HOMESCHOOLING

A process approach for teachers and children. Save now on this informative book.

Homeschooling Art

Give Your Students A Heart for Art

Our Favorite Homeschool Art Program

For over twenty years our family has used this curriculum, and I am delighted to be able to offer it to our customers.

Why do I like it?

First, it fits our philosophy of gentle, kid-friendly curriculum that are easy to use.

Second, my children have ranged from artistically talented to artistically challenged, and all of them have benefited from this simple program.

Third, it provides instruction on a variety of artistic media, including coloring, drawing, calligraphy, water color, etc.

Here's a great website that will give you comprehensive information and resources for homeschooling.

Homeschool Life Situations offers encouragement and practical tips for homeschooling in life's difficult situations.

Years ago, a friend of mine asked me, "Have you thought about homeschooling? My immediate reply was, "I don't think I could ever do that!"

I didn't think I had the patience or talent to teach my own kids...

Here's another great website for homeschooling.


Thinking Skills

An article written by Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland for the Boston Globe in 2007 promotes creativity in learning: "There is, however, a very good reason to teach arts in schools, and it's not the one that arts supporters tend to fall back on. In a recent study of several art classes in Boston-area schools, we found that arts programs teach a specific set of thinking skills rarely addressed elsewhere in the curriculum - and that far from being irrelevant in a test-driven education system, arts education is becoming even more important as standardized tests like the MCAS exert a narrowing influence over what schools teach."

Read the rest of my Ezine article on "Why Teach Art?"

ONLINE ART INSTRUCTION

There are many art instruction on the Internet these days. Some are informative and even inspiring. Others do not adequately cover the content or you may find it difficult to follow the instructions. Some have way too many ads you have to click through them to find the certain subject or lessons you want. Others are simplistic, dumbing down the instruction, offering very little information and leaving the student feeling cheated or bored.

Where some art instruction websites offer many areas of study, for example, painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking, other may offer just one area, drawing, for example. The variety of subjects presented doesn't necessary assure the quality of the website. But, how can you tell a good art learning website from a bad one, especially when you are not that familiar with the subjects to begin with?

Here is a guideline: a check list that will help you choose a good website--one that will be easily understandable and present a rewarding learning experience for you.

Read the rest of my Ezine article on"How To Find Online Art Instruction That Is Right For You"

MindWare toys are unique, award winning and high-quality educational materials including games, puzzles, brainteasers, arts and craft activities, mysteries, mazes and more.

THE SPEED OF LIFE

How fast life goes by these days! We try to slow it down by recording it with camcorders, writing diaries, scrap booking and journals. We use whatever media available today to capture the events of our lives and to account for our pasts, which were the presents we missed while we were speeding ahead into the future. And, while we are busy showing our videos and e-mailing photos to all of our friends, life is happening. Meanwhile, what about the present? Isn't that what we are missing by going so fast? Past and present are always there, flashing behind and ahead. It is only the present moment that we can control. And how do we do it? Not very well, because we are always looking at the past for clues on how to make a better future and looking to the future with hopes and dreams, trying to figure out how to get there. We are perpetually out of time.

Read the rest of my Ezine article "Be Healthier, Live Longer By Being Creative"

Need help with homeschooling?

H.O.P.E. Home School Consulting: H.O.P.E. educates parents on how to homeschool and assists current homeschoolers trying to get back on track with The Educate the Home Educator Course. A consultant is available to answer your questions and help you to make informed decisions so you can homeschool in the manner best for your family. H.O.P.E. also offers a free mini-course.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT FOR FAMILIES

I found much enrichment from reading stories to my daughter every night until she was twelve years old. To this day we share those rich experiences. Many years ago we sat on the sofa and I did drawings for my daughter. She told me how she wanted the figure to look like and I, as best I could, drew that figure. It was just a fun game at the time, but it was that kind of creative play that honed my daughter's creative talents in the future and knit us closer as two who had interacted creatively. But what I learned is that giving personal time to your kids is better than their prioritizing any video game they could play, better than any late report you might have to hammer out, better than clustering around the TV, better than just about anything. And here's why...

Read my Ezine article on "Creativity Leans To Family Enrichment"

I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ART BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE?

Perhaps you've gone to a gallery or art museum, looked at the artwork displayed and said to yourself, "What the heck is that? I can't understand it! Why is this here in a gallery?"

Or, maybe you've gone to a gallery or art museum and your reactions was, "Wow! Great stuff! I like this! I don't know why, but I do!"

Or, maybe you've gone to a gallery or art museum, and, after viewing the exhibits, you walk away feeling bored and disinterested. You may have said to yourself, " Why do I bother with looking at art? I never understand it. It's beyond me."

Read my Ezine article on "Art Appreciation--A Rich, Rewarding Experience"

Click on the logo below to view all my Ezine articles!

Check out great art supplies for kids!

I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ART BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE?

Perhaps you've gone to a gallery or art museum, looked at the artwork displayed and said to yourself, "What the heck is that? I can't understand it! Why is this here in a gallery?"

Or, maybe you've gone to a gallery or art museum and your reactions was, "Wow! Great stuff! I like this! I don't know why, but I do!"

Or, maybe you've gone to a gallery or art museum, and, after viewing the exhibits, you walk away feeling bored and disinterested. You may have said to yourself, " Why do I bother with looking at art? I never understand it. It's beyond me."

Read my Ezine article on "Art Appreciation--A Rich, Rewarding Experience"

Click on the logo below to view all my Ezine articles!