Show and Tell ~ Art by Megan

Sketches from Megan, age 14

Show and Tell ~ Art by Jenny

Drawings by Jenny, age 12

Show and Tell ~ Nathanael made the Paper!

Nathanael, age 2, was pictured in the Salina Journal at the Not Back to School day hosted by Salina's A Walk in the Park Unschooling Group.

Science City Home School Days

Home School Days
November 6-9, 2007

All Home School families pay a reduced rate for admission to Science City and Extreme Screen movies during this week. Special facilitated programs are available each day.

Tuesday, Nov 6
10:45 am Planetarium - Sky Tonight
$3.50/per person

Wednesday, Nov. 7
10:45 am Planetarium- Planetary Adventure
$3.50/per person

1:00-2:00 pm Discovery Area Programs
$8.00/per person (includes General Admission)

Micronauts, ages 6 to 9
Design Studio, ages 10 and up
CSI, ages 14 to 18

Thursday, Nov. 8

10:45 am Planetarium – Sky of Day and Night
$3.50/person

Friday, Nov. 9

10:45 am Planetarium - The Big C
$3.50/person

1:00-2:00 pm Discovery Area Programs
$8.00/per person (includes General Admission)

Kinderlab, ages 4 to 7
Gross Science, ages 6 to 9
Dino Hunter, ages 10 and up


Advance reservations are required for planetarium and Discovery Area programs. Space is limited and a minimum number is required. Early reservations are recommended.

Please call (816) 460-2020 to make your reservation
Additional information about the above programs can be found at www.unionstation.org

Kansas City Museum

HOME SCHOOL WEEK
November 6-9, 2007


SCHEDULE:

Tuesday November 6th
10:00- Wonders of the Night Sky
11:00- Little Pioneers
11:30- Lunch
12:15- Soda Fountain Tour (includes free ice cream cone)

Wednesday November 7th
10:00- Stormy Skies and Starry Nights
11:00- Lunch
11:30 Frontier Science
12:30 Soda Fountain Tour (includes free ice cream cone)

Thursday November 8th
10:00 Wheel in the Sky Star Show
11:00 Lunch
11:30 Secrets of the Mansion Tour
12:30 Soda Fountain Tour (includes free ice cream cone)

Friday November 9th
10:00- Planet Patrol
11:00- Settling of Kansas City Tour
12:00- Lunch
12:30- Soda Fountain Tour (includes free ice cream cone)


Prices: $6/child for an entire morning of programs. No reservations necessary. Pay at the Museum on the day of program.

Adults are required to accompany children during all Museum programs. Lunch room space is available.

Please call (816) 483-8300 for specific information about programs
The Kansas City Museum is located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd.

In Defense of Constant Learning

An essay in the Chicago Beacon-News, September 30, 2007

To us, school is about the love of learning. We rarely define any moment of the day as "doing school." Equal importance is given to "formal" teaching and teachable moments. One day, we invited homeschool friends over to just dig in the yard. Our younger kids transplanted bulbs and found worms. Our older children built a "bug house" by laying down rocks, putting up a canopy of twigs, laying out leaves as decorations to entice the creatures, and putting out some spiky-looking branches to deter the birds.

Musing of the Month

____________________
Musing of the Month:
"Everything is beginning to look like cotton candy."
~Caleb, age 11
____________________

Kuddos via email:
We can't wait for the 2008 Great Wolf Lodge Trip!! Thanks for setting this up and doing the site!!! We love both!
~Claudia

Thanks, Claudia.

Details about GWL will be out in a couple of months. I've enjoyed organizing it and getting to know families from across the state.
~ Tracy
____________________

Show and Tell ~ Triplets & Quadruplets!!

Holden and Mackenzie learned a bit about Photoshop from their aunt this summer. Boy was mom surprised when she ended up with quadruplets and triplets!

More choose to educate children at home

An article in the Kansas City Star. September 9, 2007

Food for Thought

Trashing Teens, Psychology Today, Mar/Apr 2007

Psychologist Robert Epstein argues in a provocative book, "The Case Against Adolescence," that teens are far more competent than we assume, and most of their problems stem from restrictions placed on them.

The factory system doesn't work in the modern world, because two years after graduation, whatever you learned is out of date. We need education spread over a lifetime, not jammed into the early years—except for such basics as reading, writing, and perhaps citizenship. Past puberty, education needs to be combined in interesting and creative ways with work. The factory school system no longer makes sense.

The Unschooling Unmanual

From The Natural Child Project:

School is out. Unschool is in!

Our newest booklet, The Unschooling Unmanual, by Nanda Van Gestel, Rue Kream, Mary Van Doren and Jan Hunt, will be published this fall. Through engaging personal stories, examples, and essays, the writers offer inspiration and encouragement for seasoned and prospective unschoolers alike.

The booklet can be pre-ordered at a discounted price of $12.

Read Chapter One of "An Unschooling Adventure"

The Kansas Homeschool Network is planning the
Fourth Annual Area Homeschoolers
Great Wolf Lodge Get-Away

Mark your calendars for February 2008.
Details will be posted here as they become available.

Great Wolf - Kansas City

Quick KS Area Blog Tour:

From Life Is Learning, Learning Is Life, Year-round: Reasons We Homeschool:

The academic individualization is our most publicly known reason. However, my DH and I love to travel around the US on vacation. We were married 10 years before kids and really enjoy vacationing in Sept/Oct and April, when all of the families with school kids AREN'T on vacation, too. So the family flexibility is
a biggie for us. DH likes the idea that every vacation can be "educational". I try to remind him that we don't have to make it like "lessons" when we go somewhere, just going and experiencing the new places and things is educational
in and of itself.And my other reason seems selfish, but I suppose it isn't really: I like my kids and I want to spend time with them. I don't want to miss out on their joy of learning.

Here's a cool resource from Jill at Praiseworthy Things.

