Cornerstone Journalism Institute

Received via email:

Cornerstone Journalism Institute

One of our institute instructors, Russ Pulliam, has homeschooled his children with his wife and he himself is associate editor/columnist for the Indianapolis Star. He is also a board member and occasional writer for World magazine (www.worldmag.com) He has been coming up to Grand Rapids, Mich., for several years now to provide basic writing and reporting instruction. He is a very effective instructor who engages the students in hands-on writing activities.

In the past, some families have driven their child to our institute, got them settled and unpacked and then went camping themselves while their child enjoyed CJI. Just an idea. Others have had their students fly into Grand Rapids, Mich, airport, where one of my staff could pick them up and return them to the airport at the end of the week.

More information is available at: www.cornerstone.edu/cornerstone-journalism-institute

ICHE Mother Daughter Day

ICHE

Mother Daughter Day

January 26, 2013

Save the date!

val shepard 2

Valerie Elliot Shepard will be the speaker for the ICHE Mother Daughter Day on January 26, 2013.

Meet Valerie:

Born February 27th, 1955 in Shell Mera, Ecuador, Valerie was the only daughter of missionary parents, Elisabeth and Jim Elliot. They were missionaries to the Quichua Indians of the Amazon jungle. In 1956, while attempting to reach the Waodani Indians (a primitive and savage stone-age tribe) with 4 other missionaries, Jim was speared to death in January of 1956. Elisabeth and Valerie continued to live with the Quichuas until miraculously they were invited to live with the Waodani tribe that had killed Jim. They lived with these Indians for 2 years in safety and contentment, as Elisabeth and another missionary, Rachel Saint learned to speak the language and translated the story of Jesus to them. Most of them accepted the truth and said they would not kill anymore, and have not since that time.

Elisabeth decided in 1963 to move to the States in order for Valerie to receive an American education, and they lived in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 1968, Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, a professor of theology and Presbyterian minister. Valerie attended and graduated from Wheaton College in 1976 with a BA in English Literature. She married Walter Shepard shortly after that and moved to live with him in Louisiana.

Valerie has spent 36 years being a pastor’s wife, raising 8 children, homeschooling, and teaching Bible studies.

Valerie and Walter’s ministry has been one of hospitality, leading prayer meetings, and learning to live in God’s grace with joy. She has spoken at many retreats for women and has shared some of the radio ministry, called “Gateway to Joy,” with her mother, on Back to the Bible Broadcasting Network. Valerie loves to teach, and was part of the team with her husband in Kinshasa. Walter and Valerie’s desire, ever since they were first married, was to go to the mission field, and Africa was always part of that dream. God opened the door for them to move to Kinshasa, DRC, in August, 2005, and they stayed until June 2008. Because of health reasons, they decided not to go back, but God moved them into a different American mission field- planting a church!

Illinois Christian Home Educators | P.O. Box 307 | Russell | IL | 60075

National Christian College Fairs

High schoolers need to begin making plans for the years beyond graduation and the National Christian College Fairs want to help in that process.  Their mission:

NACCAP exists to provide professional development, support and encouragement for Christian College, Graduate School and Seminary admissions personnel and High School guidance counselors across North America.

With that in mind they organize fairs across the country to bring college reps to you. October is the prime time for this and these are links to more detailed info on ones coming to the Chicago area:

Naperville: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/naperville-il
Rockford http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/rockford-il

Elgin: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/elgin-il

Palos Heights:http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/chicago-s-suburbs-il

Northfield: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/chicago-n-suburbs-il

Each link shows detailed information for the specific event including what schools will host booths, times, locations, directions, and answers to other FAQ.

More encouragement for the homeschooler

This fall you have quite the choices if you are looking for some encouragement for your homeschooling journey.  Here is another conference coming next week in Alsip. Check out all the details I received via email:

We wanted to send a reminder to pre-register for the upcoming conference called “Encouragement for the Christian Family” taking place on Friday, October 12th (7-9:30pm) and Saturday, October 13th (9am-4pm).  This free conference is being held at Hazelgreen Baptist in Alsip, IL.  We have the privilege of hosting Steve and Teri Maxwell, parents of 8, who for 19 years have written articles and books addressing issues that are at the heart of Christian families.

I have attached a flier that contains the full conference details, as well as a short write-up that is ready to place in your newsletter and/or bulletin. There is NO charge for the conference. Please consider passing this information along to your homeschool groups and congregations. We are grateful for any help you can give us in getting the word out about this wonderful opportunity!

Again, we are excited about this opportunity! I look forward to speaking with you!

