Tune in live this Monday July 29th 10am central time here!

After a nice long hiatus I am at it again with the online radio shows designed to spread vital info to the homeschooling and unschooling community! This time I have got quite the guy. Blake Boles will be my guest. He was on show #13 recently with Abbi Miller to discuss their work together as Not-Back-To-School camp advisers and their collaboration organizing teen travel with Unschool Adventures.

He has written a new book titled “College Without High School” aimed towards the teenager who is considering homeschooling the high school years as well as towards the lifelong unschooler who knows she will have a great adventure unschooling high school but isn’t sure how it will translate in to high school transcripts for college admissions. Blake has done his homework independent study on this one. The book, to be released this September, is chock full of inspiration and encouragement to unschool and follow one’s passions, examples of the many ways actual teenagers have gotten in to the college of their choice while doing so and the concrete steps one can take to achieve their goals. It breaks down the mystery of what the college admissions officers seek while simultaneously illustrating how 4 years of independent exploration and study equates to just that.

If you have a teenager who is considering going to high school because they worry they’ll be bored or aren’t sure if they’ll get enough social interaction or academic rigor than you need to get them Blake’s book and have them tune in to this show. Blake has a way of helping teens understand the immense power, freedom and responsibility for their own lives that they can seize if only they chose to. I am thrilled to have him on the show this time to discuss that concept further and to help teens and parents of teens learn more about unschooling the high school years.  We welcome your live calls and questions on chat mode about the topic.

The details:

*Relaxed Homeskool Talk Radio

*Monday, June 29

*10am central time until 11:30am.

 Teenagers and adults can tune in and call with questions: 347-633-9765 or comment on live chat mode.

Nature Class:        Homeschool Explorers 2009 / 2010

Instructor:             Bartlett Nature Center Instructors

Location:               Bartlett Nature Center

James “Pate” Philip State Park

2054 W. Stearns Rd

Bartlett, IL 60103

Registration:         Class is two semesters. You will be registering for both

                                semesters. Payment may be split into two payments

                                (see “cost” below) or paid in full by 8/12/09.

Cost:                       $22.50 Fall Semester (5 Sessions)

                                $3.00 supply fee

                                $25.50 total Fall Semester (Due by 8/12/09)

                                $18.00 Winter Semester (4 Sessions)

                                $6.50 supply fee

                                $24.50 total for Winter Semester (Due by 1/13/09)

                                $50.00 total for Fall/Winter Semesters

A parent or representative must be present at the Nature Center during the class session.  Parents are encouraged to participate.  There is a seating area in the museum as well. Younger siblings may join you at the Nature Center as long as there is no disruption to the class.

Fall Semester payment in full is due by 8/12/09 to reserve your spot in the class.

Payment by cash or a check made out to Bartlett Nature Center.

Send Payment to:                 Check Made out to: Bartlett Nature Center

c/o Julie Schnepper

                                                406 Freeman Ave

                                                Streamwood, IL 60107

Questions/Contact:             Julie Schnepper

                                                Bartlett Nature Center Instructor

                                                Northern Illinois Homeschool Monthly

                                                N.IL.HomeschoolMonthly@gmail.com

Include: Your name, address, phone, email, name of child/children and age(s).

Time:  1:30 – 3:00 pm (Classes will start promptly at 1:30)

Ages:  5 to 10 (Must be 5 no later than January 1, 2009.) The classes are taught at the 5-8 year old level.

Inclement Weather: If an outdoor class is scheduled and the weather is inclement the class will be rescheduled. Refunds will not be given because of inclement weather.

Class Minimum/Maximum:  15 students/20 students

Class Dates:

Fall Semester:

Wednesday, September 9: Fall Nature Hike

                45 minute hike; 30 minutes picnic shelter (bring snacks);

15 minute hike back to nature center.

Wednesday, October 14: Colors of Fall

(O’Brien Woods –  located behind the Bartlett Public

Library)

                Hike into teaching circle and view the beautiful Fall

                colors; each child needs to bring a plain white t-shirt for

                leaf printing; Smores 30 minutes (there will be an online

                sign up for Smores supplies

Wednesday, November 11: Reptiles vs. Amphibians

                                What are the differences? Animal show of Nature Center’s

                                reptiles and amphibians.

