Robotics Things that are happening around New Jersey
Jonathan Daudelin is offering robotics classes in Hackettstown, NJ from July 20-24, 2009 from 1-4 PM and July 27- 31, 2009 1-4 PM. Jonathan was on the team Built on the Rock that won the FIRST Lego League World Festival. This will be an excellent class and the cost is only $150.
The Landroids are offering classes to new teams in order to get them acclaimated to FIRST Lego League and the competition. Those classes are free at Livingston Community Center in Livingston, NJ. The classes are from 7-9 PM for 5 weeks. The Landroids have won the state championship and gone to the World Festival.
Open registration for all teams for the FIRST Lego League competition has begun and will continue until about mid-September or when all the slots fill. So, hurry, hurry!
Well, another state homeschool convention has come and gone. Guess who was there? Some FIRST Lego League teams and FIRST Robotics and FIRST Tech were all there. I met people from team Overdrive and Power Surge. They are the high school team. I saw the teams Say Watt? and Robot Rangers which are the FIRST Lego League teams. It was exciting to meet and talk to some of the old team members from Built on the Rock. That was exciting. There also may be an opportunity for more things to come with FIRST Lego League.
There were other groups that were there also. Historical Happenings did the Children's Program for the convention this year. What an outstanding job they did at not only taking care of our children, but also putting on a great show at the end! The team for the children's program was about history. Friday night , I know that they played like knights from the Middle Ages. Saturday morning, they ate beef jerky like a British soldier in the American Revolution. The afternoon session, they played games like in the 1800. And the evening session, they dressed up like soldiers in the Civil War. They marched around the whole convention hall. I did not know that this was going to happen. So, I did not get a picture of my boys in their army outfit. I am upset with myself.
I want to tell you that the keynote speaker on Saturday morning moved me to tears. She shared how we place these unrealistic expectations on our children and our homeschool. So many times we try to do it our way when we know that was not what God intended. Basically, my interpretation of her message is we tend to try to control the situation too much when we need to step back and let God mold and shape our children. It was a hard message for me because I know I needed to hear that.
I attended a class that was my favorite. Mark August, who is ENOCH's legal liaison, did a class about homeschooling teenage boys. The class was important for me because I am about to embark on pre-teen years. I figured that this was a good class for me to be in. He spoke about how many mothers give up and put their sons in public or private school once they are teenagers. He said, "the reason you homeschooled them when they were 6 years old, still applies when they're 16 years old." He said that they are really young men. So, for the rest of the session, he called them young men. It put things in perspective for me. They learn differently from girls, but that does not mean that mom cannot do it. I have heard of nightmare stories of mothers and their sons. I have also heard of the great success stories. I don't think that it is impossible just a greater challenge. If God has called me to it, then I need to step up to the challenge.
The convention was wonderful. If you missed it, I would suggets, to please try to support our state's homeschool convention. It is inspiring. It is great to be around other homeschooler. It is nice to hear others encourage homeschooler to keep moving forward.
I have already registered my team for this year. The registration opened May 4th. It will close about Mid-September or when they fill up whichever comes first. I would suggested that you register soon. If you have trouble registering or need help in getting together a team, please contact me. It would be nice to see more homeschoolers in the competitions.
The early bird specials are over. It is regular price now. However, they are doing lots and lots of specials this year.
They are having a Newbie special!!! That's right. A newbie special. If you are new to homeschooling you can get a $20 rebate off the entry fee.
For veteran's of the trade, like myself, they are offering a $3 rebate if you refer a friend. Who can I refer? I really have to think about it.
Well, the ENOCH convention is offering many opportunities for people to get rebates this year.
It is their 19th Annual Homeschool Convention. I have been going to this one every year since 2003. I have truly enjoyed listening to the speakers and gleening from other moms. It is a great outing for my family.
They now have an Enriching Children's program. So, while you are in classes learning information for teaching, they are in classes too. The theme this year is Historical Happening. It is for children ages 4-12 years old.
Come join in the fun!
Go to their website at www.enochnj.org. See all the excitement!!
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Black Friday Sale!!!
Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is having an amazing sale on subscriptions during their annual Black Friday SaleNovember 26 – 30. For those 5 days only, they are actually lowering their new one-year U.S.subscription price to $7.95! That's the price you would usually pay for just one issue at a bookstore!
This is their lowest price ever on the magazine and they want all of you to take advantage of this offer and share the info with your friends.
Please don't miss out. Your one-year subscription will pay for itself time and time again as you receive practical tips and Biblical encouragement to keep going strong in your commitment to homeschooling and to the Lord. Since it's a quarterly magazine, they even have a monthly subscriber's only E-Newsletter called Teacher's Toolbox that will give you seasonal teaching ideas and a free E-Book download! It's like joining a unit study of the month club! The free E-Books alone are valued at almost $250/year. It's really perfect for people who are homeschooling on a shoestring or just wanting to add in some little extras to your teaching.
Plus during the Black Friday Sale, they have all kind of bonus gifts when you spend $50, $75, $100, or $150. Some are electronic downloads that you can download immediately, while other are physical products mailed from various vendors directly to your home.
The FIRST Lego League competition around the state of New Jersey
The FIRST Lego League competitions are well on their way. There are several state qualifying competitions that take place around the state. The winners of those competitions will go to the state competition which is Decemtber 13th at Mount Olive High School in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
I took two teams to the qualifiers this year. They were rookie teams and I was a rookie coach. None of my teams made to the state. However, the winner of last weeks qualifier was a homeschool team.
Congratulations to the Atoms Family! Christine Schultz is the coach of that team and she helped train our team. So, this is very exciting.
Also, on Dec.13th, the Junior FIRST Lego League Expo will take place. The children will show off their instruments that track weather. My Junior team will go to the Expo this year. So, I wil get to see some of the Atoms Family.
A Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition Sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation Partners with Discover Jersey Arts
The following information is from the ENOCH website at www.enochnj.org
What is it?
The competition’s goal is to encourage high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Students will develop their public speaking skills, build self-confidence and discover the beauty of poetry. Students compete at a classroom level, school level, regional level, state and national level.
Learn more about the competition by visiting the Discover Jersey Arts website. Scroll down and click on Poetry Out Loud. You can also see last year’s competition if you scroll down to and click on Program History.
NJPOL has stated that any state homeschool organization can register as a “school”. This year, ENOCH of NJis registered as a “school” with three “classrooms” [see chart below]. Additional “classrooms” can be added if there is a coordinator and a minimum of 5 high school students participating. If interested in sponsoring a classroom level or a school level competition, please contact the NJ POL Homeschool Contact, Carla Abrams before November 1st, 2008.
How is the Competition Structured?
Classroom Level: Students must prepare one poem. Competition date & location depends on the “classroom” – see chart below. The competition must have between 5 to 15 students in order to participate at the classroom level. This level of competition must be completed by December 30th, 2008. Support groups can sponsor this level competition [see above]
School Level:Students must prepare two poems. The winner from the school will proceed to the appropriate regional competition. This level competition must be completed by January 20th. State organizations serve as a “school” – ENOCH is sponsoring this level competition. Date and location will be announced soon.
Regional Level: Students must prepare three poems: at least one poem must have been written before the 20th Century and at least one of the three poems must also be 25 lines or shorter. Competition date & location depends on the Region. The appropriate region is determined by the residency of the homeschool winner.
State Final: Same poem requirements as Regional level. Winners from each of the Regional competitions will come to NJN Studios on March 19th, 2009 to compete for the title of New Jersey State Champion. The state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship. The state winner's library of choice will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A state runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for his or her library of choice.
The National Finals will take place April 26-28, 2009 in Washington, DC. The 1st place winner receives a $20,000 scholarship; the 12 finalists each receive a $1,000 scholarship and $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their library of choice.
Who is Eligible to Compete?
This exciting new program, which began in 2005, is open to all students in 9th to 12th grade. This is the 2nd year that the competition is opened to homeschoolers in NJ. Homeschoolers will begin the competition at the “classroom” level. In order to have “classroom” competitions, ENOCH approached three homeschool support leaders across the state and asked them to coordinate the competitions [see chart]. Students interested in competing would register with the “classroom” closest to their home. The competitions are opened to all homeschoolers in New Jersey – you need not be a member of a NJ homeschool support group to participate.
