classes – Page 12 – Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Dual enrollment available through Judson

Here is info on an upcoming informational meeting for those interested in dual enrollment at Judson. This is available to high school juniors and seniors.

Learn how your high school student can earn college credit while still in high
school – and pay a fraction of the cost of the regular tuition fee. Attend Judson
University’s upcoming Prep Information Night on Monday,
April 11th from 7:00 to 8:30pm at Judson University.

Use the following link to register for this event:
http://www.judsonu.edu/content.aspx?id=13355

Judson is located just south of I-90 on Rt. 31 in Elgin. This event will be
taking place in the Marjorie Thulin Performance Hall in the Thompson Fine Arts
Center. Go to www.judsonu.edu for a campus map.

Questions? Call Jaimee Bartha, Director of Student Success at (847) 628-2514 or
jbartha@judsonu.edu.

Judson’s a great place for your student to earn college credit and get a taste of college in
the process!

For more information on their program:

Basic info on their Prep Program

Courses available

Planned schedule for the meeting

Registration form

Free Mandarin videos online!

I received this information today and am excited to pass it along:

I am a college professor of Mandarin Chinese. I have begun an
organization called Make Time for Mandarin in order to bring free
Mandarin Chinese video lessons to schools and homeschoolers.

www.maketimeformandarin.org

Yours,
Mike Hainzinger

Definitely take some time to check out these videos. You could easily get a start at learning Mandarin with these videos.

The teacher in the videos has a very conversational teaching style that I think your kids will enjoy. There are already 30 lessons up on the site. Not super high-tech, but the videos are clear, engaging, and educational. I had to laugh when I first saw the videos, but keep watching! They are packed with great information and will have you speaking the most common language in the world before you know it.

Wool crafts

A new season of classes has begun at Esther’s Place in Big Rock. If you have not been for a visit, it is worth the drive. This little shop, that also houses a bed and breakfast type retreat center, has some amazing treasures inside. Natasha has taken the crafts of spinning and felting to a whole new level, while at the same time taking them back to their origins. They raise their own sheep and then take the wool from start to finish to create some amazing pieces. She is truly an artist and will inspire the artist in you as well.

Check out their full line of classes for everyone from children to adults, from beginners to experts.

If you don’t see a class that suits your schedule or interests, give them a call and create something for your group. We enjoyed a field trip out there a few years ago and my children still talk about it.

Classical Conversations

Just added a Classical Conversations class in Chicago to the listing on this site, but also wanted to make you all aware of upcoming local events for Classical Conversations Co-ops in the area.

This is the time of year when everyone starts meeting and planning for the coming school year.

Please check the Classical Conversations site for a full listing of informational meetings and open houses coming up in the next weeks.

Here is just a snippet:

January 25 — Sugar Grove

February 1 — Minooka

February 3 — Wheaton and Oswego

And more to follow in Bolingbrook, Rockford, DeKalb, etc. Check it out if you would like more information!

Free Art Classes

This is a special class just this weekend taught by a well loved homeschool art teacher . . . Karine Bauch (feel free to check out her personal website as well):

Creative Clay Ornaments – for ages 6-9
Watercolor Cardinal Painting – ages 10-12

Click on the Batavia Public Library calander link below to learn more and find out how to register:

http://evanced.bataviapubliclibrary.org/eventcalendar.asp

The classes are this Saturday:

10:00-11:30 Students can create holiday ornaments using colorful clay that can be brought home and baked for hardening. Artist Karine Bauch provides design ideas while encouraging individuality and creativity. Registration required. To register please call the Youth Services department at (630) 879-1393.

12:30-2:00 Students can learn watercolor techniques as they are guided by artist Karine Bauch in the drawing and watercolor painting of a scarlet cardinal in a winter scene. Registration required. To register please call the Youth Services department at (630) 879-1393.

Give the library a call if you are available and interested.

Free Life Science curriculum

You can get a free life science curriculum from the lab of Mr. Q. Download this free course designed for 6-9 year olds and intended to be used for a whole school year (36 weeks).

One of the challenges in choosing curriculum is knowing if it will work for YOUR family. It may work for your neighbor or your support group leader, may have even worked with your first child, but the only way you know if it will work for you with a particular child and age is to try it.

