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Workshop Descriptions
"What I wished I'd known at the beginning of my
homeschooling journey"
I hope to cover a lot of things, such as fears, attitudes, worries,
realizations, expectations and more. Things that plague new moms and prevent
them from reaching their potential with their kids. Also, fears that prevent
families from taking that first step into the great adventure of homeschooling.
Reaching Your Square Pegs
To provide a general overview of various approaches to working with children who
are gifted and/or possess learning differences. Also for working with kids who
are just plain weird.
Guiding Your Child Toward Financial Independence
This workshop will provide the rationale for financial independence and
differentiate between "Saving" and "Investing"; it will introduce the three life
stages related to investments and provide a general characterization of the
major methods for investing. The workshop will conclude with a set of guiding
principals for the serious investor.
City of San Antonio Natural Areas
Learning opportunities in the San Antonio Natural Areas
Homeschool on a Shoestring Budget
I will present encouragement and optional ways to circumvent what can be the
high costs of curriculum and teaching multiple children in the home
Fractions: An American Phobia!
Fraction phobia is rampant, even among high school students. Many adults admit
to a lifelong struggle with fractions. How does one actually teach this topic to
develop conceptual mastery that will translate to understanding decimals and
percentages? Move beyond the formulas in an attempt to unravel this[not so]great
mystery!
Steps 2 Success: Building Reading, Thinking, Writing Connections Pre-school
Through High School
Techniques and strategies centered on the important connections between reading,
thinking, and writing will be shared. Emphasis will be placed on methods for
overcoming learning difficulties.
What Did You Do Last Weekend?
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young
men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years
of age. Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and
to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the
skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program
full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take
advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of
high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.
Creative Problem Solving for Homechoolers--Odyssey of the Mind
Come learn about how you can help your children become more creative, learn
about teamwork, and find ways to problem solve, all while having fun. According
to www.odysseyofthemind.org, "Odyssey of the Mind is an international
educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for
students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own
interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to
competition on the local, state, and World level." Parents and children are
welcome at this workshop where you will learn how to create and coach a team.
There will also be hands-on activities to help you practice your creativity and
problem solving abilities.
Homeschooling 101
Terry Duncan will present an overview of homeschooling laws, responsibilities,
styles, pitfalls and benefits. She will briefly identify different teaching
philosophies, talk about socialization, expectations, curriculum and
opportunities. This workshop will be an overview of the laws affecting
homeschooling in Texas, different philosophies and learning styles. Suggestions
will be made about which workshops would benefit new homeschoolers.
The Future of Homeschooling in
San Antonio: Issues and Needs
Join us for a discussion of homeschooling in San Antonio. What are some of the
resources you would like to see available to homeschoolers? What problems have
you encountered in homeschooling in San Antonio.
Building Confidence and Leadership Skills for
College and the Workforce
Workshop will teach Homeschool Parents how to instill Positive Character traits
in your child/teen as they learn and grow into responsible adults. The main
focus of the workshop will be on:
a. How to incorporate Character Education in your daily lesson plans without
interfering with other subjects.
b. How to provide positive encouragement and instill Leadership skills for your
son/daughter as they grow.
c. How to set reasonable goals and expectations for character development and
maintenance.
d. How to motivate your son/daughter to set-achieve high standards on academics,
science and math topics.
e. Explain how character development is key to teaching other academic subjects
to your homeschool student.
Unschooling
See what unschooling looks like for CarolPavliska's family, where five children
of various ages live and learn alongside their parents from birth through high
school, and hopefully, beyond! Learn how the family arrived at the decision to
unschool (or rather how they ended up there), and what it is like to continue
the unschooling journey with a teenager preparing for college.
Free Online Tutoring and Learning Resources @
Your Library
This seminar will introduce you to typical online resources at public libraries
that will aid both homeschool students and instructors in learning in all
subject areas, for all ages. Focused topics include: free online tutoring,
matching curriculum to state standards and discovering
age/reading-level-appropriate materials.