I've just returned from a trip to another state for my brother's wedding. On coming home I saw this fun tool on Visited States. This would be fun to do with your kids and a nice lesson on geography as well.

Some comforting words from heymom at Thoze Amazing Crazy Dayz

I want to begin by saying that the fact that she is dreaming and thinking of her life as "her" life, is, in itself, a huge step forward. Only a few short months ago, she was so easily swayed by the opinions and actions of others. She had so little dreams of her own.While she talked to me, she seemed to be so at peace with the life around her and the way that it is going. This again, in
stark contrast to the way she felt...always swimming upstream, always fighting the world and herself...not that long ago.

A brief item in the Kansas City Star

Academically, nothing competes’ with homeschooling, says Grandview family

Show and Tell ~ Earrings

by Evie, age 11

I made some earrings today here are some pics:

Here is a pic of the earrings I made M, they were the 2nd pair I made.

Here is a close up of M's earrings.

This is the pair I made for myself.

Here is a close up of the earrings I made for myself, they were the first pair I made.

This is the pair I made for my mom.

Show and Tell ~ Stepping Stone

Josh, age 5.5, shows off his stepping stone (complete with creepy crawlies!). He is also showing off some Pokémon figurines he bought at a garage sale.

Show and Tell ~ My Chemical Romance Box

Tori, age 12, painted this box. It's about her favorite band, My Chemical Romance.

Contemplation for the day

____________________

Contemplation for the day:

"What does nothing look like?"
~Kaman, age 6

____________________

Salina Area Homeschoolers

A Walk in the Park Unschooling Group will meet bi-weekly, every other Tuesday, beginning August 21. On August 21, we are having a picnic/park/swimming party beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Oakdale Park. Everyone should bring a brown-bag lunch and prepare to have fun! We are celebrating the Not Beginning of School. If anyone has any questions, they can contact coramdeo_intheeyesofGod@yahoo.com or 785-342-9823.

Our group is a no-cost compassionate unschooling group.

Show and Tell ~ Photos for the Fair

These are some of the pictures I might take to the 4-H Fair.

Maddie, age 8

Show and Tell ~ A Visit to Western Kansas

Spearville Wind Farm

Holden and Mackenzie in front of some of the 67 windmills just outside Spearville, Kansas. The wind farm generates enough electricity to power 33,000 homes!

We also visited the Sod House Museum in Kinsley.
This is a picture of the kitchen area in the sod house.

We saw some of the damage from the May 4 tornado. This picture was taken where the tornado crossed Highway 50 near Macksville.

Scary School Nightmare

A Day in the Life of a Homeschool Student!

I thought this was cute.

Salina Area Not Back to School Day

When: July 14
Where: Lakewood Park in Salina

There will be lots of fun activities for the kids plus information for new or upcoming homeschoolers about homeschooling and unschooling. Everyone is welcome to come. Kids can play at the park, explore the nature trails and create their own lapbook.

For more details email.

Unschooling Voices Reminder

I'm slow to post the notice, but there is still time to submit entries to the Unschooling Voices July Carnival.

July '07
Two questions again - please remember they're always optional. First, what advice would you have given to yourself early in your unschooling journey? Second, ask your kids to take pictures of their favorite ________ (favorite whatever; person, place, thing, etc). Don't forget to share them on our flickr group.

If you don't have a blog and would like to submit something, feel free to send it to tracy@kshomeschool.net and I will post it here.

How-To DVDs

Our family has long been a fan of Netflix, and this place rents how-to videos on a similar program. It was forwarded to me by a homeschooling family in western Kansas. I've already ordered my first video. There is an amazing selection of how-to programs; everything from home wiring and auto mechanics to computer graphics programs and oil painting. The rental price is generally $9.99 per DVD, but for an introduction to a subject you are interested in it is a lot cheaper than taking a class.

I've made KSHomeschool.net an affiliate, so click the link below to view the selection. Let us know if you find any that you or your kids especially like. It looks to me like there is a little something here for everyone. But teens and adults might especially benefit from some of the videos found here.

Update on the Rethinking Education Conference

Register by July 14, and get a $20 per person discount.
Also, grandparents can attend free of charge!
This year's featured speaker is John Taylor Gatto.

Rethinking Education Website

Show and Tell ~ LAHN and TAHN Field Trip

LAHN & TAHN Tour

Peeper Horse Ranch & Moon Marble

In April, kids from LAHN (Lawrence) and TAHN (Topeka) traveled to the Kansas City area to tour Peeper Horse Ranch and Moon Marble Company.

Overheard

"Every kid has a learning style that is going to unlock the world for them; I think some just need to get to push a lot of buttons in the process."
~Ann Vetter

Life is Good: NW Unschooling Conference

It's a long drive, but if you're looking to plan a vacation anyway:

LIFE is Good
NW Unschooling Conference
Red Lion Hotel ~ Vancouver, WA
Memorial Day Weekend, May 22 - 25, 2008
Learning In Freedom Everyday!

Arithmetic is child's play

I found this link at Wendy Priesnitz ~ Challenging Assumptions Weblog.

Press Release from the University of Nottingham.

Children are able to solve approximate addition or subtraction problems involving large numbers even before they have been taught arithmetic, according to a study conducted by researchers from The University of Nottingham and Harvard University.

The study, published in the journal Nature and undertaken at Harvard University, suggests that children do not need to master either the logic of place value or the addition table in order to perform approximate addition and subtraction.

Children's difficulty with learning school arithmetic may stem from the need to produce an exact number when solving problems.

I remember John Holt talking about this in one of his books (one of the early books I read on unschooling). It was timely, for me, as I remember witnessing this kind of innate skill in my oldest. She was probably around three at the time.

I am still impressed with the way my children trust themselves with numbers while I'm still counting on my fingers to "check" what I think I know.

