Magazine
Another Robot team, with homeschoolers from Western PA makes it to the World Competition!
The Terabytes Robotics Team!, 4/20/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: a while back I shared a terrific article about the eastern PA team of junior high level homeschoolers taking part in the robotics competition-- now here's news on a senior level team! AND they are also looking to do a major service projectwith their robot down in Guatemala at a children's home-- read on! Also, if you are in the Plum, PA area, the Terabytes would like to invite you to their team room at Bible Baptist Church (200 Elicker Road, Plum) for an Open House on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 12 to 6pm to see their robot in action.
A local team of seven high school students, team 4149 the Terabytes, has earned their way to the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World competition in St. Louis in late April.
The FIRST organization (www.usfirst.org) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. They work to accomplish this goal through mentor based programs such as the FIRST Tech Challenge. The FTC competition is played on a twelve by twelve foot playing area where four robots in alliances of two compete to earn the most points. This year the challenge involves picking up racquetballs, putting them in baskets, then stacking the baskets or raising them super high. There are also bowling balls on the field that can be pushed around to be scored. A match starts out with a thirty second autonomous period followed by a two minute teleop(remote controlled) period. There are also a variety of judged awards based on the team’s outreach, engineering design, ingenuity, and other factors. The highest award in FTC is the Inspire Award. The Inspire Award is given to the team whom the judges thought was the best “role model”, and was a strong competitor in all the judging categories as well as on the field.
FTC Robotics team 4149 the Terabytes, based in the Pittsburgh area, recently qualified for the World FTC competition at the Ohio state championship in Cleveland. Though the Terabytes didn’t win the competition on the field, they were honored to receive the Inspire Award which ensured them a seat at the World Competition. They are the only team from western Pennsylvania to qualify at the FTC level....
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Encore! Home School Productions presents our 2012 show-- an Agatha Christie play! April 19, 20, 21, Camp Hill PA
Nancy Emerson, 4/12/2012
Encore! Home School Productions presents our 2012 show:
Agatha Christie’s Appointment with Death
We’d love to have other homeschool families come to the show! Twenty-five homeschoolers, ages 13-18, portray Ms. Christie’s inimitable suspects, heroes and heroines in this suspenseful murder mystery in 1940s Jerusalem. You’ll have fun figuring out ‘whodunit’!
Encore! Home School Productions is a theater group for homeschoolers in south central PA led by executive director Jill Panyard. Our group is recognized in the region for its high quality productions -- Just last year our group was honored with an“Outstanding Musical” nomination for our production, First Impressions, the Pride & Prejudice musical, in the 2011 Apollo Awards, a regional high school theater competition.
When: Thursday, April 19 at 7 pm
Friday, April 20 at 7 pm
Saturday, April 21 at 7 pm (A special event, a dinner with live entertainment,
followed by the show, starts at 5:15, as another option.)
Sunday, April 22 at 3 pm
Buy TICKETS at www.showtix4u.com OR call (866) 967-8167
Where: Trinity High School auditorium, Camp Hill, PA (Harrisburg area)
For more information: Call Nancy at (717) 932-4832
News story in the Patriot-News:
http://www.pennlive.com/east-shore/index.ssf/2012/04/encore_home_school_productions_have_appointment_with_death.html
... see more photos from the show....
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5th grade homeschooler wins PA level of National Bicycle Poster Contest!!!
Jenna Litynski, 3/27/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: I was so delighted to hear from the Litnyski family this morning about this wonderful win for Brenna! This is her poster-- we hope *everyone* who takes part in this website helps in VOTING now for Brenna's terrific artwork, from April 2-6, 2012.... We can all help her become the national winner! I know you'll agree that she really worked hard and that she created a dramatic and very meaningful image. Brenna's mom shared how much her daughter enjoyed taking part in this project -- and her hope was that Brenna's win would inspire other homeschool students to jump in and take part in engaging and worthwhile contests of all sorts, which can really stretch our kids to reach for new goals and complete a memorable project. We're all so proud of Brenna! And your homeschool kids will also benefit by knowing they've helped out another student here (through voting for Brenna's poster!), and I know they'll be inspired by seeing the work of the other state winners up on the website for the contest.
On January 24, 2012, Suzan Knott made the following posting on the bulletin board of www.pahomeschoolers.com:
5th GRADE NATIONAL BICYCLE POSTER CONTEST!
The 2012 NATIONAL BICYCLE POSTER CONTEST is also open to homeschool students!
Now through March 1st, fifth-grade students across the state can compete in the contest and learn about how bicycles can be one solution to many of our countries emerging issues (bicycling is fun, healthy and green). The contest, is sponsored by Saris, Schwinn, Lazer and Planet Bike and there are great prizes to be won for the students AND schools.
My name is Jenna Litynski and I am the proud mother of Brenna Litynski, a homeschooled student, who won the 5th Grade Saris Cycling Poster Contest for the state of Pennsylvania! She will be representing Pennsylvania with her artwork at the National Level and NEEDS YOUR HELP. Online public voting will take place between April 2nd and 6th at www.sariscyclinggroup.com/postercontest and the national winner wins a trip to Washington DC for the 2013 National Bike Summit! We need the homeschoolers of Pennsylvania to support Brenna by helping her get votes. If she wins, she will attend the National Bike Summit in 2013 and represent the homeschooled students and families of Pennsylvania! She does not have classmates from a brick and mortar school to help, but hopefully she will have the hundreds of Pennsylvania homeschooled students and their families support her and vote for her artwork! The future of cycling as a form of transportation and healthy living is in the hands of young people like Brenna. Art contests such as this one are wonderful opportunities for homeschooled students to broaden their horizons. They allow the creative student to use and enjoy their creative gifts, but also encourage students to find ways of applying them to make a difference in the lives of others....
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Hands-On History -- AP European History with *Action*!
Meghan Paher, 3/20/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: We've been so grateful to have Meghan Paher teaching a 2nd section of AP European History with us. Meghan is both a past participant in our AP Online courses, a PA homeschool graduate (PHAA), and has a masters in history and has worked at many historical museums and history sites, including the Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in North Carolina. I know she in part developed her own deep love of history back in her own homeschooling days, when delving into history meant projects like creating her own Civil War era gown and taking part in the local history activities at nearby Gettysburg PA.
Too many history classes consist of reading books and very little more. It’s hands-off history, distancing the student from what he or she is supposed to be learning. Is it any wonder so many adults today found history boring as students?
It’s time to turn on your student’s senses! History took place in a living world, full of sights, sounds, tastes, feelings, and smells—so let’s get hands on and experience some of them!
