about registration
How do I register my child for an ArtWise class?
There are three ways to register for an ArtWise class:
- ONLINE
From that secure website, you can register your child. If you wish to change your registration or re-enroll in the future, it is important that you use the same e-mail address every time you register for classes to avoid incurring increased charges from the software company that hosts the service. - MAIL
You can mail your registration to us at: P.O. Box 221844 Sacramento, CA, 95822 - FAX
You can fax your registration to us at: 916.706.2073 - Please DO NOT TAKE your registration to the school.
How do I pay for the ArtWise classes?
- If you enroll on line you can use a credit card. You will receive immediate confirmation of your enrollment provided there is space available.
- You can pay by check or by credit card when you mail or fax the registration flyer.
- Enrollment will not be guaranteed until we receive payment.
Do you confirm enrollment?
- Enrollment can only be confirmed through the online registration system.
- If you enroll through mail or fax, you will only be called if we CANNOT accommodate your child in the class. Otherwise, assume your child is enrolled.
I want to enroll my child, but did not get a flyer. What do I do?
- If you do not have a flyer, call us and we will mail, e-mail or fax you a flyer.
- Or you can ask the school office for a flyer.
about the classes
Where are ArtWise Classes held?ArtWise classes are held at elementary schools in the Sacramento region. Flyers are distributed to the children through the office. The time and location of the ArtWise class will be listed on the flyer; if the information about what room the class will be held in is missing, please do one of the following:
- Call our office at 916.346.6545
- Call your school’s office for information about the ArtWise class being offered.
How many children do you accept in a class?
We limit class size to 20 children.
What ages/grades do you accept?
We enroll students from 1st-6th grade. We discourage enrollment of anyone younger than 1st grade. However, we regularly get calls about kinders. The curriculum is very challenging and it is rare for a kindergartner to have the sustained concentration or fine motor skills to enjoy the class. If you think your kinder student is ready, please give us a call at 916.346.6545.
Do you combine age groups?
Yes, we sometimes do combine age groups. Fine motor ability does not always track perfectly with chronological age. Sometimes younger students are more accomplished than older students. We have designed the curriculum to be challenging to the ability levels common in elementary ages.
Does my child need to bring anything to class?
No, ArtWise provides all materials.
Can you pick my child up at his/her classroom?
Unfortunately, we cannot pick up children at their classroom. Once students begin to arrive at the ArtWise location, the teacher must stay with them to supervise and cannot leave. If you are worried about your child finding the classroom, please instruct them that the front office is always willing to direct/help them.
What if my child does not like the classes?
The first goal of this program is for the children to have a positive experience with art. PERIOD. If your child does not like ArtWise classes, we will refund your money before the third class your child attends. After that, we do not issue refunds.
How long are your classes?
ArtWise classes are 75 minutes.
about artwise teachers
Who are your teachers and how much training do they have?
ArtWise teachers are a mixture of credentialed teachers and teaching artists. In addition to their own training, they spend up to 15 hours training with the ArtWise program. All ArtWise teachers are fingerprinted and cleared through the California Department of Justice database.
Our teachers are the best in the Sacramento region!
about the curriculum
What are the goals of your curriculum?
To Teach Children to Draw!
Do you think drawing requires a special talent (that you never had)? Fortunately, that is really untrue! Everyone can learn to draw. It requires a basic set of skills and can be taught, just like reading and math.
Our curriculum is designed to teach kids how to see complex visual images and break them down into simpler shapes. First and foremost, the curriculum is experiential; that is, the emphasis is on actually drawing.
We also cover the following:
- Art history. The emphasis is often on California artists and/or cultural art.
- Principals of art
- Elements of art
- LOTS of art vocabulary (ask your child about the "Word of the Day")
Children, parents and staff are shocked at how well kids can draw given good instruction!
Here are the formal goals the serve to shape our program:
Goal 1:
To teach basic drawing skills.
Goal 2:
To create confidence in each child in their artistic abilities so that they pursue further art training as they grow and develop.
Goal 3:
To expose children to as many basic art concepts and as much art vocabulary as is possible to do in an after school, once per week program.
Goal 4:
To expose children to art history.
Goal 5:
To utilize drawing training to enhance and support critical developmental tasks such as fine and visual motor development.
Goal 6:
To utilize drawing training to enhance academic skills, such as math and language.
Goal 7:
To utilize drawing to promote core skills of learning: focus, time on task, pride in achievement.
ArtWise is NOT a general arts curriculum. The emphasis in ArtWise is not necessarily expressive art, though many kids do personalize their drawings. The emphasis is on the technical skill of drawing.
We actively support all good art programs and see ourselves as one of the best places for young children to get a solid, confident start. But art, like other academic subjects, is a many-splendored thing. It is one of our stated program goals to increase children's confidence in their art skills. Confident children are more likely to choose to take more art during their educational experience. We want your child to CONTINUE their art education with other programs and curriculum.
about the program
How often are classes offered at any given school?
- At nearly all of our schools, sessions run back to back through out the school year. The best way we have found to decrease confusion and provide plenty of opportunity for students to participate, is to identify the day that works best for your school (usually done with the Principal or PTO/PTA President). That becomes the ArtWise day.
- A class is offered though out the year on that day unless it is a holiday or minimum day.
- There are no ArtWise classes on Holidays or Minimum Days.
- Sessions are generally a minimum of 8 weeks.
- In multi track, year round schools, we offer sessions that conform to each track's calendars. So "A" track students get a flyer with session dates that conform to the "A" track calendar and "B" track students get a flyer with session dates that conform to the "B" track calendar, etc. The sessions for each track will reflect the number of weeks that that track is actually attending the school.
- In most schools, you can assume that if it is the ArtWise day, there will be a class, unless it is a holiday or minimum day.
- We do not allow "drop in" enrollment. However, if your child would like to try a class prior to enrolling, please give us a call so that we can notify the teacher that your child will attend.
How can we get an ArtWise program going at our school?
Give us a call, talk to your principal, or talk to your PTA/PTO. We are happy to offer the program wherever there is interest.