely meet their project stakeholders, communicating primarily through posting project reports and information to project portals and tracking systems. Therefore it is important to feel comfortable communicating and working online. What could be a better simulation of this than online courses?
Memories of speeding to campus to make it on time, struggling to find a parking spot, plugging the parking meter, and running up steps to get to class is a big part of my student life memory.
4. Students tend to learn best when they are relaxed and comfortable.
Sitting at home with bunny slippers up on the desk, sipping a cup of tea and working online at a time of convenience is absolutely the best learning environment. Critics will retort that there are too many distractions at home.
5. Geographic and organizational diversity of students
There are a few tends in the types of students who choose online.
Physically disabled people. All in all, the online classroom provides a wider pool of teachers and students, which greatly adds to the richness of the group discussions.
6. Skip the busy work
The online environment does not tempt instructors to “fill up” class time with low-value activities. When teaching and learning online the courses tend to be structured to jump into the topic, work with it to help ensure learning, and then move on when the student has individually mastered it.
7. Deadline orientation The physical classroom tends to treat learning as a timed meeting.
Different students work at different paces. Some people are new to the material and need more time, others might be slower readers or workers, and it can be very difficult to accurately estimate the time it takes a students to do an exercise. Classroom time is often structured for exercises to be lecture breaks for the instructor. The online environment is structured around milestones and deadlines, the way real work projects are. There is no wasting of time. Students learn to complete assignment deadlines rather than to just show up.
8. Safety
Many adult learners attend evening classes that often conclude around 10:00 pm. After class there is the long, dark walk to the car. There are personal safety and public safety issues involved with this scenario that are completely eliminated in the online environment.
Online courses provide students with the opportunity to “see” the reality of the course much earlier than the traditional classroom setting. The online course is an open book to students.
Multi-Media in the Classroom
Executive Summary about Multimedia teacher by Michael Hines
It can lead to more collaborative learning experiences while allowing students to learn with multi-media or from multi-media.
Once the student forms a mental image, then the concept is ‘understood’. Visual Learning and multi-media lessons can be very time consuming with regards to teacher preparation.
Readmore »»
Twelve Tips To Connect With Teachers At Conference Time
Twelve Tips To Connect With Teachers At Conference Time
Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Excited? Confused? It takes teamwork to raise kids. Connecting with teachers can help bring out the best in your kids. Here are twelve tips to make conference time a productive, team building experience.
1. Talk with your child before conferences. “What would be most helpful for me to know before meeting your teacher?” 2. Identify feelings and needs. Look at the situation with empathy for everyone’s needs, (your child’s, the teacher’s, and your own.) Rather than creating tension for the teacher and waiting parents, set up a follow-up phone call or meeting.
4. Solve problems by focusing on solutions. If you’re dealing with an ongoing problem, follow these steps: a. Listen to the teachers concerns. If possible, include your child in the problem solving session. It’s easier for a teacher to be helpful, when you are specific about your child’s needs. Suppose you are angry over a teacher’s actions.
Instead of attacking the teacher, attack the problem. At conferences I described the problem without attacking the teacher. I was relieved to see how eager his teacher was to be helpful. Conferences can be frantic, especially in the higher grades when you meet with multiple teachers. Jot down teacher contact information, and any suggestions.
I waited in line to talk with my son’s high school math teacher who said, “You son is a stellar student. Next, I met the science teacher. You’ll suck the teacher down with you and your child will suffer.
Give the teacher insights into your child’s passions or interests. Instead of expecting perfection, point your child in a positive direction, by focusing on what’s going right. Encourage your child’s teacher to do the same.
10. Teachers are people. Rather than criticizing one teacher for being less spontaneous or more reserved, than another, consider the value your child gains from learning to interact with each teacher’s unique qualities. Clarity relieves confusion.
