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.
Workshops:
Beginning Homeschoolers May Find These Workshops Particularly Helpful
- Note: Most are designed for both new and experienced homeschoolers; anyone is welcome.
Denotes a Connections workshop.
F-1 Better Than Money Can Buy: Creating Your Own Curriculum
Rethinking curriculum choices to make a curriculum that fits your child rather than making your child fit a curriculum. Ways to create a curriculum that's better than a prepackaged, one-size-fits-all version. Including topics important for your child-either now or later in adult life that are not usually covered in conventional schools. Studying subjects at different depths, in non-traditional order with non-traditional resources and spending more time on some than others.
F-7 How to Begin Homeschooling
Choosing an approach and planning your homeschool. Complying with the law, including filling out the required form PI-1206 to send to the DPI.
A-4 Balancing Structure and Flexibility
Looking for ways to have a more relaxed homeschool? Or thinking you need more structure but feeling reluctant to give up the flexibility you have now? Finding a balance and then adjusting it when necessary. Practical ideas that can be used in any homeschool and that offer both structure and flexibility, including designing your own unit studies, planning your curriculum in reverse, and pursuing special interests.
A-6 Choosing and Using Purchased Curriculum
Overwhelmed by all the homeschool curriculums available? Brief descriptions of basic facts and special features of at least 12 well-known, mostly Christian, textbook-based (not Internet-based) curriculums, including A Beka, Alpha Omega, Bob Jones, School of Tomorrow, and KONOS, to help you decide which might work well for your family, whether you purchase one complete curriculum or parts from different companies.
A-7 Exploring the Basic Ideas of Unschooling
An overview of the concepts of unschooling and the reasons it works. Examples of how unschooling works. Ways parents provide support while allowing children time and space to explore their interests. Why unschooling does not mean unparenting. This workshop is primarily for people new to unschooling.
A-11 Dealing with Criticism of Our Homeschooling: A Presentation Followed by a Discussion
As homeschoolers we face real, imagined, and anticipated criticism from friends, family, society at large, and sometimes ourselves. How are we influenced by this criticism? What does it mean to us? How can we deal with criticism and prevent it from interfering with or controlling what we do as homeschoolers? How can we use criticism positively to increase our confidence and aid our children's intellectual and emotional growth?
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-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.
C-4 A Homeschooler's Best Resource: The Local Public Library
Books, films, music, magazines, references-in addition to providing materials to check out, your library offers at no charge other valuable resources, including real live librarians, special collections, access to books in other libraries through interlibrary loans, and more. Learn to communicate and work effectively with the staff and use services you never knew existed.
C-5 Deciding How to Homeschool
Understanding the variety of approaches to homeschooling (purchased curriculum, classical homeschooling, unschooling, and others). Strengths and drawbacks of each. Kinds of families that might choose each approach. How to know what's right for your family. How to change when kids grow or needs change. For beginning homeschoolers and anyone who is considering changing their approach.
C-6 How Parents Learn to Unschool
Ways parents can overcome their own conventional education and the pressures of mainstream culture so they can trust their children and provide the encouragement and environment that allows children to pursue their interests and strengths. How parents deal with their own doubts and criticisms from others.
C-8 Record Keeping Made Manageable and Meaningful
An overview of the purpose and benefits of documenting your homeschooling experiences and activities. Finding a method that suits you and meets your needs. Ideas for simple records that save time yet are meaningful and retrievable for portfolios, credentials, college applications, etc.
D-4 Homeschooling Children of Different Ages
How to keep your sanity while keeping up with curriculums, lesson plans, and records for several children of different ages. Why multiple ages should be an asset to teaching and learning in a family. Discuss the many benefits of children helping younger siblings and participating in family chores. Time for questions and discussion. Speaker is an experienced mother of 6.
D-6 How Teens View Their Homeschooling Experience: A Panel Discussion
Teens share their homeschooling experiences, some of what they've studied and done, and how they feel about it.
D-9 Introduction to Wisconsin's Homeschooling Law
What the law requires and how to comply. Other Wisconsin laws (such as truancy laws) which also affect homeschoolers. How to protect the homeschooling law from change. How to avoid legal difficulty. Questions from the audience.
D-10 Socialization for Homeschoolers
What assumptions does our society make about socialization? Do these assumptions make sense for us as homeschoolers? How do homeschoolers find friends, participate in their communities, and develop the skills they need to be mature adults, hold a job, handle college, etc.? How can we answer all those questions about socialization?
More Workshops by Time Slot
Friday, 7:15-8:30 PM: F Workshops
Saturday, 8:30-9:30 AM: A Workshops
Saturday, 9:50-10:50 AM: B 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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