Yes, You Can Teach Art!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Highlights from the 2009 Christian Filmmakers Academy

Do you have a child interested in movie making?

Wondering where to start … how to feed their interest? How to give not only practical help but an inspiring vision of filmmaking as a calling?

You should definitely check out this substantial album of 20 CDs from Vision Forum’s recent Filmmakers’ Academy held in San Antonio in January.

More than highlights, this set contains a wealth of information and encouragement at an incredible value. Continue Reading »

Tags: Contests, Culture, Filmmaking

10 Quick Helps to Ignite Art Success in YOUR Home!

An encouraging 10-page download from Yes, You Can! Publications available TODAY ONLY at Jim Erskine’s Freebie of the Day website.

Tags: Freebies, ideas, real life

LISTENING LUNCH: The Why and How of AUDIO for Homeschool Parents

[This offer is no longer active. However you can get a free excerpt of Listening Lunch here with a surprise!]

It’s an exciting week over at Yes, You Can! Publications! We’ve just released our latest ebook, this by mother of five, Kathy L. Grubb.

Not only is this 80-page resource a real gem of enouragement but for every purchaser of LISTENING LUNCH

more than a dozen homeschool publishers have donated more than $200 of freebies!

Get the low down here.

The whole package is available until Thursday, February 19, 2009. but the price will be increasing every two days so don’t put off checking it out!

What’s in Listening Lunch?

In Listening Lunch you will learn in detail how to put audio to work for you in your homeschool:

*Benefit from the experience of four homeschooling mothers (who have a total of 28 children!) as you hear how they incorporate audio into their homeschool

* Learn how toddlers can strengthen their pre-reading skills and attention span

* Enjoy the advice of Jim Weiss, Susan Wise Bauer, Jim Trelease and other educational experts on why they encourage the use of audio in your homeschool

* Easily find the best FREE audios online

* Understand why audio is good for EVERY learning style

* Know just HOW TO effectively use audio with math, science, geography and more

* Be blessed by practical ideas about how to present concepts of faith using audio

* Quickly find what you need with extensive ‘recommended audios books by age’ lists with instant links

You’ll also SAVE TIME putting these ideas into practice right away with our GREAT planning tools.

Why haven’t I done this before now?! My kids love music and learning videos, so why not more audio books?! Two of my close friends have talked about borrowing from the library, so I wouldn’t even need to spend any money!
Danielle H., homeschool mom,
homeschoolblogger.com/SchoolinMama

Get the low down here.

Now for the freebies …

From Jim Hodges Audio Books:

* BOYS OF GRIT WHO BECAME MEN OF
HONOR. This is a 2 hour 48 minute downloadable MP3 recording of this
Lamplighter classic, narrated by Jim Hodges, normally $18.00

From Cindy Rushton of CindyRushton.com:

* Motherhood: Leaving a Legacy.
Embracing the Ministry of Motherhood: Practical Ideas for Capturing the
Heart of Your Little Ones; Building a Legacy of Godliness, MP3
recording

* The Let’s Get Ready for the New
School Year Set (extensive workshop audios plus ebook)

When you get ready for the new school year do you need ideas? Step-by-step help? Want to retreat with other moms to really plan out a great year? This fun-filled, hands-on workshop is one that you simply CANNOT miss!! Cindy Rushton has an incredible workshop and e-book JUST FOR YOU! First, she will begin by opening up the Word of God to encourage your heart and fill your cup back up. She will give 5 ideas for what YOU can do on your summer vacation to insure that this year is the best year yet! THEN … she will take you by the hand and walk out how that can influence your “plans” for the new year.

While you specifically write out your goals, plans, and ideas with your friends, she will share 12 practical and easy ideas that are guaranteed to help any other mom get organized and ready for the best year yet!

* Organization 911: Help for the Messy Mom Workshop, included with the set above, Audio workshops and handout.

* Easy Meals for the Domestically Challenged Mom, MP3. Ever stood in your kitchen totally SICK of all of your normal meal ideas?Wished that you could just have some fresh ideas from a dear friend-AND EASYrecipes to make those ideas DO-ABLE in your busy home IMMEDIATELY?Well, you are going to LOVE this audio! In this workshop, Cindy shares some very practical help for the busy mom who wants to conquer the challenge of preparing meals for those she loves! Download by Mp3

See the rest of the freebies listed.

