ASA Update

Fall classes start Tuesday, Sept. 5 3:30-6PM T, TH - Madison

After School Arts is ideal for children ages 8-12 who have a strong interest in art.  Children will learn high level art skills that require a positive attitude, ambition and discipline in the classroom.  This is not a casual arts and crafts program and is not a daycare center.  We are serious about learning about art. 

If you are interested please contact the Director at 608-516-9992 for more information.

ASA Description

After School Arts LLC , (ASA)
Hours
After school program: 3PM-6PM 
Summer camp program hours: 7:30 AM-6PM
Saturdays 10AM-12PM
Extended hours available

ASA is an academic and art learning program versus a one time drop-in program.  A minimum of 6 to 8 classes (25-30hrs) are needed to successfully learn a new skill.  Artists will learn academic skills from the STEAM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concept. Classes are built upon each learned skilled.  A 60-day minimum enrollment required.

This program is intended for parents looking for their children to be engaged in an after-school activity, offering hands-on learning with arts and a focus on health and well-being. 
 
The program Director has studied early childhood education but the program should not be used for the sole purpose of childcare.  The program is for art education purposes. The Director reserves the right to assess if the number of hours children are in care is exceeding the limitation of the program and if the number of hours are a suitable amount of hours for a child to be in care.

After School Arts uses a Reggio based program philosophy which includes the parent, teacher and community to teach the child in an art based and openly creative environment.  Parents are asked to be involved and are asked to not use ASA as a drop off child center.
 

It is highly recommended that your child has an interest in art.  If children are not participating in the art or any portion of the program, parents will be asked to meet with the Director regarding if this is the right program for the child.  Children who do not participate in the program create distractions for the children who are engaged in the program.   Children should be able to sit working on a project for 30 minutes to an hour at a time. Your child will need to be able to work independently and handle a pretty active schedule like a school environment.  Good manners and the ability to keep calm are a must.

Children should be able to do the following without assistance: read instructions, follow directions, toileting, be able to feed themselves, put on and zip clothing/coat, buckle safety belt, responsible for personal items and projects.

ASA offers healthy snacks that consists mainly of whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grain rolls, granola bar, dried fruits, juices and more.  If your child has a special diet or refuses to eat certain foods please provide an alternative lunch /snack to bring each day. 

Age appropriate for children from ages 8-18+.  Contact director for acceptance for younger and older ages for age appropriateness.

All forms need to be completed, signed and returned before your child can attend. It is required to have a meeting with the Director to review policies. No exceptions.

Tuition/Supply/Field trip fees: Parents will be notified of increases before next term, school year or summer.

 

After School Arts Classes

Culinary Arts This unit explores learning basic healthy cooking that tastes great, general cooking, and understanding food health and safety. Artists will learn skills they can use for a lifetime on making smart food choices and become independent on creating food for themselves and others. We make many of our healthy snacks together and learn about the food groups.  We will include a field trip for understanding the food and restaurant business and get a daily taste of culinary arts…yum!

Green Thumb
We will participate in a daily group garden.  Children will water and prune vegetables and flowers to be used for a Fruits of our Labor party. What we produce we will use in our snacks and other units.
Exploring the world, we will take an adventure field trip to Oblrich gardens to learn more about plants and their existence in our ecosystem. This field trip is set to inspire for the floral design unit.
Found objects. Find outdoor items that inspire us to create including: gathering organic items like leaves, rocks or other items that inspire us.

Art History and Styles
This unit explores art history of famous artists from Picasso to Jackson Pollock to Mary Cassat and more.  Impress your friends when attending an art museum with art history knowledge after taking this class.
Jackson Pollock.  Who is he? What is his story? We will go Pollock with paint! Look out…smocks needed for this day.
The kids will learn about art style and history and complete an art scavenger hunt at an art museum. 

Recycled Art
Use your creative mind to turn trash into treasures like milk carton outdoor games, items we make to help the outdoor wilderness or just silly or crazy art to let our minds relax and be free. 
Let’s make Earth day any day. Giving back--we will be doing a volunteer activity.  Learn life skills on feeling good when helping others.
 
Fruits of our Labor
In this unit we will harvest our Fruits of Our Labor and create fresh garden food and floral designs harvest party that parents can join. 
We will also learn the “labor” side of collaborating as coworkers and create our own product or catering business.

Flower Power
Flowers are a dynamic part of our life. We use them for celebrations, love, general affection and even used for apologies.
Join us on our adventure of creating our own floral designs with fresh, dried flowers and objects to make an artistic expression that can be used at a dining table, a foyer, or even at a hospital bed to promote cheer and health.

 Architecture and Art
Let’s tour the planet and find architecture that is not only functional but is beautiful art.  This unit includes planning out blueprints and creating our own mini architectural pieces.

The Art of JewelryJewelry is not just what you buy from the jewelry store. Come explore the many different cultures of jewelry and different textures and items used to make jewelry.  We will make our own creation of items that you would never think of that could be jewelry.  We will learn that jewelry is not gender specific.

Color and Paint
Learn how to color and paint in multiple mediums including glass, papers, wood, mosaic and more. This will also include learning some art history and art styles.