We understand the past so much better when we interact with it first-hand. My AP European History students use their senses and creativity to learn about the past. Through projects, film, art, music, reading, writing, sound, smell, taste, and touch, they come to understand the huge impact European history has on their lives every day—even though it is hundreds of years and thousands of miles away.
Looking at a picture of an artifact or seeing one in a glass case is nice. But how much better is it to touch and use one? For their “Touching History” project, my students research an artifact with a connection to European history (often they choose a family heirloom or antique) to discover its past. What is it? Where was it made? What stories does it carry? One of my students researched a Hungarian spinning distaff that had been stored in her family’s closet for years (her grandfather once tried to sell it for $35 in a yard sale!). Through her research, she learned exactly what it was and how her great-grandmother would have used it. She also learned that it was at least 100 years old and fairly valuable—she discovered distaffs similar to hers in a museum!
Reading about the past is terrific, but how much more exciting is it to hear about the past from someone who was actually there? With the “Hearing History” project, students do an oral history interview with someone who lived in or spent time in Europe. It’s amazing what they discover this way! Last year one of my students interviewed a family friend. When she was small, this friend gave her a very unusual gift—an original KGB badge from Cold War Russia. During the interview, she discovered he had worked for U.S. intelligence, and the government put him in charge of debugging the United States’ embassy in Moscow. Listening to his stories, she heard about Cold War spies, intrigue, and secret missions… Instead of just reading about U.S/Soviet relations and the Cold War in a textbook, she learned about it first hand from someone who was there and helped make history happen!....
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Finding your Writer’s Voice -- and AP Online course registration is now open!
Kathryn Walker, Online AP English Language teacher , 3/12/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: We're now looking ahead to the next school year of our AP (Advanced Placment) Online courses for high school level homeschoolers-- and many of our teachers will be sharing here over the next few months about their approaches to learning and teaching online. We have course descriptions updated for 2012-2013, and you can also pay tuition online (or by check) once a student has been accepted into a class. Click here to see full info on all AP classes being offered-- we hope you find something that will be a wonderful fit for your student.
We've been especially delighted that our growing group of AP Online teachers includes a number of amazing homeschooling graduates. Kathryn Walker is one of these-- and we hear only high praise of her AP English Language course that she leads with our program. Here you can gain a sense of how Kathryn helps students find and develop their writer's voice -- and what you might do as a parent now to help this process along, too.
In the past few years of my career as an English teacher, I’ve had several students confess to me as one of their writing weaknesses that they write the same way that they talk. That’s not a weakness! I long to proclaim. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that a writer cannot be ultimately successful if he doesn’t write, at least in some sense, in the same way that he talks. The writer’s mind, speech, and pen are intimately connected, and a genuine writer’s voice comes only when a young person can authentically connect the three.
In my AP Language and Composition course, we spend a trimester studying and explaining the relationship between thought, speech, and the written word. Our study begins with George Orwell’s famous essay “Politics and the English Language,” in which he so aptly reminds us that our language “becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” Writing is a direct product of our mental processes, and our mental processes a result of the language we speak and listen to. Through Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as Young Man, Woolf’s The Legacy, and T.S. Eliot’s poetry, we see the human mind portrayed through its purest consciousness and the beauty that can emanate from simple thoughts and impressions purely expressed.
While some would hold that the success of writers hinges upon their diligence to revise, I’d counter that far greater success comes from cultivating clarity of thought and speech and allowing one’s written words to reflect that clarity. C.S. Lewis is my favorite example of this truth. One of his best-known works, Mere Christianity, is actually a compilation of radio broadcasts he gave during World War II; they’re not meant to be essays, but rather conversational dialogues. The clarity of his prose in them, however, is on no different plane than the rest of his written work. Read any of Harper Collins’s recently published collections of his letters to see that even his hastily-written and prolific everyday correspondence matches his deliberately literary works in their beauty and power of expression. Good thinking begets good writing.
How does one approach, then, the teenager whose language one can scarcely tolerate? Don’t mistake me for saying that students should all just write what comes to their minds. As the students in my course so aptly acknowledge, much of teen-speak today is vapid and confusing in its repetitive abbreviations....
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March 10th-- Greater Pittsburgh Homeschool Workshop in South Hills of PGH
Sue Ann Means, 3/6/2012
Editor's note from Susan: Howard and I are really looking forward to seeing many of you at this year's Greater PGH Homeschool Workshop-- it's always a terrific event, full of good fellowship, true learning, great vendors, and many opportunities to connect and learn with other homeschooling families. Howard will be giving a workshop on the PHAA high school diploma program, and I'll be doing a workshop for both parents and evaluators called Making Evaluations Matter, which will focus on how to make evaluations meaningful and helpful for all involved, and to serve as ways to encourage both parents and children in their homeschooling and to forge positive relationships that can really make a difference over time.
Hey everyone this Saturday March 10th is the The Greater Pittsburgh Homeschool Workshop.
Spread the word through your e-mail contacts.
There is plenty of room to register at the door on the day of the workshop.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you there!" Sue Means
Registration fee:$15 per adult, $25 a couple, $8 per teen.
Doors open at 8am to register - keynote begins at 8:55 am
Where: The Bible Chapel 300 Gallery Drive, McMurray, PA 15317
Who: Homeschoolers and those who are considering homeschooling
We are blessed to have Mark Hamby of Lamplighter Publishing as this year's keynote speaker.
For more information see the conference website
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Too Busy for Success.... pitfalls to watch out for in homeschooling our teens!
Jeannette Webb, 2/29/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: We loved having Jeannette Webb, from Oklahoma, as our Keynote Speaker at last summer's 2011 PHAA High School at Home Conference-- her down-to-earth wisdom has been gleaned from helping both her own two homeschooled teens get into their top-choice colleges and from her current work as a nationwide consultant to homeschoolers applying to college. She is the founder of Aiming Higher Consultants, a high school planning and college consulting firm dedicated to helping homeschooled students reach their potential and successfully apply to their dream colleges. Learn more at www.aiminghigherconsultants.com. As parents and students are now starting to plan for the coming school year (already!), and especially as registration for our AP Online courses (which Jeannette's own teens took part in) is now open, her message is especially timely. Learn to not 'over-do'-- and you'll all be much happier for it!
As a high school counselor and college consultant, I see it every week, sometimes every day. As a woman, I see it constantly in the lives of those who cross my path. And it is as painful as it is pointless. There is such a high price to living this way and it can cost us our health, our family cohesiveness, and on a more minor scale, admission to the college of your student’s dreams.
The thing I’m talking about is a culture addicted to busy-ness. This social disease takes many forms. We call it distraction in our kids and multitasking if we are engaging in it ourselves. It is the state of never being fully present. It is akin to having an umbilical cord to whatever it is that gives you a high – iPhone texting, Facebook messaging, computer surfing, overfull class schedules, a gazillion church committees, a long list of homeschool group responsibilities, too many volunteer assignments. The list is endless.