                Wednesday, December 9: Living Green

                                Students will be learning about composting, recycling,

                                energy efficiency. Students will work on a

                                Poster (please bring 1 sheet of poster board per student) to

                                help them remember to put into practice what they have

                                learned.

                Wednesday, January 13: Winter Hike

30 minute hike (dress accordingly); 30 minute hot

chocolate and cookies (there will be an online sign up for

supplies) and 30 minute look at snowflakes.

                Winter Semester:

                Wednesday, February 10: What is a Plant?

                                Students will dissect a flower to identify the different

                                parts; they will complete an identification chart and learn

                                about plants native to Illinois.

                Wednesday, March 10:  Flying Wild

Introduction to the study of birds and their habitats.

                Wednesday, April 14: Weather

                                Learn about the water cycle, clouds, wind and more.

                                Students will assemble a kite.

                Wednesday, May 12: Spring Hike

                45 minute hike; 30 minutes picnic shelter (bring

                snacks); 15 minute hike back to nature center.

I have written about this before briefly but Kelly seems to be so much more eloquent about it…

“http://www.chicagohomeschoolexpo.com

August 7-8, 2009 - Schaumburg Convention Center
Convenient to the Chicago O’Hare Airport

The Homeschool Expo is a “don’t miss” whole family two day event with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of products where parents can review and purchase the latest curriculum, hear great speakers who give practical encouragement, and receive personalized help and answers to any question. Our workshops especially emphasize the practical aspects of working with children in ways that will promote their educational, social and emotional growth.

From gifted children all the way to the struggling learners - you’ll find great encouragement at the Expo. Helpful parents and other experts are willing to spend the time to demonstrate exactly how to homeschool in a way that fits your family’s lifestyle, (from a wide variety of perspectives of course!) and specifically how to make your family’s homeschool journey enjoyable and satisfying.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING?

Attend the Homeschooling for Excellence 101 Conference, Thursday - August 6, 2009, for those who are interested in learning more about or just beginning homeschooling.

Expo Workshop Topics include:

* Helping the Struggling Reader and Speller
* Yes! You Can Homeschool Through High School
* Homeschooling the Gifted Child
* The Struggling Learner
* Hands on Learning - Get Your Child Up Out of Their Chair!
* Overcoming Fear
* Creating a Homeschooling Lifestyle
* Homeschooling on a Dime
* and much more!

Visit ChicagoHomeschoolEx

po.com for more information!

Kelly Ling
ChicagoHomeschoolExpo.com
http://www.chicagohomeschoolexpo.com“

Class:                      H.S. Teen Quest 2009 / 2010

Instructor:               Bartlett Nature Center Instructors

Location:                 Bartlett Nature Center

James “Pate” Philip State Park

2054 W. Stearns Rd

Bartlett, IL 60103

Registration:            Class is three semesters. You will be registering for all

                                semesters. Payment may be split into three payments

                                (see “cost” below) or paid in full by 8/13/09.

Cost:                       $30.00 Fall Semester (5 Sessions and Nature Fair)

                                $5.00 supply fee

                                $35.00 total Fall Semester (Due by 8/13/09)

                                $30.00 Winter Semester (5 Sessions and Art Fair)

                                $5.00 supply fee

                                $35.00 total for Winter Semester (Due by 12/3/09)

$25.00 Winter Semester (4 Sessions and Art Fair)

                                $5.00 supply fee

                                $30.00 total for Winter Semester (Due by 3/18/10)

                                $100.00 total for Fall/Winter/Spring Semesters

A parent or representative must be present at the Nature Center during the class session.  Parents are encouraged to participate.  There is a seating area in the museum as well.

Fall Semester payment in full is due by 8/13/09 to reserve your spot in the class.

Payment by cash or a check made out to Bartlett Nature Center.

Send Payment to:                    Check Made out to: Bartlett Nature Center

c/o Julie Schnepper

                                                406 Freeman Ave

                                                Streamwood, IL 60107

Questions/Contact:                 Julie Schnepper

                                                Bartlett Nature Center Instructor

                                                Northern Illinois Homeschool Monthly

                                                N.IL.HomeschoolMonthly@gmail.com

Include: Your name, address, phone, email, name of child/children and age(s).

Class Time:  9:30 – 11:30 am (Classes will start promptly at 1:30) The last ½ hour of each class will be time for students to work on their projects for the upcoming Fair.

