[email protected]

Gotta question. Ds, 3yo just started a ten week art class. 30 minutes each of
dance, art, and music. The dance part is great, the instructor just does her
thing, is very enthusiastic, if the kids follow along great, and if not she
doesn't mind. The kids are all 3-5. But the art and esp. music bug me, and I
think my son. The music is more focused on listening to words, repeating,
stepping on the beat, etc. And the instructor will stop to try to get each
child to do it right. Seems almost equally focused on following instructions,
if not more so, than experiencing music. Ds loved it all last week, but this
week was a bit more determined not to do as instructed (inside I cheer :-)).
At home, this is great. We have all the stuff and he does or doesn't do as he
wants to. But at the class....well, I dunno what to do. And it's not like
he's just sitting there not doing it, he's kinda doing his own thing,
deliberately not following along and distracting other kids. But he loves
going. So I'm thinking maybe I should try to let him know that if we're gonna
go, he kinda needs to go with the program, but that we don't have to go.
I'm not at all upset at what he's doing, don't know if I'm wording this
right. We dance and sing and have art at home and it's all fun and come and
go as you please. I disagree with some of the format of the class and I'm not
sure what we should do at this point. When we're in there I'm feeling like
I'm expected to guide him into following these orders and he seems resistant.

Any suggestions?

Brenda


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/20/2001 1:58:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
brendaclaspell@... writes:


> When we're in there I'm feeling like
> I'm expected to guide him into following these orders and he seems
> resistant.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Brenda
>
>

I know what you mean about that feeling. . . I hate that feeling, especially
if I end up guiding when I don't want to. For me, that happens most often
around family members with young people around Quinton's age, who don't allow
their children to do a certain thing and want to stop Quinton from doing it
as well, or direct him.

I guess its a tough question. . .he is enjoying the social aspect of it and
wants to go, so you feel like you want to continue. I would as well I think.
I do believe I might talk to the instructor and tell her where you are coming
from and that you are there for the young one to have some fun while enjoying
music and interacting with other kids. . .period. I'm sure others may have
some good ideas on this one too. I would just encourage you to stand up for
your beliefs if you feel this is important and I sense it is.

lovemary


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/20/01 11:59:39 AM, brendaclaspell@... writes:

<< I disagree with some of the format of the class and I'm not
sure what we should do at this point. When we're in there I'm feeling like
I'm expected to guide him into following these orders and he seems resistant.
>>

We have a similar situation here. Holly went with another family to an art
class for homeschoolers. The city is paying an art instructor (some kind of
grant, artist-in-residence thing, I think). I send my donation of a box of
art supplies (and GOOD stuff! <g>), and Holly was excited to go.

When she got home she was grumpy because they wouldn't let her bring her
finished art home. She said "they're making a portfolio."

Okay. I don't know whether (and Holly didn't know) it's a portfolio of
Holly's work or a portfolio for the teacher to show the city.

If the former, we never agreed to continue longterm, she just wanted to go
try it out.
If the latter, that's what Polaroid cameras and photocopy machines are for!

SO...
I could try to "reason" with the teacher and try to explain my philosophy and
what homeschooling has *not* in common with regular school art classes, or I
could just tell Holly to sneak her stuff out, or to let it go.

She feels (not unreasonably, I think) that art she makes belongs to her.

If she were being paid by the hour to produce art THEN it would belong to her
employer, but this situation had no money exchanging hands, and in fact we
"paid" in supplies.

I could justify the music class's desire to mess with rhythm, but I'm not
going to because I, think some kids have rhythm, some don't, and they should
be having fun above all.

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/20/01 10:58:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
brendaclaspell@... writes:

<< Gotta question. Ds, 3yo just started a ten week art class. 30 minutes each
of
dance, art, and music. The dance part is great, the instructor just does her
thing, is very enthusiastic, if the kids follow along great, and if not she
doesn't mind. The kids are all 3-5. But the art and esp. music bug me, and I
think my son. The music is more focused on listening to words, repeating,
stepping on the beat, etc. And the instructor will stop to try to get each
child to do it right. S >>

I just can't see how a 3 yr old can be expected to be that coordinated LOL. I
have never participated in stuff for my kids when they were very little. I
would
ask your son if he wants to attend and do what the instructors want or if he
would just like to attend a portion of the class (the dancing?) where he can
be free to enjoy himself? I don't know how well that would work though
because
my littles would have put up a fuss leaving before everyone else did. Is he
feeling
bad or does he realize that he is "upsetting" the instuctors by not following
the rules? If he doesn't seem bothered by it then I would just continue on as
you
are. If the instructors start to get in his face then I would say leave or
just
go to the one portion that you and he likes (if possible).
Ps. if your just looking to do this for the social aspect since he gets all
that stuff
you mentioned at home, have you hooked up with a homeschool group park day
where he can run around and play?