Michael & Jennifer Dowdy

Michael.Dowdy@hazelgreenbaptist.com

708-990-3433

Encouragement for the Christian Family Conference

Chicago Area, Illinois

When: October 12th (7-9:30 p.m.) and October 13th (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.), 2012

Where: Hazelgreen Baptist Church, 5022 W 115th Street, Alsip, IL 60803

Do you feel like you are running on a treadmill? Do you want to have sweet relationships with your children as they are growing up and not experience the heartache of rebellion and immorality? Do your children have greater purpose in life than just to have fun? Be challenged and find ways that God can set your family on a journey of spiritual unity, purpose, and direction.

There is no cost for this weekend conference, but love offering boxes will be on the book tables to help with the Maxwells’ traveling expenses. Your pre-registration is requested to Michael Dowdy (Michael.Dowdy@hazelgreenbaptist.com or 708-990-3433) or John Reed  (PastorReed@hazelgreenbaptist.com or 708-389-5941). You may also contact Sarah Maxwell (info@Titus2.com or 913-909-9776). For more information on the conference, please visit www.Titus2.com

Carole Joy Seid Seminar

November 3rd, 2012; Chicago area

Begin With the End in Mind

When: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Cost: $45 online until October 23rd (spouse attends at no additional charge)
$45 postmarked by October 19th
$55 at the door

Where: West Suburban Community Church
825 N. Van Auken
Elmhurst, IL 60120

Questions:   Michelle (630) 263-5238; mlpollard7@gmail.com
Karen (630) 279-2647; k.semrau@att.net

ICHE summary

Homeschool conventions have an amazing way of exhausting and exciting me at the same time.

Wanted to share some of the great resources and speakers I enjoyed this past weekend.

Not to overwhelm, we’ll tackle excerpts from two of them today.

First, the College Board rep gave a little lunch time talk on CLEP tests.

She offered lots of helpful info on CLEP exams that made them seem a little more within reach.

CLEP:

– offers huge savings over paying for college, even community college, tuition

– Recommended the book College without Compromise and the CLEP official test book that comes out each year and is available for Amazon.

– No penalty for wrong answers.

– No age restrictions (her kids have taken them as early as 7th grade — earning college credit in middle school!)

– Immediate results. Because it is computer based and you can take it at a variety of times throughout the year, you get an immediate result and know if you pass or not before heading home.

– accepted at 2900 colleges. However, as I was looking at some local ones, the extent they accept them does vary a bit. Some will only accept some of them as elective credits. Others require a higher score than the minimum. So, if you are CLEPping specifically to save on college tuition, do your homework ahead of time with potential colleges.

She gave great tips on actually taking the test including using the practice tests after you have completed high school course work in the subject area. She recommended when practicing to make sure to get two tests in a row with scores in the high 50’s before you attempt the actual test. And, celebrate pass or fail, your kids deserve a reward for all the hard work.

She has a website of her own as well, Credits before College

The official CLEP website has lots of info, or course.

***************************************************

Another speaker, Janice Campbell offered some great insight into grading pieces of writing.

Her website has a number of great resources that you might find helpful, especially in teaching junior and senior high students. She had tips for teaching writing as well as some general teaching tips.

Check out all her info and resources at Everyday Education.

Here are a few of the points that I appreciated from what she had to say:

– In order to evaluate and encourage better writing in your student you need a rubric (which you can find at her site when you give your email), a handbook (to reference specific rules that the student needs to work on), a thesaurus, and a dictionary

– When grading the rough draft you first grade only content. Don’t get bogged down in specific words and mechanics. The rough draft first needs to be adjusted to get the information in an orderly format that completes the assigned writing task. Later revisions will get into the details of style.

– The goal is to teach the student to edit and evaluate themselves (a rubric helps significantly with this because it makes grading so much more concrete).

She shared many more specifics about evaluating writing, but those were the big ones that stuck with me and will have a great impact on how I read and evaluate my kids’ writing.

Did you go to ICHE? Have a favorite workshop?

Kevin Swanson coming to Chicago area

Received this via email:

We are members of the Christian Home Educators of the South Suburbs
(C.H.E.S.S.) in Orland, Park. Most of our events are for members only, but
Christian Heritage Church is opening up this event FREE to ALL who are
interested in some inspiring and encouraging words from Kevin Swanson! This
is an exciting opportunity! If you’ve heard him before, you know it will be
good. If you’ve never heard him before, you don’t want to miss it! Please
spread the word to all your Home School friends!
Hope to see you then!

Who: Kevin Swanson, Generations with Vision

When: Tuesday, March 6th, 7pm

Where: Grace Fellowship Church 15150 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, IL

He is also in town for the family economics conference that weekend in Wheaton (this second event is not free, but looks packed full of great info, too).

Kevin Swanson is a speaker I enjoy each time I hear him. His energetic speaking style keeps you engaged constantly. And, you walk away with practical tips to apply what he shares from his heart.

InHome Conference coming soon

If you are looking for a Chicago area homeschool convention, this is the first of many to come this year. Find more information and registration info on their website:

Online registration is now open for the 2012 InHome Conference!