Show and Tell ~ Book Recommendations

I recommend reading ttyl, ttfn and l8r, g8r. It is a series by Lauren Myracle. They are different than other books in that it is told from instant messages and texting. They are about three girls in high school and what happens to them during the three years each book is one year. They are fun books to read and they are hard to put down. I was kind of bugged by the fact that I didn't know what was going on in their school unless they explained it. But I really liked them and have read them several times. My mother has read them as well and enjoyed them too.
NOTE: there is language and sexual content.

Victoria, age 11 (almost 12!)

Show and Tell ~ Website

Evie's website This is Evie's first website. She has put it together using Yahoo PageBuilder, Microsoft FrontPage, and just the very basics of html.

Unschooling Voices #9

The June entries have been posted. This is a good place for browsing some fun unschooling blogs.

Science and Computer Camp for homeschool students

From Hesston College

I believe they have this camp every year. Article about the camp in case you have kids interested in attending next year.

Unschooling Coop Open House ~ Salina

Invite from Lea to Salina area homeschoolers:

Our first open house is Saturday, May 26 at the Salina library from 10am to noon. It will be in the Prescott Room (in the children's section). We will have snacks, unstructured activities and more info on us and what we have planned for the future. It is a come-and-go activity and is definitely optional. We will be having another one in June, possibly June 14th.

Our first group meeting will be on August 3rd at Jerry Ivey Park here in Salina. That will be a park day/picnic where we (as in everybody that comes) will discuss in detail more of what we want to plan and do as a group and a coop. The park has lots of room for outside games and has a water fountain for playing in as well as a duck pond. Our first coop day will follow at either the end of August or beginning of September. It will largly depend on what is planned at the August park day.

If you can't make it to any of these activities but you still want some info on us and to get to know us then you can check out our web page or email Lea at Payne15@cox.net or rebbecca at angel_eyes_becca_ and_hannah@ yahoo.com.

This is a co op where everybody is involved in the planning, participating and hosting of coop days. It is secular in nature and our goal is to not exclude anyone while at the same time keeping harmony among our members.

I'm really looking forward to meeting and talking with more unschoolers in the area (or even really far away if you're willing to drive).

~Lea

The latest trend in education: Unschooling

from Minnesota Public Radio

Unschooling isn't a new idea. Thinkers from Socrates to Jean Jacques Rousseau have touted the benefits of letting a child's interests lead their education.

Helping vs. Co-creation

I just came across this gem at Scott Noelle's EnjoyParenting.com.

Q: How do you know when it's appropriate to offer your child help/assistance?

His most excellent answer can be found here.

Learning Outside the Lines: Homeschooling in Kansas

...from the Lawrence Journal-World

More Kansas parents are choosing to home school, convinced they can provide their children a better education than public or private schools. Whether motivated by religion, scheduling flexibility or an aversion to bureaucracy; these families say home education thrives in a state where few regulations govern what and how they teach.

The above link will take you to the list of articles. I like the variety of opinions being expressed here. I will go ahead and point out a few specific pieces.

Rain Quinlan deals with home school stereotypes

Sarah Sobonya says unschooling led to creativity

Homeschoolers say socialization not a problem

Former home schoolers transition to college, work

I had not heard this before (and I'm curious, is it accurate?):

Starting in 2008, home-schoolers at state universities also will be required to pass the GED for admission.

Also want to point out this article by HSLDA.
Scott Woodruff explains Kansas home school laws

Hot pockets of stubborn opposition to home schooling occasionally arise in Kansas, but the forecast for the future is excellent. There is nothing like individual ownership to improve the way something is cared for, and home school families take full ownership of their children’s education.

Moms of KSHomeschool.net Show & Tell

div>

Welcome to our special Show & Tell edition.

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Ann has an article coming out in this month's issue of Live Free Learn Free.

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Claudia shares photos of a recent crafty project. “This is a shirt I made for my daughter for her favorite band (mcrmy is the website the fans get together on and talk). It may not look like it, but it took a while! I was trying to keep the letters all the same size and legible. I like doing crafty stuff like that. I have made drapes for several rooms in our house and a couple of skirts. I am best at straight line sewing. My next project is painting our hallway.”

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Jan is working on a scrapbook for her in-law's 35th wedding anniversary.

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Nancy, Pezmaniac, says... “I'm a PEZhead. Many places online I go by “Pezimaniac”. That's from my combination of liking PEZ and the Animaniacs. I started collecting in 1995. I put up my first PEZ webpage in April 1997. It still exists but has not been updated since November 2005. (It has many broken links and is somewhat awkward to navigate, but you can see some of my PEZ there.) Both my webpage and my collecting have been neglected (but not forgotten) since I became a mom. I go to PEZ collector conventions, and I buy and sell on the internet. I haven't counted my PEZ in years, but I am sure that I have over 1000 in my collection. I still get excited when I find a new PEZ at a grocery store or an old one at an antique mall.”

a picture of the Pez collection from June 1996
Brita Velveeta (a normal sized traveling PEZ)and some of my giants
the "PEZ corner" in my living room now - those on the wood shelves are for playing with and giving away (not the kid, of course ;-)

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Tracie shares her artwork.

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A Recovering Type-A Mom

by Lisa L. Heston

When given the opportunity to share something on KSHomeschool.net, my first thought was that I did not have anything to share. You see, I don’t really have any hobbies; I don’t do crafts; reading is not my forte’; I don’t make things for my kids (besides meals); and I really am not interested in beginning anything new. My life is packed with things to do. I have always been a Type-A person. I like lists. I like to organize, schedule, and analyze. I like to be in control – and in our family I had plenty of opportunity to do just that; this leads me to my story.

Six years ago I began home schooling with visions of grandeur. I knew that the life I had chosen for my family was going to be packed with educational experiences every day. It wasn’t long before I found that the structured curriculum sets were wonderful for me, but torturous for my sons. I began to lose control and panicked. There I was a Type-A, highly organized, completely scheduled woman with not a clue of what to do. I was convinced that it was because I hadn’t planned or scheduled enough. What was I to think when all of the home schooling moms around me were perfectly happy with their educational choices?

