“The Pear” class Art with Pilar: A CurrClick LIVE Review

Posted by Pamela S | 0 comments

Recently my family had the absolute pleasure of attending an online class called Art with Pilar.   Through an amazing use of live video chat technology, my kids were able to create a masterpiece titled “The Pear” using a technique that Pilar calls “push-twist method.”

Signing up for the class on CurrClick.com was very easy and every child in the family can attend the class with the one purchase price.   Once my family was signed up, we received a very nice 20-page pdf download that explained the upcoming class in great detail.    The downloaded booklet contained a supply list, step-by-step instructions for completing the project and helpful contact information for questions and concerns.   Art for Pilar sent out several friendly emails prior to the start date of the class.   The emails contained the link to the virtual classroom in addition to reminders so each student was prepared with proper supplies and enough time to complete the project.

Once we arrived in the virtual classroom, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the clever use of technology.   On our computer screen, all at the same time, we could see an ongoing chat, a list of who was attending the class, notes from the instructor as well as a large center box where Pilar instructed the class.    The class atmosphere itself was very casual as Pilar the teacher chatted with students and Becky handled the chat room dialogue.

Managed as a partnership, Art for Pilar consists of Pilar (the teacher) and Becky (the administrator).   What impressed me most about the class was how Pilar and Becky handled the class.   With many students tuned in from all over the world, the abilities and pace of work with all of the students varied greatly.   Quite frequently Pilar would call out the names of students to ask specifically if that child was understanding the concepts.   The student could then respond back to Pilar via the chat box.    My kids really did feel as if they were part of the class, even if they couldn’t see any of the other students.   I was also very impressed when Pilar asked if students were ready to move on to the next step.   Not every student was ready (my kids included), but Pilar very politely urged the kids to not rush and, as HOMEWORK, complete a quality art project.   Surprisingly, my kids did just that and willingly agreed to homework that night!

Since the schedule of a homeschooling family can be difficult to predict, it turns out we were not able to attend the live second half of the class.    At first my kids were very disappointed and at a loss at what to do with their half-finished project.    Thankfully Art with Pilar understands our busy lives, so each class is recorded.   In addition to having the pdf download which explained how to finish the project, my kids were thrilled to be able to watch a recording of the class.   The kids were proudly able to finish their projects which are now ready for framing.

As a homeschool mom, I can teach biology and I can teach math, but can I teach art?   No, not so much. Art is way outside the usual bounds of studies in my home and is definitely not my strong suit. Having the ability to bring art into my home via my computer is a dream for my family.   That’s why I’m so thankful to find a wonderful resource on CurrClick.com called Art with Pilar.

Pamela Swearingen has been happily homeschooling in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for several years now, Pamela and her family have really enjoyed an “eclectic Charlotte Mason with a hint of unschooling” style of learning. Books, unit studies, notebooks, and nature journals are all part of their homeschooling week. Her kids are transitioning into middle school now and the lessons in their homeschool and in life are getting very exciting! She truly feels that God has blessed her family with the opportunity to homeschool and she strives each day to honor Him with theirlessons and actions. Her goal is to inspire other families to homeschool greatness by pointing them in the direction of some really great books, resources and field trip ideas. Her reviews and suggestions can be found on her blog.