Month: June 2009

Conventional offer

On Thursday I enjoyed a day of shopping and encouragement at the Illinois homeschool convention. Great speakers, vital topics, and almost limitless shopping venues.

A couple years ago I took advantage of the option to buy all of the workshops in MP3 format and I am so glad that I did. I have enjoyed listening to various speakers again and again — when I needed to hear it (not in June, when life seems a bit sun-shinier and smooth anyway). This was a purchase definitely worth the investment and I did the same this year.

Even at the regular price of $88 I would consider this a worthwhile purchase, but during the convention it is available for $57. Now I received an email from ICHE that you can order the set at convention prices for this whole weekend, whether you attended or not. If you are looking for some encouragement, or want some weapons to tuck away for “those” days you know we will all face in September, this might be something you would want to consider as well.

Some of the highlights: Tedd Tripp’s workshops on child rearing, Jeannie Fulbright on science, Stacey McDonald on motherhood and passionate housewives, and Vicki Bentley on home organization. Check out the full list here.

Here is the email from ICHE:


Thank you to all those who attended the convention this weekend!
For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we wanted to make sure you were aware of the opportunity to purchase the Entire Convention on MP3.

Buy the entire ICHE Convention on MP3 at a special price of $57 including Tedd Tripp’s workshops – this weekend only!

Order before midnight on Sunday June 7th!

( after this weekend the price will be $88 and Tedd Tripp’s workshops will no longer be available)
Order on line at:
Blessings,
Your Convention Committee
(847) 603-1259

Parental Rights

A parent’s right to raise their children as they see fit is a time-honored American tradition, but today it is being threatened. The Supreme Court’s Troxel v. Granville decision in 2000 undermined a 75-year heritage of Constitutionally-protected, fundamental parental rights, which 8 of the 9 justices abandoned. At the same time, a growing body of international law fuels activist judges to legislate foreign standards from the American bench, while treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child would subject parental decisions to government oversight and international review.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) has proposed HJR-42, the Parental Rights Amendment, to stop the erosion of parental rights in American courts while simultaneously defending our laws from international invasion. Please, visit parentalrights.org to learn more about the Amendment, and to join their email network by signing the petition to protect parental rights.

WFMW: Keeping students motivated

Earlier this school year I instituted a new reward system in our homeschool that I thought might encourage others as well. As a result we have enjoyed some smooth, productive weeks academically speaking. We have still enjoyed our share of bumps in the road and attitudes here and then, but I just need to rave a bit about our new found secret for these smooth, easy days.

Bribery definitely works.

According to this “experiment,” we often offer a weekly reward for all students completing their school work by a certain time on Friday, and then we can finish our school week with something fun. I have even increased the number of subjects that we cover on a more regular basis because their motivation keeps them trucking along so they can finish the school week a little early.

One afternoon we headed to the local Best Buy. My son requested this to play the video games there. The girls were not quite on board with that idea, but ended up making the most of it. Then we swung by McDonald’s for sundaes for a double reward.

Sweet success!

This addition to our homeschool plan has helped to keep our gears in forward motion each day and create a more positive atmosphere. We constantly encourage each other to get a little more done, and use our time a little more efficiently to continually work closer to the goal. Some days still accomplish more than others, but overall we have gotten far more done each week than we did a while back, with much better attitudes to boot!

We have only scratched the surface of reward ideas . . . ice cream, popcorn balls, snow cones, picnics, donuts, the dollar store, video game time, play dates. Half the fun is choosing the reward at the beginning of the week.

They continue to plot  for the weeks ahead, and this has definitely worked for us, and kept boredom at bay any season of the year.

Book sales

If you missed out on the various book sales around the area the last couple months, here is your opportunity to connect with buyers and sellers of homeschool curriculum around the Chicagoland area:

SPECIAL EDITION:
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HOMESCHOOL MONTHLY
USED BOOK SALE
Are you looking for materials for your homeschool?
Or
Are you cleaning out old materials to make room for new materials?
Saturday, 6/13/09, there will be a special edition of Northern Illinois Homeschool Monthly devoted to helping homeschoolers in Northern Illinois buy and sell their used homeschool books, curriculum and items of interested to fellow homeschooling families.
If you have something to sell, please send a list of your items with prices, your first name, your e-mail address and your phone number toN.Il.HomeschoolMonthly@gmail.com by midnight on Friday, 6/12/09.