I began to explore alternatives to the way I was “schooling” my children and ran across unschooling. The sound of freedom resonated with me but also scared me to death. It took two years of struggling with my boys until I finally changed direction and began unschooling. It turns out that unschooling has been just as valuable a journey for me as it has been for them.

When I began this journey I didn't trust myself. I felt if I trusted, I would be hurt or disappointed. In learning to trust my children I began to allow myself to trust others. I had to relinquish control of a lot of things to be able to unschool. I needed to allow my children to choose for themselves instead of telling them what to do. Trust has given me the courage to pursue things I never thought possible. I am able to discuss my ideas and dreams in large groups without fear. I can even take risks based on others opinions. I can now choose to participate in life without a set of lists to plan out my future.

When I was busy making lists all of the time, I had very little joy. I was not fun to be around because my focus was on completing tasks. My friendships have gotten deeper and more significant to me since I have let go of the task master in myself. I have a new motto to live by: “Life before lists!” This motto has allowed me to relax and slow down to smell the flowers; enjoy some time with a friend; or take some pictures in nature. It has taught me that I don’t have to know all of the answers – I just need to know how to help find them. It has let me off the hook of perfection and into a life of relationships.

Relationships are important to me now. It is enjoyable to have coffee with a friend just to chat. I no longer worry about the tasks that I am not completing. I have become a better friend while unschooling my children as I watch them communicate with their friends. I have learned that friends are important in life because without them all that I would have is tasks. When I allow myself to be with friends it reminds me that I am valued.

Unschooling is most significant in that it has given me the ability to “be cool with me”. I still don’t have hobbies. If I had to decide what my hobby is, it would be spending my time serving others. It is hard to quantify, but that is who I am. I don’t have anything tangible that I can show people, but it offers me a deep sense of satisfaction. I know that life is a long journey and that at times I will become that type-A, list focused, organized, driven woman. But I know now that I have a choice about how I choose to live. Unschooling has grown me into a better friend and person. Even though I am still a little type A ;-)

Moms of Kansas Homeschool.net Show & Tell

Part II of II

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Samantha says... “Besides my kids and of course my husband, I love yarn. I'm kind of addicted to it really. I crochet it and now I even knit it. I'm learning to spin it too. I wrote a filk song about my love of yarn. You can keep up to date with my addiction on my blog, The Fiber Star, because I've always wanted to be a star and my kids taught me to start now rather than wait.

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Lisa shared some musings with us on being a Recovering Type-A Mom.
We liked it so much we published it in our articles section.

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Justine writes...

I have a bird watching hobby that began about two years ago with pinecones, peanut butter, and bird seed. It has, since then, developed into a hobby that I have invested a significant amount of time and money in continuing. I use many different types of bird feeders and seeds to attract a variety of birds to my yard. I also attend bird watching excursions and classes in the area. I keep a list of the birds that I’ve seen that I’ve been able to identify, and my list is up to almost 60 birds. Of course, I’ve seen many more, but am not able to identify all the birds that I’ve seen, so I don’t include them on my list. This winter, I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count and had over 20 species of birds in my backyard in the span of about an hour!

My most recent endeavor has been the placing of a blue bird box in my yard with the hope that the Eastern Bluebird would nest there. The bluebirds began looking for nesting sights over the winter months with some of the first nesting beginning early March. In my case, my nest box was not chosen for an earlier nesting, and I had just about given up hope, until about a week ago when I noticed a pair checking it out.

The past week, they were busy building a nest, and as of today, the female has laid two eggs.

I’ll offer meal worms (which I buy at a local bird store) for the bluebirds in a tray on a small tree near their nest while they are busy incubating and eventually feeding their young.
I often write about my birding adventures on my blog page.

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Rebecca is prepping for her daughter's wedding only ONE weekend away.

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Tracy says... “My mom built one of the first backyard ponds I'd ever seen almost 20 years ago. She added to it year by year, but hers was eventually surrounded by stone paths and tons of flowers and a big wooden swing shaded by a beautiful grape vine. Now we have many, many family members with backyard ponds and every one of them was inspired by my mom. Most of them even have plants and maybe even goldfish stock that started with my mother. The kids and I joined the backyard pond club this year. We hope to add a little year by year, but this was our big project for spring and we've spent countless hours already watching the fish and reading by the pond.”

Home School Week at the Kansas City Museum

From: Sherri Woodward
Account Executive, Educational & Youth Groups
Union Station Kansas City

May 15th - May 18th Admission: $8.00 (Free for Adults)

Come join us for home school week at the Museum May 15-18, 2007. Each day is different and no reservations are necessary. Cost: $8.00 per day (Adults are free) A lunch room will be available for your use in between programs.

Tuesday

Wonders of the Night Sky (Ages 3-7)
Tuesday, May 15th 10:00am

Little Pioneers (Ages 3-7)
Tuesday, May 15th 11:00am

Soda Fountain Treat and Tour (Ages 3-7)
Tuesday, May 15th 12:15pm

Wednesday

Stormy Skies and Starry Nights (Ages 9-18)
Wednesday, May 16th 10:00am

Pioneering Spirit Tour (Ages 6-12)
Wednesday, May 16th 11:00am

Soda Fountain Treat and Tour (Ages 9-12)
Wednesday, May 16th 12:45pm

Thursday

Kid's Workshop Dancing! (Ages 7-12)
Thursday, May 17th 10:00am
Run by the Friends of Alvin Ailey.

Spring Skies Star Show (Ages 7-18)
Thursday, May 17th 1:00pm

Friday

Planet Patrol (Ages 7-12)
Friday, May 18th 10:00am

Secrets of the Mansion Tour (Ages 7-12)
Friday, May 18th 11:00am

Soda Fountain Treat and Tour (Ages 7-12)
Friday, May 18th 12:30pm

If you have questions or would like additional information about any of the above programs please call the Kansas City Museum at (816) 483-8300. The Kansas City Museum is located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64123.

