CAPE Convention is rockin' the giveaways

The Yakima Homeschool group is planning their 2009 Convention, and this year they have some awesome door prizes, like a computer from Green PC Academy. Head over to the CAPE website to check out the classes and workshops they have scheduled for this year's CAPE Convention. It's a fantastic annual event with family-friendly pricing, a great variety of vendors and door prizes, like a computer, gift certificates, Discovery Toys, plus curriculum items like books and parent guides.

Washington Homeschool Science & Engineering Fair

Thursday, February 26^th, 2009 6-9 p.m.

Trinity Baptist Church

18652-116^th Avenue SE, Renton, WA

(Do not send registration forms to this address)

The purpose of WHSEF is to provide a science fair which is open to all homeschooled students. All participants will receive a medallion at the end of the evening. With the feedback students receive at this fair, they can improve their projects and continue on to regional and state science fairs.

If you didn’t attend a workshop and do not know what is expected at science fairs, please feel free to come and observe. You will learn even more if you volunteer to listen to presentations. Thirty homeschool students participated last year and twelve went on to state. Six of those students won state trophies.

The fair is only 6 weeks away. If your child still needs help choosing a topic, I recommend the following Selah website: http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/JHS/Brown/HowToDoAProject.htm

Please fill out the following registration form and return it by Jan. 31^st, 2009. If your child wants to do a project involving humans or animals, contact me at kpbrighton@yahoo.com as soon as possible. These projects take extra time for approval before beginning experiments.

WHSEF 2009 Registration Form

Student Name__________________________________________

Student Grade__________________________________________

Student Age___________________________________________

Parent Name___________________________________________

E-mail address _________________________________________

Phone Number_________________________________________

Parent or Adult Volunteer________________________________

For participation in this fair each child must have a parent or adult volunteer during the fair to listen to other children present their projects. For families with two or more children participating, two adults are sufficient. Fill out separate forms for each child. A $3 donation per child would be appreciated to cover the cost of the medallions.

Project Title____________________________________________

Scientific Category______________________________________

Animal Sciences, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Biochemistry, Cellular and molecular biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Planetary Science, Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical, Engineering (Materials & Bioengineering), Energy & transportation, Environmental Management, Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medicine & health sciences, Microbiology, Physics and astronomy, Plant Sciences.

Send Registration Forms by 1/31/09 to:

WHSEF 18512 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton, WA 98058

For questions contact: kpbrighton@yahoo.com

Leadership Education at Home

During times of uncertainty, we evaluate what is important in our
lives. Society looks to those in leadership positions to solve
problems. The time to fill those leadership roles within our homes,
schools, and communities is here. Being prepared with knowledge and
the tools to gain more is indispensable. Great leaders studied
classical books, philosophers, mathematicians, and war before they
gained the skills of great leadership.This seminar teaches you how to
begin your own leadership education at home.

This seminar is in Federal Way, Wa and is hosted by Moira Caswell
(Chair of Leadership Education Association of Puget Sound and LEMI
mentor). LEAPS board members have offered to open their homes to out
of town guests for this seminar. Please read below for more
information.

FACE TO FACE WITH GREATNESS:
A THOMAS JEFFERSON EDUCATION REVISITED: YOU NOT THEM

Coming to you on *February 20-21, 2009* in the *Seattle* Area
Featuring Dr. Shanon Brooks
A hands on workshop for parents and teachers on how to mentor the
classics

"For learning requires a mentor---an Athena, a Virgil, a Beatrice---
to
lead and teach, guide and instruct . . . showing their charges how to
learn, stepping back when the pupil begins to see and to understand
on
his own." --L. Cowan

Topics covered:
Core and Love of Learning
Transition to Scholar
Scholar Phase
Depth Phase
How to Read a Book
Cycles of History

*Required Reading for Colloquium: The Virginian and Pride and
Prejudice
(Seminars will be taught from the perspective that all attendees
have prepared properly and have read all readings.)

*Strongly Suggested Preparation: A Thomas Jefferson Education, /A
Thomas
Jefferson Education Home Companion/, /Leadership Education: The
Phases
of Learning/ and one Shakespeare Play of your choice.

How can a generation that wasn't mentored in the classics, mentor
their
own children in the classics? Do you want to help your children get a
superb, leadership education... but just aren't sure how? THIS
SEMINAR
TEACHES YOU HOW!!

Date: February 20-21, 2009
Location: Federal Way, WA
Cost: Before January 30th:
$175.00 per person
$125.00 per spouse
$ 90.00 per youth

After January 30th:
$200.00 per person
$150.00 per spouse
$105.00 per youth

This George Wythe University Seminar series, presented by Touchstone,
R.E, is hosted by
LEAPS: The Leadership Education Association of Puget Sound

Registration is limited to 70 participants
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

For more information or to register, please contact:
Moira Caswell
Phone: 253-661-0401
E-mail: leapsinfo@yahoo. com
*Seminar fees are transferable person-to-person, not seminar-to-
seminar,
and are non-refundable.