Kathy

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/20/01 1:57:53 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
Natrlmama@... writes:


> Ps. if your just looking to do this for the social aspect since he gets all
> that stuff
> you mentioned at home, have you hooked up with a homeschool group park day
> where he can run around and play?
>
>

This actually is something we and two other families from playgroup are all
doing together. And they too don't like so much structure. So I wouldn't be
surprised if something doesn't come up with the instructors. I just feel a
bit weird about it though, my issues I guess. They aren't being mean or
shaming, they're just being schooly. Like the music format is listen quietly,
now repeat, listen quietly, now repeat. And my son resists even though he
sings all the sons joyfully on the car ride home. :-)

So I feel weird to go and say, "I wonder if I might critique your teaching
style and give you some pointers." I know it could be worded better, but that
feels like the gist of it.

Brenda



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sharon Rudd

DS1 had something similar when he was 16 he took a
Marine Biology class from Florida High School (FSU).
The kids went off shore to do research
projects....which the instructor adopted as his own
work. Additionaly it turned out he was also using the
kids to pay the school to be allowed to do his grunt
work for his project. DS1 was SO disillusioned. He
gave up several weeks of a job at a marina that PAYED
him to do the same type of work. And the conversation
and stories were better at the marina plus he learned
more, and made friends that are STILL friends.

Similar things happened to me in art classes. But
really the worst was when the intructors would
vandalize my work in the name of "showing me how to
improve it". I still am angry!!

Sharon





> In a message dated 9/20/01 11:59:39 AM,
> brendaclaspell@... writes:

> She feels (not unreasonably, I think) that art she
> makes belongs to her.
>
> If she were being paid by the hour to produce art
> THEN it would belong to her
> employer, but this situation had no money exchanging
> hands, and in fact we
> "paid" in supplies.
> Sandra


__________________________________________________
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
Donate cash, emergency relief information
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/

[email protected]

In a message dated 09/20/2001 7:16:21 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
brendaclaspell@... writes:


> So I feel weird to go and say, "I wonder if I might critique your teaching
> style and give you some pointers." I know it could be worded better, but
> that
> feels like the gist of it.
>
> Brenda
>

Don't ask me -- my ds just quit piano today! I am sad -- he is fine!

Maybe the class just isn't a good fit for right now??

Nance



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sharon Rudd

If you feel he needs instruciton in music, have you
thought about Suzuki method insturction?
Sharon

> Gotta question. ..... The kids are all 3-5. But the
art and
> esp. music bug me, and I
> think my son. The music is more focused on listening
> to words, repeating,
> stepping on the beat, etc. And the instructor will
> stop to try to get each
> child to do it right. ....> Any suggestions?
>
> Brenda


__________________________________________________
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
Donate cash, emergency relief information
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/

Johanna SanInocencio

Sharon, I can relate to that so much I had an art instructor that used to
"show me how to do it" right on my work and I would get so upset because now
it wasn't "mine."
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharon Rudd" <bearspawprint@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Art Class


>
> DS1 had something similar when he was 16 he took a
> Marine Biology class from Florida High School (FSU).
> The kids went off shore to do research
> projects....which the instructor adopted as his own
> work. Additionaly it turned out he was also using the
> kids to pay the school to be allowed to do his grunt
> work for his project. DS1 was SO disillusioned. He
> gave up several weeks of a job at a marina that PAYED
> him to do the same type of work. And the conversation
> and stories were better at the marina plus he learned
> more, and made friends that are STILL friends.
>
> Similar things happened to me in art classes. But
> really the worst was when the intructors would
> vandalize my work in the name of "showing me how to
> improve it". I still am angry!!
>
> Sharon
>
>
>
>
>
> > In a message dated 9/20/01 11:59:39 AM,
> > brendaclaspell@... writes:
>
> > She feels (not unreasonably, I think) that art she
> > makes belongs to her.
> >
> > If she were being paid by the hour to produce art
> > THEN it would belong to her
> > employer, but this situation had no money exchanging
> > hands, and in fact we
> > "paid" in supplies.
> > Sandra
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?
> Donate cash, emergency relief information
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>