Fair Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm (Set-up 6:30 – 7:00 pm; Clean-up 9:00 – 9:30 pm) Invite your friends, family, homeschoolers… to enjoy the projects completed by students.

Ages:  10 - 16 (Must be 10 no later than January 1, 2009.) The classes are taught at the 13 - 16 year old level.

Inclement Weather: If an outdoor class is scheduled and the weather is inclement the class will be rescheduled. Refunds will not be given because of inclement weather.

Class Minimum/Maximum:  13 students/20 students

Class Dates:

Fall Semester:

Thursday, September 3:

Grassland/Wetland Biome (We will be hiking. Recommend: insect

repellent, sunscreen, boots or hiking shoes.)

Thursday, September 17:

Desert Biome

Thursday, October 1:

Deciduous Forest Biome (Class will be held at O’Brien Woods – located

behind the Bartlett Public Library) (We will be hiking. Recommend:

insect repellent, boots or hiking shoes)

Thursday, October 15:

Marine Biome

Thursday, November 5:

Tropical Rain Forest Biome

Friday, November 20:

Nature Fair

7 – 9 pm

                Winter Semester:

                Thursday, December 3:

                Assemblage/Collage

                Thursday, December 17:

                One Line Drawings

                Thursday, January 7:

                Pastel Portraits

                Thursday, January 21:

                Relief Painting

                Thursday, February 4:

                Mural

                Friday, February 19:

                Art Fair

                7 – 9 pm

                Spring Semester:

                Thursday, March 18:

                Machines and Rollercoasters

                Thursday, April 1:

                Chemical Reactions

                Thursday, April 15:

                Geology

                Thursday, May 6:

                Plant and Animal Interactions

                Friday, May 21:

                Science Fair

                7 – 9 pm

A note from the co-op directors. If you are interested follow the links listed below to respond.

“Hi all–

Hope you’re having a good (if slightly wet and chilly) summer so far!

Just a quick note that The Community Co-op is currently taking save-a-
space deposits for our fall session. We meet in Oak Park once a week
for enrichment and fun. Full information and forms are available on
the website ( http://homeschoolcommunitycoop.org ).

Our first round of deposits are due by this coming Friday, but we’ll
continue to accept them as long as spaces remain. I know that the
last thing on most people’s mind right now is fall, but as a few of
our age groups are nearly full, I would encourage you not to wait.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me. And
drop by one of our upcoming park days– weather permitting, we meet
every Thursday at 10 AM in Berwyn’s Proksa Park.

Thanks much!

-Lisa Ehmke

lisa@homeschoolcommunitycoop.org
http://homeschoolcommuitycoop.org
The Community Co-op is a 50(c)(3) non-profit”

Susan Ryan at Crossroads Conservative wrote a compelling news piece about a court case brought on by the teachers union in Chicago this week that tried to pair up the K12 charter school with the definition of homeschooling in an effort to cut them loose from government funding. The judge involved fortunately had a clear understanding of both educational methods and defined them both decisively. Of particular interest to the Chicago homeschooler is the lovely quote deep in to the article where a representative from the teachers union claims that there is no way a virtual school can address the emotional and social needs of a student outside of a classroom scenario.There are plenty of links and video and quotes galore in this article. Enough to make your hair stand up in fact. This article is well written and researched  by Ms. Ryan. I wonder if this suit was in part as a response to the budget cuts the Board of Education just passed?

Northside Unschoolers beach days have begun. You can find a bunch of homeschoolers and hang out all day at lovely Lake Michigan just about every Friday now until September.

Catalyst Collective presents:
ArcheDream for HUMANKIND & the Chorus of Dreams
5 events / 1 day only :: Saturday, June 13, 2009
http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

ArcheDream for HUMANKIND, an international blacklight mask and dance theater company communicates universal ideas and emotions to promote understanding and compassion. Merging ancient ritual and magical storytelling with modern technology, it unites, uplifts, and empowers.

“Chorus of Dreams” expands the multi-disciplinary theater tradition with its unprecedented sonic and visual spectacle as rich and varied as the American experience.

The stage becomes a crucible in which UV (black-light) masked theater and a world-rhythms music ensemble jointly engage the values and tradition that establish our American Dreams. At this pivotal; moment in American history, Chorus of Dreams challenges audiences and communities to approach our National identity through fresh eyes and open minds.