From Cindy Carrier of Values Driven Family:

* Pointing Our Kids in the Right Direction, pdf
* The Benefits of Essential Daily Routine, pdf
* Family Planner for Character Training, pdf
* The Role of Talk in Training, MP3 audio

From Penny Raine of Penny Raine.com:

*First Things First: A Home Schooling Parent’s Guide to Leading Family Devotions, ebook

From Terri Johnson of KnowledgeQuest and Homeschooling ABCs:

* Teaching Toddlers to Teens, MP3 audio plus relevant articles

From Felice Gerwitz of Media Angels:

* Interested in writing for children? Or inspiring your children to write? Felice Gerwitz shares on this topic, hosted by JoJo Tabares in her Say What You Mean Convention. Felice explains how she and her then homeschooled daughter, Christina, joined together to write The Truth Seekers Mystery Series. Downloadable MP3 recording.

From Katherine Loop of ChristianPerspectiv.net:

What does it mean to teach math biblically? Does it really matter? And howdo I begin? Find out in this 45-minute workshop.

From Susan Sikes of Out of the Nest and Beyond:

* The ABC’s of Proverbs 31 for Girls, pdf Let your daughter see how Proverbs 31 applies to her!

From Lorraine Curry of Easy Homeschooling:

* Cultivating Christian Curriculum, pdf

* Easy Teaching Tips, pdf

*Morality, Subject by Subject, pdf

*Printable copywork, pdf

And much more!

Why learning art may just be the most important subject for your children in this economy …

What do you think?!

• The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference. Elie Wiesel

• God does not call us to do great things but to do small things with great love. Mother Theresa

• How can there be too many children? That’s like saying there are too many flowers. Mother Theresa

• I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness. Mother Theresa

• A man, sir, should keep his friendships in a constant state of repair. Boswell

To handwrite beautifully and to live well.

Michelle

Real life encouragement from a real life mom …

Stay in Touch!

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Tags: copywork, Handwriting

Create a garden themed t-shirt design; upload your entry by February 15, 2009 and you could win one of several generous cash prizes.

Interested in entering? Check out this wearable art contest.

Even if you don’t want to enter a design yourself, you can vote for your favorites through March 1, 2009.

Learning elements of design is a key componant of learning to think like an artist. The current designs would make a good conversation starter with your children.

• What makes a good t-shirt design? (Think: space limitation; visual appeal from a distance; the need for simplicity etc)
• Are there any entries that wouldn’t look good at all?
• Do you prefer the bold colored designs or the softer ones?
• Which would look better from afar?
• Are there any designs that use repetition, especially of three objects, each slightly different? Why might that make a good design?

What did you ask your children? Did they have any good quotes?!

Michelle

Real life encouragement from a real life mom …

Stay in Touch!

Want to receive email updates of new posts?

Tags: Contests, Good Design, look together, questions?, real life

PROJECT:Make a Thanksgiving ‘Thank You’ Banner!

Years ago I wanted to do something tangible to help my young children understand being thankful. So when my eldest were three and five-years-old, and with an 11-month-old in tow, we set out to make a small Thanksgiving banner.

Over the past decade or so, our banner has grown to 22-feet long and has become a treasured chronicle and a tangible prompt to remind us what our attitude should be.

In this month’s newsletter for Yes, You Can Teach Art!, I’ve written everything you need to know to start the tradition of growing a Thanksgiving banner in your family.

You can download your free copy of the newsletter here:

Continue Reading »

Tags: Newsletter, Seasons, Thanksgiving

Train beautiful handwriting and build excellent character in your children with these new workbooks from two homeschool moms.

When I first read about Character Italics: Building Character Through Handwriting by Martine Cox and Wendy Shaw, I gave a great whoop of excitement.

This was an idea that was bound to happen.

Continue Reading »

Tags: copywork, curriculum review handwriting

• Lay aside your fear of not ‘covering everything.’

• Get rid of the idea that there’s a perfect curriculum out there that you haven’t yet found

• Resolve to let your children make a mess this year … at least every so often(!)

• Remember that making mistakes is often the best way of learning … both your mistakes and your children’s.

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams, Dilbert Cartoonist

The One Thing I Do

1. Answer this question yourself: If there was one art project I could enjoy with my children this year, what would it be?
2. Ask your children: If there was just one art project you could do this year, something you’ve always wanted to do, what would it be?
3. What’s keeping you from doing those art projects?

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could only do a little.
Edmund Burke

Say it Out Loud!

What is the one thing you’re going to do this year? How about your children? And what is stopping you?

If you let me know in the comments below, not only can we rejoice with you when you meet your goal, I can help you with specific future posts that address your needs.

Let’s keep each other accountable.

Tags: planning, questions?

Ever hear, “Why do I have to learn this?”

Here’s the start of a series to help your children see the relevance of art to everyday life.

Credit: BOCOG

Continue Reading »

Tags: Creation, Notebooking, real life, The Olympics