Students interested in competing should check out the Frequently Asked Questions for Student on the Poetry Out Loud Website. Parents should check out the Frequently Asked Questions for Teachers there. Obviously, all the questions do not pertain to you as parents, but they do address some matters you need to be aware of.
Questions about the Poems
Can students choose poetry outside of the poems in the anthology?
No. The POL website includes an online anthology of more than 400 poems that will continue to expand. The students must choose their selections from the POL database. This anthology will also be available in hardcopy form and will be distributed to schools & classrooms participating in the official contest.
How much do the Poetry Out Loud materials cost?
The program materials for Poetry Out Loud are free. You may access these online at no cost – audio segments, the poetry anthology and video segments. The three “classrooms” will receive the free hardcopy materials [poetry anthology, audio CDs] which each student will receive upon registering.
How does one register to compete?
Interested families need to print out the Information Packet to register their students. This packet will be available online as soon as the dates and locations are finalized. The packet includes the official student registration form. You must mail the form to the appropriate “classroom” coordinator. The student registration fee goes towards the facilities used for the competitions. Deadline for registration is November 26th, 2008.
If you have questions, you should contact any of the classroom coordinators.
The above information was taken from the ENOCH of New Jersey site.
ENOCH of New Jersey will hold their winter week at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos, Pa. The week is from January 12-16, 2009. If anyone is interested click on this ENOCH link.
Apparently, Shawnee Mountain is giving a discount to people who will sign up before Dec. 29, 2008. A family can get a discount on skis and ski lifts, etc. It sounds like a fun time especially if you enjoy skiing. If you don't, maybe you will after a fun-filled week at Shawnee.
We just wanted to take this issue to encourage each of you (in the U.S.) to get out and vote next Tuesday. I know that it can be hard to get away from the house to go vote, but, with so much at stake, it's worth the effort. In fact, maybe you could even call a few friends from your support group and set up a playdate so that moms could go out to vote while the kids are playing.
As the quote says, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
There are a lot of other great words of encouragement and helpful links in this newsletter about the election and election process, so I'm just going to give you some updates on all that is going on at TOS.
Homespun Holidays will be available for sale in our Schoolhouse Store next week, but you can get your very own copy for FREE with a new 2 year U.S. subscription this week. Offer ends October 31, 2008. Be sure to let your friends know.
Has your family been enjoying this fall weather by creating an interesting leaf collection? We'd love to show off your photos in our online gallery. Read the details and submit your photos by November 7, 2008.
Oh, and the Schoolhouse Store staff has been really working hard. They've already put up the November free E-Book in the store. You can go ahead and download your copy of the Letter Links eGame. It's a $6.95 value!
You can also save over 35% on our November module, Amusing Mathematics E-Book this week only. They sent me a copy to look over and I think it may be one of our bestsellers. It's filled with delightful brainteasers and at only $5, you can't go wrong!
P.S. Check out this month's Classical Astronomy e-newsletter for details on some exciting events in the sky Friday and Saturday night. Subscribe to the Classical Astronomy newsletter and have information emailed directly to you or join the Classical Astronomy Yahoo Group for more discussion!
This subject reminds me of a story in the Bible about some folks who wanted a ruler other than God. They just had to have a king. And not just anyone - they wanted someone who looked good and sounded good to lead them. Who cares if he was godly or not, they just wanted a king like the other nations had. We all know the story of Saul and his own demise (if not, read 1 Samuel chapters 9 - 31).
Today is not much different. Many want leaders and rulers who look good and sound good whether or not they are good, godly men and women. We need to heed our history and look to God for His appointed ones.
I won't tell you who to vote for, but what to vote for. Vote for biblical morality and righteousness. Do not vote for anything God would not vote for; or that which would go against His commands.
If a candidate does not believe in the sanctity of human life, don't vote for them because the Bible says that all life is God breathed and knit together by Him; made for His purposes. If a candidate believes in stealing from one to give to another, don't vote for them, for the Bible says that stealing is sin. If a candidate says that parents don't have the right to choose the educational direction for their children, don't vote for them because the Bible says that parents are mandated to teach their children.