Teaching Children the Lessons of a Lifetime
I've been teaching martial arts to children for a decade and a half and I've discovered something amazing about children - they want to learn what is expected of them. Unfortunately, I've also discovered that many of the parents who bring their children to our programs live by two deep-seated desires. "Is your child in school?", I ask.
To guide, provide opportunities and to give our children what they need, even if it's not what they want."
The actress Bette Davis was quoted as saying, "If you have never been hated by your child you have never been a parent." If I don't, then who will? We, as parents and teachers are teaching your children regardless of whether we open our mouths and say the words in the lesson or not.
If we're to teach our children to do what's important, not just what feels good...
...if we're to teach them to not be quitters in the game of life...
How else can we possibly teach, and have our children practice, things like commitment if we never provide the opportunities for them to commit or allow them to quit because something's not fun? After a decade and a half of watching and helping parents to help their children, I don't know if he's right but I do know that, the parents who are most committed to their child's development, regardless of the daily whims of the child - this entity who is changing so rapidly that they don't want the same things from moment-to-moment, let alone from year-to-year - usually have much more successful adults to be proud of when their children grow up.
Readmore »»
Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Excited? Confused? It takes teamwork to raise kids. Connecting with teachers can help bring out the best in your kids. Here are twelve tips to make conference time a productive, team building experience.
1. Talk with your child before conferences. “What would be most helpful for me to know before meeting your teacher?” 2. Identify feelings and needs. Look at the situation with empathy for everyone’s needs, (your child’s, the teacher’s, and your own.) Rather than creating tension for the teacher and waiting parents, set up a follow-up phone call or meeting.
4. Solve problems by focusing on solutions. If you’re dealing with an ongoing problem, follow these steps: a. Listen to the teachers concerns. If possible, include your child in the problem solving session. It’s easier for a teacher to be helpful, when you are specific about your child’s needs. Suppose you are angry over a teacher’s actions.
Instead of attacking the teacher, attack the problem. At conferences I described the problem without attacking the teacher. I was relieved to see how eager his teacher was to be helpful. Conferences can be frantic, especially in the higher grades when you meet with multiple teachers. Jot down teacher contact information, and any suggestions.
I waited in line to talk with my son’s high school math teacher who said, “You son is a stellar student. Next, I met the science teacher. You’ll suck the teacher down with you and your child will suffer.
Give the teacher insights into your child’s passions or interests. Instead of expecting perfection, point your child in a positive direction, by focusing on what’s going right. Encourage your child’s teacher to do the same.
10. Teachers are people. Rather than criticizing one teacher for being less spontaneous or more reserved, than another, consider the value your child gains from learning to interact with each teacher’s unique qualities. Clarity relieves confusion.
Teaching Children the Lessons of a Lifetime
I've been teaching martial arts to children for a decade and a half and I've discovered something amazing about children - they want to learn what is expected of them. Unfortunately, I've also discovered that many of the parents who bring their children to our programs live by two deep-seated desires. "Is your child in school?", I ask.
To guide, provide opportunities and to give our children what they need, even if it's not what they want."
The actress Bette Davis was quoted as saying, "If you have never been hated by your child you have never been a parent." If I don't, then who will? We, as parents and teachers are teaching your children regardless of whether we open our mouths and say the words in the lesson or not.
If we're to teach our children to do what's important, not just what feels good...
...if we're to teach them to not be quitters in the game of life...
How else can we possibly teach, and have our children practice, things like commitment if we never provide the opportunities for them to commit or allow them to quit because something's not fun? After a decade and a half of watching and helping parents to help their children, I don't know if he's right but I do know that, the parents who are most committed to their child's development, regardless of the daily whims of the child - this entity who is changing so rapidly that they don't want the same things from moment-to-moment, let alone from year-to-year - usually have much more successful adults to be proud of when their children grow up.