Creative Writing and Illustration
We will become authors and illustrators and understand what each is. Ms. Julie’s background with technical writing will help with grammar and writing lite.  Introduction to basic graphic design, using type and graphics to create visual elements.

Wisconsin Art
This unit includes making and sampling items that attribute to our dairy economy.  Dairy culinary games and Wisconsin art and history.  We will take a museum trip to learn more about the badger state.

Computer Art
Become a graphic designer by creating your logo, business card and promotional piece.  Learn how to use tools in computer applications.  Create an online portfolio to share and impress your family and friends.

Drawing 1,2 and Advanced drawing
This is a 3-month series class.  Learn all the basic and advanced skills of learning how to draw including techniques in perspective, dimension, gradients, shading and styles. 

 

Helping kids through stress when they don't know how to express the words

 

Tip: Create a Stress Jar

How to:
Any jar will do.
Put labels on rocks, poker chips, or any small flat objects with words like angry, sad, tired, hungry, confused, scared, or even "not sure".  You may need to add them as new emotions come up.

When your child expresses stress and has a difficult time understanding how to handle it, or knowing what to do with it, ask them to find their feeling from the stress jar and pick a rock.  Sit down or walk it out to try deal with it together.

Parents/adults can:

Be calm and patient

Empathize but don't excuse the behavior:  "It sounds like you had a rough day when you were left out at the lunch table."

Attack the behavior not the child: "How do you think others feel when your tone is not nice?"

Discuss problem solving techniques: "How do you think you could handle a situation like this in a more positive way in the future?"

Use positive reinforcement when you notice improvement.  " I am very proud of you how you handled that disagreement with your friend."

After School Arts Question and Answers
Feel free to respond to the post with a question.

What is the difference between enrolling in an Art program (After School Arts LLC, Monroe St Art center, Madison Children’s museum art classes and doing art or doing it on your own?

You are receiving Art Education from a qualified professionals that study art, have college degrees in art, and often are required to take continued education classes in art.  These teachers can teach skills that can be used in the professional world of art.  Activities are often structured around academic learning and require developing curriculums. 

What is required to be a Director to start an After-School Art program in Wisconsin?

A minimum requirement of the equivalent of 4 years of college, including Early Childhood education and After School registry courses.  CPR and continued education courses also required.

What can my child do with art skill? I am more concerned with their academics.

Studies show art can help children improve in academics.  There are also many careers in the art industry including the medical industry, graphic design, teaching and many more. Your children likely will improve academically by attending art programs.

What is the typical cost of enrolling in art program?

After School Arts offers programs that can be less than sports or other clubs.  Fees start at less than $100 per month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL!
It's the count down.  Only 7 days left until school starts!  Not as exciting sounding as 7 days until Christmas but it is always exciting to start a new school year and a new year with After School Arts.

The next After School Arts Open House is scheduled on Tuesday Aug 30, 7-8 PM

After School Arts will be starting classes after Labor day on Tuesday Sept 6.



What's new?

• Ms. Julie will be incorporating more academic learning with art activities through a process called STEAM.  This is very similar to STEM but Art is added to the academic learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 
• More Saturday classes.
• Customized class schedules.  Kids have many activities that change throughout the year.  Let me know what works for your schedule and we will find a way to make it work.  Minimum class time is 2 hours.  Minimum term enrollment is 60 days.

What will remain the same?

• Tuition costs are the same as last year.
• If you were enrolled last year there are no forms to fill out unless there are changes.
• Reggio style of learning which is a focus on the parent, teacher, and community all supporting children's learning through creativity and art.
• The Homework station. Kids can get a head start on homework before heading home.
• Great tasting and healthy snacks that kids participate in making.
• Creative learning, fun and a great way to meet new friends.
• Small class size. No more than 8-10 children per class. 

Parenting over Punishment

 

There are no step by step guides or cliff notes to parenting. Physical punishment like spanking or verbal punishment like yelling can stop a behavior issues in its tracks, but it never has any long lasting effect other than for children to associate fear with bad behavior, rather than teaching a lesson of comprehension to change the child’s long term behavior. 

It seems like a simple concept to not punish but rather parent but it is sometimes difficult to put into place unless we practice techniques and learn how to not react.

The first step is to look at negative behavior in a different way.  After we have asked our children five times to complete a task and then still haven’t done so we get frustrated and use our mature adult parent mind and think, “ why can’t my child just do this…I have asked five times already?”  Are they doing this to make me mad?

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when frustration sets in.

1.    Child won’t clean up toys or do chores.

 

Parent: "When will I be able to relax until all of this stuff is put away so I can relax and cook dinner?"

 

Child: "I want to get out more stuff because I am bored with what is here and maybe go play a video game or see what my friends are doing.  Wait…I want to make a fort with all the stuff I have out now."

 

Solution: Think like a child. Children’s brains are not fully developed to think like an adult.  The more you come to their level, the more you will establish trust and cooperation with them.