We hope to see you at the Museum in May!

Oversight lacking in Kansas for virtual schools

Legislative audit finds reports missing and required on-site visits aren’t made by state.

The Kansas City Star
April 25, 2007

I have no direct experience with any of the virtual schools in Kansas, but this article highlights, for me, the need to maintain separate identities for virtual school attendees and home schoolers. I find it unfortunate that many virtual schools seem to market themselves as "homeschool alternatives" rather than the public school alternatives that they truly are.

I am entirely supportive of more options and choice within the public school system, but I also want it to remain clear that those of us who are homeschooling are accepting/taking full responsibility for our children's education while those enrolled in virtual school programs are accountable to the public school system. I am making no judgements here, just clarifying that virtual schools and homeschools are not one and the same.

Unschooling Revisited

From The Story ~ America Public Media
A second interview with Valerie Fitzenreiter.

In February, Dick talked with Valerie Fitzenreiter about educating her daughter, Laurie Chancey, at home. Valerie allowed Laurie to study whatever and whenever she wanted. Laurie is now pursuing a PhD in sociology.

That program generated a lot of response from listeners, one of whom was Kate Walsh.

Kate is a retired teacher, who was less than enthusiastic about the idea of unschooling: "How charming, for people who don't need, or dismiss the aspect of, general education."

I find this interview interesting because Kate's arguments really mirror my initial concerns when my husband started talking about wanting to homeschool before our first child was even born.

I'm sure I will write more on this, but I wanted to share the link with everyone.

Mothers! We need your Show & Tell Items for May!!!!

Coming in May... In honor of Mother's Day, KSHomeschool.net will host a special Show & Tell installment featuring contributions by our homeschooling moms! Send us photos of your own craft projects, tell us how your garden grows, share a memory, draw us a doodle, tell us about your job, show us how you spend your free time... Anything goes. Let's make this the biggest Show & Tell yet!

Rethinking Education Conference NEWS

Just passing along news about the Rethinking Education Conference to be held near Dallas this year.

Rethinking Education Conference NEWS
Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 - Sept. 3
In today's UPDATE: Monday, April 21
:: 2007 Highlights: Brenda Morgan
:: JOIN US!
:: Other 2007 Conference Speakers
:: Register Today for BIG SAVINGS!
:: Consensual Living for Unschool Families
:: What To Do NOW
:: MORE 2007 Highlights: JANEEN NICHOLAS

Greetings!
The 11th national conference on Rethinking Education is Labor Day Weekend: Thursday, August 30 - Monday, September 3, 2007 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Irving, Texas , just minutes from Dallas and the DFW Airport. A complimentary shuttle runs to and from the hotel - airport 24 hours a day.

Our website contains up to date information on our program, registration, and all details! Out-of-the-box, fun and provoking sessions for adults, teens, tweens and kids of all ages, all weekend... 5 days!

REGISTER by April 28 and receive a $50 discount per person! EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS IN ONE WEEK

ONE WEEK!!!
ONE WEEK!!!

VOLUNTEER to further reduce your cost. Check out the volunteer jobs available on our conference website.

We still have SO MUCH to tell you in our updates. Complete information and is available on our website, and we will be adding to the program throughout the summer.

2007 Highlights: Brenda Morgan

BRENDA MORGAN
"The good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." -Lao Tzu

Brenda hosts:
Re-Inventing the American Dream: Learning to Live with Less
Brenda will inspire/assist those willing in de-cluttering their lives of excessive material possessions, reconnecting with the dream we wish we were living, reforming our attitudes towards wilderness and wildlife, aligning our spiritual beliefs with the manner in which we walk in the world, and focusing on personal action that will lead to a healthier planet and unencumbered, debt free lives.

JOIN US!

Join hundreds of unschooling families from around the globe as we rethink the meanings of education, learning and parenting. Rethinking Education supports attachment parenting, unconditional love, support for each person's unique journey of life experience, freedom with responsibility, unschooling and you. YOU are the vital ingredient at this conference, as we come together and revel in the magic and mystery of kindred spirits and each other's rich diversity, as we challenge ourselves to trust the extraordinary process of living and learning, the wondrous ability to improve the ways we communicate, discovering new ways of listening to one another, giving full support to our dreams, no matter how wild or ordinary, large or small.

Unschooling is vital to the profoundly intelligent development of our children. And yes, as adults we can even unschool ourselves... as you will discover.

Sign up for Email Updates

Let us put our minds together and see what we will make for our children. ~Chief Sitting Bull


Other 2007 Conference Speakers
These are just some of the OUTSTANDING speakers we've lined up for the Rethinking Education Conference 2007:

John Taylor Gatto
Michael Mendizza
Ren Allen
Peter Kowalke

And oh so many more!

Register Today for BIG SAVINGS!
REGISTER by April 28 and receive a $50 discount per person! HURRY! EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS IN ONE WEEK!

Consensual Living for Unschool Families

For those of you wishing to effect revolutionary, egalitarian change within your families, you will want to sign up for the special seminar series conducted during the conference weekend by Tracy Liebman. Tracy is an unschool mom and consensual living therapist. For an additional fee of $100 per family, you will be guided, nurtured and privately counseled to implement consensual methods to your family's communication and decision-making. Rest assured, Tracy's style is very loving and supportive, open and heartfelt... and you will still have plenty of time to attend a huge number of the weekend's other sessions! See the conference website for full details on the Consensual Living program. Sign up on your Registration Form. Open to 8 families only, and there are only a few spots that remain.

What To Do NOW
Register... You must attend!

The Early Bird Registration discount ends on April 28 - that's just 1 week away!

There are many ways to register!

CALL Barb at 817.540.6423

EMAIL barb@rethinkingeducation.com

DOWNLOAD a Registration Form & MAIL or FAX it.

