Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: art, credits, Fine Arts, high school, shakespeare

This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 1 month ago by my3boys.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

Author
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March 19, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Misty
Participant
I want to get my sons fine arts credit done in 9th grade. He is not an arts kind of guy and I want to spend the upper years preparing him for a future – be it college bound or not.
I am trying to figure out a couple things:
1. Is there a CLEP for art history or sometihng to cover this? 2. I have Museum Materpieces from The Teaching Company – what could I add to this to get a good 1/2 credit?
We do picture study together and we do music study together weekly. Also, we do hands on art weekly. So I am not going to write that every year on his transcripts am i? I was thinking I would just roll that into 1 full credit in 9th grade as he’ll always be with us for family studies we think this 30 minutes a day together is important for him as much as to show the younger ones ‘how it’s done’. Or have I got enough to give the full credit?
What have you done, are doing or your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
March 22, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Kimberly
Participant
Hi Misty,
This is what we are doing: I call this course “Survey of Fine Arts” and it includes Artist/Picture Study, Composer/Music Study, Poetry, Hymn Study and any drawing instruction or independent work my daughter does (she has recently discovered an interest in drawing and has been sketching independently alot lately). I will award this class 1 credit on her highschool transcript, probably listed under electives. A lady at a homeschool convention I attended last year (I believe her name was Susan Chrisman, a CM homeschool mom) said that 1 hour a week (36 in a typical school year) over the course of 4 years would equal more than enough hours (144 hours) to award one credit. She applied this to reading aloud Shakespeare plays with some minor discussion once a week for about an hour. I apply this formula to Fine Arts as well. On average, we spend a least an hour a week on the above topics in Fine Arts. Over 4 years, enough time would be accumulated to award 1 Credit. If my children show an interest in studying drawing, painting, sculpting, etc., they may do that also as an elective, but our requirement for graduation is “Survey of Fine Arts”. I grade this course mostly on participation and attitude, with an occassional written narration thrown in for picture study.
March 23, 2013 at 12:59 am
Misty
Participant
Thanks Kimberly that is perfect and I love the title you have given it. We do the same things. i wil have to use that!
May 5, 2014 at 7:47 pm
my3boys
Participant
@Misty,
How did the Art History work out with your son?
Thanks.
May 5, 2014 at 8:00 pm
TailorMade
Participant
thanks for these tips on fine arts credits. very helpful as I plan for my soon to be freshman son.
May 5, 2014 at 9:09 pm
pslively
Participant
Just FYI, Khan Academy has a great Art History course on their website. My kids and I are working our way through this, not for credit but just to learn something about art. If you are counting hours of instruction, I’m sure that this would be something you could use. We are still in the first unit and have learned so much. I have them make notations of things that interest them as they are watching. There is a quiz at the end of each unit that you could, I suppose, use for a grade.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history
May 5, 2014 at 11:47 pm
Misty
Participant
Here is the basics of what we did. Also, note we do family picture and composer study and we did a year of intense hands on art.
Intro to Music – Children’s Book of Music by DK w/ CD 978-0-7566-6734-4
                                Independent study: Read book and listen to music CD
Intro to Art – The Usborne Book of Art: Internet Linked by Rosie Dickins
                                Independent study: Read book and follow links as interested
Intro to Art & Music – The Great Courses: Fine Arts & Music
                                                Museum Masterpieces: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
                                                Taught by: Professor Richard Brettell
                                                DVD – 12 hours of instruction
Hope that helps. Misty
May 6, 2014 at 12:03 am
my3boys
Participant
Thank you, Misty.
Can you describe some of the ‘intense hands-on art’ you did with your family?
I really fail in this area (and nature study) and could use some ideas and motivation.
I will check out khan academy, too.
Thanks again!
May 6, 2014 at 2:39 pm
my3boys
Participant
bump
May 6, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Misty
Participant
In tense for us might be considered lax for others. This year we really focused on drawing. Using Art with a Purpose. This is much more focused than we’ve ever done. So for us it was intense. Really following a specific goal, not just try and do this approach. Sorry that’s probably lame but for us it was a lot more for the kids. I did love Art with a Purpose and will continue with it this coming year.
May 7, 2014 at 12:00 am
my3boys
Participant
No, it’s not lame or lax. I do enjoy art, picture study, etc., but I don’t do a lot of art (focused drawing/crafts) with my kids; I usually pay to have them do a community class or co-op . We have plenty of supplies and sometimes they will do somethings on their own, but I don’t do any “instructing”. That would be humorous.
But, this next year my oldest needs Art for a credit. My other two would do crafts/projects all the time if I did. I’d really like to do more as I know they would like it so much..I just never feel like I have time. I do have some Mark Kistler books; I need to get those out, as well.
I appreciate the info you have given and will be checking out some as soon as I can.