Emily Moore ( ’07 homeschool grad from the RTP area) is a current intern in Arlington, VA, with The Leadership Institute. Emily wanted to invite Home Educators to participate in an upcoming Youth Leadership School in Raleigh. So she contacted me (thanks Emily!) with some information on this event. It looks exciting and educational:

The Leadership Institute (www.leadershipsinstitute.org) is a non-partisan educational organization which focuses on increasing the number of effective conservative activists.

They are holding "Youth Leadership Schools" and other training programs around the country for the purpose of training students to be leaders in their communities.

The Leadership Institute is presenting a Youth Leadership School in Raleigh on February 10^th-11^th specifically for homeschoolers.

Registration costs $30.00

From Emily: "Having been homeschooled, I know how valuable this experience can be and I want to share it with others."

 Here is the link for more information and registration:

https://www.leadershipinstitute.org/training/Register.cfm?schoolID=16124&

Feel free to pass this information on to your Homeschool Groups!

For more details you may contact:

Emily Moore

Youth Leadership School

The Leadership Institute

1101 North Highland Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 247-2000 ext. 356
Fax: (703) 247-2001

If you have a child who will be in 7th grade this fall, consider the Challenge A program of Clemmons.

You may wonder what exactly Classical Conversations Challenge A is all about.

See below for the details on this great college-prep program !

The Community

For 15 weeks in the fall and 15 weeks in the spring, students participate in a weekly seminar that is facilitated by a trained Challenge tutor.

Weekly assignments are outlined in the guide  (issued by the tutor to each student) specific to that Challenge level. Students study six challenging subjects, utilizing the learning skill associated with that strand at home while practicing dialectic and rhetorical skills in the weekly class time.

Tutors help point students to the integration of science and history, literature and history, math and science, philosophy and literature, and so on, while also pointing students to the plumb line of God’s word. The weekly class time gives students further opportunities to hone skills in public exposition, speaking and debate, as well as to explore more advanced learning in research and logic seminars.

Challenge Program Partnership
While tutors facilitate the weekly community time and lead class discussions, parents continue to be students’ primary teachers. The tutor/parent/ student partnership is a valuable relationship which fosters accountability for all the partners.

What are the responsibilities of these partners?
• Tutors partner with parents to hold students accountable for their course work, facilitate class discussions, maintain communication with parents and students regarding student progress.

• Parents assist their students in the completion of the course work, encourage and guide students in the development of good self- and time-management skills, and adjust elements of course work as family dynamics dictate.

• Students complete the weekly course work in the time required and prepare for and participate in class discussions.

Please see our website for applicable tuition fees: http://classicalconversations

 
Challenge Program Scope and Sequence

Another unique characteristic of the Challenge Program is the six learning skills or "strands." Each classical subject is taught with the goal of developing these six skills. The chart below lays out the six-year "Scope and Sequence" of seminars.

Subjects associate with one of six learning skills, or strands, emphasized in the classical model.

The six skills are:

• GRAMMAR: The grammar strand is associated with language studies; while every subject has "grammar," the tutor will discuss this learning skill and how it relates to language in particular.

• EXPOSITION and COMPOSITION: The exposition strand is linked with literature and history. In this strand, students refine their writing skills.

• DEBATE: In the debate strand, students learn and then practice the skills of research, argumentation, critical thinking, public speaking, and logic.

• RESEARCH: Students perfect the research learning skill through a series of science topics and texts.

• RHETORIC: In this strand, students combine writing, public speaking, and logical thinking to improve their rhetoric technique through the discussion of various ideas.

• LOGIC: Finally, there is the logic strand.

While this is not a formal logic course, the study of mathematics helps develop problem-solving ability, which is part of the learning skill of logic.

All six strands of Challenge work together to develop a complementary and comprehensive set of life-long learning skills.

Challenge A seeks to introduce middle school students to the rigorous course work of the Challenge Program. It is a mix of grammar, dialectic materials, and an introduction to basic rhetorical skills. We purposefully limit the amount of reading to give students time to work on their writing skills. The program is not necessarily easy, rather it prepares the students for the more demanding Challenge levels to come. This first Challenge year allows both students and parents to adjust to the methods used by Classical Conversations.

