chicagoland – Page 12 – Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Let the party begin!

If you aren’t stopping in from the blog party, just a word of explanation — every year the great ladies over at 5 minutes for Mom host a party just for bloggers and their groupies. We all get to stand up and tell a little about ourselves and invite everyone into our corner of the world for a little look-see. So, if you already know, and hopefully love, this site, you won’t find much new in this post, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep reading if you want to . . .

However, if you are stopping by from the Ultimate Blog Party, I want to extend a warm welcome to my little home on the web made especially for all those Chicagoland area homeschoolers. We are still working on thawing out, still scraping windows on our cars, still yearning for that first spring flower. But, we are also still doing school and loving it.

The Chicago area is packed with ideas and opportunities for homeschoolers. I have poured hours of free time over the last couple years into helping these events get a little more notice and become a little more findable to area homeschoolers. I do occasionally blog about my life as a homeschooler, various fun stuff I find on the web for homeschoolers, tips I have learned in the 9 years since we started kindergarten with our oldest, and practical balancing act advice. About half of the posts that I write are geared toward Chicago area residents since that is where I call home.

Little snippets about me in no particular order — Homeschooler, Christ follower, happily married, mom x6, page turner, nose wiper, baby snuggler, support group leader, and forever a learner.

Hope you can stay a while and find something worth your time. I’ve got reviews, favorite websites, and lots of tips on what to see and do in the Chicago area, especially from the educational angle.

Upcoming Creation Speakers


	Saturday, March 26, 2011, 9:00 am \| 10:30 am \| 1:00 pm \| 2:30 pm Dr. Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International Grace Free Lutheran Church, 1121 S First Street, Dekalb 60115. (IL) This is part of Dr. Sarfati’s Evolution: The Greatest Hoax on Earth tour
	Sunday, March 27, 2011, 9:30 am \| 10:30 am Dr. Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International *Design, Deluge and Dilemma* (pdf 5.5″ x 8.5″ flyer) and (pdf 11″ x 17″ poster) Grace Free Lutheran Church, 1121 S First Street, Dekalb, IL This is part of Dr. Sarfati’s Evolution: The Greatest Hoax on Earth tour
	Sunday, March 27, 2011, 7:00 pm Dr. Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International Topic TBA Church of Christian Liberty, 502 West Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL This is part of Dr. Sarfati’s Evolution: The Greatest Hoax on Earth tour
	April 1, 2011 Illinois Regional [homeschool Science Fair Rockford Radisson, 202 Bellschool Rd, Rockford, IL Homeschoolers! Here’s YOUR chance to participate in a real, regional science fair! Bonus: afternoon seminar will include MCF’s own Walt Sivertsen speaking on “The Heart and Core of the Creation/Evolution Issue” and Jim Ryan speaking on “Astronomy and the Glory of God.”
	Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 7:00 p.m. Richard Stepanek of the Alpha Omega Institute Astronomy and the Glory of God Hampton Inn, Carol Stream, IL No cost. Freewill offering accepted.
	Tuesday, May 3, 7:00 p.m. and Michael Oard of Creation Ministries International Ice Age Caused by the Flood Hampton Inn, 205 W. North Avenue, Carol Stream, IL What could have caused snow to remain year-round for so long that it built up into glaciers up to *2 miles deep,* on up to 30 per cent of earth’s surface? What happened to those millions of mammoths who are now found frozen in permafrost? No cost. Freewill offering accepted. You can see a full list of scheduled speakers on Midwest Creation Fellowship’s site.

Looking for music instruction in or around Oak Park?

Jeffrey Cappelli of the Cappelli Institute for Music contacted me about getting the word out about his school in the central Oak Park area. He founded this institution in 1980 and holds many degrees and honors within the music community. They offer lessons on a variety of instruments as well as voice.

They are excited about making their services available within the homeschool community, so please feel free to contact them about various daytime opportunities for lessons and music instruction. Jeffrey Cappelli also offers piano tuning and repair throughout the Chicagoland area.

Contact information for the Cappelli Institute of Music:

Address: 1053 Lake Street, 2nd Floor • Oak Park, IL 60301

Phone: 708-445-8460

Fax: 708-445-8488

Email: info@cappellimusic.com

Website: http://www.cappellimusic.com/

Contact information for Chicago Piano Service:

Phone: 1-866-SERVE-88 (1-866-737-8388) or 708-771-8388

Email: info@chicagopianoservice.com

Free Educator Screening in Batavia



You and one (1) guest are invited to a Free Educator Screening of Hubble 3D and Mysteries of the Great Lakes. Additional guests will be charged $5.50 for each movie, or $10.00 for both movies. Date: Saturday February 12, 2011 Time: 9:00am – Hubble 3D and at 10:00am see Mysteries of the Great Lakes (please arrive a half hour prior to showtime to check-in and register) Place: Randall 15 IMAX – 550 N. Randall Rd. Batavia, IL 60510 Get Map RSVP: Email or Call 630-659-6762. RSVP by noon on Friday Feb. 11. IMPORTANT – Please leave us your first and last name, school name, theater, and number of people attending. If registering via email, you will receive an email confirmation. If registering via phone, you will not receive a phone call to confirm your space.
	HUBBLE 3D: Experience the gripping story – full of hope, crushing disappointment, dazzling ingenuity, bravery, and triumph in Hubble 3D, the seventh awe-inspiring film from the award-winning IMAX Space Team. Through the power of IMAX 3D, Hubble 3D will enable movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. The film will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves. Website Educator Guide
	MYSTERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES: It takes a drop of water nearly 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario. Along the way, the water passes by towering cliffs dotted with early Native American pictographs, caribou and moose grazing on the shores, over giant prehistoric sturgeon lurking among thousands of shipwrecks and past nearly 40 million people who live along the more than 10,000 miles of coastline. It is a dramatic journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Now, you can witness the Mysteries of the Great Lakes on the only screen large enough to reveal them, in IMAX! Website Educator Guide 1-3, Educator Guide 4-6 Educator Guide 7-8
Teachers! Book your Group Today! Call Jeannette at 630-659-6762 or email
COMING SOON!!!

Visit our website for more information on IMAX and Teacher Resources at www.GQTIMAX.com

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!

Homeschool Resource Fair

The Beacon Homeschool group has once again arranged a resource fair for homeschoolers in the greater Chicagoland area to share their services and look for opportunities.

Find this annual event at the Elk Grove Village Public Library.

From their website:

5th Annual Resource Fair
Tuesday, January 25, 7-9pm

Check out the many programs especially for homeschoolers.
Arts, Music, Academic Classes, Field Trips and more!

This event is open to all home educating families for free. Come out and browse the many opportunities uniquely designed for homeschoolers including Co-ops, Museums, Field trips, Art/Music/Horseback riding programs, Sewing/Science/general Academics classes, and Services for homeschoolers.

The first 100 attendees will receive a Resource booklet with many more resources.

Click here to be a vendor at the fair.

Homeschoolers looking for resources don’t need to register, just come any time during the open house to find more resources in your area.

Shakespeare!

The Drama Group in Chicago Heights Proudly Presents

Celebrating Shakespeare!!

Performed by the Stable Theater Company of England right here in Chicagoland thanks to an 11 year old tradition involving a theater exchange program.

Celebrating Shakespeare explores the beauty of Shakespeare’s language, rich
in pathos, emotion, and comedy!! This performance will give you insight into how Shakespeare has left a historical impact. A hilarious take on the Bard by true British Actors.

September 16, 17, & 18th at 7:30 pm
September 19th at 2:00pm

Drama Group Studio Theater
330 W. 202nd Street
Chicago Heights, IL

Call 708-755-3444 for tickets
$18 adults — $17 Seniors — $10 All homeschool students (be sure to request this special rate for homeschooled students)

Received from: Alicia Joebge

The ultimate field trip

Did you know Disneyworld has special homeschool days?

Well, they do. I know we are a long way from Florida here in Chicagoland, but I also know lots of people make trips down to Disney on a regular basis. So, if you are planning a trip, or looking for an idea for your family vacation this year, you will want to consider this offer.

Check their website for all the prices and scheduling info. I found their prices for these days quite competitive compared to regular ticket prices.

Disney Homeschool Days Experiential Learning With a Touch of Magic

September 7-9, 2010 Have you ever dreamed of being a stage performer? How about commercial artist or a designer? When it comes to careers in the Arts, you're only limited by your imagination. This summer, the Arts come to life for Homeschoolers

Click Here to Learn More ©Disney Entertainment and event components subject to change without notice.

This is a promotional e-mail from Disney Destinations at the following locations:
Walt Disney World® Resort
Attn: E-mail Marketing
1375 Buena Vista Drive
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32930

And, even if you can’t make the trip to Disney, your child can get a phone call to bring the magic home. Check out more free stuff in Chicago for this free phone call.

Bible Bee

Some kids need a little competition to motivate them. Others need some goals to help them strive harder. And, others just want some recognition for the hard work they have already put out.

What better topic to encourage kids to dig into and recognize achievement in than Scripture memorization?

Today a new friend of mine introduced me to the Bible Bee 2010. This organization and competition gives families a framework to memorize Scripture, along with some lofty goals. The competition is open to kids 7-18 and they must memorize between 250 and 800 verses (increasing amounts by age categories).

If you are interested in attending, you can register starting May 1. At this time they are looking for host registrations, so if you would like to organize a local bee, now is the time to jump online and sign up. Individuals register starting May 1, and packets will go out in June.

Individual registration is $25 per child (limit of $125 per family), and includes all materials for parents and children to participate in the bee. If they apply themselves and advance to the final round they have the opportunity to compete for prizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

Whether you decide to participate officially or not, you might enjoy attending the Bible Bee finals to be held in November of this year in Schaumburg. It might be a great motivator for next year (although next year, the finals might not be so close to us in the Chicagoland area).

Check out the Bible Bee 2010 website for all the details, information, and answers to any questions you might have. And, if you do arrange a local bee, feel free to leave a comment hear letting others know and so we can spread the enthusiasm.