As you are teaching your children the process of the elections, don't forget to teach them who should set the precedence of the elections. In other words, don't forget God and His Word. It is the most essential voter guide there is to give us wisdom in our electoral decisions. That coupled with prayer and repentance may bring our land the healing it desperately needs.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
The Martyr's Victory, by Emma Leslie, begins by introducing us to Egbert, a young frail Saxon living in the country of Mercia. He is continually scorned and laughed at by his family and the world. Resolving to run away and die in the woods, he meets an elderly monk who invites Egbert into the church's realm of safety. Forsaking all he has ever known, Egbert follows the monk, Osric, to a new life at the monastery. There he learns to read, write, and copy the scriptures.
But danger arises as the savage Danes of the north threaten to destroy the monastery and all of Mercia. A meeting is held in the church and it is decided that six monks shall venture to the Danish lands bringing not only the seed of grain, but also the seed of truth found in the Word of God. Egbert wishes to come along but cannot, because he is too weak. Told that he, and several others, may join the party of six in about a year's time, he is content to remain.
Upon arriving in Ea, an island in East Anglia, the six monks meet a young girl named Elswitha. They soon find out that she has just escaped from being sacrificed to Odin, their false god. Later in the village, Osric encounters a Danish warrior who has been drastically wounded in a single-combat battle and now believes that he is destined to die. As he is a skillful leech, Osric uses all in his power to work to cure the unfortunate Dane. Will he succeed? If he does succeed, will it help in saving Mercia from the warlike Danes? Will Osric's faith impact the Danish people? And what will happen to Egbert? Find out in The Martyr's Victory!
Are you looking for a great way to learn about the election process with
your kids?
When citizens elect a president, who is also called the Chief Executive and
Commander in Chief, they are choosing who will lead the nation. Students will learn about the presidential election and follow the 2008 election process as they complete a lapbook using The United States Presidential Election 2008 Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child.
Get this item for 20% off through the rest of October!
To find other election related sale items click HERE.
Before watching the presidential election returns, help your children understand something about the electoral college that is specified in the U.S. Constitution:
Each state shall appoint, in such a manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress (Article II, Section1, from paragraph 2).
How many electors in your state? Each state specifies how its electors are chosen and how they can or must vote. In 24 states the electors are not bound to vote according to the ballot counts in their districts and in 27 states they are bound by law or pledge to do so. This totals 51 because Washington, D.C., is included.
With this system it is possible at times for a candidate to lose by the electoral college votes, yet to receive more of the "popular vote," the count of all individual ballots. For this reason there are often attempts to change the law, all of which have failed so far. The slogan "one person, one vote" sounds fair to a lot of people.
But think through that popular vote system. Presidential candidates could campaign in a few large cities and gain enough votes to win. And while in office they could direct most benefits to those areas to keep their support, and the rest of the country would be neglected.
You and your children can cheer or groan as the state votes are reported on election night, beginning with the eastern time zone. The official results occur later when the electors transmit the state votes to the president of the Senate.
Election time is where the homeschool rubber meets the road. Do we really believe God sets up kings and presidents and that "He's got the whole world in His hands". . .or do we show our children by our gloom and doom predictions that all we've taught them about God is a bunch of hooey (to use the Greek word)? To hear some Christians talk, you'd think that God steps down from His throne on November 4th.
We can teach them all we want about God through reading the Scriptures and memorizing Bible verses. . .BUT they LEARN the most from the way we live when "school" is not in session.
We don't watch TV, but on November 4th, we plan to plug in the TV and watch the presidential coverage. I'm sure we'll cheer on our favorite. . .but afterwards, no matter who walks away as winner, we will pray for our new president and thank God for setting him in place. Then no complaining.
Oh, here's one more thing to leave you with. . .the absolute truth is that what takes place in YOUR house is way more important than what happens in the White House.
We realized, early in the presidential election process, that this is the last time our oldest son will be too young to vote for president! (How did that happen?) That has definitely raised the interest level in the election at our house! There are a lot of great FREE election studies on the Internet! Here is a list of the ones I have found helpful.