Fax to: 817.545.3599

MAIL to: 3013 Hickory Hill, Colleyville, Texas... 76034

MORE 2007 Highlights: JANEEN NICHOLAS
Janeen Nicholas is a former career woman with two M.A. degrees in her past life, and is now a happy unschooling mom to one lively kindergartener, and life-long learner herself. After one career in education (teaching and being the special education director for a public school system), and another career in software design, and a third in six sigma consulting, I have come full-circle, educating my own child at home. She lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband, daughter, dog, and fish. Active in my local homeschooling community, and currently the coordinator of Spirit Play programming in my UU (Unitarian Universalist) church, she regularly leads Spirit Play classes for young children. Janeen bakes all her own bread with wheat that she grinds herself, loves plays and roller coasters, and enjoys being able to travel to wonderful places as a family while the rest of the world is in school.

Janeen will host:
Child-Centered Spirituality: When Kids Ask the Big Questions
Explore how to become the facilitator in the process your child goes through in thinking about their own unique spiritual path, as differentiated from the traditional model of telling children what they should believe. Janeen will focus on introducing children to many different spiritual ideologies geared just for their young ages, and then prompt them to wonder about those ideas and continue a thoughtful inquiry. This session is particularly suited to parents and their children aged 3-8, but all ages are welcome. Janeen's guidance is directed toward parents, and one or more stories will be told to the children as examples. Stories will be drawn from the Unitarian Universalist Spirit Play Stories from the following list: The Wise People and the Elephant (Traditional Buddhist Parable) Hide and Seek with God by Mary Ann Moore (Many Paths/UU) Small Fry by Ruthilde Kronberg & Patricia C. McKissack Secular Humanist) Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston (Mexican traditional celebration) The Empty Pot by Demi (Chinese folk tale) The Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein (Hindu)Child-Centered Spiritual Journeys Throughout the weekend in short, 15 minute periods, Janeen will invite children to listen to thought-provoking stories of a spiritual nature and to explore them in their own ways. Stories are presented in the style shown in the Child Centered Spirituality session, in which children are encouraged to explore their own spiritual uniqueness, as differentiated from the more traditional model of telling children what to believe. The stories will be drawn from a variety of faiths, including Theist, Buddhist, Hindu, and Humanist, each with many possible interpretations. Each short session will include the presentation of one story, followed by encouragement of the children to process the ideas presented and to draw their own conclusions. Geared for ages 3-8, but all ages are welcome.

Our conference is provoking, outrageous, inspiring and mind-blowing. .. for the whole family. Grandparents attend free! Speakers include:
John Taylor Gatto, Ren Allen, Peter Kowalke, Tracy Liebmann, Michael Mendizza, Cindy Gaddis, Eli Gerzon, Debbie Shapiro ... so many more!

Our wildly popular kid and teen activities include:
Kid Village, Teen & Tween Village, non-stop, out-of-the-box art, unprom, yoga, dance, gobs of extraordinary sessions....

Wait! There's more....
Talent Show, Recycled Resource Fair, Family Vendor Fair, Silent Auction, Grateful Space, Monster Pickup Sticks... we're even building a Yurt!

Call or email Barb Lundgren with questions or to register! Rethinking Education
email: barb@rethinkingeduc ation.com
phone: 817.540.6423
web: http://www.rethinki ngeducation. com

Register by April 28 for HUGE SAVINGS!!! REGISTER by April 28 and receive a $50 discount per person . . .that's just $75 for 5 incredible, action-packed, life changing days... and Grandparents are free!

Check it out now...

What you Need to Know about Homeschooling in Kansas

by Shelley Ryan

Complying with Kansas laws is simple

Kansas law requires that all “non-accredited private schools,” i.e., homeschools, register once with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). You do not have to give the names of your children. Registration can be done online and takes less than five minutes: (Kansas State Department of Education) You will not receive a response from the KSDE as its only role is to keep a record of homeschool registrations. The KSDE does not “approve” homeschools.

Kansas law requires you to “hold classes for a period of time which is substantially equivalent to the time public schools are in session.” This means you must provide 1,116 hours per year of instructional time. You do not need to follow the public school calendar. You can take vacations when you want; you can “hold class” in the evenings, on the weekends, or during the summer. You are not required to keep a record of your instructional hours. You decide what counts as “instructional time.”

Kansas law requires that all classes be taught by a “competent instructor.” It does not specify what constitutes competency. You do not need a teaching degree. You do not need a college degree. If you have a desire to help your child learn and a willingness to learn right along with them, you are probably “competent.”

You do not need anyone's permission to start homeschooling

You do not need the permission of your child's teacher, the school principal, the superintendent, or the State Department of Education. If you've decided to homeschool your child, no one can stand in your way.

You can start homeschooling today!

If you have decided you want to homeschool your child, you need not wait until the end of the semester or the school year to withdraw your child from school. Register your homeschool with the state, then write a short letter to your child's principal stating that you are withdrawing your child from school and enrolling them in your homeschool. That's it! You can begin!

You don't have to use traditional materials or methods to homeschool your kids.

Some homeschoolers do re-create school around their kitchen tables, with textbooks, worksheets, tests, and grades. Others find that this approach doesn't work for them. Children learn in a variety of ways and from a variety of materials. Your children might learn just as much -- if not more -- from museum trips, hikes, videos, online courses, family reading time, library trips, or travel. You are free to use any of these resources, and more.

Homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive

You don't need to purchase expensive prepared curricula in order to homeschool. Many families homeschool with little more than a library card! Free online resources are abundant and garage sales are a good source of used books. For those who do want to use a prepared curriculum, used copies are readily available from a variety of sources. But take your time evaluating materials so you spend your money wisely. While you evaluate your options, rely on the public library and on non-traditional methods and materials for your children's learning.

