Homeschool Pottery Classes At Wheel & Slab
What We Cover
We start our homeschool groups out with our introductory pottery course. This course is 8 weeks long, and was created to help homeschool students learn the basics of making pottery. Some of the the key components of our initial course include:
Learning how to use the pottery wheel to make cups, bowls, and plates.
Exploration of handles and hand building techniques, including using slabs, coils and pinch pots.
Learning how ceramic glazes are formulated and ways we can apply them on a pot.
Uncovering fun local history, and previewing examples of work from all over the world.
The introductory course is fun, engaging, and filled with info that’ll give students a solid foundation of pottery skills. What happens after the 8 weeks?
What Happens After the First 8 Weeks?
If a homeschool group wishes to continue past the 8 weeks, we’ll evolve the course with the groups needs in mind.
Our instructors are equipped to help students explore a wide variety of styles, forms, and surface decorations. We can work with students to help them dive deeper into their individual interests within ceramics, or explore a variety of new techniques.
We are prepared to help them work on mastering the wheel, experiment with more intricate hand building, or creat unique surface designs and textures. And, for those with an interest in history, we can develop projects inspired by ancient pottery traditions and cultural influences.
We aim to provide the space and guidance for each homeschool students personal exploration. Each class we run builds upon the skills learned, ensuring there’s always something new to discover.
The initial 8 week introductory course is just the beginning—there’s a world of ceramic art to explore!
Our Approach to Homeschool Courses
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No prior experience is necessary, making it perfect for those new to the craft and designed to foster creativity in a relaxed, hands-on environment.
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We've created a series of engaging presentations, each tailored to a given weeks topic matter. Presentations include historical examples, and incorporate fun activities to help recall past weeks material.
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Each class session begins with a welcome period, followed by a 15 to 20 minute presentation / lecture.
Presentations may include examples of historical pots, references to contemporary artist, and fun group activities.
A demonstration typically follows the presentation, and then students set out to complete that days project.
In addition to presentation we also include challenges, these are short projects a student can elect to do to help reinforce the topic matter.
We aim to keep each class session structured, but also gives a student the flexibility to focus on what they want, and work at the pace they desire. If they need a break, or need time for a snack the flexibility is there, ensuring they have an enjoyable experience.
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Everyone learns differently, and at different rates. We believe it's important to visit what we learn in multiple ways when possible.
Not only increasing the chance of learning a concept, but also helping the reinforce what they've learned and prepare to explore it further.
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Wheel & Slab Pottery Club was founded on the idea that clay can help create a strong supportive community.
Many members of our team and pottery club are neurodiverse. They each have special interests, and look at the world in unique ways.
This also helps equip us to understand the world can be overstimulating, sensory issues are real, and that sometimes people just have bad days.
We try the best we can to accommodate these moments, because everyone deserves an opportunity.
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All clay, glaze, and firing costs are included in the course fee, ensuring that students can focus on learning without any hidden expenses.
It's a fantastic opportunity for homeschool groups to experience the art of pottery together in a supportive community setting.
Our First 8 Weeks of Instruction Include
Meet our instructors
Danielle Pagani
Danielle Pagani (She/Her) is the Owner, Operator, and Teacher at Wheel & Slab Pottery Club.
She graduated from Alfred University with a Bachelor's in Ceramic Arts and founded Wheel & Slab in late spring 2022 with her partner, Brynn Capwell.
With over 15 years of experience, Danielle has taught pottery to children, teens, adults, and seniors, and has attended workshops with nationally and internationally renowned ceramic artists.
Danielle lives in Rochester with her partner Brynn and their 2 dogs, Maggie and Avery. She loves animals and is passionate about art, nature, science, and any form of trivia. She hopes to help create a stronger clay community in Rochester, NY by helping others explore the art form.
Meet our instructors
Sydney Gape-Deroo
Resident Artist and Teacher at Wheel & Slab for 2024-2025, Sydney (She/Her) graduated from Nazareth College with a Bachelor’s in Art History. During her time there she took courses in ceramics, including wheel throwing.
Passionate about exploring career opportunities in arts, she is thrilled to be part of Wheel & Slab, where she can both create and teach.
Her work continues to evolve, and features elements of sgraffito surface design, and historical references.
Sydney lives in Rochester, NY with her husband Will and their cat Tortellini. She enjoys pop culture, has a great sense of humor, and is always excited to dive into new projects and creative opportunities.
Examples of Instructor Work
