Preparing to Homeschool: Non-Academics

Articles

Art and Me...And Maybe You? by Tammy M. Cardwell
It seems that every child has a natural desire to draw, but somewhere along the way most seem to lose that desire. I'm not so sure we forget how to draw as much as we're trained out of it. Perhaps it results from seeing the art teacher use your house-sized snowman as an example of poor proportion. Or maybe it's once again hearing a gushing, "You have so much talent!" spoken to the artist standing next to you.

Art, Creativity, & Invention by Sharon Jeffus
The more I research, experience and study in the field of education, the more I believe art education, when taught correctly is the most important catalyst for creative thinking and problem solving. Many of our greatest thinkers of all time were artists.

How Do You Teach Art? by Sharon Jeffus
Teaching art is not an abstract. There are abstract elements to it, but there are also concrete elements to a good art program.

Low Cost Art Curriculum: Dover Art Products by EHO Staff
Most homeschoolers know all about Dover coloring books. They're the perfect accompaniment to nearly any science or social studies unit because there's a coloring book for nearly any topic you can imagine. Dover has many other products that are both high quality and low cost. If you haven't explored Dover's art products, it's time you learned a little more.

Visual Manna Art Lessons - Drawing Techniques by Sharon Jeffus
Two art projects teach stippling techiniques and all about neutral colors.

Arts Department
Our Arts Department is available with many more resources at out main EHO site. It includes our series Homeschooling Art History and other articles and resources.

Crafts Department
Our Crafts Department is available with many more resources at out main EHO site. It includes our A Year in Crafts series and other craft articles and resources.

Articles

Drama Activities for Children by Beverly S. Krueger
Children can begin developing their acting skills at home by using any of the following activities to sharpen their imaginations.

Introducing Music Education with Picture Books by Beverly S. Krueger
For those who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket or never learned to play a musical instrument or read music, the music education of their children seem to be a major challenge. Music lessons are one good solution, but learning to appreciate and understand music can begin even before you feel your child is ready to take on piano lessons.

Arts Department
Our Arts Department is available with many more resources at out main EHO site. It includes our Featured Composer series and other articles and resources.

Articles

3-D Graphic & Animation Software for Students by Clay Hougland
A terrific resource is available free to students who want to learn to create games, 3-D animation, and visual effects. Alias|Wavefront™ produces software used by companies like Dreamworks SKG, Industrial Light and Magic, Disney, and Pixar. They also have a unique program offering students a chance to use their software for free. Let's take a look at just what that means.

Homeschooling with Your Computer by Clay Hougland
One of the most frequent requests I receive from those who are considering homeschooling their children is one for information about homeschooling with your computer.

Learning to Use Business Software by Clay Hougland
When we purchase new computers, they come loaded with software and goodies galore. It is wonderful to own sophisticated desktop publishing or database software, but a real pity when it is not fully used because of the time commitment and steep learning curve required to master anything but a basic use. As parents we may never find the time to spend learning how to use WordPerfect 11 or Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 in depth. That should not stop us from finding ways to help our children explore these programs and become expert users.

Online Learning Opportunities by Clay Hougland
A variety of online learning models are being marketed today. Traditional classes with set periods of time for course completion are still the norm. However, some online educational websites are turning to a different model aimed at those that desire to work at their own pace. These websites offer a set fee for access to all the materials on their site for a set period of time one month, three months, a year. Several sites also offer completely free tutorials.

Computer Department
Our Computer Department is available with many more resources at out main EHO site. It includes articles to help you get the most from your computer and helps for using your computer to homeschool.

Articles

Cooking up a Cultural Lesson in the Homeschool Kitchen by Beverly S. Krueger
The United States has many cuisines all clamoring for attention. It’s easy in most towns and cities to find a variety of ethnically oriented restaurants including Chinese, Mexican, and Italian. Large to medium sized metropolitan areas have many more cultures represented. Eating out at an ethnic restaurant is always an adventure. The tastes and smells, the decorations, and the staff of the restaurant provide a glimpse into the ethnic origins of the food served. If you live in small town America, your access to anything beyond those cultures listed above is rare. You can bring that experience to your home by exploring various cultural cuisines on your own.

A Helping Hand Advice Column Questions

Question:
I’d like to teach my daughter to sew, but I never learned myself. My mother-in-law is going to loan us her sewing machine, and she has tried to help, but I find her explanations way over my head. Help!

Home and Family Department
Our Home and Family Department is available with many more resources at out main EHO site. It includes articles about family living homeschooling style and many resources to make life easier for you.