Don't worry about socialization

Homeschool groups are active in most parts of the state. If you join one, your child will have ample opportunities to socialize with other homeschoolers. Scouts, 4-H, Campfire, Parks and Rec activities, town sports leagues and neighborhood children will provide other opportunities for socializing. Some homeschooling parents say their children are so busy with social activities that there is little time left for school! Nearly all homeschooling parents are glad they are nearby to help their children develop appropriate social skills rather than leaving them to fend for themselves on the school playground.

You can homeschool all the way through high school

Many resources are available to help you homeschool your high schooler. Some parents purchase high school textbooks and work through them with their high schooler. Others use online courses or enroll their children in a nearby community college. Still others use real life experiences -- paid or volunteer work, travel, community service projects, e.g., -- as a way to help their children learn those things they can't learn from books. Most children who have been homeschooled will be skilled independent learners by the time they reach their teens; your high schooler may need little direct instruction from you. When you're done, you issue a diploma.

Your child can get into college

All Kansas regents institutions welcome homeschoolers. Those schools automatically admit Kansas homeschoolers who have passed the GED or who have earned a "C" average in 24 hours of community college coursework. Admissions committees at the regents schools also admit a limited number of additional students after an individualized review of their credentials. Admission to community colleges is open to any student who has passed the GED or who the admissions committee has determined will be able to benefit from the courses in which the person wishes to enroll. Most private and out-of-state public schools -- including the most elite schools in the country -- have procedures in place for evaluating the applications of homeschoolers. Admissions committees nationwide know that homeschooled kids are curious, self-motivated, and focused on their goals. Being a homeschooled kid likely will be an asset, not a liability, in college admissions.



Legal disclaimer: The content herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. If you desire legal advice, you should seek the services of a licensed attorney.

Unschooling Voices

Unschooling Voices #8

There were two (always optional) questions for this edition.

(#1) Use the letters U-N-S-C-H-O-O-L to write about unschooling. Use what ever method you want, for example you can use each letter like "U is for...N is for.."or you can have each letter start a new sentence or paragraph or try writing an acronym.

(#2) A topic that comes up on the unschooling e-mail groups a lot is TV/computer/video games and how hard it is for parents to let go of control in those areas. What has been your experience?

Unschooling Voices is a collection of blog entries, usually centered on a certain theme each month. I usually find a lot of great reading there and thought I'd share the link.

The question for next month's edition is "How has unschooling changed YOU? Yes, it’s about the kids, but is it ONLY about the kids? I sometimes think unschooling has changed me more than them. What are your thoughts?"

YEA ~ Young Explorers' Academy

Interview with Stephanie Stagner

I’ve been reading Stephanie’s blog for ages and have long been intrigued by the Young Explorer’s Academy, a co-op she started that has been growing by leaps and bounds. I asked Stephanie to share with us about starting YEA and perhaps provide some lessons and inspiration for others who are considering similar projects.

Tracy/KSHomeschool.net: Tell us why you started YEA. What was your goal?

Stephanie: Last Summer, I was sitting at the computer browsing homeschooling websites. More and more, I found myself reading about co-ops and enrichment classes. I’m in a local homeschooling group, but they only offer park play days. That just didn’t feel like enough for my kids. They had been asking me for some time if they could take classes so I started looking into local co-ops. I was very disappointed in what I found. All of them were affiliated with churches and most required a signed "statement of faith" to participate. The lists of rules and regulations were endless and the classes were expensive. This wasn’t what I was envisioning. I wanted something open and free – more in sync with an unschooling lifestyle.

I began to think, "Why can’t I do this?" I could have a few families come to my house each week and we could play games and do "learning center" type activities. That night I posted to my local homeschool group and proposed the idea. I volunteered to set up and organize any endeavor (famous last words). When I woke up the next morning and checked my inbox, I was very surprised to have over 50 emails in support of my little idea.

I quickly realized that this was a bigger project than I could handle myself. There was no way I could host that many people at my house. I shared the problem with the group, and one of them offered the use of his church free of charge. It wasn’t a huge building, but it was fine for what we needed.

After several days of emailing and discussion, I set a date for a facilitator meeting and then crossed my fingers that I would have a good turn-out. Ten mothers showed up that first day. (They are still with us and I consider them crucial in the development and growth of YEA.) I opened up the meeting by telling everyone MY vision for the co-op. I clearly knew what I wanted; I just needed help putting it all together.

T: What did you want? How did you envision your co-op working?

S: The number one thing is that I didn’t want it to be like school. I wanted to offer educational and fun classes for the kids, but no child would be forced to sit in a class if they became bored or needed mom. I also really wanted to keep it affordable. All the classes were to be free, or nearly so. All the mothers needed to be involved as class facilitators or by helping out with the little ones. If you fulfilled that requirement, your kids could take as many classes as they wanted to. Crazy idea, right?

Apparently not. Everyone was very positive. We bounced around ideas, got a schedule put together, and discussed money issues. We decided to meet once a week, from 10:30-1:00 with a 30 minute lunch break.

T: Tell us how that time is structured.

S: We have either four 30-minute or two 60-minute class sessions. (We still use this schedule, but are probably going to change it a bit next year to better meet our needs.) We also scheduled a couple of parties. I posted to my local group again asking for facilitator volunteers. We ended up with 16 committed families (and gained a few more before the session was up).

Scheduling everyone’s classes was a nightmare the first year. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and I didn’t ask for help. This year, one of our moms offered to develop a website for us. We use that for scheduling now. It’s much easier.

T: So once you got started, did it all work out exactly as you had hoped?

S: The first few weeks of YEA were spent working out the bugs. Things come up that you never plan for. We quickly realized that we needed to delegate cleaning responsibilities. We also needed a few rules, like no running inside and no going outside without an adult. One of the moms made STOP signs that we hang on doors that kids aren’t supposed to open. By the end, though, all was working well.

We took a month off at Christmas to reevaluate and take a much needed break. One thing we realized was that we were quickly outgrowing our location and we needed to address that detail right away. Luckily, another member offered up her church. It is much larger and better set up to accommodate us. They didn’t ask for any money, but we decided to charge every family a $5 fee which we donated to the church.