Readmore »»
Subdue Guilt About Art Instruction in Your Homeschool
Subdue Guilt About Art Instruction in Your Homeschool
I had been attacked by the homeschool mom guilt monster. This included finger paints, water colors, pipe cleaners, felt and fabric swatches, buttons and brayers, the hot-glue gun, elmer's brand glue, goggly eyes, stickers and old magazines. I was concerned about real art skills, not opportunities to make crafts.
It was during this time that I researched art lessons in our area. I also looked through the excellent Rainbow Resource catalog for art curriculum. I soon got two new kinds of guilt: Can't Afford Lessons Guilt and Don't Want to Teach Entire Art History Curriculum Guilt.
Great! I had found an excellent art history and appreciation course that even incorporated art skills, but I was not going to use it. In this season of our homeschool career I am unwilling to teach an entire art course, even once a week.
I wanted them to absorb art history and learn art skills without any more from me than driving them to lessons. Look at their art knowledge and skills! 1. I wanted the kids to learn new artistic skills if they loved to draw
2. Icouldn't afford lessons
3. I didn't want to commit the time to teach a course
4. a)knowledge of art terms and styles
c)exposure to the development of art in history
d)exposure to major artists and types of art (sculpture, paints, etc)
For our family, for this season, what works for us is art software for our computer. Now, my kids are learning about appreciation, history, and skills on their own. The software I chose has 16 lessons with 2 subtopics for each lesson, and additional skill-builders on the side, and a decent library of works of art with artist bios and dates. Let them use tissue paper and paper towel rolls!
Advantage of Homeschooling – Socialization
Homeschooling is an education option that is widely debated by comparing and contrasting it to public school. Home school Kids Don't Have Socialization
Kids need much attention. Our experience is that being consistent in denying whining and screaming is that they quickly learn not to do it. In the public school setting kids are relatively unsupervised during activities such as lunch, recess, changing classes, gym class, bus trips, assemblies, etc.
If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl would you send them to a group of kids their age, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl? The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. Kids learn more how to "survive" than how to properly socialize in a public school setting. If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way.
Readmore »»
I had been attacked by the homeschool mom guilt monster. This included finger paints, water colors, pipe cleaners, felt and fabric swatches, buttons and brayers, the hot-glue gun, elmer's brand glue, goggly eyes, stickers and old magazines. I was concerned about real art skills, not opportunities to make crafts.
It was during this time that I researched art lessons in our area. I also looked through the excellent Rainbow Resource catalog for art curriculum. I soon got two new kinds of guilt: Can't Afford Lessons Guilt and Don't Want to Teach Entire Art History Curriculum Guilt.
Great! I had found an excellent art history and appreciation course that even incorporated art skills, but I was not going to use it. In this season of our homeschool career I am unwilling to teach an entire art course, even once a week.
I wanted them to absorb art history and learn art skills without any more from me than driving them to lessons. Look at their art knowledge and skills! 1. I wanted the kids to learn new artistic skills if they loved to draw
2. Icouldn't afford lessons
3. I didn't want to commit the time to teach a course
4. a)knowledge of art terms and styles
c)exposure to the development of art in history
d)exposure to major artists and types of art (sculpture, paints, etc)
For our family, for this season, what works for us is art software for our computer. Now, my kids are learning about appreciation, history, and skills on their own. The software I chose has 16 lessons with 2 subtopics for each lesson, and additional skill-builders on the side, and a decent library of works of art with artist bios and dates. Let them use tissue paper and paper towel rolls!
Advantage of Homeschooling – Socialization
Homeschooling is an education option that is widely debated by comparing and contrasting it to public school. Home school Kids Don't Have Socialization
Kids need much attention. Our experience is that being consistent in denying whining and screaming is that they quickly learn not to do it. In the public school setting kids are relatively unsupervised during activities such as lunch, recess, changing classes, gym class, bus trips, assemblies, etc.
If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl would you send them to a group of kids their age, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl? The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. Kids learn more how to "survive" than how to properly socialize in a public school setting. If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way.
Readmore »»
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