Homeschool classes at Burpee Museum

Homeschool classes coming up in Rockford. They have these available each month, and look like some great topics. I like that the teacher is a former homeschooler as well. You’re not stepping into a class with a teacher that doesn’t understand where you or your kids are coming from. That’s a great plus!

From the Burpee Museum website:

Education : Home School – Fall 2011

Burpee Museum has been offering classes for students who are home schooled for over 9 years. The current teacher home schooled her own four children, has extensive experience as a teacher in a local home school co-op, and has been on the education staff at Burpee for 7 years.

Classes are for 9 – 13 year olds and Workshops are for 6 – 9 year olds. Participants can sign up for the entire month, or pick and choose which classes to attend. These classes are inquiry based; hands-on activities and experiments are the core of all classes. The curriculum is based on the AIMS (Activities Investigating Mathematics and Science) and GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) curriculums. Students will measure, estimate, observe, predict, classify, and gather and record data.

Burpee Museum reserves the right to limit enrollments or cancel any class. Every effort will be made to notify registrants when a class is cancelled.

November

When: Tuesday 11/8 2.00– 4.00 pm

Cabbage Chemistry

For 9 – 13 year olds
Students delve into proportions working with cabbage juice to study chemistry.
Pre-registration and payment is required
Call Education Department 815 965 3433 ext 1020 to register
Fees: $12 per child members, additional siblings $9 per child
$16 per child non members, additional siblings $13 per child

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Tuesday11/22 2.00– 4.00 pm

Household Mysteries: What’s Lurking in Your Cabinet?

For 9 – 13 year olds
Students bring household chemicals from home and determine if they are acid or base, to develop a new understanding of chemistry.
Pre-registration and payment is required

Call Education Department 815 965 3433 ext 1020 to register
Fees: $12 per child members, additional siblings $9 per child
$16 per child non members, additional siblings $13 per child

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Tuesday 11/29 2.00– 4.00 pm

Become a Field Biologist

For 9 – 13 year olds
Experience field biology techniques and data collection to study animal behavior.
Pre-registration and payment is required
Call Education Department 815 965 3433 ext 1020 to register
Fees: $12 per child members, additional siblings $9 per child
$16 per child non members, additional siblings $13 per child

Brain Nutrition Lecture

The following information received via email (Thank you, Shannon, for passing this along!)

Parent Lecture:  Brain Nutrition 101 – Tuesday November 8th, 5:00 – 6:30 pm

“You are what you eat” is especially true when it comes to brain
development. Explore the brain/gut relationship & what happens when
the brain becomes imbalanced. Learn about Functional Disconnection
Syndrome and nutrition’s role in correcting brain imbalances to help
children overcome behavioral, social, emotional, and academic
struggles.  Seating limited for this free event.

Please call 847-821-1328 to RSVP

Presented by Dr. Jeremy Fritz, a Clinical Nutritionist and a
Functional Medicine Practitioner with an emphasis on Childhood
Neurobehavioral and Developmental Disorders.  He is board a board
eligible Chiropractic Neurologist with the American Chiropractic
Neurology Board and the Executive Director of the Brain Balance Center
of Vernon Hills

Who:  Brain Balance Achievement Center

Where: College of Lake County
1120 S,. Milwaukee Ave
Vernon Hills,  IL 60061

Email: info@brainbalancechicago.com

Website: www.brainbalanceVH.com

Phone: 847-821-1328

Primary Contact Person: Cindy Adams

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

Interactive Whiteboards

I have seen these whiteboards at work in a handful of classrooms and they are simply amazing. If you are looking for a major techy upgrade for your homeschool room it might be a consideration, or more likely a great purchase for a co-op. The applications for this type of tool are endless! I know I have a couple strong visual learners that would love this kind of addition.

As a homeschooler, you’re probably looking for new and exciting ways to keep learning alive in your family. Keeping students connected to your lessons is key to a good learning experience. If you are looking for a great piece of technology to add to your classroom, you may want to consider an interactive whiteboard.

Promethean Activboard+2

An interactive whiteboard is typically a wall mounted flat screen that projects your computer’s display. The whiteboard becomes interactive when you use your finger or a stylus to manipulate the contents of the flat screen via remote tablet. You can mark answers, move items or perform whatever functions are needed.

A Dell interactive whiteboard could be the right choice for your classroom needs. You can use the whiteboard to teach any subject. There are interactive whiteboards that provide basic features and come as a wall mounted unit. As with most computer based equipment, there are many upgrades available, including an interactive whiteboard that is portable, with a large viewing screen, a built-in projector device and even a two-sided dry erase board attached along the side of the interactive board for additional notes to be displayed. This top of the line unit can revolutionize a regular classroom into a super learning environment.

With a Dell interactive whiteboard, you can provide a dynamic learning experience to keep the attention of even the most distracted student. Students expect to be engaged during educational exercises. You can provide the interactive component with Dell’s whiteboard and the associated software. You can even provide sound to keep your student’s attention on the board.