Over the break, I went back to local group and solicited members again. The response was huge. I had to turn people away. We really want to keep our membership at around 30 families. That helps foster a sense of community and family. Plus, it’s all our facility can comfortably hold. We had such a huge response that we have now branched off from our original local group. We had to start our own Yahoo group along with the web page. We got a lot of fresh new class ideas and we have a field trip or party every month. I felt pretty confident starting up again after the break, but it’s inevitable that when you are working this closely with a large group of people, problems will arise.

T: Such as?

S: A few of our current members are unhappy with the lack of "serious" classes. Academics were never intended to be our main focus, but next year we are going to restructure our schedule to allow for more ongoing classes, themes, and we are adding preschool centers.

Another thing we have learned is that complete democracy, unfortunately, doesn’t work. Many issues turn into arguments fairly quickly. Because I got tired of always being the bad guy, we decided to form a committee. I’m on it as well as five others who share similar visions for the co-op. Everyone is welcome to state their ideas and opinions, but the committee has the final say. This is very necessary when you have such a diverse group of people. We aren’t just an unschooling co-op, everyone is welcome. And this means that we try to accommodate families with a wide range of values.

T: How about expense? Have you been able to maintain free classes in exchange for participation?

S: We are having some money issues. Mainly because the nature of many classes means supplies are sometimes needed. We were never clear when we started who was going to be responsible for buying specific supplies. This is going to be solved by charging everyone a small supply fee next year.

T: Give us an example of some classes YEA has offered.

S: There are so many, I don't know where to start! At the beginning of the session we have a brainstorm session where all of the moms offer class ideas. Then we poll the kids to see what they would like to take. We have some sort of a cooking class every week, many arts and crafts classes, and music and movement for the younger kids. We have also offered Spanish and are hoping to offer French next year. This session we have had a science experiment class each week, and some beginning DNA classes. As you can see it's very eclectic.

T: What has been most popular with the kids? Is there anything they ask for again?

S: The cooking classes are by far the most popular. The smaller kids also like playdough studio and any painting classes.

T: Tell us what happens when a child really has no interest in being involved in the classes. I’m thinking, in particular, of situations with siblings where one child might really enjoy the activities being offered, but a second child is less of a joiner. Have you had this experience and how do you accommodate the whole family?

S: A child is never required to participate. We have a "breakroom" area filled with art supplies, toys, and games. It's supervised at all times by at least two moms. That's where the kids go if they don't want to participate or if they decide halfway through a class that it isn't what they want to do. It's also where a child goes if his mom is facilitating a class and he has nothing scheduled. Many of the smaller kids spend their whole day in there.

T: Will you break for the summer?

S: This summer, instead of regular classes, we’re going to have “The Summer of Field Trip Fun.” Basically, each family that wants to participate is going to be responsible for planning a field trip for the group. I think we’re going to have a group camp out as well.

T: Looking back now at all the time and energy you have spent in getting YEA started, has it been worth it? Is it filling the need?

S: It is so worth it! This is the best thing I have done for my kids since I started homeschooling. They look forward to going to class each week so they can see their friends.

I would have to say that YEA is still evolving. We’ve got a ways to go before we get it just right, if we ever do. I (as well as several members) have big plans for the future of our little co-op. We’d really like to buy our own building, but that’s way in the future. For now we are happy to be giving our kids this opportunity to learn and play together.

T: I know there are many mothers in situations like ours who have considered starting something like this on their own. Any words of wisdom or encouragement?

S: Just do it!! It's a lot of work, but it is so fulfilling. On that note, don't try and do everything yourself. Find several other moms who share the same vision as you and work as a team. And on co-op day, put dinner in the crockpot because you will be too tired to cook when you get home..ha ha..

Help Pick the Eight Wonders of Kansas!

Eight Wonders? Yes! Maybe everyone else is choosing the Seven Wonders of their region but we're doing eight in Kansas! Help us decide the top Eight Wonders of Kansas! Will the Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria, the Davis Memorial in Hiawatha, the Garden of Eden in Lucas, the Chalk Pyramids in Gove County, or the murals in the state capitol be on your list? See below for criteria and then e-mail your input to 8wonders@kansassampler.org!

Visit the Kansas Sampler Foundation for more information.

A 1980 Interview with John Holt

From Mother Earth News

Why did a man who was at one time a conservative, traditional schoolteacher come to advocate keeping one's children out of school?

The World Needs More Rebels Like Einstein

How nonconformity, not rote learning, unlocked his genius. by Walter Isaacson

Albert Einstein, as every kid knows, was a smart guy. But as we discover when we get older, smart gets you only so far. It's worth remembering, especially now, that what made Einstein special was his impertinence, his nonconformity, and his distaste for dogma.

I really enjoyed this article and thought others might enjoy it, as well.

Kansas Authors Club Sponsors Youth Writing Contest

For all Kansas Students, Grades 1-12

Write poems and stories on any subject. No entry fee. Submission dates for 2007 are April 2, 2007 through June 15, 2007.

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There is a contest for adults, as well. Contest opens April 1, 2007 & closes June 18, 2007, postmarked.

Rethinking Education Conference

11th International Conference on Rethinking Education

Thursday, August 30 - Monday, September 3, 2007

Irving, Texas

Join hundreds of unschooling families from around the globe as we rethink the meanings of education, learning and parenting. Rethinking Education supports attachment parenting, unconditional love, support for each person's unique journey of life experience, freedom with responsibility, unschooling and you. YOU are the vital ingredient at this conference, as we come together and revel in the magic and mystery of kindred spirits and each other's rich diversity, as we challenge ourselves to trust the extraordinary process of living and learning, the wondrous ability to improve the ways we communicate, discovering new ways of listening to one another, giving full support to our dreams, no matter how wild or ordinary, large or small.