Homeschool Art
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Do you want your child to able to express themselves in their own unique style?
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Are you looking for classes that will increase your child's creativity and imagination?
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Do you want to grow your child's confidence in who they are, and not feel like they have to be like anybody else.
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Are you wanting to have an activity that will help develop fine motor skills, as well as teach them different techniques and skills?
Are You One Of Those Adults Who Claims To Be Unable To Draw A Stick Figure?
If so, you may be overwhelmed when thinking of how to teach art to your child. Many homeschoolers/parents and teachers feel they can handle reading, writing, and maths, but when it comes to more creative pursuits such as art, they find themselves at a loss.
Adding Creative Expression To Your Homeschool Curriculum Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult.
Even if you don’t feel particularly creative yourself. Art can be one of the most exciting and relaxing homeschool subjects to learn alongside your student.
Art Is Never Just About Creating A Pretty Picture Or Completing A Task
Yes ! These things may seem important but the value I see is far greater.
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It is in the nurturing of a child and the building up of their identity.
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It is about inviting children to experiment and express themselves in their own unique way.
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It is about growing their confidence in who they are, so they don't have to feel like they have to be like everyone else.
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It is about the joy of discovering something new.
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It is about learning to organise themselves, set goals and manage their time.
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It is about their own creativity and more...
Do I Really Need To Do Art In My Curriculum?
There are a variety of reasons why art is an important aspect of a homeschooling/school curriculum.
Firstly the creative arts are a part of a child's education and are a requirement for homeschoolers.
Secondly art speaks its own language. Whether it’s a painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, collage etc.… Art is able to say things that words sometimes cannot. It is an international language that anyone from anywhere can understand and be inspired by. Art is everywhere from billboards, street signs and massive murals and they all tell a story. Whether its advertising or purely for appreciation, creativity is everywhere. Art tells a story and has been used for centuries to document and preserve history. It is used in every aspect of our lives. From artifacts, medical journals to art that is displayed in homes. It can tell us stories about society and how our cultures were. It can give us insight and different perspectives.
Art is therapeutic. Its good for the body, mind and spirit. Art is often used in therapeutic settings when words are just not enough. It can calm you and reduce stress levels. It has a way of inspiring imagination and decrease stress levels.
The therapeutic effects of art are so profound that it’s also used in more serious cases by certified professionals to help people deal with mental illness and other emotional challenges.
So now that we have established that art is an essential part of the curriculum you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the things you need to consider. Below are a few questions that might be helpful to you when planning your art curriculum. Remember art is mean to be fun and full of creativity!
Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start Teaching Your Kids Art
Is My Child A Beginner, Intermediate Or Advanced
Depending on what stage of development your child is at needs to be considered when embarking on an art activity. This will definitely influence what materials you can use as well as whether your child needs supervision, help with setting up the activity or specialized tuition.
How Do I Set Up For My Art Lessons
When I set up an art space I make sure that I have all of my equipment ready to go. I like to put down a plastic sheet or newspaper to protect the table I am working on. I then like to have all my supplies out and ready to go. If my activity involves painting I don't put to much paint out. As things can get messy really quickly it is important for kids to learn how much paint to put out. I find if there's too much paint out, there is a lot wastage.
Make your space look inviting for your kids as this encourages creativity and a willingness to experiment.
In other words have the materials out and ready to go.
What Materials Do I Need To Get Started
This is the equipment I have found to be a great starter art kit. Oil pastels are versatile and you can do a lot of different artwork using these. They are also good on the budget and there is minimal work involved to set up. Sharpies are also a staple in my art kit. They have strong pigmentation and a great variety of colours. They are also permanent, so you need to make sure when using them you have something underneath your artwork to protect your workstation. A watercolour palette is also essential. It's up to you how many colours you would like to use. However I suggest as you're starting out just get a pack of 12 to 24 colours. Acrylic paints are a must in anyones kit. There are a variety of acrylic paints you can use. I would suggest for the younger children purchase primary colours + white paint. That way they can learn the basics of colour mixing.
