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I will be doing Bigger with my 2nd and 4th graders this coming year. I don't think my 4th grader is ready for the extension even though he is an excellent reader I just do think he could handle the extra time.
My problem is I have a hard time with the Art box. I read the first week one and just could not understand the directions. I really want to do better at getting the hands on stuff done because I know that is what my kids enjoy even though I don't enjoy it at all. I know if the directions are hard for me I will be less likely to do it.
Any suggestion? I could ask my daughter she very artistic. It may be only the first one that I will have trouble with as I have not read though all the weeks. The first one stumped me so bad I didn't even attempt to read more. LOL
It's a bit frustrating to me as I am a big direction reader and wondering why I can't figure this out. Also I wonder if I am over thinking it. I mean does it really mater as long as they got to paint and it is waves and sky?
I am not the artsy one in my family even though I come from a line of painters and artists. LOL

Ok after reading through a few more units I am not as panicked. There are a few that are a bit confusing but I think I can wing it. LOL

I could have written that whole post! So I don't have any advice or help. It wasn't until I read & reread & then talked the directions through with my husband did I "get" it. LOL I most be a visual because if I can see it then I usually don't have so much trouble. I'm not artsy, crafty though. In fact, they say most of the supplies you'll have in your home, well, not THIS one! I had to go & buy all that stuff & then got so overwhelmed & confused, I had to call my mom or ask my husband exactly what kind of paper? what paints? etc. Oh dear

Kims,

As an encouragement to you - I am terrible at reading directions and following them. I have to preform them so to speak for me to get it. So if it were me - I would personally just try and do your self what the direction say. I actually quickly kind of do it by myself so that I can then show my kids. It does help me to give better direction to my kids. But that is just me.

Daneale

Thanks ladies. I am glad to know I am not alone. LOL
Maybe I will do it one day and see how it turns out.

I have grown into this too. I am not an artsy type of person and as you mentioned, my kids love this stuff. It really helps them learn and helps make learning fun. I confess I fudged a lot in the Beyond and Bigger projects the first time around. Now doing them the 2nd time with my 2nd born I am doing better, and I think I am even getting better at helping my oldest with her art projects because maybe I have grown. Whew. My encouragement is just do what you can figure out and if it doesn't turn out "perfect" don't worry about it. The kids will have fun and there will be something learned anyway. If the kids don't know how it was supposed to be, they won't care. I know many of our projects didn't turn out like they were supposed to, and it was probably largely my fault. But I think the purposes were still achieved. So maybe don't worry so much. And hopefully it will get easier as you go on.

There are photobooks and Facebook groups for the different guides where people post pictures of their projects, maybe that would help you out too.