First day with Preparing-suggestions for reluctant artist?
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blessedmomof4
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:34 pm
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
First day with Preparing-suggestions for reluctant artist?
We had a great first day, except for the History notebook and art projects. My daughter, age 10, is afraid to draw. She wanted to print symbols for her shield of faith from the internet to cut and paste rather than draw them, and I let that go. She refused to draw the map for science notebooking and wanted to print a copy and paste it (she did the writing part fine on that, her cursive is pretty neat). But the History notebook, she won't even try to follow the directions in the Draw and Write Book. I even did my own to show her mine was not quite like the book, but it was all my own (I am NOT a great artist, incidentally). She is sure she is going to be horrible at it, no matter how much I tried to encourage her. I must confess I gave up and left her at the table with her books, telling her this is her last thing for the day and she's on her own. Any suggestions ?
Lourdes
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12
Re: First day with Preparing-suggestions for reluctant artist?
blessedmomof4,
I only have a minute tonight, but one thing that may help would be to allow your daughter to trace her drawing from Draw and Write. That would be less pressure for her, and she could enjoy coloring it and having it look "just like" the book. Often kiddos who have perfectionist tendancies don't like to branch out and do any free-hand sketching, as they're afraid it won't measure-up to their own expectations.
Since it's the first day and the first week, I wouldn't do battle with her over the areas that you mentioned. You did a terrific job of working with her. I would let her make the adjustments that you mentioned for now, letting her know that as the months pass you won't always be allowing her to print pictures rather than sketch. For now, I'd move toward tracing as an in-between step for any assignments that it works for, rather than drawing on her own. Since she's transitioning from a charter or public school to home and has had some changes in her life she needs plenty of time to settle in and get comfortable.
Let her thrive in any area she can right now and make sure she does the assignments, even if you need to get creative with how she accomplishes them. Then, she'll know she isn't getting out of anything but rather is being allowed to put her own twist on it, knowing she'll move toward following the directions as written as she gets more comfortable with them.
Blessings,
Carrie
I only have a minute tonight, but one thing that may help would be to allow your daughter to trace her drawing from Draw and Write. That would be less pressure for her, and she could enjoy coloring it and having it look "just like" the book. Often kiddos who have perfectionist tendancies don't like to branch out and do any free-hand sketching, as they're afraid it won't measure-up to their own expectations.
Since it's the first day and the first week, I wouldn't do battle with her over the areas that you mentioned. You did a terrific job of working with her. I would let her make the adjustments that you mentioned for now, letting her know that as the months pass you won't always be allowing her to print pictures rather than sketch. For now, I'd move toward tracing as an in-between step for any assignments that it works for, rather than drawing on her own. Since she's transitioning from a charter or public school to home and has had some changes in her life she needs plenty of time to settle in and get comfortable.
Let her thrive in any area she can right now and make sure she does the assignments, even if you need to get creative with how she accomplishes them. Then, she'll know she isn't getting out of anything but rather is being allowed to put her own twist on it, knowing she'll move toward following the directions as written as she gets more comfortable with them.
Blessings,Carrie
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blessedmomof4
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:34 pm
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Re: First day with Preparing-suggestions for reluctant artist?
Thank you so much, Carrie, for the encouragement. Well, can I just say that after I wrote that post, I went downstairs to find her busy drawing on scrap paper 
She told me she wanted to practice before putting it in her sketchbook. Then she asked, "Is it ok if I leave out the veins on the leaves? I don't like the way they are coming out." So I said, "Sure, they are your leaves, you can make them as you like." She finally was satisfied and made a very nice picture of a plant and a tree, and even added a sun because she said the picture needed balance.
I guess she just needed to feel like she didn't have an "audience" while she perfected her masterpiece. She even stood back and admired it, saying,"That looks really nice." And I agreed wholeheartedly
I agree, I will ease up in that area. It is good to see her enjoying math with me, and she absolutely loved the Bible study, Storytime and Grandfather's Box. Thankfully I remembered to praise her for her diligent work in all the Basics, and for her cooperation at last with her History notebook
To be fair, we had a lot of excitement today, including a new puppy, and babysitting my neighbor's 2 year old! I'm sure tomorrow will be smoother.
She told me she wanted to practice before putting it in her sketchbook. Then she asked, "Is it ok if I leave out the veins on the leaves? I don't like the way they are coming out." So I said, "Sure, they are your leaves, you can make them as you like." She finally was satisfied and made a very nice picture of a plant and a tree, and even added a sun because she said the picture needed balance. I guess she just needed to feel like she didn't have an "audience" while she perfected her masterpiece. She even stood back and admired it, saying,"That looks really nice." And I agreed wholeheartedly
I agree, I will ease up in that area. It is good to see her enjoying math with me, and she absolutely loved the Bible study, Storytime and Grandfather's Box. Thankfully I remembered to praise her for her diligent work in all the Basics, and for her cooperation at last with her History notebook
To be fair, we had a lot of excitement today, including a new puppy, and babysitting my neighbor's 2 year old! I'm sure tomorrow will be smoother.
Lourdes
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12
Wife to Danforth
2 grads 9/19/92,7/8/95
2 in charter school 1/31/98, 9/19/99
3 in Heaven 8/11/06, 8/18/10, 9/13/13
Future HODie is here! 9/14/12
Re: First day with Preparing-suggestions for reluctant artist?
Lourdes,
Isn't it amazing how kiddos will fix their own issues sometimes if we let them. I am a jump in and solve it type woman, so I'm glad that your daughter found a solution of her own all by herself.
Be encouraged that you're doing a terrific job, and it sounds like you had a good first day. First days (actually first weeks) are always interesting around here too, as I seek to find the balance between when to require exactly what the directions say and when to have flexibility.
Blessings,
Carrie
Isn't it amazing how kiddos will fix their own issues sometimes if we let them. I am a jump in and solve it type woman, so I'm glad that your daughter found a solution of her own all by herself.
Be encouraged that you're doing a terrific job, and it sounds like you had a good first day. First days (actually first weeks) are always interesting around here too, as I seek to find the balance between when to require exactly what the directions say and when to have flexibility.
Blessings,
Carrie