Kane County Cougar’s Reading program

Once again it is time to prepare for Ozzie’s Reading Club. We have enjoyed this program for many years now. I like that it is not a preset reading goal, but you and the child determine what is best for them. It excites them about reading, and rewards them with a great outing in the spring.

If you would like to participate in 2012,  please contact Amy.

Amy Mason

Kane County Cougars § 1 Cougar Trail § Geneva, IL 60134

Phone: 630.232.8811 § FAX 630.232.8815

E-mail: ozziereadingclub@kanecountycougars.com
2012 OZZIE’S READING CLUB

Carole Joy Seid Seminar

If your homeschool day could use a little less stress and a little more joy, check out this upcoming seminar:

Carole Joy Seid’s “heartfelt desire is to make your home schooling experience simple, enjoyable and affordable. At the core of her philosophy is the secret to educational success — great books, great books, and more great books.”

What: A Literature Based Approach to Education

When: November 5th 2011 Elmhurst, IL 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Where: West Suburban Community Church
825 N. Van Auken
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Cost: $45.00 online registration by October 25th
$45.00 mail-in postmarked by October 21st
$55.00 at the door

Directions:
West Suburban Community Church is located approximately three blocks south of Grand Avenue, five blocks north of the Eisenhower Expressway (290), and five blocks east of York Road in Elmhurst, IL.

Exit 290 at York Road. Take York Road north approximately five blocks to North End. Go east on North End to Van Auken. Turn north on Van Auken. You will see the church on your right.

Contact:
Michelle 630-748-1242; mlpollard7@gmail.com
Karen 630-279-2647; k.semrau@att.net

More info online: www.carolejoyseid.com

Review: Math House Games

Math should be fun. Especially with young kids, math should start as a game and always involve an interaction with an adult and the real world. Domenico Marcario designed a math product that would build on that.

Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games teach real life math concepts through activities that use everyday objects, a parent’s direction, and fun challenges for kids to get excited about.

The 20 steps, with 2 games each, are broken into three stages that lead the child through quantity (comparing groups of objects), numeration (attaching numbers to those groups of objects), and operations (adding, subtracting, etc.)

You do not follow through the steps at a predesignated speed, but rather you evaluate each child and move on once they have mastered the concepts taught in the activity.

The games are fun. The kids get to eat during the process (small items — fruit, cereal, etc.) which is always motivation in my house. 🙂 Perfect for building and early love of math.

You can order these great activity cards — $23.95 including shipping — and use them for your early elementary math student that needs some fun in their math.  These would also be a great start for a preschool curriculum to help introduce math skills in a lighthearted way that they will just soak up. If you have a preschool through 2nd grader you would enjoy this. And, if you are busy teaching older kids, one of your other older kids could easily pick this up and begin teaching math concepts to one of your other young kids.

Each card tells you clearly what you are teaching, why they should learn it, and how to get that point across. Make the most of play time!

It wouldn’t be a great review without a giveaway, and I do get to give one of these adorable sets away to one reader. So, if you would like to enter to win your own copy of these math game cards please leave a comment on this post with an email address where I can reach you at. The contest will close Sunday evening and I will draw a random winner at that time.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Science fair coming

This is still far off, and not many details, but if you want to save the date, or if you need another reminder that local science fairs will be here before we know it . . .

Northern Illinois Regional Home School Science Fair
April 27, 2012 * Rockford, Illinois

A few more details on their site: http://ilregionalsciencefair.org/

They do have info on classes that are coming up:

Please do not contact the Discovery Center about workshops! Contact ilregionalsciencefair@gmail.com with any questions. The Discovery Center will be unable to help you.


Workshop #1:
“How To” with Discovery Center’s Christopher Berndt

Date: November 18, 2011
At the Discovery Center Museum
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.


Workshop #2:

Date: January 27, 2012
At the Discovery Center Museum
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.


Workshop #3:
Finishing your project Q&A’s with the experts
Date: TBD

At the Discovery Center Museum
1:00pm-3:00pm

Cost : $10 per class. Checks should be made out to NIRSF.

Registration forms will be made available on the website.
DO NOT contact or pay the Discovery Center.

Questions should be directed to our email at ilregionalsciencefair@gmail.com.

International Children’s Film Festival!

I received a special invitation to extend to area homeschoolers for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, coming up October 22-30.