Too much of anything, even good things, fractures our concentration so we do nothing well. It dilutes our days to the point that all the little minor things keep us from ever doing anything major.
Here’s the interesting thing. We labor under the false assumption, as ambitious parents (you may substitute “concerned” if that feels better), that our kids need a jam-packed activity schedule to impress a good college or qualify for a significant scholarship. We have been mistakenly informed that we must submerge our student in a killer academic line up. To be sure, you need quality activities and a rigorous academic profile to do well in competitive college admissions. However, I’m here to tell you that overkill is deadly.
Good colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They are interested in making up a well-rounded class of diverse and interesting students. Please notice the word interesting. Interesting happens when....
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Homeschoolers FLL Robotics Team from the Quakertown PA area earns major win-- heading to international competition!
Allison Janney, homeschool student, 2/26/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: Over the years I've heard from many homeschool groups taking part in the First Lego League Robotics program-- and all have been incredibly grateful for this unique experience. I was delighted to hear of the wonderful experience of this team from the Quakertown PA region in the eastern part of the state-- and to see their grateful hearts as they have worked together so very well as a team. I know we all wish them the best, and that they will be able to fund their team trip to the international competition this April 2012.
If you don’t like long stories, we suggest skipping this. However, for the few readers that might still remain, we should add the disclaimer that although this is a long story, it is not quite long enough to count as one of your 25 books for the PHAA diploma English requirement. So if anyone is still interested in reading this, then we shall ask you to solve a math equation: What does 8 homeschool kids + 1 robot equal?
In the fall of 2010, eight homeschooled teenagers formed an First Lego League robotics team and over the two seasons the team has been existence, we have really seen God at work. God brought the team together in less than twenty-four hours. Some of us had never met before. God also provided all registration fees, robots, parts, pieces and many other things. Consequently, we picked Jireh, which in Hebrew means the Lord provides, as our team name.
As an FLL team we must: build and program an autonomous robot (If you don’t know what this means then, as a homeschooler, you should grab a dictionary!); research a real world problem in a specified area of science and come up with an innovative solution; and work well together as a team. Of course, being homeschooled, our moms quickly turned the research project into a unit study and we can all quite easily rattle off the summary of last year’s research. “We aim to prevent medial epicondylar apophysitis using the principles of neuroplasticity and biofeedback.” This year the team chose something easier-- preventing food spoilage during a power outage by designing a refrigerator ice pack which utilizes UV-C pulse light and endothermic reactions.
Last season, through God’s grace, the team did very well (taking first at the local level and second at the regional level). Of course, since we were homeschooled, we were asked some rather interesting questions at the competitions, my favorite being, “Isn’t so nice that you get to get out and see people?” Yes, I know how it is, we spend all day in our pajamas, cruelly locked in a dark closet, without TV and…I’m off topic.
This season our team saw God move mountains. At the local event our team placed first but at regionals everything fell apart. Although the research and the team work judging sessions went well, the robot game just went horribly. The first match our light sensors stopped working and the second match our fully charged battery died. In robot scores, the team was just about last place. Quickly we changed batteries, attempted to fix the light sensors by shoving a tire in one and were frantically rewriting code when we were called up for our third and last round of the day. We knew we were going in with an untested battery, untested code, and light sensors that worked sporadically even if the tire stayed wedged in place. The team was on the competition floor and we were praying, “God, it’s up to you because there is no way this should work.” All too soon we were up....
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Santorum tells Ohio audience that he intends to homeschool in the White House
Howard Richman, 2/20/2012
An article in the Los Angeles Times reports that Senator Santorum told a Columbus Ohio audience that he would homeschool in the White House. Here is a selection:
Reporting from Columbus, Ohio— Republican GOP hopeful Rick Santorum may be the most prominent homeschooler in America. So it might not have been surprising that, on Saturday, he told a conservative Christian audience that he intended to homeschool his children in the White House....
In the nation’s past, he said, “Most presidents homeschooled their children in the White House.… Parents educated their children because it was their responsibility.”
The article ends with Santorum's supposed homeschool scandal:...
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Revives Phony Santorum Scandal
Howard Richman, 2/15/2012
[This blog entry that I wrote was originally published today on the American Thinker website. Click here to read it there.]
The Democrat-leaning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is trying to revive the so-called "scandal" that the Democrats trumpeted during their successful campaign to unseat Rick Santorum in 2006.
Other news outlets are starting to pick up the Post-Gazette's claims. For example, in an article published on February 14 and linked to by the Drudge Report ("Santorum's Electability Pitch Undermined by 2006 Senate Reelection Loss"), Bloomberg reports:
Santorum's 2006 loss came after he was accused by Democrats of being hypocritical for moving his family to suburban Virginia, yet still claiming a property tax deduction and tuition reimbursement in Pennsylvania. The school district where his Penn Hills home was located paid $55,000 to reimburse the online education of his children through the state's Cyber Charter School program, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The state repaid the district in a legal settlement after a Democratic school board member challenged the reimbursement.
Here's what really happened. From 1996 through 2001, Senator Santorum and his wife Karen homeschooled their children privately in Pennsylvania, submitting their affidavits and portfolios each year to the Penn Hills School District for review. Each year, they saved the Penn Hills School District the cost of the Santorum children's education.
Beginning in the fall of 2001, the Santorums enrolled their children in Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, a public school founded by one of Pennsylvania's public school districts which provides free internet-based education to children across Pennsylvania....
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Homeschooler Marine Science Program-- May 9-11, 2012, Wallops Island -- near Chincoteague & Assateague Islands
Marine Science Consortium, 2/15/2012
Editor's Note from Susan: Many wonderful field trip opportunities for homeschoolers come through on my email regularly-- but this one really seems truly unique and wonderful! So special that the Marine Science Consortium is organizing this spring (and follow-up Fall...) program just for homeschooling families. I hope that any of you who attend will post about how it went! And I've certainly known a number of homeschool kids who've been especially intrigued by marine science.
Homeschooler Marine Science Program
This is a 2 day overnight Marine Science Adventure course for Homeschoolers at the Marine Science Consortium. The consortium is located on Wallops Island, near the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague on Virginia Eastern Shore. It’s a gorgeous area and a fun science based camp for students and parents/teachers. This Marine Science Adventure Camp is just for Homeschoolers and their families.
