It kind of amazes me how quickly home educators can go from the winter mid-year blahs, to excitement in planning for next year. This is the time of year when Home Education Conventions, Conferences, Retreats, Seminars, Workshops and Curriculum Fairs begin. And we begin perusing catalogs and websites more – and making lists.

Making choices as to what resources to buy isn’t nearly as limited as it was when we began teaching our children at home 22 years ago. Back then we could practically count on one hand what was available to home educators. Now, no one could count the options available. As those choices expand yearly – daily! – we could easily fall into being tossed about by every wind of new and great thing out there that “everybody’s” using.

Even though these changes can make Home Education Conventions not only really tempting places, but also very overwhelming places, I don’t think that means we should stay away from them. They are where we can get some of the best information we need to make right resource choices, as well as the help to deepen our philosophy, and improve our methodology of education. In fact, I think every mom (and dad too, if possible) needs to go every year to some type of homeschool retreat, convention, etc. for their own renewal and refreshment. We all need encouragement and support. Sometimes it can seem we’re isolated in our own world of home educating. We need to get out and see the “big picture” for a better perspective. God has given us such great mentors to help us along, we need to utilize the resources He’s provided for us. No homeschool home is an island. Don’t try to make yours one.

…. Continued tomorrow. And the rest of the week we’ll be talking about buying home ed resources, Shopping at Convention.


 



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High School Essay Intensive

Presented by Andrew Pudewa/ IEW

A One-Day Seminar for High School age students and teachers
Thursday, March 26, 2009 8:30 – 3:30 pm
Indian Hills Community Church,  1000 S. 84th Street,
Lincoln, NE

Cost: $50.00/participant (parents $25 if attending with student)

This High School Essay Prep class is an excellent way to get immediate experience and inside tips on how to do your best on the timed, 25 minute response to a prompt required on the new SAT test. Participants will actually write two full essays, carefully study and then apply the College Board evaluation criteria to sample essays, while receiving a detailed booklet of resources and lesson plans for continued practice.

Additionally, students will learn special structure and style tools for use in composing the college application “personal essay”–an entirely different type of writing task. The complete process will be presented: choosing the question, creating the outline, and polishing a final version. Participants will leave with a clear concept of the task, their own outline for an actual personal essay, and several new tricks and techniques to add to their repertoire.

Although this seminar is specifically designed for those who will be taking the SAT or submitting college applications within the next 1-2 years (and especially those teaching such students), it is also useful for general writing practice, tools and tips. It is open to all students, regardless of their experience with IEW courses or materials. A lot of actual writing is done during this six-hour class.

Some comments from past attendees in Alaska and California:

“I really didn’t want to come, but my mom made me, and I am soooo glad I did. It’s really going to help me, and I’m not so worried about the SAT essay any more.”
“I took the SAT last spring and did okay, but I’m going to do it again and go for a better score. With this new information, I’m very sure I’ll do better on the essay portion.”
“Mr. Pudewa’s seminar is like the rock concert of writing classes.”
“This workshop just de-mystified the whole thing for me. Thanks!”
“Although I’ve been in many of your classes before, this was awesome. I especially loved the strategies for quickly planning and outlining a short essay, and the advice about how to formulate an opinion and just go for it, even if you’re a little undecided about the question. Also the TRIAC paragraph model is awesome–it makes it so easy to organize a good paragraph.”
“Really glad I came. I learned a lot. (And I got out of school, too!)”
“I came to be with my son, but I actually had a lot of fun myself. I sure wish I knew some of this when I was going into college!”

Institute for Excellence in Writing
PO Box 6065
Atascadero, CA 93423

To register and for additional seminar listings & locations go to:
http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/events


 



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As you probably know, Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ incorporates some of the natural, lifestyle methods used in the Charlotte Mason approach. Those of you that are interested in Miss Mason’s approach, and live in the Midwest have a great opportunity to meet and learn from one of the most prominent CM authors today.

All-Day, “How-To”
Charlotte Mason Workshop
Presented by Catherine Levison
in Bellevue, NE

April 4th, 2009
8:30–4:30

Preregistration is required by March 21st, 2009
Calvary Christian Church
10100 Cedar Island, Bellevue NE

TOPICS:
An overview of the Charlotte Mason method, the liberal arts, how to use narration, literature, art appreciation, formation of good habits, history, century books, science, nature notebooks, sketching, short lessons, scheduling, book selection and language arts including foreign languages, composition, handwriting, poetry, spelling, dictation. High School and the C. M. method will be covered at 3:45–4:30. Those not interested in high-school will be dismissed at 3:30.

COST:
$30.00 per person or only $35 per married couple

REGISTRATION:
Go to Mrs. Levison’s site, CharlotteMasonEducation.com to download a brochure and to register.

Charlotte Mason’s methods are fun, effective, and inexpensive. Her techniques are easily adapted to any home schooling method. Please tell a friend or your support group.


 



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This is an area I don’t post on very often. Although I love Creation, and my children love being out in it and wondering in all God has made, and we love reading in awe at his splendor, and watching videos of such things that we don’t have access to in rural Heartland USA, I’m still recovering from “we don’t do science”.

Someone who does do science and probably makes it more accessible for you (I don’t have, so haven’t read, her books yet) is Jeannie Fulbright. She has written the Exploring Creation series science books that are Charlotte Mason method friendly, and “Apologia Jr.” resources (i.e. they are considered pre-Apologia, which is texts for upper level science.)

Anyhow, I love what Jeannie has written about the neccessary relationship between Nature Walks and resources on God’s Creation. Read about it on her blog.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

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Tammy over at Tobin’s Lab has a great Free Gift Offer for you!

ATTENTION Lap Book Fans

FREE gift from Dinah!

When you purchase

The Ultimate Lap Book ™ Handbook,

104 Lap Book ™ Ideas CD ROM,

Tammy Teaches Lap Books ™ DVD,

or ANY Dinah Zike Title,

we will send you a FREE 69 minute DVD from Dinah!

Hints and How To’s for Homeschooling DVD

will enhance your curriculum and liven up your learning!

(While Supplies Last)


 




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What else for a March Special than our HisStory resources! It builds perfectly on Freedom & Simplicity™ of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ ~ The Seminar. (You did remember to get that in February, didn’t you?)

Freedom & Simplicity™ in HisStory and PIPEline of HisStory™ remain our customer’s favorite L.E.D. Exclusives, because they do help you put into action the philosophy and principles taught in The Seminar. (See what they’re saying at the book’s links.) Freedom & Simplicity™ in HisStory is a great introduction to learning and teaching based on biblical principles, for the subject that is the backbone of our curriculum. PIPEline of HisStory™ is a common sense, super easy to use, wall timeline (that can also be made into a early learner’s book, or used as dividers in an older child’s PIPEline Journal.) The PIPEline of HisStory™ will help you put all of HisStory into the context of the advancing of God’s Kingdom and Liberty.

For the month of March you can get both of these popular resources for even less! And even add our third HisStory resource, PIPEline™ Book of Remembrance, for half of its sale price. The PIPEline™ Book of Remembrance is a timeline in a book, (based on the PIPEline of HisStory™,) that you and your older students create as you study.

See our Blessings! Just for You! page to get the details of the sale and order these fantastic resources. You can also get a Complimentary Sampler (the first few pages) of Freedom & Simplicity™ in HisStory, during the month of March, just for giving our free newsletter a try. Be sure to let your friends know. They won’t want to miss out on this deal either.

For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here

Get future posts to this blog by email:


 



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