HERE is the link to the Election Lapbook my 14 year old did. HERE is the link to my 14 year old's report on all 42 presidents.
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
While every effort is made to ensure that the recommended sites are family-friendly, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and its writers do not own the sites recommended. Content and advertising can change without notice. Please exercise caution when viewing websites and review all websites before allowing your children to visit them.
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Favorite Quotes From Our Readers
"Education - compulsory schooling, compulsory learning - is a tyranny and a crime against the human mind and spirit. Let all those escape it
who can, any way they can." - John Holt
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School should not be a preparation for life ~~ school should BE life. - Elbert Hubbard
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"Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein
I would like to give this wonderful praise report:
Phase I of our mission to oppose A3123 is complete! Thank you for responding to the charge to call and email the sponsors of A3123 and members of the Assembly Education Committee. There is no doubt that our message has been heard. Here is a report of what has been reported to us at this point:
1. Chairman Joseph Cryan of the Education Committee's office has confirmed that Mr. Cryan is not supportive of the bill. While we still do not know the strength or scope of his opposition, we can confirm that he is NOT planning some fast-tracking of this bill (as some rumors have suggested).
2. Assemblyman Diegnan of the Education Committee has voiced his opposition to the bill.
3. Assemblyman Ramos of the Education Committee has written: "Thank you for your correspondence regarding bill A3123. You make valid points which I will consider as this bill is discussed in the legislature. The decision to home school has become popular. I will bear your sentiments in mind."
4. Assemblyman Rumana's office (of the Education Committee) states he is against these regulations specifically stated in this bill. One of his staffers mentioned that there is already a law regulating home schoolers.
Now is the time to stop the coordinated phone and email campaign. It has accomplished the goals of making our position known, helping the Education Committee and the bill sponsors understand our passion for this issue and our ability to unite in defense of our freedom.
The task force has also received many good reports from the Assembly offices staff members that your calls, while clear and firm, were gracious and winsome. Thank you. Your calls have not alienated any potential friend in Trenton and may actually have opened the door to form some new friendship.
We now know that the Assembly Education Committee hearing, scheduled for October 16th, has been canceled. The next possible hearing date would be November 13. This gives us time for the next phase of action.
The task force met late this afternoon by conference call, and agreed that we can stop making calls at this time. We believe the next step will be for the task force to be joining a few of you in face-to-face meetings with Mr. Cryan and as many of the Education Committee members as possible. We will also be pursuing meetings with the bill's two sponsors.
During this phase, while the task force may not be asking all of you to participate in any particular political action, I am asking you to continue to pray and stay vigilant. The political climate can change quickly, and another call to action could come at any time.
The task force has received copies of emails circulating a call for a Rally in Trenton next week. The task force has not organized such a rally and we do not endorse a rally for the issue of opposing A3123 at this time. If you wish to attend a rally for any other purpose, then we encourage you to do so. However, if the stated purpose of the rally is to oppose A3123, then we ask that you refrain until such time as a statewide effort has been initiated by the task force. We had a great success four years ago with our rally, and much of that success came from our unity across the state.
To conclude: We are not out of the woods yet, as the sponsors have not actually withdrawn the bill . We remain confident however that A3123 will never make it into law. By uniting in the past, we have been able to maintain our status in New Jersey as having one of the best, most homeschool-friendly law in the nation. It is clear in how quickly we have united this past week, that we are on the same road to success this time.
Faithfully and gratefully,
Mark August
ENOCH of NJ
Reporting for the task force opposing A3123:
Kevin Kiernan, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey (CHNJ); Carolee Adams, Eagle Forum of New Jersey; Mark August, Education Network Of Christian Homeschooler (ENOCH) of New Jersey; Scott Woodruff, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); Nan McVicker, New Jersey Homeschool Association (NJHA); Nancy Plent, Unschoolers Network
I want to thank this amazing task force who has done an outstanding job in keeping us informed. May the Lord continue to bless this beautiful group of people!!
We need action on Bill A. 3123: Call your representatives today!
