Conference-goers say:
- I expected a lot, but the workshops surpassed my greatest hopes.
- I have never been in a workshop that hasn't helped me in some way. I've attended for 11 years.
- I always get reassurance and support along with information.
B Workshops, Saturday, 9:50-10:50 AM
Denotes a Connections workshop.
B-1 Comparing Math Curriculums
Hear about the pros and cons of math curriculums from A Beka, Singapore Math, Saxon Math, Math-U-See, and teaching textbooks. Supplemental math tools will also be discussed. Come ready to share your ideas and learn from the experiences of others.
B-2 Effective Ways to Learn Language Arts
Want to cover the topics included in each grade in a typical conventional school without having to spend the money to buy a curriculum? A list of topics covered in each grade. How to find free and inexpensive resources in public libraries or on the Internet for each topic. A demonstration of how to cover one specific topic will be included.
B-3 At Home With 3, 4, and 5 Year Olds
Why and how children learn best in their homes. Helping children learn from daily life and carefully selected learning resources and activities. The importance of play. Meeting kids' (and parents') social needs. Disadvantages to formal preschool.
B-4 Believing What You See: Accepting Your Children For Who They Really Are
Developing parental skills of observation without judgment. Accepting that our children are often different from us. Living with children from a sense of discovering who they are rather than determining who they should be. Working to guide them and connect with them through their natural gifts. How this affects our homeschooling. Undertaking and learning about their interests which we may not share.
B-5 Foundations of Unschooling: A Discussion of John Holt's Ideas
Hear an introductory presentation about the life and ideas of Holt, a school reformer who turned to homeschooling in the late 70s and strongly influenced modern homeschooling. Then read quotes from his writing and share your response. What did Holt mean? How do these ideas influence our homeschooling?
B-6 Great Vacations in Wisconsin
Wonder if it's worth the trip to the Apostle Islands or Wyalusing State Park? Hear about 20 state historical sites, state parks, hidden treasures and many family friendly places around Wisconsin. The only decision will be choosing which best suits your needs. Booklets, Web sites, maps, and all the resources necessary to make learning come alive on your family trips.
B-7 Growing Through Gardening
Why homeschooling and gardening are such a good fit, what you really need to start a garden (surprisingly little!), and how you and your family can benefit, in many different ways, from growing some of your own food. Whether you've never stuck a seed in the ground or you've been gardening for years, you'll be encouraged to think in new ways about gardening to enrich your homeschooling life.
B-8 Homeschooling Children With Special Needs: A Discussion
A continuation of A-9. Come to as much of either or both workshops as you want to.
B-9 Strengthening Your Family Through Homeschooling
Reclaiming the essential roles parents play in children's lives. Working to ensure that the family (rather than work for pay) is the basic building block of society. Strengthening family bonds by spending time together. Communicating values, principles, and beliefs to children. Maintaining close contact with grown children.
B-10 Parenting Your Child's Heart: A Conservative Christian Perspective on Parenting
How do we measure our success as parents? Is it the parent's job to train the child in order to achieve certain behavior goals? Should you train behavior or the heart of your child? What do we mean by heart? Helping our children examine why they are behaving a particular way is far more important (and time consuming) than simply criticizing the behavior.
B-11 Time With Dad: A Discussion for Fathers
How do you find time to spend with your children? What do you enjoy doing with them? How do you prepare (to increase the likelihood that things will go smoothly)? What do you find most challenging? How do you share responsibility for homeschooling with your spouse?
B-12 Exciting Learning Opportunities Outside of Conventional High School and College
Spend your high school and college years exploring interests and developing skills and contacts you need through internships, apprenticeships, work experience, volunteer service, travel, and time off. Finding friends and developing a support system. Minimizing or eliminating debt. Preparing for the future by taking responsibility for your life now. Deciding what to do if you don't know what you want to do next.
B-13 Homeschooling for High School: One Family's Experience-A Presentation Followed by a Discussion
Hear how one family began homeschooling during high school, developed a curriculum that worked for their teen who loves learning but strongly disliked conventional school, and are homeschooling while both parents work full-time. Ben is earning an Associate in Science degree online, primarily through CLEP tests and has taken university courses as a special student-while his former classmates are still in high school. Then share your experiences homeschooling for high school.
B-14 Some Time for Teens
Meet in lobby of Gruenhagen Conference Center. Weather permitting, walk to a nearby athletic field to play soccer, Frisbee, and other games participants bring. If the weather is unsuitable, go to Connections for games and conversation. Adult coordinator present.
B-15
Create Action with Cartoon Books
Make your own moving cartoon. See how easy it is to draw some simple cartoons that show movement and staple them together. Then you can flip them to make it look like the cartoon is moving. Share your book with others, if you want, and see what other people create. All ages welcome.
B-16
Dance Fusion-Ages 11-18
Enjoy a high-energy dance class that introduces you to various dance styles. No dance experience required. Presenter is a grown homeschooler and a member of a pre-professional dance company. Limit 35 youth.
B-17
Hey, Kids! Find Answers to Questions at the Library
Learn from a librarian how to use the resources available at your local public library to answer all sorts of questions like: Why do skunks stink? Why is the sky blue? How were Legos invented? Use books, DVDs, the internet, and other resources to discover all sorts of important (and perhaps trivial, too) answers. Subject matter aimed at 12 and under, but all ages welcome.
B-18
Let's Fly Paper Airplanes
Learn to make and fly several different styles of paper airplanes. Experiment with changes in design and check on how each one affects the airplane's flight. Have fun flying your planes along with those of other young aviators. Limit 40 youth.
B-19
Rocks Rock
Want to know more about those rocks you pick up and carry around in your pockets? Learn easy ways to identify rocks and minerals and other fascinating facts about them. Presenter is from the Weis Earth Science Museum in Menasha.
B-20 Visit Connections and/or the Curriculum Fair
See F-15.
More Workshops by Time Slot
Friday, 7:15-8:30 PM: F Workshops
Saturday, 8:30-9:30 AM: A Workshops
Saturday, 1:30-2:30 PM: C Workshops
Saturday, 2:50-3:50 PM: D Workshops
More Workshops by Category
- Save $300 to $2,000 per child per year by not purchasing a curriculum
- Save $10,000 to $150,000 on college
- Save $100 to $3,000 a year on food
- Save $100 to $5,000 a year by using the public library
- Save $100 to $5,000 a year on entertainment
- Curriculum
- Basic Subjects
- May Be of Particular Interest to Mothers
- Workshops Fathers May Want to Attend
- Beginning Homeschoolers May Find These Workshops Particularly Helpful
- Workshops for Parents and Teens About High School and the Teen Years
- Workshops Especially for Teens
- People Interested in Unschooling Often Choose Workshops Like These
- Connections Workshops
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