For more information or registration please contact:

Sherrie Brouhard
Challenge A Director, Clemmons
mynote78@embarqmail.com

Check the website for more links that tell about the founder, Leigh Bortins, and her mission for beginning Classical Conversations:

Founder: www.classicalconversations.com/LeighBortins.html

Leigh Bortin's article on the Classical Model:

www.classicalconversations.com/LeighLetters/EchoBook/Chap%204.pdf

Free download of Leigh's latest book: www.classicalconversations.com/pdffiles/EchoACallToHomeCentMar2008.pdf

Listen to Leigh speak about Classical Conversations here: www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/aboutus.html

CLEMMONS Foundations & Essentials, Jennifer Jordan, Director, jordan5.nc@earthlink.net

Challenge A, Sherrie Brouhard, Director, mynote78@embarqmail.com

Challenge B, Linda Tomkinson, Director, tomkinson_5@prodigy.net

For Information in WINSTON-SALEM:

Foundations & Essentials, Becky Seay, Director,
beckyseay@windstream.net

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. Psalm 111:10

It's that time of year again when all NC Homeschooler's thoughts turn to Spring, Valentine's Day and that's right ... annual testing!

The NC Department of Non-Public Education, which oversees the registration and compliance of Home Educators in North Carolina has a listing of suggestions for places to order the Nationally Standardized tests that Homeschoolers are required by law to administer every 12 months and I decided that it is so helpful, I will go ahead and post it below.

Our NCDNPE really does have some good suggestions at their site for helping you to organize your Home Education Program along the lines of the traditional school model, so I do suggest that if you are a new Homeschooler, you check it out.

Look carefully at the different sections though, they have the web page seperated into Requirements (Have to do by Law) Reminders and Recommendations.

We do have the NCDNPE to thank for their helpful website which can be found here:

http://www.ncdnpe.org/index.asp

  I hope that you find this information helpful- Happy Testing!

ATC Educational Services Telephone: (919) 266-2228 Web address: www.atced.com

Bayside School Services Address: P.O. Box 250 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Telephone: (800) 723-3057 Web address: www.BaysideSchoolServices.com

Bob Jones University Press Address: Greenville, SC 29614 Telephone: (800) 845-5731 Web address: www.bjup.com

Brewer Testing Services Address: 2853 Davis Road East Bend, NC 27018 Telephone: (336) 699-3997 Email address: pat@brewertesting.com Web address: www.brewertesting.com

Crosspointe Educational Services Address: P.O. Box 10 Willow Spring, NC 27592 Telephone: (888) 713-1249 Email address: info@cestesting.com Web address: www.cestesting.com

Diane Allen & Associates Educational Services Address: 804 Cricket Knoll Road Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Telephone: (919) 552-4001 Email address: dallentesting@nc.rr.com

ED-CORE Educational Services Address: 2610 New Walkertown Road Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Telephone: (336) 723-3100 Email address: lbhopson@dr.com

Hewitt Educational Resources Address: P.O. Box 9 Washougal, WA 98671 Telephone: (360) 835-8708

Lighthouse Educational Services Address: 113 Wynfield Drive Clayton, NC 27520 Telephone: (919) 302-5786 Email address: lighthouseedu@earthlink.net Web address: www.lighthouseedu.net

Piedmont Education Services Address: 1629 Turfwood Drive Pfafftown, NC 27040 Telephone: (336) 924-2494 Email address: gmunger@triad.rr.com Web address: www.pesdirect.com

Southeast Educational Associates Address: P.O. Box MM  Saltville, VA 24370 Telephone: 276) 496-7777

Thurber Educational Assessments Telephone: (919) 967-5282 Web address: www.thurbers.net

Triangle Education Assessments Address: 5512 Merion Station Drive Apex, NC 27539 Telephone: (919) 274-7495 Email address: homeschoolertests@nc.rr.com Web address: www.HomeSchoolerTests.com

Information for Home Educators in Charlotte and the surrounding areas:

We are so excited to announce a new website that we think will revolutionize homeschooling in our area. It’s called Homeschool Connector (http://www.homeschoolconnector.com/). It will allow us to organize and find homeschooling classes, lessons and tutor resources for our children.


We have a huge and active homeschool community. Having a centralized, organized and searchable resource for classes, lessons and tutors has been repeatedly requested among our largest groups. We are excited to have homeschool resources accessible to our huge homeschool community on the
new Homeschool Connector.

There are over 19,000 homeschoolers in the Charlotte area and the "Local Business Listings" will allow a ‘one stop shopping’ to connect us with local businesses that are providing services for our children. We hope you will consider promoting the Homeschool Connector to your favorite homeschool instructors.

We believe it is the best way for them to reach the vast and active local homeschooling community. And for us to find them!

There is also a “Bulletin Board” section where we will be able to buy and sell all sorts of household and homeschool items with other homeschooling families, as well as post clubs, coops and upcoming events.

Homeschool Connector is free to access. And non-business postings, by homeschoolers for homeschoolers, are FREE on the "Bulletin Board".