You are invited to participate in a truly unique experience that embraces the non-sectarian homeschooling community. The 15th InHome Conference is scheduled for March 15th to 17th, 2012, at the luxurious Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, Illinois.

Whether you’ve been homeschooling for years or are just starting out, you do not want to miss this event! This year’s InHome Conference features new workshops, along with popular ones from the past, for all ages. Children will love the wide variety of interests that will be explored from theatre to nature to LEGOs (and much more). Teens will enjoy reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Adults will appreciate the learning seminars, the sharing of information, and the support as they engage with other like-minded homeschooling parents.

This year, Ac•Rock will bring a rockin’ opening to the conference. Performing everyone’s favorite classic rock hits, this a cappella quartet sings the doo-wop standards audiences expect and more recent rock hits you might not expect to be performed by an a cappella group. Their shows are an engaging mix of tightly-crafted music and freewheeling humor that appeals to audiences of all ages.

And don’t miss out on all the other “extras”. From the opening night Meet & Greet to dancing the night away with both a family and teen dance to watching the kids strut their stuff in the talent shows, there is fun to be had by everyone.

Don’t delay, log in and go to the registration link today to sign up for the best homeschooling conference in the Midwest!

Remember to bookmark InHome Conference | Illinois Non-Sectarian Homeschooling Options for a Meaningful Education at www.homeeducatorsconference.org as a favorite so you may check in periodically for the latest news. Also, join our Yahoo Group and find us on Facebook.

Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations at http://homeeducatorsconference.org/general-info/hotel-reservations.Syndicate content

Homeschool mom’s Midwinter Renewal

From Illinois Christian Home Educators:



ICHE Ladies’ Midwinter Renewal

II Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly,

so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

When: January 28, 2012

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $25.00 per person, $50.00 per immediate family

Where:

Aurora Christian School

2255 Sullivan Road

Aurora, Illinois 60506

We are blessed to have Tracy Klicka as our speaker.

klicka

Tracy is the widow of Christopher Klicka, who was Senior Counsel of Home School Legal Defense Association. Married 21 years, they were blessed with seven children, whom they homeschooled since their birth. Through many trials over the years (including the near-death of their twins during her pregnancy and Chris’ struggles with multiple sclerosis), Tracy has learned firsthand what walking by faith is all about. She has seen over and over again the outpouring of God’s grace in her life, and the precious importance of the Scriptures in sustaining and empowering believers. Her message for moms is one of hope and joy in God, who is able to make all grace abound to us (II Corinthians 9:8). She has written dozens of articles, has been interviewed on both national and international media, and has spoken at numerous state home school conventions to encourage women to see God’s faithfulness as they take him at His Word.

We are planning a special day for you.  It begins at 8:00 a.m. with check in and a coffee time for fellowship followed by speaker sessions at 9:00 a.m.  During the day, you will be challenged in your walk with the Lord, enjoy the blessings of fellowship, and partake of a delicious brunch served by wonderful volunteers.  The last session will be finished by 3:00 p.m.  We want you to be encouraged to trust in the Lord as He leads you down the path He has chosen for you.  Daughters ages 12 and over are encouraged to attend with their mothers.

Invite a friend, and register now at www.iche.org .  The registration deadline is January 21, 2012.  Please be praying for our ICHE Ladies’ Midwinter Renewal and for our speaker, Tracy Klicka.  We are so much looking forward to seeing you later this month.

Blessings,

The ICHE Ladies’ Midwinter Renewal Committee

ICHE Young Adult Conference

Join us at ICHE’s

Young Adult Conference!

November 12, 2011

9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)

Fellowship Church of Carol Stream Young Adults 18 years and older
Mr. Caner

Featuring Dr. Emir Caner

Don’t miss this opportunity!  Dr. Caner is a captivating speaker with a relevant message to tell!

His topics are:

– When God Drew Near:  A Muslim’s Story of God’s Grace (Isaiah 9:2-6).

– 10 Things Every Christian Needs to Know about Islam

– Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor

This conference is just $30.00 per family.

Those 18 and up are invited to attend.

In addition to challenging sessions, the day includes times for ……..

games, fellowship, and volleyball.

Bring a sack lunch, and stay for the delicious lasagna dinner which is available for only $7.00 per person.

After dinner, the evening is full of fun opportunities you won’t want to miss.

Each year we have to shoo people out the door because they don’t want to leave.

Sign up now for this popular conference at  http://www.iche.org/forms/2011-young-adult-conference-registration-form.

You’ll be glad you did!

Location –

Fellowship Church of Carol Stream

130 Shawnee Drive

Carol Stream, IL 60188

Questions?
(847) 603-1259

Location
Fellowship Church of Carol Stream
130 Shawnee Dr
Carol Stream, IL