Ballroom fun for Moms and Dads

 Passing this along from Shelley Wurst..........

This may not seem directly homeschool related, but I know how hard it is for homeschooling parents to find the time to get out for a "date night", and I really think that in terms of "teacher health," finding ways to be together in an adult setting with your partner can be so uplifting and carry us through the other challenges in our lives.  With that in mind:

I wanted to see if I could drum up some more couples for a "Ballroom for Dummies" class my DH and I want to take.  Right now there's not enough registration for the class to run.  It's at Grossi Dance Academy, on rte 30 in Vernon (close to I-84 exit 67), it's going to be on Fridays at 7:30 starting February 11 and running for 6 weeks, and the cost is $60 per person.  We're going to be learning 6 different types of ballroom dancing from the ground up.  For more info or to register, their phone number is 860-872-1498.  They also have a website http://www.grossidanceacademy.com/  (tho I don't think they've posted info about the class there yet, they've been a little occupied with snow removal....).

Hope to see some other homeschool parents there! :)

Come bowl on Thursdays at Spare Time

Passing this along from Holly Klein........... 

Hello Homeschool families!
Just wanted to send out a reminder that the Spare Time in Vernon offers a homeschool day to come bowl.  It begins at 1:00 p.m. and usually you bowl 2 games.  It is $3 per child/adult and includes shoes.  You can bowl with your child or just mingle with the other moms.  It is usually every other Thursday.  This is a very casual bowling time, you can come one time or to as many of the dates as you choose.  Spare Time is very kind and generous to us.  The place is very clean and family friendly.  I hope you all can enjoy some bowling time.

February 3, 17
March 3, 17, 31
April 14, 28

Spare Time Vernon

350 Talcottville Road

Vernon, Ct. 06066

860-875-2583

 

FREE LEGO PROGRAM at Longmeadow Library

Passing this along from Donna Johnson....... 

  
FREE LEGO PROGRAM 

  Tuesday, February 1, 2011

  1:30-2:30pm 
(they normally let us stay longer if we want)

 Richard Salter Storrs Library 
693 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow Mass.

All ages welcome for homeschoolers

Registration starts today until Feb 1st.  Please call (413) 565-4182 to register for this FREE program.  If the library does not get a minimum of 5 participants they will discontinue the program.  (We had 5 in January, whew!)

Hope some of you can make it out!  The program is offered the first Tuesday of each month.

Homeschool Day at Old Sturbridge Village

Homeschool Day at Old Sturbridge Village

Thursday, February 10, 2011

On this Home School Day, Come in From the Cold, learn about how people in the early 19^th century filled their time during the cold winter months. New England communities slowed down allowing families and friends time to socialize. Some of their favorite activities were ice skating, sledding, storytelling and dancing. Take part in some of these activities and learn about the history of Valentines and watch chocolate being made by hand the old fashioned way.

If time permits, consider making a quick craft in the Hands-on Crafts Center; $5-10 per activity (first come, first served); some age and safety restrictions apply. To see the list of 50-minute hands-on studios (registration required) click here: http://www.osv.org/orders/listprograms.html?ID=14&G=T

Writing classes with Kate Brown

Passing this along from Kate Brown, please email her at brownkate6@gmail.com if you are interested.

Writing classes offered in the Manchester area, grade 5 and up.

Sign up for all three classes and SAVE $30 per child!

(SAVE $45 each additional child)

Writing Explorer A

(Wednesdays, February 2 - March 9, 9:30-11:00am - Registration Due Jan 26) AND

(Wednesdays, March 23-April 27, 9:30-11:00am - Registration Due March 12)

Children are little researchers before they can even speak, continually searching for answers. In this class, they will be given the tools of organization to further satisfy this curiosity and learn to communicate their findings through writing. Students will be given a topic to research, locate information from various sources, take notes, and write paragraphs with topic and concluding sentences. These paragraphs will form five paragraph essays, which they will express through oral presentation to the class.

                         

Writing Explorer B

(Wednesdays, May 4-June 8, 9:30-11:00am)

Registration Due: April 23

In this class, students will continue the process of organizing five-paragraph essays in a more defining way as they explore different types of essays such as comparison, cause and effect, example, process, and definition essays. Through practice, they will learn the steps necessary for gathering information, processing and organize it, as they use graphic organizers and outlines. Students will learn how edit their work, avoid plagiarism and finally, perform an oral presentation.