Make it into a game.  My daughter and I once pretended we were in a forest and we had to put all the rainbow loads of laundry away before it got dark and the rainbow would disappear.   The laundry detergent was the magic power to make the rainbow have protective powers to stop the darkness. My daughter was so engaged she wondered if it was safe to back in the forest to do laundry again.  I assured her there always will be rainbows, (loads of laundry).

 

 

2.    Child is bored

Parent: “I wish I could say I was bored.  I am so busy I can hardly breathe.”

Child: “They won’t let me watch tv or play games or go on the computer.  My parents are so mean and I am bored.”

Solution:  Children need to be engaged.  Pull out a board game or Yatzee which young kids can play by shaking the dice. Art projects are always engaging. Make a fort or an obstacle course in your home.

Involve your child in everything you do including getting the mail or picking items off the shelves when shopping.  It gives them a sense of purpose and a job to do. Give them an incentive with an allowance so they understand the value of work.  Kids do not always have to be engaged with you directly. This is not a reason to hand them an electronic device and walk away, but they certainly can build and create a lot without parents having to be one on one at all times.

If children are engaged they will not be bored.  Again you can use some creativity and a childlike mentality to motivate them.  Getting the mail can be going to outer space to get the special delivery from the space shuttle!

3.    Child is very upset or crying

Parent: “Oh no, my child fell down and is probably going to cry really loud.  I have to make sure that my child does not create a scene, that I am a perfect parent.  People are going to think I did something tragically wrong.  I just want my child to be happy.”

Child: “I just got hurt and my first instinct is to cry out for Mom or Dad because that is what I have done since I was born and that is all I know how to do.  It doesn’t hurt that bad but if they come to me and hug me and kiss my hurt I know things will be better.  I just need to be comforted.”

My first recommendation is to not react when your child gets hurt.  Don’t show a face of panic. You know the dropped jaw parent that can’t keep it together when their child is hurt.   Be calm and cool like an EMT would be in rescuing someone.  Emergency workers don’t show up saying oh my gosh what am I go to do in panic, they show up and start doing what needs to be done on mission to save lives. 

Put on that face and go to your child.  Make sure you acknowledge even the tiniest scrape or even no scrape and assure them they will be ok. Avoid saying oh it’s nothing.  To the child it is a very intense experience—remember they don’t have 30 or 40 years or experience getting hurt like adults do.  Everything to children is a very new experience.

Or

Child: “I am not getting my way.  All I wanted was that treat in the aisle at the grocery store and my parents won’t let me.  I am going to throw a fit until they give in and just get it for me.”

Time to wheel and deal.  Yes it sounds like being a used car salesperson but you have to set boundaries for your kids.

“How much is that candy bar?” 

“It is $1.50”. 

“How many loads of laundry would it take to pay for that candy bar?”

 First you are distracting them from the whole idea of the candy bar, creating an opportunity to do with math, and seeing if that value is worth it to the child. 

You can’t do this with younger kids who do not receive allowances but you can make it into a teaching opportunity. 

Another idea that works is replacement.  Well if we get the candy bar today we can’t have ice cream Sundaes for dinner.  Would you rather not have ice cream Sundaes for dinner?

Or

Child: "I am not self-aware that I am over hungry or tired and that affects my ability to make good choices or that my behavior could affect others."

This is a tricky one.  This is when kids’ physiological needs are not being met. If the child is either hungry, thirsty, tired or all of those, there is no other cure that meeting those needs.

Start with water.  Kids don’t spend all day drinking water like adults do.  They are likely not hydrated which is a lack of O2 in the body. 

Bring them to a different place.  Sometimes changing the environment changes the mood.  This can be done in other situations when kids are upset as well.  Ask your child, what is your body telling you?

Parenting over Punishment key items to remember

Think like a child and remember children do not have all the experiences that adults have already experienced many times in life.

Be creative and get to your child’s level.  Have patience and keep your cool in heated times.   

If you sound like your parents or how an adult talked to you when you were younger, in a scolding tone, you need to rethink your technique in terms of parenting rather than punishment.

 

 From the Author: My goal is that my articles help parents with raising children and would love to hear tips from you as well.  Feel free to respond to this blog. I am an Art Director and Teacher and previous Technical Writer and enjoy researching and writing about care for children. 

Julie Gahona

 

 

These are some resources from courses I have taken or resources that I use for information and recommend for more knowledge on parenting:

 

Positive Parenting

Focus on the Family

Love and Logic

STEAM courses

Bean and Mushroom Enchiladas

Ingredients:

Mushrooms
Onion
Refried beans
Sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
Enchilada seasoning packet
Tomato sauce - large can
Large burrito tortillas - 8-10

Chop onion and mushroom and sautee in a butter or olive oil until browned.
Mix enchilada seasoning packet with tomato sauce.
Spoon over a few spoonfuls of the sauce on the bottom of the pan.
Spread refried beans, onion mushroom mixture and shredded cheddar cheese over the tortillas and roll fairly tight and place in pan. Avoid overfilling the tortillas.
When finished pour the rest of the tomato sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
Bake in an overn at 425 for 20-30 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered.

This is a healthy, economic, kid pleasing meal!