DAY EVENTS:
Children’s Mask Making Workshop ~ 3pm :: $15
Early Performance ~ 5pm :: $15
Mask Making Workshop + Early Performance :: $20

EVE EVENTS:
Adult Archetypal Movement Workshop ~ 7pm :: $15
Evening Performance + After Party ~ 9pm :: $20
Movement Workshop + Evening Performance + After Party:: $30

LATE EVENT:
DJs + Interactive Art & Movement ~ 10pm+ :: $10

Featuring Art & Artists:
The Abominable Twitch [DJ set w/ laptop!]
DoJo [DJ set w/ electric viola]
Noleian Reusse [Live PA w/ hardware, no laptop!]
VJ Mason Dixon [Sychronistic Video Mixing]
John Sacelli [angeLynx readings]
Amy J. Designs [UV body painting]

refreshments available for workshops & performances

DATE & LOCATION:
Saturday, June 13th, 2009
Catalyst Collective in Chicago
held in a beautiful artist loft in the North and Pulaski neighborhood
address emailed after ticket purchase
minimal $2 service fee applied to ticket purchases
prices listed are for advanced tickets
tickets at the door will be $10 additional per event (if available)

Limited Advanced Tickets –> http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

No time for lengthy blog posts but like your tweets? Follow us on Twitter. All the fast paced homeschool happenings in Chicago and surrounds will be listed there. I guess I better buy a blackberry so I can keep up.

Read all info before responding here. Contact info at the bottom of post.

There are still 3 seats available for this summer offering:

Fruit Fly Genetics -

Have you always wanted to actually breed some critters and see for yourself what happens? Now is your chance! Each student will be given fruit flies with unique genetic characteristics and given the tools and information needed to breed them and find out for themselves how the different characteristics are shared with future generations.

Because fruit flies take a good 7-9 days to produce each new generation the schedule for this class is rather odd. We will try to meet every 9 days and it is advised that you plan on coming in the morning to do a count and population survey and then again in the afternoon (no more than 8 hours later) to cross the flies that have hatched since your morning visit.

(Mrs. Wentz can do further population counts for each student 5 days later in order to give you the largest population counts possible. If you want to come and do those yourself, I will be available on starred days of the calendar for that. It would be wonderful if each student could do that additional count at least once.)

If a student can’t make it during one of the scheduled days Mrs. Wentz or one of the other students can make your crosses for you, but it is (obviously) far better to come and do them yourself. Open lab times will be Monday June 15 th , Tuesday June 24 th , Friday July 3 rd , Monday July 13 th , Wednesday July 22 nd , and (if necessary) July 31 st or by appointment. On June 15 from 10 a.m. - noon, I will introduce everyone to the concepts, procedures, and further details. A list of recommended resources will be provided the first day of class.

Who: Junior High and High School level students Junior High and High School level students

When: Monday June 15 from 10 - noon then Tuesday June 24 th , Friday Monday June 15 from 10 - noon then Tuesday June 24 th , Friday

July 3 rd , Monday July 13 th , Wednesday July 22 nd , and (if necessary) July 31 st

Where: 5004 N Westwood Dr., McHenry 5004 N Westwood Dr., McHenry

(2 miles north of the Johnsburg Library)

Cost: $100.00 per student $100.00 per student

If you are interested in the Fruit Fly Genetics I must have your payment in order to consider your student registered for the class. Class sizes are limited and I can’t hold a spot for someone who only ‘might’ be interested. If you have paid by check I will not cash the check until the class begins. I promise!

(The Field Geology class, Fresh Water Ecology class and the Deer Park Algebra class are full.  Registrations are now being taken for SUMMER classes at McHenry County College.)

–
Kathy Wentz <kwentz8992@comcast.net>

Educator, Tutor and Public Speaker
Where will I be teaching/speaking next?  http://www.KathyWentz.blogspot.com
Educational Consultant for <http://dynamiclearning411.com>
Homeschool Parent Advisor for <http://www.johnsburglibrary.org>
Web Administrator for <http://www.illinoishouse.org>
Unschooling List owner <http://ulfaq.home.comcast.net/ULfaq.html>

Education involves boring drudgery, textbooks and lectures.
Learning involves none of those.            - David and Patrick Wentz