Please Pass this field trip opportunity on to any interested homeschooling families
Marine Science Consortium’s Homeschooler Marine Science Program
Don't have a laboratory in your basement or an Oceanic Research Vessel in your backyard? Don’t worry, here at the Marine Science Consortium we understand the challenges parents face when they teach science in the home. The Marine Science Consortium is your resource for bridging the gap between marine science curriculum and student understanding. Our Homeschoolers Workshops are tailored for the budding Marine Biologist in your home. Our workshops provide hands-on observation of marine environments and life forms and time to socialize with other young marine biologist.
Since 1968 The Marine Science Consortium has educated and inspired thousands of children, youth, and adults about the marine and coastal ecosystems along the Mid-Atlantic Region through place-based, hands-on experiences. The bays, marshes, beaches, maritime forests, and off-shore waters of Virginia's Eastern Shore are The Marine Science Consortium's classroom. Whether you are an individual interested in learning more about coastal and marine systems or seeking to pursue a career in marine sciences, The Marine Science Consortium offers a wonderful variety of opportunities to meet your educational and/or research goals.
Registration is Now Open
Register for Homeschooler Marine Science Adventure programs by clicking on the links below. These programs fill quickly!
Marine Science Consortium Website – Program Information: http://msconsortium.org/#/homeschoolers-marine-adventure/4537567584
Direct link to online program registration form (registration is first come first serve a fills quickly):https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEtVQ3FkdnAtVDJTTUZNc2o0TkE5U1E6MA#gid=0
Homeschooler Program Cost
(prices include all instruction, fieldtrips, transportation to fieldtrip sites, materials, meals and lodging)....
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Registration now open for our 3 spring testing sites in PA-- Kittanning PA, Indiana PA, and Harrisburg area
Susan Richman, 2/14/2012
You can now register online (or print out a registration form) for our three Spring Testing Sites in Pennsylvania. Just click on the Testing Services link at the top of this page-- or just click here. You'll see we'll be testing at the following locations:
Online registration fee is still just $30 per student (PLUS a handling fee of $3.95 per total order). You can also 'come at the door' for $35 per student.
Here are some simple ideas to help make your testing day with us go smoothly, and help your children know what to expect:
1) Discuss test taking manners-- such as being very quiet and polite during the whole morning, especially while directions are being read. Silence is expected during the timed portions of the test, although students can raise their hands to ask questions if necessary. Students need to be able to read silently rather than orally, so as not to disturb other students.
2) Let your child know he can *not* ask questions such as “I can’t read this word-- can you tell me what it is, please?” or “I don’t understand how to do this math problem-- can you help me?” This is a test to see how well your child can do on these tasks without any help....
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Homeschoolers and Socialization // reprint from Tri-Valley Times, CA
Marisa Chow, AP Online student with PA Homeschoolers, 2/6/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: I was so delighted to see this article published in the Tri-Valley Times,written by one of our wonderful PA Homeschoolers AP Online students. Marisa Chow is a Contra Costa Times Teen Correspondent, taking part in a wide range of journalism projects with the newspaper. She is also a top student in my own AP US History course this year, after completing AP World History last year. She is also taking AP English Literature with our daughter Maya as her teacher. I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet Marisa and her brother Evan (wooo, can that young man play amazing jazz piano!!), and their mother Julie Chow, at our annual AP Party here at our farm in Western PA for all our AP online students. And this was quite a 'trek' for the Chow family, as they live in California, near to San Francisco. And I can definitely attest that Marisa and her brother were among the most socially out-going and friendly teens at this very lively weekend party! So Marisa definitely knows what she's talking about here-- and once you see all that she's involved with, you'll see why. Thanks, Marisa, for helping spread the word that homeschooling does not mean that kids never know another person beyond mom!
Teens: Home schooling aids, rather than inhibits, socialization
Marisa Chow
Contra Costa Times Teen Correspondent
Home-schooled students like me are occasionally subject to one awkward question: Do you ever socialize?
There's a misconception about home-schooled students: They can't socialize normally because they're cooped up in their houses every day.
This is only true if you assume home schooling is exactly what it sounds like: studying at home, only at home and never interacting with others in the "outside world." This is a false assumption. Not only does home schooling include activities outside of the home, it also allows -- and even encourages -- students to socialize with people of different ages, backgrounds and perspectives.
Having been home-schooled for my entire school career, I've seen how active home-schoolers are outside of their homes. Many families who home-school are part of local home-schooling co-op groups that hold their own field trips, performance nights, graduation ceremonies, etc. They also might join with other home-schoolers and form classes of their own by hiring educators or parents with expertise in that field to teach a specific class. In past years, I've taken Latin and rhetoric classes in this way.
Whether it's sports, dance, music or art, extracurricular studies are another avenue for home-schoolers to interact with others. Since last year, my siblings and I have been leading a student chapter of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society, a regional music organization, and we've held concerts and been on field trips with music students from all over the Bay Area. Many home-schoolers compete in speech and debate clubs, participating in multiple tournaments each year all over the state. Other home-schooled friends of mine are politically involved by making calls and canvassing for presidential campaigns. In addition, home-schoolers play on organized sports teams through park programs and sports clubs. In these activities, we often interact with public and private school students as well.
Home-schoolers also tend to socialize with a variety of different people....
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Sign up now for our SAT Essay Writing course-- 4 weeks... and you'll be ready for the March SAT!
Karen Boyd, 1/29/2012
Editor's Note from Susan: We are so grateful to master teacher Karen Boyd for continuing to offer her very valuable SAT Essay Writing class. Designed for high school students planning on taking the College Board SAT this March.
It’s not too late to register your high school student for my four-week class on writing the SAT Essay. This class helps students prepare for the essay portion of the March SAT, however students who will be taking the SAT at future dates are encouraged to join us.
Students from coast to coast and from four continents have found this class to be helpful in many ways. First, it provides practice and guidance in writing a timed essay. Many students report that it helped them feel confident about taking the SAT. The class provides accountability and other people to comment on their writing. While it focuses on the SAT Essay, many of the skills can be applied to other writing, such as the need for organization and a clear thesis. Finally, the students learn to think about their own writing in new ways as they interact with the other students in the class.
The class begins on February 6 and continues into the beginning of March. The registration deadline is January 31. The class requires a text book -- the College Board SAT Study Guide-- that is needed on the first day, so either register early and order from pahomeschoolers.com , or plan to buy your own copy before the class begins.
For more information go to the Online Store link above-- and then to "Online Classes" and then “Online SAT classes.”
Thanks,
Karen Boyd
Comments from former students
“This class was very helpful to me. First of all, it made me sit down and actually practice writing essays. Second, it was good to have someone read my essays, grade them, and tell me what was good and what was not. Also, I liked seeing what the other students wrote to see how I did in comparison.”
“I just want to say thank you to you, Mrs. Boyd, for teaching this class! It helped me a lot, and now....