There is a threat to the homeschooling community. Sheila Oliver and L. Harvey Smith have created a bill to make homeschooling extremely difficult and tedious for New Jersey residents. I am asking anyone who loves homeschooling or is a strong supporter of homeschooling to please contact your state senators and assemblymen. If you live in the areas that Ms. Oliver and Mr. Smith represent, please know that these people are not representing you well. The education committee will discuss this bill on Oct. 16, 2008. Please ask them to reconsider this gesture because it will cost lots of taxpayers more money.
Here is a summary of what A. 3123 would do:
1. Give the superintendent and school board power to force a family to
stop homeschooling if they believe the child is not getting an
"appropriate education." This means whatever the superintendent and
school board say it means because it is not defined. A bureaucrat
would have power make a life or death decision over your homeschool
program.
2. Give the Commissioner of Education power to mandate courses and
course content ("objectives"). Families would no longer be free to
decide what to teach.
3. Require parents to list objectives in every mandatory subject. Any
family whose list does not satisfy the superintendent will be in
trouble.
4. Require parents to send a notarized letter and register every
homeschooled child annually.
5. Require parents to prove that the children have received all
medical services and immunizations the law requires.
6. Require parents to certify that adults in the home have not
committed certain crimes.
7. Require that parents provide 180 days of instruction and turn in
these records annually (and also as often as the superintendent
requests, if he has "reason to believe" the student is not getting "an
appropriate education"):
list of reading materials
writing samples
worksheets
workbooks
creative materials
standardized testing in grades 3, 5 and 8 (with parents being
prohibited from administering the test)
an annual evaluation by a person other than the parent, after an
interview and review of materials. The evaluator must certify the
student is receiving an "appropriate education". The evaluator must
be a: (a) licensed psychologist, or (b) certified school psychologist,
or (c) New Jersey public or private school teacher, or (d) New Jersey
public or private school administrator.
Sponsors
Sheila Oliver
15-33 Halsted Street
Suite 202
East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone: (973) 395-1166
Fax: (973) 395-1724
aswoliver@njleg.org
L. Harvey Smith
485-7 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Jersey City, NJ 07304-2305
Phone: (201) 536-7851
Fax: (201) 536-7854
asmsmith@njleg.org
A bill was introduced into the N.J. Assembly on September 22, which would severely impact the freedom to homeschool without governmental interference. ENOCH of New Jersey is opposed to this bill and will be working in the coming days with other State level organizations as well as HSLDA to formulate an action plan for our opposition.
This alert is being made to inform you of the threat this bill represents, so that you can become informed and make sure channels of communication are open for any call to action in the next days and weeks.
Here are two links to the proposed legislation from N.J.'s legislative website:
Please take the time to read the bill. Please take some time to pray for the N.J. Homeschool community, the State leaders who will be discussing plans of action, and for our legislators
Tuesday, September 2nd from 11:00am to 4pm at Ringwood Manor
(Rain date: Thursday, September 4th)
This year, Parents As Teachers at Home [PATH-23] is sponsoring the Opening Picnic in the northern region of NJHSA. This event is open to members and non-members of NJHSA.Bring along your lunch, plenty of drinks, and any outdoor activities or sports equipment that your family enjoys.
For those of you who have attended previous picnics, there is a great playground area as well as new picnic tables. There is a wonderful creek nearby so bring those water socks, nets, buckets and a change of clothes! There are also places to throw Frisbees, ride bicycles, scooters or rollerblade. All children must wear NJ law mandated helmets and protective padding. For those of us who just want to relax, bring your own folding chairs. Be sure to add sunscreen – the only place you will find shade is in the woods - not at the playground, the open field or our normal eating areas. Please be aware that this is a large, open and wooded park. It is a wonderful place for children to explore. However, many of the places to explore are not easily "watchable" from the general area. As always, your children are your responsibility - you, not NJHSA, must provide the supervision.As in all NJHSA events, the focus is always that the families are responsible for their own children. That means you should know where your children are at all times – and that includes your teens! If you have any homeschooling books or curriculum materials you'd like to sell, label them with your name & your asking price and bring them along. Tables are not being provided to display the books, so you may wish to bring your own or arrange to share with a friend. Please be sure to gather up your unsold items at the end of the day. For those of you, who might like to do some shopping while there, remember to bring cash! The park's policy is “carry in/carry out” for garbage. Be prepared to take your trash with you - remember to bring garbage bags with you. Attention LSG New Member Contacts from the LSGs in the northern part of NJHSA - you are strongly encouraged to come prepared to greet new homeschoolers and possible new members. You might want to make & bring a large sign identifying your LSG and have your LSG's information/registration packets available. Come early to reserve a space at the front tables.Past years we have had a poor turnout for New Member Contacts.Let’s make this year different – come early & prepared!