The Standardized Naughty Test

Are you aware that in Washington State, kids take a standardized naughty test. Children are asked questions relating to sexuality, eating disorders and drug use. In California, a family sued the school district because their 7 year old daughter was subjected to a similar test. Some parents believe that asking children sexual questions that make them feel uncomfortable could be construed as abusive. Here's the scoop on the Washington State version of the test. The Healthy Youth Survey is voluntary and they claim that the results are released to the public. I was trying to find the results, because the only school district I found that mentioned it stated that if a parent wanted to see sample questions, they'd have to come into the office to view them. It just sounds wrong, doesn't it? Apparently the "participation" results are available to the public. Unless my detective skills are just not up to par. I really don't care how many schools in a district took the test, why do they bother compiling information that doesn't meet a parent's desire to know exactly what strange and twisted ideas they're impressing upon children?


OOH- newsflash-- I found the local results from 2006. You can find the state results here. I will post the Yakima results on the Homeschooling in Yakima blog.

LIFE is Good NW Unschooling Conference

LIFE is Good
NW Unschooling Conference
Red Lion Hotel ~ Vancouver, WA
Memorial Day Weekend, May 21-24, 2009
Learning In Freedom Everyday!

Imagine...

A place where you can experience an unschooling community first hand. Where you can ask questions and get ideas from experienced unschoolers. Where no one will ask what curriculum you use and you will be surrounded by free families where kids are respected.

We're thrilled to offer this joyful, life-affirming gathering of unschooling families. Whether your family has been unschooling for years, or is just getting started, the LIFE is Good Conference will give you the opportunity to connect with other unschoolers who are also Learning In Freedom Everyday!

We hope you'll decide to join us! This is a wonderful opportunity for recharging your unschooling batteries, reconnecting with old friends, meeting virtual friends, and being inspired as well as inspiring others!

Homeschooling Talks by David H. Albert

>
> Homeschooling Talks by David H. Albert
> with movies for the kids
> October , 2008
> Central Cinemas
> http://www.central- cinema.com/
> 1411 21 Ave S
> Seattle WA 98122
>>> David is the author of Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow. Homeschooling and the Curriculum of Love (Common Courage Press, 2006), And the Skylark Sings with Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and Community-Based Education (New Society Publishers, 1999), andHomeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery: A Journey of Original Seeking (Common Courage Press, 2003). He is also editor of the new two-volume set The Healing Heart~Families: Storytelling to Encourage Caring and Healthy Families and The Healing Heart~Communities: Storytelling to Build Strong and Healthy Communities (New Society Publishers). Signed and inscribed copies are available through this site.
>
> Schedule: (for complete description of the talks, visit David’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.skylarks ings.com" www.skylarksings. com )
> Movies to be announced
> A. 1:30 p.m. On Sixes and Sevens
>>>>
>>>> For most children, the ages 6 and 7 represent some of the most important – and interesting! – developmental changes that will ever occur in their lives. It is the age of questions, trust-building, first real understandings of death and history, first confrontation with the need for experience in progressing with learning challenges. We explore together what it is like to be 6 and 7 all over again!
>>>>
>>>> Hanging on for the Ride: Homeschooling WITH the Gifted Child
> (“How to talk so your child will think you have something worth listening to!") Examines three kinds of giftedness, reviews – with group participation – the hallmarks of gifted children, and provides hints on how to work effectively with them to appropriately enrich their education. The end of the talk is reserved for a resource sharing session.
>
> The Curriculum of Beauty
> Brown University President Ruth Simmons once wrote, “Nothing is so beautiful, nothing so moving, as the observance of a mind at work.” What if, amidst all the focus on how to ensure our children have the necessary basic skills, we were to conceive of homeschooling as an aesthetic matter, helping our children to find ways to embrace the beautiful in their world, in their relationships with others, and in themselves? How can we go about with our kids in cultivating an inner harmony that will lead them to a life worth living? And can we go along for the ride?
>
>
>
> C. 7:00 p.m. – Dismantling the Inner School
>
> We all want the best possible education for our children. But sometimes the images of school we hold in our minds limit us from acting fully upon that which, deep down, we already know. We will explore some of these images together, and increase our self-confidence in helping our kids and our family pursue our dreams and aspirations. (He is currently on fire -this subject of his current book)
>
>
> Cost: (Advance Registration)
> $ 5 for one movie,
> $10 for one talk; $18 for two talks; $25 for 3 talks.
> $3.00 off total for 2nd adult in the same family.
> (Kids by donation)
>
> $3.00 will be added to the total for registrations at the door.

Charlotte Mason Workshop

CHARLOTTE MASON CONFERENCES / WORKSHOPS
* Seattle/Tacoma, WA *

All Day Charlotte Mason How-to Workshop
Location: Seattle/Tacoma, WA area
Presented by: Catherine Levison
Date: September 20th, 2008

Attention all Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia
homeschoolers, teachers, and others interested in Charlotte
Mason's educational philosophies.

Catherine Levison, author of several popular books -- including
A Charlotte Mason Education -- will be presenting her popular
All Day How-To Charlotte Mason Workshop this September
2008 in Auburn, Washington.

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

Pre-registration is required by September 10th, 2008.

DATE: Sept. 20th, 2008
TIME: 8:30am - 4:30pm
http://charlottemas oneducation. com/speaking. html

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

LOCATION:
White River Presbyterian Church
526 - 12th Street SE
Auburn, WA 98002
http://whiteriverpr es.org

COST:
$30.00 Per Person
VISA/MC payments can be accepted by calling Catherine in
Seattle at 253-879-0433, or mail a check payable to Catherine
Levison and send to:

Catherine Levison
c/o Charlotte Mason Communique'- tions
2522 N. Proctor, # 500
Tacoma, WA 98406