This looks like an absolutely fabulous time. Workshops, movies, and tons of activities packing the school days as well as evenings and on the weekend. So, if you want to make this a field trip, jump at the chance! Or, if your school days are too full to take a break from right now, check out some of their evening and weekend events.

For school day events (special targeted activities for kids from preschool through high school at various times) check out their school and special groups info.

Or, take a look at their evening and weekend schedule;

Or, maybe you want to check out the workshops.

And, of course if nothing else, check out their facebook page.

Main website: cicff.org

And, the invite from the festival itself:

The Chicago International Children”s Film Festival is the oldest and largest film festival in the world. The Festival would welcome HomeSchool Children to experience the best in multicultural film from around the world. Filmmakers attend screenings and speak of the messages in the films. The Festival takes place from October 22nd to the 30th. The schedule is on-line at http://www.cicff.org. Come see the best in international film that opens young eyes and minds to new worlds, new cultures, and new ideas!

It looks like it runs about $7 a piece if you are coming with a group under 25 people. Knock another dollar off if you get together a group over 25.

Doug Newton is the man to talk to with all the group info though,  so check with him:

Contact: Doug Newton
Group Sales Coordinator
773-281-9075 ext. 3009
fldtrips@facets.org

Homeschool support group meeting in Elk Grove

Received this via email:

Join Beacon on Tuesday, September 27, 7pm-9pm

We will be joined this evening by Israel Wayne. Israel is a homeschool graduate and father of six who is leading his generation in defending the Christian faith and developing a Biblical worldview. He is a popular conference speaker who desires to see God’s people learn to think and live Biblically. His topic will be Homeschooling From A Biblical Worldview. Join us and invite your spouse and friends!!

Admission is free.  Children are welcome if they sit quietly by their parents.

Beacon is a Christian support group for parents who home educate their children. Our membership is open to any home schooling family for support. Our vision is to help homeschool families achieve their vision. What we offer is a DREAM – Discussion, Resources, Education, Activities, Mentoring. We meet on the 4th Tuesday evening of every month August thru May (except December).

Find us at the Elk Grove Village Public Library at 7pm. www.beaconhomeschool.net

Science fair tips

Your local science fair will be here before you know it! Check out this site for great tips on getting started now. 🙂

SFC fall 2011 email image small
A New Twist on Science Fair Projects

Impress the judges this year with a clever and unique winning science fair display that will turn heads.

Visit Science Fair Central for new project ideas, an interactive display board and tips to get started and guide you and your students through the science fair process.

At Science Fair Central parents, students and science fair coordinators will find all the resources needed to ensure an exciting and fun-filled science fair season this year.

  • Project samples
  • Customizable timelines
  • Detailed checklists
  • Judging criteria
  • Shopping lists
  • Rebates and special offers

Encourage students to get involved in science fairs and give them the opportunity to practice science investigation and invention . Science fairs can be the first step in developing future young scientists and engineers. Visit Science Fair Central to get started!

FtoColleague

Homeschool speaker in Harwood Heights

Illinois Family Institute

Please join HOPE as they welcome Ralph Rivera, Lobbyist for the Illinois Family Institute. He will  share the state of homeschooling in the state of Illinois as well as other pertinent legislation affecting the family.

Ralph has been a lobbyist for over 30 years for Pro-life, Homeschooling and Family issues. He and his wife Cindy have successfully home educated five sons and are on their last son in high school.
This is open to all those interested in family issues in our state. There is no childcare available, but those children who are studying or interest in Civics are encouraged to attend. Please forward to those you feel would be interested or  benefit.

When:  Saturday Sept 24th at 9:30-11:30am

Where:
Bethany Baptist Church
6700 W. Gunnison
Harwood Heights 60706

National Geography Bee

An opportunity to flex your mental muscles in the geography arena!

What: The Lake County National Geographic Bee
Where: Grayslake Area Public Library
When: Tuesday, December 13 at 10 am
Who: The competition is open to homeschooled students who live in Lake County and are in 4th to 8th grade.  This is a great opportunity to test kids on their national and international geography knowledge.  The winner will take a test to qualify for the Illinois Bee.  Last year the Lake County winner, Annie Ulrich, won the state competition and went on to the National level.

To find out more or to sign up, e-mail Audrey Ringer at dnaringer@yahoo.com.

My kids participated in the local geo bee a few years ago and it provided great incentive to learn their geography facts and really dig into the world around them. Great opportunity!