Free College At Your Fingertips
Do you have $80,000 saved up for college? Are your students happy with their SAT
scores? NO? Then you must attend our free seminar, “Free College at Your
Fingertips.” Jean Burk will share how her family got free college and how you
can too! Parents of all-aged students need to hear this information.
Standardized tests are the gateway to college entrance and scholarships.
Scoring high on the SAT or the PSAT/NMSQT can not only allow your child to enter
any college he or she may want, but can also provide your child with
scholarships that could include full tuition, room and board, honors dorms,
graduate money and stipends to study abroad.
This Seminar will give an overview of the following:
How to earn $500 an hour for college.
The difference between the SAT, PSAT and ACT, and why they are very important.
Fun and quick strategies to answer hard questions on these tests.
When you should start preparing for standardized tests.
Why many smart students do poorly on these tests.
13 Myths about the SAT
Studies have proven that on average, a person with a college education makes
TWICE the salary of an individual with only a high school diploma. In order to
ensure your kids a future of financial success, you will want to make sure they
have the opportunity to pursue a university degree.
Tools and Steps for Overcoming Learning
Difficulties
Powerful Training Techniques Used by Cognitive Skills Training Professionals
- New Activities Stretch the Brain.
- Repetition Makes a Skill Automatic.
- Progressive Drills Enhance Cognitive Skills.
- Fire Together Means Wire Together.
- Expanded Brain Function Equals Enhanced Performance.
- Big, Fast Changes are Important.
- Feedback helps Strenthen Mental Skills.
- Sequencing is Important.
- Intensity Builds Cognitive Skills.
- Distractions Aid in Learning Skills Development.
- Loading is Important in Successful Cognitive Training.
- Effective Cognitive Training is Non-Academic.
Demonstrations:
- How You Can Build Processing Speed.
- How to Build Working Memory.
Building Auditory Processing.
- How to Build Blending Skills.
- How to Build Segmenting Skills.
- How to Build Sound Manipulation Skills.
- How to Build Visual Processing.
- How to Build Logic and Reasoning.
Making National History Day Part of This
Year’s History Curriculum
Take history out of the textbook, put together a skit, a museum display or
create an old fashioned research paper. This year’s theme is, “The Individual
through History.” SA HERO is the only home school organization that sponsors
the “school level “competition.” Come learn more about this exciting program.
I will also be discussing the various history activities available to your
student through Jr. Historians.
Robotics-The Hands on Way to Learn Math
and Science
SA HERO sponsors several robotics teams; membership is open to students wanting
to learn more about math, science and technology. Our teams compete at a
variety of levels. Your child does not need to be a math wiz to get involved in
robotics. Come learn the ins and outs of robotics. It is my opinion that all
children should have some exposure to robotics given that we live in a high tech
world.
What Did You Do Last Weekend?
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young
men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years
of age. Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and
to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the
skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program
full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take
advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of
high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.
Creative Problem Solving for Homechoolers--Odyssey of the Mind
The HERO OM High School Team has gone to the World
Competition for the past two consecutive years!
Come learn about how you can help your children become more creative, learn
about teamwork, and find ways to problem solve, all while having fun. According
to www.odysseyofthemind.org, "Odyssey of the Mind is an international
educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for
students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own
interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to
competition on the local, state, and World level." Parents and children are
welcome at this workshop where you will learn how to create and coach a team.
There will also be hands-on activities to help you practice your creativity and
problem solving abilities.
Free Online Tutoring and Learning Resources @
Your Library
This seminar will introduce you to typical online resources at public libraries
that will aid both homeschool students and instructors in learning in all
subject areas, for all ages. Focused topics include: free online tutoring,
matching curriculum to state standards and discovering
age/reading-level-appropriate materials.
Free College At Your Fingertips
Do you have $80,000 saved up for college? Are your students happy with their SAT
scores? NO? Then you must attend our free seminar, “Free College at Your
Fingertips.” Jean Burk will share how her family got free college and how you
can too! Parents of all-aged students need to hear this information.
Standardized tests are the gateway to college entrance and scholarships.