If you have any questions about the weather on that day, call Carla Abrams at 973.853.4391 or email her atJCAbrams@warwick.net. If the event is postponed to the rain date, a message will be sent through the NJHSA Email List.
Directions:From 208: Take 208 N which merges into Rt. 287S. Take the 2nd exit after that (it comes up quickly) to Skyline Drive. Follow Skyline Drive up and over the mountain, past strip malls on either side. At the stop sign, go straight (there is a Catholic church on the right). You will quickly come to a "T"; go right. This is Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Ringwood Avenue or Rt. 511. At second right fork, which is Sloatsburg Road, bear right. When the road curves to the right (after passing Skylands Botanical Gardens), the entrance to Ringwood Manor will be on the left. From Rt. 17 N: [Revised] PassCrossroadsPlaza on right, stay in left lanes and follow signs for 17N. This will merge into NY Thruway / Rt. 87N.Stay in right two lanes, where you will see a sign for “Last Exit Before Toll”. Get off at Exit 15A to Rt. 17N. At bottom of ramp, make left at light, onto Rt. 17N. Continue to exit for Ringwood / West Milford onto Sloatsburg Road. Ringwood Manor is approximately 5 miles down on the right.
Brookdale Park is in Bloomfield/Montclair. There are three entrances: off Watchung Ave. or Bellevue Ave. or Grove Street. We are set up between the playgrounds.
With our new Digital Edition, you will enjoy all the great content from your favorite homeschool magazine, but in a new format - digital!
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The Summer issue of TOS is not to be missed. It provides product reviews, teaching ideas, and numerous articles written by your favorite homeschool experts.
10 Reasons to Homeschool Your Child With Special Needs
Nothing compares with the good, old-fashioned, tried-and-true learning that takes place outdoors, especially for special needs children.
In a family with a disabled child, following the Holy Spirit each day, minute by minute, is the key to balancing all these parental responsibilities.
Homeschooling the gifted child
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling including an article about using this method with autistic children
Natural Schoolhouse - We can learn both spiritual and practical lessons by observing sheep.
Adoption – several articles about open adoption, domestic adoption and international adoption
Science – read and learn about Intelligent Design, theistic evolution, Creationist documentary about the life of Darwin, and changing history theories
Get an update about the homeschool situation in California
Homeschooling is a means of discipleship as we train our children for God’s glory. God equips those whom he calls to homeschool—including single moms.
Intelligent Design: What’s the Fuss and What’s It All About?
Nature Walking - One of the consequences of removing God from the public school classroom is that wonder about His creation has been lost.
Study the topic of flight and the men behind the creation of airplanes. Also learn what it’s like to be a pilot!
Meet other homeschooling families and see how homeschooling works in their homes!
Learn more about the country of Canada
Homeschooling and the Kinesthetic Child
Educational Neglect, Habitual Truancy, and Homeschooling
Help your child learn to love reading! Also, things to remember if you have a late reader
Read an interview With Dr. Mary Hood
Get great product reviews!
You get so much more in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine:
With your one-year digital subscription, you'll receive four quarterly issues plus the 19 Free International/Digital gifts.
Once you've placed your order, you will get our current issue within minutes via email so watch your inbox and be sure to check your spam folder.
I am feeling musical this week! Since I can't sing a song to you all I thought I would share some music related freebies with you.
Creatingmusic.com is a fun website for children of all ages. You will find places to compose music and play with musical performances as well as games and music puzzles.