Writing Investigator

(Wednesdays, July 13-August 17, 9:30-11:00am)

Registration Due: June 29

Your child will review the writing tools previously learned in Writing Explorer A & B to become a literary detective, culminating what they’ve learned into a full-fledged research paper. They will narrow a topic, learn where to research for information, gather data, store, categorize, and analyze it and then learn to write with an organized flow by using well thought out transition sentences. Students will then share their acquired knowledge in an oral presentation to the class.

Prices for classes offered:	Cost for 1 student	Each additional student
1 Class	$70	$65
2 Classes	$130	$120
3 Classes	$180	$165

 Materials Fee: $5, per student, per class

How To Pay:

·         Non-refundable 30% deposit is due at registration; balance is due the first week of class.
·         Acceptable forms of payment are check and cash, no credit cards.
·         Please make checks payable to Kate Brown and mail deposit to 18 Wedgewood Drive, Manchester, CT 06042.
·         Contact Kate:  (860) 268-1257 or brownkate6@gmail.com

Kate Brown is a home school graduate who began her teaching career teaching piano lessons throughout her high school years. She has earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia International University receiving a double major in Elementary Education and Bible. She holds a teaching certification from the State of Connecticut for Grades K-6, and an Association of Christian Schools International certification for grades K-8. She has taught many grade levels in her three years teaching experience in the public school system. As an enthusiastic teacher, Kate is offering a series of expository writing classes to home schoolers to begin preparing them for high school and college research papers!

Sign up now for the Writer's Workshop

Passing this along from Patty Schmid, please email her if you are interested.

Sign up now for the winter session!

You can begin as soon as January 13^th!

Here is the schedule for the winter session:

Thursday:

11:00 am – 12:00 noon          1^st and 2^nd grade

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm              3^rd and 4^th grade

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm                5^th and 6^th grade

The cost is $20/week/student. You will only be charged for the weeks that you attend.

Classes are held at

The Church of the Living God

199 Deming Street

Manchester Ct.

To register or if you have any questions please contact Patty Schmid at patty.schmid@propark.com

Attached is a letter from Mrs. Fitzgerald to give you some more information.  She is a phenomenal teacher and the kids really enjoy working with her.

Dear Parents:

“Are you looking for a way improve or inspire your child in writing?”

I may have the key to helping your child succeed in writing! Starting with the first squiggles that then become letters of the alphabet-writing begins!  Parents cheer on and celebrate each baby step to becoming a fluent writer.  Writing becomes important in assessment to demonstrate understanding, put thoughts together and answer questions in the written form.

Writing throughout his/her education will be one piece of the puzzle that helps decide if a child is competent or not for the next grade. Writing measures growth!

Whether it’s a college application, a job application, a business or friendly letter, writing skills are necessary to promote, persuade, and/or organize our ideas and qualifications.  Writing is a life skill that will carry you forward, demonstrate academic strength and will be a reflection on a student’s education.

There is a very strong connection between reading and writing! Reading makes us better writers and writing makes us better readers.

I have taught for 16 years in grades K-6^th and have had extensive training in teaching students to write.  Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

Kathleen Fitzgerald

knfitzgerald23@gmail.com

More info on Spanish Class

note from Aaron:

My name is Aaron Dion, After graduating high school I studied missions and graduated from Elim Bible Institute in Rochester, NY.  Since 2001 I have been traveling to Europe and South America on short term mission trips.  In 2009 I moved for one year to Chile as a missionary.  There I became fluent in Spanish and got a taste of what life is like in another culture.  I have continued to study the language and have recently became interested in teaching others Spanish.  My goal is to prepare students with the tools and the foundation to effectively learn Spanish.  We will be using a combination of methods to achieve this goal.  Students will need to come prepared to the first class with a notebook and $20 which will allow me to buy the workbooks.  For any questions please feel free to call me at 860-550-2313.

**Our first class will be on Friday, January 14^th

Place: Church of the Living God

199 Deming Street

Manchester, Ct.

Time: Fridays 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Cost: $12/student/week, $10/student if more than one in the family plus $20 at the first class to help cover the cost of the workbook.

To register please contact Patty Schmid at patty.schmid@propark.com