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Confessions of a Homeschool Mom Regarding Achievement Testing
Patti T., 1/27/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: Often when I talk to families about how their kids did on achievement tests, I have a special question I ask-- it's "What is your child reading independently-- and does he enjoyreading.... or need to be 'nudged' to tackle a book?" I've found, over many years of informally asking this of parents, that a pattern has emerged-- those kids who read widely, and have a lot of personalchoice over what to read, generally do great on achievement tests. Those kids who don't read much at all beyond their required homeschooling studies or texts, and who clearly don't like to read, generally don't fare so well. Doing things that are 'like' achievement tests on a daily basis does not seem to be the key factor -- though definitely familiarity with testing formats is a great help, and I certainly recommend some focused 'test prep'. But I've met kids who have *only* done 'comprehension questions' during the time the family is helping them get ready for standardized testing-- at all other times, the child simply readsand enjoys and talks about his reading informally with his parents every now and then... and these kids generally do just fine when the scores come in. This general trend was shown again in the experience thatPatti T. describes so well in this touching piece-- I hope it is a good encouragement to all other families facing the 'dreaded' 3rd grade testing experience!
I have been homeschooling my son since he was in kindergarten. As we went through our first few years, I had this gnawing feeling about third grade. I knew that was the year we would encounter achievement testing. I knew in my heart I was doing my best to make sure my son was learning and thriving in homeschool, but to have “THE TEST” prove or disprove this point was a little scary for me. OK, very scary!!!! So I was on a mission to be prepared!!!!
I purchased the sample test material from PA Homeschoolers for his appropriate grade. I was glad I did because after the test my son remarked, “The test was just like the one we did at home.” I was glad he felt comfortable from having done the practice tests.
In addition, I combed the PA Homeschoolers website, in the months prior to the test, for any information regarding achievement test taking. I am thankful for the resources I found to help me prepare my son and myself. They really put my mind at ease and helped me to keep the whole test experience relatively stress free. Knowing the test results were not the soul benchmark for how our homeschooling was progressing was the biggest relief!
I remained optimistic waiting for the test scores. When I received them, I could hardly believe my eyes. My son did very well on the test. All of the prep work we did helped, but the biggest preparation was something we had been doing his whole life. We instilled a love of books and reading in our son.
My son is an avid reader. It is not uncommon for us to walk out of the library every other week with 30+ books, and he reads every one of them. I let him pick whatever books he wants, even if they are his old favorites like Henry and Mudge or Mr. Putter and Taby. He likes to read graphic novels such as Stone Rabbit, Lunch Lady, and Tiny Titans. Yes, he also likes Captain Underpants as well. I let him read those books and trade off with books I have selected that are a little more appropriate for his age. I think the reason he loves to read is because he has the freedom to explore and choose the books that interest him. He isn’t just forced to read the material assigned by me for school. His love for reading is the biggest factor as to why he did so well on the reading and language arts portion of the test, so I am told.
Now, interestingly, I should mention at this point that I have a rather unique visual impairment that makes it challenging for me to read without the assistance of visual aids. I developed this issue......
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New AP Online class for 2012-2013 school year-- AP Environmental Science! Registration will be open by the end of February for all classes
Molly McMahon, 1/24/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: We are already starting to get ready for our next year of PA Homeschoolers AP Online classes -- you can click on our website link above or just go to: www.aphomeschoolers.com. We'll be getting course descriptions for next year all updated soon-- and hope there might be a course that will be a great fit for one of *your* homeschool teens. All of our AP Online course websites are of course password protected, and only registered students can access them, protecting student privacy at all times. Taking one of our AP Online classes can help homeschoolers be very well prepared for taking Advanced Placement exams, given by the College Board each May at public or private school testing sites-- and students with strong scores earn credit at most colleges, and get a headstart on college level learning. Our students also love the interaction they have with other homeschoolers in their class-- and the students definitely spur each other on to strong learning. We enroll homeschool students from all across the nation-- and even homeschoolers living abroad!
I'm also delighted to introduce you to our newest PA Homeschoolers AP Online teacher, Molly McMahon-- I could tell right away in our communications that Molly will be a great online teacher with our program, and I know this new course offering might be just the thing for many students.
My name is Molly McMahon, and I am very excited to participate in the PA Homeschoolers
community by teaching AP Environmental Science!
I have a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Science Education. I have been teaching in a
traditional school setting for the past nine years. Over the years, I have been supplementing
classroom instruction with online teaching materials and assignments. Last year, I was
surprised to discover students at my school had accessed my online materials without actually
enrolling in the course. I am always happy to assist ambitious and intellectually curious
students, and I communicated with them only through the online course. I was pleased to
see their excellent results on the AP test last May. This experience convinced me that online
teaching is extremely effective and inspired me to seek out additional opportunities to work with
more students in this manner.
I am very passionate about teaching this course for reasons that may surprise you. AP
Environmental Science covers a wide variety of topics that are not typically covered in any
other science or social studies course but are certainly applicable to our everyday experiences.
Units include understanding....
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Lancaster Teen Named Grand Prize Winner in Susquehanna Bank Video Contest
Alison Giella, 1/19/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: It's always great to hear about homeschoolers getting involved in positive and creative activities, especially when they are working as a small team to meet a goal. I hope the following press release encourages your family to look into some unique ways to use your children's strengths and interests. Our warmest congratulations to Zachary and Mitch Blank, and to Elijah and Jude VanHanxleden-- sounds like they've really found a wonderful activity that they love, and that they are enjoying spreading a positive message to others through their unique video productions.
LITITZ, Pa., January 19, 2012 – What’s the risk of not saving money? Zachary Blank and a few friends provided the answer in a video that won Susquehanna Bank’s Lights, Camera, Save! contest for teens, and their effort is now competing as a finalist in the national contest.
Zach’s video “Saving Matters” was honored as part of the Lights, Camera, Save! video contest organized by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation. It is featured on Susquehanna Bank’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/SusquehannaBank. In the contest, students age 13 to 18 submitted 90-second videos about the importance of saving money.
“Saving Matters” shows a boy considering buying a toy tractor, until he imagines what his future may hold if he doesn’t learn to save money as well. Sixteen-year-old Zach made the video with his brother Mitch, as well as Elijah and Jude VanHanxleden.
Together, they formed Zebrafilm Studios, and they’ve been making videos regularly since the middle of 2011. Their videos can be seen at www.youtube.com/zebrafilmstudios.
“We usually like to plan out some absurd storyline, shoot it together, and then relax and edit it afterwards. Once we're done, we put it up on our website, Youtube, and Facebook,” Zach said. “We believe that videos can be funny, entertaining, and clever without being crude, inappropriate, or violent.”....
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Go on a PA Historical Markers Scavenger Hunt!!