"Local Business Listings" is for businesses to connect with homeschooling families to offer classes, lessons, tutoring, events, activities, and other family-related opportunities.


Take a look around the new Homeschool Connector and then click "FAQs" to
register, and Subscribe to our Newsletter!

http://www.homeschoolconnector.com/


Additionally, 20% of monies, after our expenses, will be contributed to charity. We hope that you will join us as we develop this resource for connecting the homeschooling community with enrichment opportunities! We truly value homeschool resources for enhancing our homeschool families.

Contact us at connect@homeschoolconnector.com for any questions.

Thanks for your help and support!

Anna Brown, Karen Davis and Pat Robinson

Here is some information about a great event that Teens can really benefit from:

Biblical Worldview Conference

Winston/Salem, NC February 21st

(No Admission Charge)

Winston/Salem, NC February 21st:

What: Worldview Weekend Rally for students and adults
Purpose: To equip Christians to understand the times in light of Biblical truth and how God would have us respond

Where: Marriott 425 North Cherry Street Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101

When: Sunday night, February 21st, (5:00 pm to 8:30 p.m.)
Costs: No admission fee but you must register and print out a ticket by going to www.worldviewweekendrally.com

Speakers: Brannon Howse and Dr. Ron Carlson


Topics include: How This Can Be The Greatest Hour For the American Church;

How is the Worldview of Karl Marx, Saul Alinsky, Alice Bailey, John Maynard Keynes, John Dewey, Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche Impacting Your Life and our Children?

Understanding the Spiritual Battle Taking Place in America and Around the World;

How to Prepare the Remnant For What is Coming; What The Bible Has to Say About The Coming One-World Religion, One-World Economy and Global Governance;

How This Happened to America, Where We Are Going and The
Biblical Response; The Radicals and Their Worldviews Ruling America From the Grave and How Every Teen and Adult Must Respond To Be Protected;

Refuting Evolution;

Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism; Understanding the Spiritual Battle Taking Place in America and Around the World; Why is Communism growing around the world and in America? What is societal evolution and what is spiritual evolution and how is it impacting you.

Seating is limited and filling fast. There is no admission fee, but you must register online at www.worldviewweekend.com

We also have worldview books for children and adults. Click here
to view our resources: http://www.worldviewweekend.com

Homeschoolers:

Ski Season Is Here and So is the Natural Powder!!

Ski Slopes in WNC have some of the best conditions in recent history.

Riderschoice blog has been updated. Go to: www.riderschoice.blogspot.com

For details on signing up!

For Sugar Mtn. conditions and live webcam, www.skisugar.com

You can email registration to riderschoicewnc@bellsouth.net  and don't forge to help spread the word among your homeschool group and with friends!

Negotiated Group rate for Home Educators of $20.00 covers: Lift ticket, rental, and an hour group lesson if needed. (Just a note that a normal group lift ticket cost $30.00 without rentals or lessons!! Normal day ticket cost $32.00 w/o rentals or lessons!)

Skiing/Boarding in NC is totally dependent on the weather. Please don't delay. All dates posted are weather permitting!

Family and friends are allowed to join you on the slopes, but they must check in with you!

Remember your proof of homeschooling! (Don't bring your original card, make a copy!)

I MUST HAVE the following information with your reservation: The following
decisions must be made prior to sending the sign up e-mail!

1. Date of reservation in the memo line of the e-mail
2. Name of skiers/boarders (participant)
3. Does the participant need to rent skis/board/ or none
4. Does the participant need a lesson and what type (ski or board) ages of
children wanting to take a lesson.
5. A phone number where we can get in touch with you on ski day

Please expect an e-mail response to your registration. If you don't get a response, we don't have your registration!

Hi all -

This Blog has always been about getting Homeschoolers "networked" in order to get lots of great ideas, tips and information on NC events out to readers.

So I will be "Spotlighting" a particular blog periodically. It doesn't have to be a "fancy" blog or have a lot of links to be a worthwhile blog and to get my attention, the one thing I appreciate (and I think most of us do) is someone who shares from their heart.

So if you have a blog that you want me to shine the "spotlight" on, email me a link and I will check it out. It can be your blog or someone else's, we just want to let each other know about the blogs that encourage and inspire us the most!

Today we are putting the "Spotlight" on  great Blogger, Deana at  "The Frugal Homeschooling Mom" ! You will want to check out her tips on saving money and making money at home. I also love the way she posted quips from her little one! Deana has even posted information on Piedmont/Triad area consignment sales.

I was glad that I came across this gem of a blog, and you can check it out right here:

http://www.thefrugalhomeschoolingmom.blogspot.com/

Have a great week in NC!