Interactive whiteboards are taking education to a new level with technology we only dreamt of a number of years ago. The days of overhead projectors are gone, and even Power Point presentations are becoming less important because of this amazing technology. If you are struggling to keep your students glued to the subject at hand, you should definitely consider an interactive whiteboard system. Students need visual and interactive stimulation to keep them engaged while learning, and this type of system has become an incredible way to do just that. Being successful at keeping students engaged is not only rewarding for the student but also for the educator.

~ Guest contributor

Homeschool speaker in Lake County

Received this info from a reader (thank you, Shannon!):

Free Lecture for Home Schooling Parents

On Monday Oct 17th at noon, Dr. Jeremy Fritz will presenting this free
lecture for home schooling families, “Home Schooling Struggling
Learners”.

Brain Balance Logo

Gain a deeper comprehension of your child’s struggles using a brain
based perspective.  Learn specific strategies that you will be able to
implement into your home school academics and activities, which will
contribute to your child’s successful development.

This free event will take place at the College of Lake County, 1120
South Milwaukee Ave in Vernon Hills.  To reserve your seat for this
event please call 847-821-1328.

Dr. Jeremy Fritz is a functional medicine practitioner with an
emphasis on Childhood Neurobehavioral and Developmental Disorders.  He
is a board eligible Chiropractic Neurologist with the American
Chiropractic Neurology Board and a certified Clinical Nutritionist.
Dr. Fritz is the executive director of the Brain Balance Achievement
Center
in Vernon Hills.

Where: College of Lake County
1120 S. Milwaukee Ave
Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Email: info@brainbalancechicago.com

Website: www.brainbalancevh.com

Phone: Cindy Adams at 847-821-1328

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

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

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!

Homeschool days at Walt Disney World

Check out Disney’s site for more information and to register for the event coming in January. Their ticket prices are phenomenal . . . here’s the link to the ticket package page as well. They range from a three day pass including the program for $139.01 per person to a 5 day park hopper pass (with the program) for $187.01. These are special homeschool prices. You can also add on other classes that they have available on that day and other surrounding days for $28 per class. Not cheap, but if you have a kid interested in physics, animation, marine science, or other related fields this could be a great opportunity to build on that interest.

So, here’s the scoop, straight from Disney:
Disney Homeschool Days Presents: A Conversation with Author Ridley Pearson
Celebrate Literacy Week at Walt Disney World® Resort

Date & Time: Thursday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Premiere Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Grade: All age groups of 10 or more students

Ridley Pearson, author of Kingdom Keepers and Peter and the Starcatchers book series, will share with students his inspirations and experiences as an author in this special presentation in honor of Literacy Week. Offering insights on his inspirations, writing process and literary career, students will learn to look at narratives with a new point of view and may even be inspired to become an author themselves.

Following the one-hour presentation, Mr. Pearson will participate in a question and answer session with the students.

Meeting Location: Premiere Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

SPECIAL VALUE! For this event only, you will receive the newly released Kingdom Keepers Quest* self-guided educational adventure through the Magic Kingdom® Park with the purchase of your multi-day ticket package. As students search for clues to help the Keepers save the magic from the Overtakers, they will practice reading, math, critical thinking, and teamwork.

*Families will receive one (1) Kingdom Keepers Quest themed map per student, one (1) Kingdom Keepers Quest Student Guide per family, and one (1) leader guide family. Materials will be distributed at the Conversation session check-in. (Please note Kingdom Keepers Quest is available year-round at the Magic Kingdom® Park for groups of ten (10) or more students)

Speaker coming to Batavia next month

Overcomers Seminar with Skeet Savage (Batavia, IL)

Thursday, October 06, 2011 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (CT)

Batavia, IL

Info on the event:

Are You Longing For CHANGE?

No matter what your situation in life, YOU CAN rise above your circumstances and overcome every obstacle that stands in the way between you and the life you’ve been dreaming of!

Skeet Savage has experienced suffering and hard times — and has emerged as a joyful victor against enormous odds! During this time together, Skeet will share the Biblical keys to access the power of God to redeem your life from disappointment, boredom, hopelessness, failure, and utter devastation — and restore to you the abundant life He has promised to all who believe. As you hear her unforgettable account of God’s mercy poured out on the most hopeless of situations, you will recognize the mighty hand of the Redeemer God who alone is the Mender of broken dreams, the Giver of life and hope, the One who truly can make all things new!

Come, bring a friend and join us for this inspiring event. Your spirit will be revived and your faith renewed as you hear the amazing testimony of God’s miraculous dealings in the lives of common folks. Come expecting to be challenged and CHANGED by this uplifting message! No matter what trial you’re facing, YOU CAN be an overcomer!

Not only is this a wonderful message of hope to those in difficult situations, God has used this series of messages as an effective equipping message for the Church as it gives practical teaching and keen insights on how to reach out to people in difficult situations.

For more information, email sony@wisgate.com
To Learn More About Wisdom’s Gate visit: www.WisdomsGate.org

For more info and to register, check out Eventbrite.