Scott Doyle, PA Historical and Museum Commission, 1/8/2012
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: Learning about PA History just got even a bit more fun-- take a look at this new program from the PA Historical and Museum Commission, one of the sponsors of the terrific (and very complete and totally *free*) website Explore PA History. Don't keep PA History limited to a 'workbook' -- get out and truly explore our state! And take notice of those fascinating little blue signs all along our highways that give us a hint of the richness of our past-- and then learn the full story behind each one at the website! And do share below if you have favorite PA history sites you've visited with your homeschooled kids or support group.
 Dear Pennsylvania Homeschoolers: We are offering a new educational program at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show that may be a great way to make the event more interactive for your home school families. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is sponsoring a Historical Marker Scavenger Hunt based on PHMC Historical Markers related to the history of Pennsylvania’s agriculture and food production. PHMC is also promoting www.explorepahistory.com, an online resource developed by WITF, Central Pennsylvania’s public media organization, and PHMC that makes innovative use of the nearly 2,000 historical markers. The website makes Pennsylvania and American history more exciting and available to public audiences, while providing educational resources for K-12 teacher and homeschoolers. Please extend an invitation to your members to stop by the PHMC Marker Booth in the Family Living Section (Main Hall) at Farm Show to pick up Scavenger Hunt Booklets and information on www.explorepahistory.com. Included below are overviews on both programs and a sample lesson plan related to the agricultural and rural life from the website. We look forward to your participation on our new program. Thank you for your interest and see you at the Show! Scott Doyle Grant and Marker Programs Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (717) 783-6012midoyle@pa.govPHMC HISTORICAL MARKER SCAVENGER HUNTDo you like scavenger hunts? Want to learn more about Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage? Discover what product launched the Heinz food company (and it’s not ketchup!) and other....
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Poerty Out Loud-- a wonderful national contest... homeschoolers welcome... and info on local Greensburg PA contest February 3, 2012
Leigh Jerz, 12/20/2011
Editor’s Note from Susan Richman: I love the annual Poetry Out Loud contest, and it’s wonderful to see that homeschoolers are continuing to have fine opportunities to take part in this program, which has local, regional, state, and national levels of competition. In the past half-dozen years, homeschoolers in Pennsylvania have done very well in this competition—with PHAA graduate Olivia Meldrum (now a junior at Franciscan University in Ohio, majoring in sacred music) one year winning at the state level and going on to National competition. I treasure the opportunity to have heard Olivia recite her poetry selections for me at her annual evaluation meetings—she truly used this contest as a vehicle to explore poetry deeply, gain real presence in recitation, and develop her appreciation of a full range of poems from varied eras. Some years there have been as many as three homeschoolers making it to the ‘top ten’ finalists in Pennsylvania—and I’m sure all gained immensely by participating.
The contest involves memorizing and reciting one poem from the Poetry Out Loud online anthology at the local level, two poems at regionals, and three at the state level. The website gives excellent guidelines to families – you can make this an important part of your English program for your high school homeschooler. Many parents might feel at a loss in approaching poetry—use this contest website to guide your teens towards real appreciation. Below is specific info on the Greesburg area local homeschoolers competition, open to any homeschoolers nearby (Westmoreland County in Western PA). If you know of other local homeschool groups hosting competitions, do post below as a ‘comment’. This would be a *wonderful* activity for a homeschool co-op to consider—I know many co-ops have high school English classes or drama classes, and hosting this contest would be a great activity!
StageRight of Greensburg is offering homeschoolers the chance to participate in the Poetry Out Loud contest,scheduled for Friday February 3, 2012. Artistic Director Tony Marino will be judging the contest. High School homeschool students (Grades 9-12, plus 8th-graders who are taking High School English) need only recite ONE poem from the many listed on the Poetry Out Loud website; the winner gets to participate in the Regional competition in February at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg-- and that winner goes to state (which requires 3 poems). The location will be StageRight, 100 North Main St, Greensburg PA 15601
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Spanish-- yes, you can learn it online!
Ray Leven, Spanish teacher online, Spanish teacher online
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: I've heard about Ray Leven and his amazing Spanish-teaching ability for years, as he was the Spanish tutor for a wonderful homeschooling family that I met with annually for evaluations. Ray had long experience teaching Spanish, including AP Spanish, a Philadelphia-area public and private schools (he was also a top Hebrew teacher, too--this man is just fabulous with languages!). Even with his busy teaching schedule, Ray made time for weekly in-depth tutoring for this family, working with both the son and his parents together-- and Ray came to love working with homeschooling families. And I always felt that this student was gaining an exceptional background in Spanish-- much beyond what I saw in families relying just on something 'automated' like Rosetta Stone, useful as those types of programs can be in introducing a new language. Getting close to retirement options, Ray began wondering if homeschoolers might like to learn Spanish with him online-- and soon we were talking in depth about how he could deliver an AP Spanish course with our PA Homeschoolers program. Ray is also branching out into offering online classes in Beginning and Intermediate level Spanish. Read on and find out how you can be involved-- and realize that there are ways other than a local class or tutor or a computerized program to help your child really develop ability with another language. And you'll also all benefit from Ray's many world travels, as you can see in this photo!
.JPG) Ray Leven touring at La Piramide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Sun-- in Teotihuacán, Mexico)
This is my first year working for PA Homeschoolers in their AP Online program, leading AP Spanish Language, and my first experience teaching online. I have been fortunate to meet wonderful families with highly motivated and interesting children whom I teach each week on Skype in Spanish. Learning the technology and having everyone in sync is a minor challenge, certainly dwarfed by the enthusiasm and the high-powered learning of students eager to master Spanish.
My AP Spanish class is truly exciting. With about half the year gone, we have read and analyzed Nobel-prize-winner Garcia Marquez's novel No One Writes to the Coronel, and six stories from the collection of Ana Maria Matute, an award-winning writer from Spain. Students went beyond the surface of each novel, researching the life and times of the authors and identifying symbolic and personal elements in each of the literary works. Comparing and contrasting themes and plot elements are crucial for successful interpretation of the author's goals. At the same time we are analyzing literature, we are reviewing grammar principles through online oral drills, written homework, compositions, and oral presentations on current and often controversial subjects.
My Intensive Intermediate Spanish class is geared for students who have had some formal training in basic Spanish and who would benefit from a review. While we use an interactive textbook with state-of-the-art technologies, our time together on Skype is devoted to intense conversation with the goal being fluent self expression....
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Future Fencer-- some of our dreams really DO come true!
