Positive Thinking: Learning from Drama

This weekend was long and eventful with Amber's homeschool co-op drama class presenting their end of year play.  I was reminded several times over the weekend why we are part of this group. It can be easy to become frustrated with people when working on a deadline, but strangely I wasn't really stressed and Amber was more excited than anything.

For this week, some of my thoughts may not seem all that positive, instead more like a life lesson learned. These lessons actually kept me in a positive frame of mind when I started to worry. 

My Positive Thoughts for the week:

• You can only prepare so much. Just make the best of every situation and life (or a play) will go much smoother.
• Most people will be willing to help when given the opportunity. Those that aren't willing, you probably don't need anyway.
• Relax and enjoy the activities you're participating in. That's why you signed up. 

And All the Extras

Welcome to the last week of the 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair hosted by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts and Minds and Lisa @ Golden Grasses.  The topic this final week is Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our World. So, what brings beauty to our homeschool?

Succinctly, my child's smiling face, infectious laugh, and relief when we set a schedule to fit her abilities. But this is a curriculum fair, and not a philosophical discussion about beauty.   Unfortunately, we don't have much of a curriculum for this topic.  There are many ways wee seek out beauty, but very little (if any) includes formal curriculum.

Let's instead look at the items that make our girl smile and laugh? In the past she adored dance, looked forward to art classes at the local art / pottery store, her piano lessons and just about any activity with friends. Now there isn't energy for all of those activities. We did join a homeschool group with a co-op a little over a year ago and Amber loves every second of her time with this group. 

We choose to use the homeschool co-op for enrichment classes only, yet there is still plenty of topics to keep Amber busy there for the large part of one day each week. Last school year Amber started with an art class at the co-op which was fun at first, but lost its luster later in the semester.  Drama at the co-op, on the other hand, couldn't be a better experience. Last year she was a goblin in a small production of The Hobbit; for the Christmas just passed she was Mary in a pantomime; and now for the current spring production she is Susan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Photo art class and homework picture-taking; knitting for fun, and at the symphony

Amber has returned to an artistic class with photography art this semester. It is a combination of photography instruction with art projects using photos they take each week. It's a great balance of learning and art.  Additionally, Amber takes a teen Bible study, which although it is taught non-denominationally, has given her a chance to enjoy being in God's word without the concentration level required for her regular confirmation class. 

Outside of the homeschool group Amber takes weekly flute lessons and intermittently plays in a band. This is after 6+ years of piano lessons too. There is nothing more beautiful than to listen to an earnest music student on the flute.  It is truly a lovely instrument.

Those are all structured classes that add beauty to our homeschool.  However, we spend a good deal of time crafting and simply creating on our own at home too.   Amber is particularly partial to knitting and other yarn crafts.  She also loves to doodle and simply create with the art supplies on hand.  We've recently signed up for a subscription to Doodle Crate and await our first delivery.  Amber is very excited to have craft projects delivered to our door once a month along with the promise to dedicate to the projects.

Amber as Mary, working on a craft project and practicing flute before a performance

We also enjoy attending the symphony and touring Broadway productions as a family.  We never expected Amber to so enjoy these events, but she looks forward to them possibly more than the adults.

That's how our family adds beauty to our homeschool and family life.  It's not perfect, but nothing in life ever is.  Thanks for joining us during the 2015 Curriculum Fair. We've had fun sharing and reading all the great ideas from other families.

Other Weeks from the 2015 Curriculum Fair

Please check out how the other members of the 2015 Virtual Curriculum Fair are finding Beauty in their worlds.

• The Art of Organization…or How Clutter Almost Ruined My Homeschool by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
• The Shadow of Divine Perfection by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
• Relaxed Homeschooling: Fine Arts in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
• Fine Arts {Art Appreciation, Art, Composer Study Hymn Study} for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
• Adding Sparkle to Home Education by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
• And All the Extras by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
• Teaching Art Using the Bible by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker
• Art In Every Subject by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
• Letting Art Just Happen in Homeschool by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma
• Missing Art? by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
• Do YOU Have Time for Extracurriculars? by Michele@ Family, Faith and Fridays
• Fine Arts in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm
• The Science of Beauty for a Delight-Directed Daughter by Susan @ The Every Day of Education
• Seeking Beauty: How we Tackle the Arts in our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
• Learning To Appreciate Beauty With Fine Arts Resources@ As We Walk Along the Road by Leah@ As We Walk Along the Road

If you'd like to join the fair this week, use the linky below.

http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=488828