Merit K

Forsyth Home Educators is once again having a Support Fair for area home schoolers. 

It will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010

There will be information on testing, tutoring, budgeting, field trips, class options and more.  This is a free event and anyone interested in homeschooling resources is welcome.

If you have a group or service that supports homeschool families, we would like you to participate. 

For details, contact Tammy at twolfpax@yahoo. com

Attention Home Educators in need of mid-year refreshment:

The WNC Winter Conference is Coming up!

WNC Homeschoolers 5th Annual Winter Conference
Friday and Saturday, February 12-13, 2010
at Ridgecrest Conference Center

Cost: $20 for Full Conference Schedule

Check here for more info and registration:

http://www.wnchomeschoolers.com/winterconference.html

This conference looks great! It includes some wonderful speakers from our state including Hal and Melanie Young, J.Mark Fox and Rachael Carmen!

Topics include:

What I've Learned in Twenty Years
Me? Homeschool?
Raising Real Men
You Can Write
Where is the Joy?
Homeschooling High School
and many more!

If you are currently Homeschooling, this would be a great "pick me up" and if you are new to Home Education, this would be a good introduction and encouragement.

At 10 a.m. Feb. 2, Chimney Rock will host a fun-filled program all about groundhogs with naturalist Carlton Burke. Burke, a guest presenter at the Park, is director of the Carolina Mountain Naturalists, wildlife and nature educators. This program is great for homeschool groups, field trips or families.

Kids, and their parents, will learn the natural history of the groundhog, how groundhogs were used by early settlers to the area and, of course, the legend of Groundhog Day. Next, Grady will head outside to make his weather forecast. If he sees his shadow, that means we’ve got six more weeks of winter, but if not, that means spring is just around the corner.

To celebrate Grady’s special day, membership in Grady’s Kids Club is just $8 (regularly $10) for the month of February. Membership allows kids to visit the Park as often as they’d like for an entire year, plus discounts on food, souvenirs and other activities in the Park.

Chimney Rock is located 25 miles southeast of Asheville in Hickory Nut Gorge on Highway 64/74-A. The Park is the focal point of the developing Chimney Rock State Park.

Admission is $14 for adults and $6 for youth ages six through 15.

Children under six are admitted free.

For a full list of events and activities, visit www.chimneyrockpark.com or call 800-277-9611.

The Chapel Hill Homeschoolers group will be hosting their 2010 Local Homeschool Resources Fair on Saturday, February 6th at Hill Song Church in Chapel Hill.

From their Website:

"The Chapel Hill Homeschoolers is a network of parents and children homeschooling in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area. Our group was founded in 1990 to provide encouragement, support and enriching activities for our homeschooling community.  "

For more information about this Homeschool Group you can go to their Website:

http://www.chapelhillhomeschoolers.com/

For Membership Information email : leigh@feldt.com

Here is the link for those of you who lead co-ops or Homeschool Support Groups that might be interested in one of these studies in the New Year: http://artofeloquence.com/pages/Specials.php

I highly recommend them personally,

(my review link is here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CreativeLearning/754823/ )

 and the Old Schoolhouse Magazine has endorsed them, as well as HSLDA!

Hope you have all had a great holiday!

Merit K

Winter Craft Class At Access Books!!!!

We will be making a Snowman Tree Ornament & Christmas Countdown Calendar.

Class estimated time- 1 hour long.
Ages 3 to 12
$10 per child.

*If  large numbers sign up, we will split into 2 classes!

Place:

Access Books And More

109 W Main St.
Pilot Mountain, NC 27041

RSVP and Date:(336) 880- 3214
or
accessstacey@ gmail.com

This would be a great chance to get your Christmas shopping started, while your kids are having fun!

Don't Forget , the registration Deadline is coming up Saturday, January 23 !

WHAT: Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

WHO: Students in grades 3 to 12 that reside in the 11 county area comprising Region 5
(Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph,
Rockingham, and Stokes counties)

WHEN: Saturday, January 30, 8:30-5:00pm

WHERE: High Point University, Congdon Hall

DETAILS: There will be a science demonstration and hands-on science activities.

There will also be campus tours available for high school students and their families.
Lunch is on your own. There are restaurants in the area (none available on campus) or bring your own bag lunch.
Interviews will begin after lunch.

Award Ceremony will be held at approximately 4 p.m. after the score tabulation.

Winners of this fair can advance to the Region 5 Science Fair at SciWorks on Feb. 19, 2010.