Susan Richman & Dale Purdy (when in 3rd grade!), 12/6/2011
Editor's note from Susan Richman: I have had the pleasure of serving as homeschooler Dale Purdy's home education program evaluator from early on in his homeschooling right through his graduation last June. At our last meeting, Dale mother, Letitia Berkey, shared something very, very special with me-- the little essay below titled 'Future Fencer' which Dale had written way back in 3rd grade. In it Dale describes his first experiences in the magical world of fencing-- you know, the real thing... swords, competitions, taking classes. It might be any young boy's dream activity-- but Dale persevered through all his homeschooling years with fencing-- it became one of his major extra-curriculars and passions. And he was good at it, too!
Dale's mom shared with me that even way back then, Dale was absolutely sure where he wanted to go to college-- he wanted to go to the University of Notre Dame, so he could be on their fencing team! I knew this was a long shot-- but each year, Dale would reiterate that, yep, Notre Dame was his goal. And he kept on fencing, and kept on completing strong academic coursework. He eventually met with coaches from Notre Dame who'd seen him fence at national tournaments -- they were very interested in him and urged him to apply. Could he just nudge up those SAT scores a bit, so he'd be more readily accepted? Dale took on that challenge too-- and more than met the mark, after diligent study and practice.
And Dale indeed applied to Notre Dame-- as well as several other schools that each had the type of pre-med program he was looking for in a college. And fencing teams-- an opportunity to be on a university fencing team was always crucial, and definitely helped Dale narrow down his list of possible schools. So, he had choices and options-- but definitely he was most focused on his choice from his youngest years.
Dale with me after his PHAA Graduation ceremony
The upshot??? Dale got that 'big envelope' in the mail from Notre Dame-- he was in, and he was on the fencing team! He's had a great fall freshman semester, complete with fencing tournaments with his new team. Yes, sometimes we need to listen to our kids when they have major passions and deep interests-- these just really might indicate who our child is and where they are headed.
Reminds me of Alan Obuzor, who I evaluated from 3rd grade through graduation. He had just recently started dance classes with his younger sister when I first met me-- and his mother shared that after just a few ballet classes, he'd come home and looked her right in the eye and told her, "Mom, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life." He soon moved up from his local dance school to the Pittsburgh Ballet program for children-- and then made it into their elite pre-professional program for high school students. He went immediately into the PGH Ballet Theatre Company upon his high school graduation-- and this year I have a homeschool student in my AP US History class who has Alan as a teacher at the PGH Ballet high school program (and he's a terrific teacher, too!).
Or I think of our son Jacob, who started playing around with computer programming when 7 or 8 years old, when my husband showed him a few things. Howard also showed the other kids some programming basics, but only Jacob gravitated to it-- the others had to be prodded and cajoled and encouraged, but Jacob took to it with a passion. I think probably there was hardly a day that went by after 3rd grade when Jacob didn't do some sort of computer programming task that he'd chosen for himself on an almost daily basis-- and sometimes he'd spend hours on these very creative projects. What's he doing now?? He's a programmer for Google, out in Seattle WA.
Many times in homeschooling we need to listen to our kids, see what their unique strengths are and where their true passions lie. It just might be their direction for their future university studies or career. Not all kids will have such clear and focused goals early on-- but when they do... we'd do well to support them.
And now, here's what Dale wrote in just 3rd grade-- get ready to be charmed! And this wonderful essay also shows that when homeschoolers are encouraged to write about their passions, they'll have lots to say!
Future Fencer
Tomorrow is my second fencing tournament. The tournament is at St. Vincent College. I want to tell you why I love to fence, who brought me into the fencing world, and what my goals are.
I love fencing because it is a very physical sport and I enjoy physical sports. i also love it because it is called 'chess on your feet.' Fencing has strategy like chess, which is my favorite game. Fencing can be an individual or a team sport. I love fencing.
When I was five, I met Norm Flam. He owns the Toy Soldier Gallery, and I went there because I collect toy soldiers. One year later, I found out that Norm and his wife, Robbie, taught a fencing class. Once I found that out, I asked Norm if I could fence. Norm answered, "You are too young. Come see me when you are ten." Feeling in dismay, I went home. I kept begging Norm to teach me to fence for two years. Near my 8th birthday, I went to Norm's and asked him if I could fence again. Surprisingly, his answer was yes! I was....
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The Dance Connection-- Discover, Create, Celebrate, SHINE!
Deborah Bruckman-Bardun, 11/30/2011
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: I am always delighted to hear from parents who have long 'graduated' from their homeschooling years-- and who are now offering their special services to those in the homeschooling community. Deborah Bruckman-Bardun has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for many years. Having been a home schooling mother herself, she, her daughter Kristel (homeschooled from 8th grade through graduation from high school, after experiencing bullying in school), and her sister, Charlene Bruckman-Levine are the co-founders of The Home Schooler’s Clubhouse, located in the North Hills area outside of Pittsburgh. Deborah, Charlene, and Kristel wanted to create a place exclusively for the home schooling community and their children to learn, explore, and create in a nurturing and supportive environment. Thus, HSC has been created, with great thought, especially for them. Located at 9142 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh PA 15237, you can contact them at homeschoolersclubhouse@gmail.com or check out their excellent website at www.homeschoolersclubhouse.com. You'll see that besides offering a full range of dance classes, they also offer a *party* service at their studio, including dance activities for the group!
I certainly know many homeschoolers whose children have really blossomed through involvement in dance programs-- it's a terrific example of the type of fitness and arts program that you just can't find within a regular elementary or high school curriculum... but it's out there in the wider community! I've met homeschoolers shining in classical ballet, modern dance, square dancing, swing dancing, 'Jane Austen' era ballroom dancing, and much more. Even if you live far from the North Hills of Pittsburgh, I hope this article helps you decide to add dance to your program on some level. And I know Deborah's thought below on the negative impact of too much TV viewing or computer use will resonate with many homeschooling families-- my guess is that homeschoolers are among those few in the nation that have found ways to curtail TV over-use in their homes. Enjoy this article-- and then get up and dance about for a few minutes with your kids!!
The Dance Connection-- Discover, Create, Celebrate, SHINE!
Dance is one of the great forms of art. It is hailed as the oldest of the arts, owing its antiquity to the fact that people dance for the sheer fun of it, for the joy of moving in a way that fits both the inner spirit and the contemporary world. Today, dance is not regarded as merely an art form, but rather an athletic activity. Dance has taken its place beside athletics in the development of the physical being. Every portion of a dancer’s body must be developed for strength, absolute control, and execution on command. The professional dancer requires a long daily workout to achieve this and as such, dancers are also athletes.
The benefits of dance, as opposed to other activities, are immense. It not only encourages physical development, but has been proven to....
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Thanksgiving thoughts while cleaning up my side of our home office....