HomeschoolHelper.com is offering a free Orchestra Lapbook. You will find all the free downloads HERE. EasyFunSchool.com has a free music unit study you will find HERE.
And now for a contest! Homestead Blogger is having a contest on the Front Porch. You can get a chance to win a free E-Book: The Schoolhouse Planner! All you have to do is stop by the Front Porch blog and leave a comment. Good luck!
One last thing, this week we have added a new feature to Freebie Friday called Freebie Friday Feedback. If you have learned about something in Freebie Friday that has enhanced your homeschool experience let us know. We may feature your letter in an upcoming Freebie Friday. (Make sure to see the first one in the lower right hand side-bar today!)
I'll see you next week right here at - Freebie Fridays!
While every effort is made to ensure that the recommended sites are family friendly, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and its writers do not own the sites recommended. Content and advertising can change without notice. Please exercise caution when viewing websites. Please check out the websites before allowing your children to view them.
Summer Reading Splash
Contest of the Week
This is the last week of the Summer Reading Splash! Make sure to stop by the Summer Reading Splash Blog and enter this week's contest. Here is this week's question. What was your favorite thing about the Summer Reading Splash? Will you participate again next summer? The winners will receive some great new books!
All email entries must be received by MIDNIGHT tonight, so be sure to visit the blog now!
We hope your kids have had a great time this summer with the Summer Reading Splash!
It seems that the older I get the less I remember. So frustrating! To forget the name of the place where you had your keys replaced the last time. To know you should be able to remember something that you just cannot bring to mind. To call and get a price quote and then promptly forget what it was. This is my life! Well, about six years ago I came up with a system that is so easy to set up it will make you laugh! Yet as simple as it is, it is elaborately effective. It works! Don't take up brain space trying to remember it all. Instead, let this system remember for you!
Receive Free: E-Book: Bulk Cooking Tips and Tricks
Bulk cooking is a piece of cake with the detailed step-by-step instructions included in this E-Book. You'll learn more than just recipes here - this is the nitty gritty of the why and how to bulk cooking. A value of $8.97 - free!
Students ages 7 and older will use the ancient method of teaching called catechism! Each lesson begins with asking the question, reading scripture to find the answer, then stick figuring the answer. Since no prior knowledge of the Bible is required, this is a great place to begin new believers. For students with some Bible knowledge, this study will help them gain contextual understanding of the characters and events with which they are familiar, while teaching them additional Biblical facts. Questions deal with biblical facts and not doctrinal issues. A value $19.80 - free!
Receive Free: E-Book: A Bible Study - Old Testament Basics - Student This is the student book that goes with the Teacher Book above.
What To Do:
Purchase:A Bible Study - Old Testament Basics - Teacher -Soft Bound
Type free E-Book in the comments.
Your free E-Book will be emailed to you within 48 hours.
These specials are only good
through July 31, 2008!
We hope you enjoy our "Freebie Fridays" promotion! Watch your inbox every week for specials galore!
Hello, I just wanted to tell you that I took my kids to Chick-fil-A for a free lunch last Friday after reading about it in the Freebie Friday newsletter. I have four kids. My middle two took a sheet and used clothes pins to attach the sides. My daughter went in from the back, and we opened a hole for my son to come in the middle and out the top. We painted black dots, added a tail, ears, and cow bell. I used washable markers to make spots on my son's face. He was the front of the cow. My daughter had to grab his waist and walk bent over to be the back side of the cow. We then made some "eat mor chikin" signs to hang off of them. It was a great lesson in team work for them! My oldest and youngest printed cow masks off the computer and put on one of Dad's shirts. They added black paint dots and black dress shoes to their costumes. I put on a black shirt and my son made me an extra cow mask. I wasn't totally cow but was considered part of the herd and got a free lunch. Not only did we get a free lunch but they gave us a gift certificate to come back again for another free lunch. As homeschoolers we like to pull out the educational value, arts/crafts, team work, health/nutrition, field trip, great family memories, and thoughts for how to be cows again next year! I remember you saying you wanted pictures, and I did take one. Thanks! Stacey Lane homeschool mom of 4 ages 12, 9, 7, 3 in Delaware
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