Here is a great opportunity to try something out, not just for a day or a month, but for a whole year. A free downloadable course, and if you like it — then there’s more where that came from!

Thanks to Kristen for alerting me to the post about this on Money Saving Mom!

Horse lessons in Antioch

Christian Based Home School Equine Program

Let us share your child’s passion for horses with a safe, fun-filled, equine program. Use our program to meet your home school PE requirements.

Sharon says, “The primary goal for my program is to introduce and instruct adults and children of all ages in the wonderful world of Horsemanship. I want to share my passion and open the world of horses to my students to share one of God’s most magnificent blessings through lessons, summer camp, trail rides, horse shows and all of the other special events that Heavenly Horses offer.”

Lesson Program:
Mon ‐ Thurs: noon ‐ 4:00pm

Purchase 6‐week package for $165 (new students only)
save $45 or $35 per lesson

Additional lessons:

5 for $165 (a savings of $10)
10 for $330 (a savings of $25)

Please feel free to contact
Sharon Casares for more information.
Phone: 847‐867‐6656

Email: Sharon.casares@yahoo.com

Website: www.heavenlyhorses.biz

Homeschool sports

I stumbled on this site recently that lists homeschool sport activities by state — Homeschool SportsNet.

They don’t have a lot listed, but they may have some in your area. And, if you run a homeschool sport group this would be a great place to let others know about your group to help them find you.

Team sports are difficult to teach on your own, so they are one of the few activities that we “outsource” in our homeschool experience. This website could be a great place to connect with others doing the same and help gain some experience in developing good sportsmanship skills.

Check ’em out!

Swimming classes

Elgin and Elk Grove have homeschool swim and/or gym classes. Other park districts offer theses as well, or are willing to if you just ask and have a small group ready to enroll.

Many of the classes I come across started because a homeschooler asked or initiated it. It is amazing what people are willing to arrange for you if you just ask, so grab a couple other homeschool families and explore your options!

Elk Grove:
Home school swim lessons are starting up again at the Elk Grove Park District in September!

The fall session will be 8 weeks, beginning the week of 9/14 and ending the week of 11/2.
The cost is $58 per student (which is a great deal at only $7.25 per class).
New this session will be an open swim in the Lagoon for all the kids enrolled in the lessons.
This open swim time is included in the cost.
That means you are getting a 40 minute lesson AND 30 minutes of open swim. Not to mention a great opportunity to make new friends and meet up with old ones. (Thank you Deb D’Onofrio ).

Here’s how it looks:
Tuesdays
12:30 – 1:10 Lesson A: #71935
*1:15 – 1:45 Open swim for those enrolled in lessons A & B
1:50 – 2:30 Lesson B: #71936

Thursday
1:00 – 1:40 Lesson C: #71937
*1:40 – 2:10 Open swim for those enrolled in lesson C

*You don’t need to register for the open swim since it is included in your lesson cost.
Please note that we do need a minimum of 10 students per lesson and a minimum of 4 students per swim level (maximum is 6 students per level/teacher). Classes and/or levels may be canceled or combined due to low enrollment.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Deb D’Onofrio at 847/690-1406.

Elgin:

Hey Home Schoolers—we have the perfect way to add physical
fitness and socialization time to your curriculum. Our Gym & Swim
program features a one-hour swim lesson and one-hour physical
education class each week. A variety of sports and cooperative
games will be played in our gym time. Meet in the gym on first day!!
Fee: $54R/ $64NR
Time: 1:00—3:00pm
Days:

9/14-11/16 Tues

9/15-11/17 Wed

9/16-11/18 Thu

This program is for youth ages 5-15 years

Bug fest

The Red Oak Nature Center, part of the Fox Valley Park District is having a bug fest this coming Saturday, August 21.

The time will be full of fun with activities, crafts, competition, and lots of learning. This event is geared to the whole family.

When: Saturday, August 21, 9-noon

Where: Red Oak Nature Center
On Route 25, one mile north of Route 56
2343 S. River St.
North Aurora, IL 60542
Directions

More information: 630-897-1808