Susan Richman, 11/22/2011
I never go shopping on 'Black Friday' after Thanksgiving... instead for the last several years I've set aside the day for a major cleaning up or re-organizing day in my home. You know, those jobs most of us rarely 'get to'... like a huge overhaul of the attic storage area, or repainting woodwork, or re-organizing all my bookshelves. This Friday my plan is to really, really work on blessing our home office, one of the busiest rooms in our home right now-- and one of the most cluttered I'm afraid.
So... today I'd finished the work I'd planned to do for my AP US History class, and I just couldn't wait to get started just a bit *early* on our office. I thought I'd just begin a little, by clearing off the top of my desk and my file drawers. I already have boxes and bags of old unnecessary papers to recycle or burn-- but one of the piles to sort through made me stop and linger. And here's where I come to the Thanksgiving part. One of the things I always save is *thank you* cards and notes from the many families and students that I've worked with over the years. They are all in a nice brass box on a shelf just to the left of my computer-- and the container was overflowing and filled above the brim. I had no thoughts that I'd toss any of these treasures... but I did decide to reread them all. And my heart is so full now, of gratitude for all these people who have touched my life over many years of working with homeschooling famlies in so many ways.
 There were letters from my AP US History students, thanking me for the way that the course had helped them stretch in new ways and see our nation's history from different viewpoints. Some specifically thanked us for hosting our annual year-end AP Party at our farm, where they had the chance to really meet many of their virtual classmates face to face-- kids from Texas, California, Washington, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and more. Others thanked me for being ready and willing to write them needed college or scholarship recommendation letters. Rereading these cards and notes made me realize, once again, about the many lives all of us leading our AP Online classes have touched. It's so special to be able to help these wonderful young people move on in their lives. And just today....
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Want a unique health assignment??? Have your kids take part in this PA contest to create a PSA against alcohol and drug use...
PA National Guard, 11/21/2011
Editor's Note from Susan: We all need to help our kids learn about varied health issues, including the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Some of you might want to look into this neat contest to help you do this. Let us know if your kids decide to enter! I was pleased that homeschoolers in PA were specifically invited to take part, too. One nice thing about many academic contests is that they often include free educational materials related to the theme of the program-- here's a link for the DrugFreePA curricular materials related to this contest, which could be interesting for families to look over even if your kids don't actually enter the competition. The materials focus on helping kids discern how advertizing media can try to influence their choices and decisions related to this issue. You can also find past winning public service announcements (PSA's) from this contest, on YouTube. If anyone has other ways they've found helpful in discussing this topic with your kids, do post below. I'm sure for most of us, simply *modeling* an appropriate message is a main approach-- but having ways to have a more in-depth conversation is also a great idea.
The Pennsylvania National Guard Counterdrug Joint Task Force, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Drug Free Pennsylvania are launching, for the 5th year, a statewide contest designed to find highly creative middle and high school students.
The Sound Off: Pennsylvania's Drug Prevention Television/Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest will provide an opportunity for youth to send a positive message to their peers and communities that drugs and alcohol do not have to be part of their activities.
The contest is open to all public, private and home-educated Pennsylvania students in grades 6-12. If necessary, the winning team will professionally produce the PSA that will be aired on television or radio stations throughout the state....
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Newly Updated PA Department of Education website re/ homeschooling....
Susan Richman, 11/17/2011
Editor's Note from Susan: Sorry it's been so long since a new posting has gone up!! Howard and I are just now (almost!!) feeling caught up on things after our Fall Testing trip around PA. We've also been *very* grateful and happy that our wonderful daughter Maya (Molly) and her husband just welcomed in their first little baby in Israel where they live-- the baby's name is Nitsah (rhymes with 'pizza' ;-), and means 'little flower bud' in Hebrew ), and the new family is just doing wonderfully! And I've never been so *grateful* for our hi-tech ways of communicating-- getting to see the baby on Skype has been a delight! Amazing times we live in ;-). We'll now be getting back to regularly updating things on our website, and being more in touch with homeschoolers. Thanks for your patience!
Just the other day I went to use the PA Dept of Education (PDE) website link on our right-hand sidebar and realized it was non-functional-- the PDE has changed their website extensively, and they now have a whole new section for homeschooling, and I wanted to give you the link and let you know some of the excellent new resources you can find there.
Their opening 'general info' page is at this link titled Home Education and Private Tutoring HomePage. From here you'll also see helpful sidebar links for: educational options, evaluators, private tutors, diplomas, statistics, laws and regulations, and 'overview of homeschooling'. Explore all these sections-- you'll find valuable information, and I feel most is very accurate and helpful and concise.
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Scholarships for 12th graders planning on careers in government or military service
Katharine Hutton Tweedy, Washington Crossing Foundation, Washington Crossing Foundation
Editor's Note from Susan Richman: When we receive info on scholarship opportunities we like to pass this info on to homeschooling families-- especially when the sponsoring organization is seeking ways to let homeschoolers specifically know about their offering. Today I heard from the Washington Crossing Foundation, a non-profit group located in Pennsylvania, about their scholarship program for high school seniors-- perhaps they had heard that many homeschoolers seek to serve our nation through involvement in government or through military service leadership. I hope this opportunity will be helpful ones for homeschool seniors in PA-- and note in the following info that there are some special awards available for students in the Greater Philadelphia counties. The deadline for receipt of application materials is January 15, 2012-- PHAA of course can help with providing official copies of high school transcripts for students enrolled in the PHAA diploma program, and your PHAA homeschool evaluator could be a terrific person to write the needed recommendation letter. Full info on applying can be found at the organization's website, listed below.
WASHINGTON CROSSING FOUNDATION
P. O. BOX 503
LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 19058-0503
215-949-8841
www.gwcf.org
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL NATIONAL WASHINGTON CROSSING FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS for STUDENTS COMPLETING TWELFTH (or final high school year) in 2012 that are planning careers in government service.
We invite you to explore our web site www.gwcf.org, which contains all of the information candidates should require to prepare and submit an application. Each interested student is invited to write a one-page essay stating why he or she plans a career in government service including any inspiration to be derived from the leadership of George Washington in his famous crossing of the Delaware. The student must confine the essay to viewpoint, attitude and purpose in choice of career.
This essay must be accompanied by a recommendation....
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Digital Family Summit in Philadelphia
5th Annual Natural History Road Show
Philadelphia Faith & Freedom Tour
SOUNDWAVES: Free Youth Steelband Program!
Srishti Dances of India | Student Matinee!
A Classical Breakfast
PA Youth Harmony adjudication event
New historical fiction novel that might appeal to homeschoolers
York Area Drama Camp AUDITIONS less than a week away!!
Pollinator Power! A program of the second annual Philadelphia Honey Festival
Summer Tutoring/SAT Preparation