Scoring high on the SAT or the PSAT/NMSQT can not only allow your child to enter
any college he or she may want, but can also provide your child with
scholarships that could include full tuition, room and board, honors dorms,
graduate money and stipends to study abroad.
This Seminar will give an overview of the following:
How to earn $500 an hour for college.
The difference between the SAT, PSAT and ACT, and why they are very important.
Fun and quick strategies to answer hard questions on these tests.
When you should start preparing for standardized tests.
Why many smart students do poorly on these tests.
13 Myths about the SAT
Studies have proven that on average, a person with a college education makes
TWICE the salary of an individual with only a high school diploma. In order to
ensure your kids a future of financial success, you will want to make sure they
have the opportunity to pursue a university degree.
Building Confidence and Leadership Skills for
College and the Workforce
Workshop will teach Homeschool Parents how to instill Positive Character traits
in your child/teen as they learn and grow into responsible adults. The main
focus of the workshop will be on:
a. How to incorporate Character Education in your daily lesson plans without
interfering with other subjects.
b. How to provide positive encouragement and instill Leadership skills for your
son/daughter as they grow.
c. How to set reasonable goals and expectations for character development and
maintenance.
d. How to motivate your son/daughter to set-achieve high standards on academics,
science and math topics.
e. Explain how character development is key to teaching other academic subjects
to your homeschool student.
Under the Sea with Clay
(grades K-4)
Dive under the sea with clay! Students will discuss the life that lives
under the ocean and will create creatures from the deep using basic clay
techniques presented by the artist. Science terms and ocean life will be
stressed Jurassic Plaque (grades K-5)
Your students will learn about the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth, their
environment, their shapes and why they were shaped that way, and why they became
extinct. Students will make a clay tile relief in the shape of their favorite
dinosaur. Science terms will be discussed and your students will be able to take
their work home.
Clay Dragons (grades 3-5)
Learn about the myths and legends of dragons from Europe, including the ones
encountered by knights like St George (aggressive, and smokers, all of them!)
and Asia (benign, and non-smokers), and then construct a clay dragon to keep.
Students will enjoy this class especially if they are studying medieval times
and castles and crusades, or if they are learning about Asian New Year, China,
or dragons in literature. Nature Prints (grades 1-5)
A discussion of nature and nature related subjects, such as the life cycle of a
butterfly, their markings, etc. can bring a nature print to life. Using paper
and paint, a beautiful print of butterflies or leaves of North American trees
can be made. Dancing Flip Books (grades K-5)
In the biography of dancer, choreographer Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney,
J. Brian Pinkney captures the fluid graceful movements of the dancer with his
illustrations. What if these movements were put together? What would they look
like? Many dances have been captured on film. In this workshop your budding film
makers will create their own dance movie flip books.
It's a Relief! (grades K-5)
In the tradition of the ancient Greek and Romans, but in a more relaxed, modern
style, your students will learn the art of relief work on clay. Using sand clay
and after viewing several samples of relief work, students will be able to
create their own interior or exterior stone-like motif or choose something from
their current class studies. Mexican Yarn Painting (grades K-5)
Although yarn painting is a relatively new art for the Huichol Indians of
Mexico, they were adapted from an old tradition called �Nierika�. The Nierika
was a small magical offering made of wood and decorated with yarn. Your students
will create their own yarn painting utilizing Huichol inspired designs.
Institute of Texan Cultures
Chinese Texans
Explore Chinese culture by listening to Chinese music, using chopsticks,
listening to the legend of the dragon, looking at Chinese writing in a
Chinese-language newspaper. (3rd grade to adult)
German Texans
Hear the story of the German people who came to Texas in the 1800s. A cow’s
horn, carved wood, a photo of a fachwerk house, an ox bell, and a springerle
rolling pin are the varied items that help tell the tale. (5th grade to adult)
Mexican Texans
Model a quinceañera dress or a charro outfit as you learn about life in Mexican
Texas. Included in this kit are an adobe brick, a mano and metate, a wooden
tortilla press, a rebozo, and a mantilla. (2nd grade to adult) |