As a starter paintbrush I find number 10 to be a good size. I would also invest in a few different sizes and types. If your kids are young I wouldn't spend too much money on your paintbrushes or texta's (sharpies). As young children have a tendency to push down hard on art equipment as there fine motor skills are still developing.I also suggest an A3 sketchbook.
8 Things To Consider When Planning Your Art Curriculum
The purpose of planning your art curriculum is to assist you in developing, good organisational practices and effective programming. It will help you identify and consider the resources that are available to you within your budget and the wider community. I have also found the more organised and prepared you are can make the creative arts a fun and enjoyable experience for both you and your child.
I have compiled a list of 8 things to consider when planning your art curriculum
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Consider your child’s prior learning and experience in visual arts. Planning needs to be done in regards to the stage your child is in, as well as their individual level.
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Identify their learning needs according to age and stage of their learning needs. Every stage will be different.
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Ensure your program has a variety of art experiences and is well balanced.
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Programming should include learning experiences that will develop your child's confidence, enthusiasm, enjoyment and independent learning.
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Consider what art materials you already have and write a list of what you will need to purchase.
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Consider the resources that are available to you within your community. For example art galleries, recycling centres, craft shops, the internet, library, local artists, art galleries, retail art galleries, print shops, colleges and art associations in your area.
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You can also purchase online lessons. Some lessons also have an interactive elements included in the class.
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Alternatively you could organise a group of kids to meet together at someone's house an pay for an art teacher to come to your house. If you share the cost with a few families it won't break the budget.
If you manage to answer all or even some of these questions before starting your art lessons. It will make a big difference in how you organise what activities you choose to engage in with your child/children. The more planning you do before hand the easier this will become.
ONLINE TEACHING
If you're not sure how to do any of this then why not join an online class. Most of these classes are run by experienced art teachers and artists who have had many years perfecting their craft.
This will make planning your curriculum easier straight away. Most online classes will provide you with video instruction and equipment lists required. Different teachers will have their own specialty and it's a great way to try a variety of lessons and styles to expand your child's experiences and skills.
The online classes that artforkidz have created are focused on a combination of learning basic drawing, painting, watercolours and oil pastel techniques.
Whilst introducing children to different mediums and styles. The goal of these classes are to encourage children to have their own form of self expression whilst building up their confidence in the creative arts.
We believe that all children are creative and deserving of a quality art experience, whether that's in our Berowra studio or around your kitchen table with our online instruction.
We provide the resources and guidance to bring out your child's creativity and teach them methods that they can use to make their own masterpieces. And by creating art, you're helping your child explore and develop their understanding of the world around them - and their own personal expression of it.
Artforkidz online courses are suitable for children aged 5 - 12 years of age. These classes are for beginners to intermediates.
These classes are taught in the following steps
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STEP 1 | Beginning by drawing with basic shapes
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STEP 2 | Developing the drawing by adding detail
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STEP 3 | Expand their learning by means of learning art techniques
About Online Teaching Techniques | Teachers | Courses
Not all teachers teach the same way or focus on the same thing. However this would give your children a variety of different learning styles. What I have found over the years is all children learn differently. What might suit one child will not work for another. Often it is trial and error until you discover your child’s learning style. Not all online learning courses will suit your child. So try a variety of different teaching techniques, teachers until you find the style of teacher and instruction that suits your child.
You can also purchase online lessons, that have an interactive elements with the class. Part of why I developed my online workshops/courses was to give homeschoolers, teachers and kids an opportunity to work at their own pace at their own time. Not everyone is able to access their own teacher and let's be honest. As a homeschooler sometimes it is a great opportunity to connect with experienced art teachers that have organised and planned art lessons with children in mind. As with the online courses we offer. They have all been tried and tested with children of all ages. As result we have been able to put together some exciting and fun lessons.