If you are looking to buy a certain book, curriculum or something your family needs that another homeschooling family might be ready to pass along, send your request with your first name, your e-mail address and your phone number to N.Il.HomeschoolMonthly@gmail.com by midnight on Friday, 06/12/09.

Please note: The editor (Julie Schnepper) is not responsible for typos in your e-mail, money disputes between buyers and sellers or any other problems that might occur as you conduct business with other buyers and sellers.

Remember: The deadline is Friday, 6/12/09 at midnight!

Masterpiece Art classes updates

Masterpiece Art Instruction
411 Locust Street
North Aurora, IL 60542
630-897-9826

Some updates on June art camps – “Exploring the World with Pastels”

1. The June 8-11 camp has been moved from Hobby Lobby in Aurora to Community Christian Church in Naperville (corner of Ogden and Rickert).

2. The June 15-18 camp has been cancelled due to low enrollment.

3. A class has been added at the home of Holly Ramsey in Naperville.  It will run June 22-25. There are some open seats – online registration is available.

You can sign up for the available camps online at:

http://www.teachartathome.com/Classes.html

“Exploring the World” Art Camp (ages 7-12)

Students will depict various scenes from around the world using soft pastels to create beautiful, frame-worthy pieces of art. As always, Karine will draw along with her students and introduce them to drawing and rendering techniques.

Time: 2-4 PM
Ages: 7-12
Fee: $50 per student (due at first class)

————————————–

Other summer art classes:

* Art Careers Worshops (ages 11-18)
* Outdoor Sketching Workshops

Learn more and register online at:

http://www.teachartathome.com/Classes.html

Chuck E Cheese reading incentive

Even Chuck E. Cheese is getting in on the action when it comes to encouraging kids to read.

Simply print out these reading reward calendars, have your child read every day for two weeks, and bring it in for 10 free tokens per child with a food purchase. You can get one for each child without needing seperate food purchases for each one (we have 5 children, buy 1 pizza and redeem 5 calendars, plus report cards if it is the end of a grading period).

These are great calendars, and they have a number of other ones on their site as well. If you want some extra encouragement while instilling good habits in your child, check out their other reward calendars (clean room, getting dressed, sleeping all night, manners, etc.) You can only redeem one calendar per child each time you go to Chuck E Cheese, and you must make a food purchase at that time as well, but these are great boredom busters and motivators all year round!

Don’t forget to bring your child’s report card with as well.

They earn tokens for good grades. Need some help putting together your end of the year grades? Check out Donna Young’s site for report cards that you can use for this important record keeping step.

HSLDA sponsored webinar tomorrow, June 2

HSLDA: Don’t miss tomorrow’s FREE @home e-vent: What Wives Wish Their
Husbands Knew About Homeschooling

How can a homeschooling dad play an active, involved role in his
children’s education without neglecting other essential
responsibilities? What ought to be his highest priorities?

Some homeschooling husbands feel they have a nearly impossible role to
play–as the provider, protector, and primary educator of the family.
Scott Somerville offers his wisdom and advice from years of experience
as a homeschooling father as he explains the hierarchy of priorities
that ensure a thriving home education.  Scott helps husbands realize
that most moms’ desire for practical help, bigger budgets, and time to
plan curriculum come far down on that list of priorities. When
husbands understand that wives want a principal and pastor more than
they need a teacher’s aide or assistant janitor, they can provide the
necessary assurance, godly leadership, and involvement that their
families need.

Learn how to balance and strengthen your family’s homeschool by
listening to Scott Somerville’s helpful and encouraging webinar
tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, at 3 p.m. (ET). Gain a clearer
understanding of how to provide the education, encouragement, and
leadership needed to make your home the best learning environment
possible.

There is still space in tomorrow’s free e-vent! Don’t miss this
important and helpful session–register now at
http://www.hslda.org/athome .

This webinar is free to both members and non-members. If you are not
an HSLDA member, we invite you to join today for future webinar
discounts and other benefits at www.hslda.org/join.

If you have any questions, please contact the @home e-vent coordinator
at webinars@hslda.org

->  Have you ever yelled into the wind, only to hear the sound of your
voice blown back at you?

It’s hard to be heard in the midst of a storm. Trying to influence
federal legislation is much like yelling to be heard while
standing in a fierce wind. Yet when 80,000 voices join together,
they become a powerful force that cannot be drowned out.
Join HSLDA to be heard above the tempests that threaten homeschool
freedoms.

More reasons to join HSLDA…
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1939