IMPORTANT: All participants must fill out the required forms as stated on the NC Science & Engineering Fair website:

http://www.ncsta. org/

These forms should be completed before starting the experiment.
The forms do NOT need to be displayed with the project board, but should be available if asked for by the judges.

HOW: To register, please email the following information.
(Due to space limitations, there is a maximum of 12 students per school.)
============ ========= ========= ========= =
Name of School or Homeschool Group:
Contact Person:
Contact Person Address:
Contact Person Email:
Contact Person Cell Phone:
(This is in case I need to get a hold of you during the science fair.)
============ ========= ========= =========
For each student, include the following...
Student's Name:
Student's Grade:
Title of Project:
Category of Project (select one of the following):
Biological Science
Physical Science
Earth/Environmental Science
Technology
(For a description of the categories, see 

sciencefair/students/categories.htmlhttp://www.ncsta.org/

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION is Saturday, January 23.

Registration fee is $10 per student, payable at check-in on the day of the science fair.
Please make checks payable to Jeanne Reppert.
Team projects are allowed.

Please feel free to email with any questions at:
thepineweaver@ gmail.com

Sincerely,
Jeanne Reppert and Heather Blonsky
Co-coordinators of the Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

This just in from Catherine Fortin:

My colleague Diane Farrug & I are starting up an exciting resource for homeschooling parents: a free e-newsletter full of free ideas, activities, and printables supported by clear "how to teach" tips for parents.

We realize that what we do, teaching a foreign language takes so much training and experience, and we want to give this to homeschool parents.

We also include free videos on how to teach and how to do specific lessons and activities. The days of giving children a Spanish or French handout and not really knowing what to do with it to maximize it are over.  We're here to help.

Here is the link to the sign up for the free homeschool e-newsletter:

http://foreignlanguagefun.com/2009/11/free-nativity-mini-book-in-french-and-spanish-for-homeschoolers/

Catherine F Fortin

http://foreignlanguagehouse.com

This looks wonderful - Go sign up! Merit K

WHAT: Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

WHO: Students in grades 3 to 12 that reside in the 11 county area comprising Region 5
(Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph,
Rockingham, and Stokes counties)

WHEN: Saturday, January 30, 8:30-5:00pm

WHERE: High Point University, Congdon Hall

DETAILS: There will be a science demonstration and hands-on science activities.

There will also be campus tours available for high school students and their families.
Lunch is on your own. There are restaurants in the area (none available on campus) or bring your own bag lunch.
Interviews will begin after lunch.

Award Ceremony will be held at approximately 4 p.m. after the score tabulation.

Winners of this fair can advance to the Region 5 Science Fair at SciWorks on Feb. 19, 2010.

IMPORTANT: All participants must fill out the required forms as stated on the NC Science & Engineering Fair website:

http://www.ncsta. org/

These forms should be completed before starting the experiment.
The forms do NOT need to be displayed with the project board, but should be available if asked for by the judges.

HOW: To register, please email the following information.
(Due to space limitations, there is a maximum of 12 students per school.)
============ ========= ========= ========= =
Name of School or Homeschool Group:
Contact Person:
Contact Person Address:
Contact Person Email:
Contact Person Cell Phone:
(This is in case I need to get a hold of you during the science fair.)
============ ========= ========= =========
For each student, include the following...
Student's Name:
Student's Grade:
Title of Project:
Category of Project (select one of the following):
Biological Science
Physical Science
Earth/Environmental Science
Technology
(For a description of the categories, see 

http://www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/students/categories.html

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION is Saturday, January 23.

Registration fee is $10 per student, payable at check-in on the day of the science fair.
Please make checks payable to Jeanne Reppert.
Team projects are allowed.

Please feel free to email with any questions at:
thepineweaver@ gmail.com

Sincerely,
Jeanne Reppert and Heather Blonsky
Co-coordinators of the Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

Greensboro Black Belt Academy is offering to co-ordinate a  Homeschool TaekwonDo class!

This looks like a terrific deal and a great opportunity!

Please respond back directly to them with any questions @

Greensboro Black Belt Academy
109-B Pisgah Church Road,  

Greensboro, NC 27455
(336) 218-5056


MeritK

Now Enrolling

* Class length: 45 minutes

* Belt ranks will be earned. Testing normally occurs approximately
every 2 months and is by instructor invitation only.

* Fees: Monthly Tuition: $30.00 per month for 1st family member, $15.00 per month for 2nd family member $10.00 per month for each additional family member

* Uniform costs: $40.00 for 1st uniform, $20.00 for each additional uniform purchased at the same time per family!

*Testing Fees: $25.00 per test (includes belt and certificate)

If more than 12 participants are interested, we can arrange multiple classes.