GoNorth! 2009 adventure learning program
Just passing on news from the Polar Husky team. Make sure you sign up for the next round of this.
It is hard to believe that we are in the last few days of fall - The Polar Huskies are rolling in the snow with grins on their faces and it sure looks and feels like winter here in Minnesota. But officially the Winter Solstice occurs this Sunday.
We’ve been hard at work at both Education and Expedition Basecamp preparing for the upcoming GoNorth! 2009 adventure learning program. To that end, we have some information and updates that we would like to share with you. The biggest news is that we will be taking our adventure to Nunavut, Canada in 2009 and then to Greenland in 2010. A howl of applause to our sponsors and in particular the Best Buy Children’s Foundation and the National Science Foundation for supporting the ’swap’ of the expedition location.
With the change in location, so is there a change in the direction for both the curriculum and the website. All summer and into this fall we have been hard at work on the curriculum and content for the website to accompany the program. Because content is location-specific, this county change for 2009 has resulted in a content shift as well. We are working around the clock to make the necessary changes, however we regret to inform you that we will not have the 2009 Curriculum & Activity Guide ready for you before the New Year. At this point in time we cannot give you a final date, but please know we are working hard. As soon as we have information we will broadcast an alert to bring you the most up-to-date news.
From all of us at GoNorth!, both two and four-legged alike, we hope you have a Happy Howling Holiday. Think Snow!
Education Basecamp
GoNorth! Adventure Learning for the K-12 Classroom
University of Minnesota
130D Peik Hall
159 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
P: 612-625-8550
F: 612-624-8277
E: info@polarhusky.com
Explore the Arctic and experience adventure learning online!
Visit: http://www.polarhusky.com
To Read or Not to Read…THAT is the question!
By: Dr. Linda Bausch
When a new baby is born, friends, family and even strangers offer advice and inquire about the baby’s progress. But - how often are parents asked about how they will encourage their children to be lifelong readers and writers?
This is a big question, an enormous goal, and believe it or not, an easy one to answer!
The First Step: Model reading
Let your children catch you reading. Have books and other reading material, such as magazines visible in your home. If they see you read, they will read too. The best part is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have books. There are great sites that offer a wide variety of books to choose from, such as www.teacherwide.com, which sells new titles up to 95% off the list price for consumers.
Step Two: Read aloud
Yes - it’s that simple, that important and that big. For children 0-15, read with passion and voice, with interest and curiosity, with the love of learning and with the goal of sharing that love with your children will encourage your children to have an interest in reading.
Of course the next question is: Why read aloud?
Children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school, standardized tests, vocabulary fluency and overall intellectual growth (Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children - Snow, Burns, and Griffin 1998)
In addition, reading aloud helps your children develop important language skills that will help them learn to read on their own and offers:
• Great fun - it benefits your children’s growth as readers and learners
• Nurtures your children’s love of both the written and spoken word
• Gives you a chance to rediscover favorite stories and find new ones
How do I choose the books?
Choose books that will hook your child’s mind, heart, and imagination. Consider your child’s emotional and listening level. Books with rhyming and repetitive text and alphabet books are excellent choices for young listeners and emerging readers. Some tried and trusted authors for this age group include: Donald Crews, Mem Fox and Eric Carle. For your independent reader choose texts that are richly layered and enticing.
• Choose just right books - Help your child find books that are at their appropriate reading level. Some widely utilized leveling systems include the Fountas and Pinnel Guided Reading Leveling System (a lettered system), and the National Reading Recovery Leveling System (a numbered system). Consult with your child’s teacher to determine your child’s reading level.
o Choose topics and subjects of interest. Help your child find books that pique their interest from mystery novels to sports and non fiction.
At Teacherwide.com, you can find these particular topics and many others at steep discounts. It is the one of the single most important things you can do to literally change your child’s life.
To view my top 5 books to read to your children by age range, visit www.teacherwide.com.
Dr. Linda Bausch, Assistant Professor in the School of Education’s Graduate Literacy Department, Dowling College, Oakdale, N.Y. and Teacherwide.com education consultant
Movin’ On Up!
In an effort to be more organized in my blogging I have combined my Back Door Homeschool Tools and my Elementary Spirits blogs all in one cute new place! Now all of my homeschool advice, activities and articles will be here where you can get a more personal glimpse of my family and how we homeschool. You can also follow my progress as a Wii Fit Mommii. Should be fun, stay tuned!
All new posts will now be at Elementary Spirits.
Disneyland Homeschool Rally
The official 3rd Annual Not Back to School Days Rally™ at Disneyland – September 14-17, 2009 - is now going to offer a full service conference and you won’t want to miss it!
This is a great opportunity to show the public what homeschooling is really all about – and celebrate our right to homeschool - as we embark in one of the most family-friendly places on earth – Disneyland! The highlights for this year’s Rally and Conference are:
- Deeply discounted group rates on park hopper tickets
- Y.E.S. classes taught by Disney staff – learn concepts in Physics, Animation, History, Leadership
- Conference with exhibit hall, speakers, workshops, more
- Food discounts at the conference
- Deeply discounted hotel rooms at Disney hotels
- Homeschool Talent Show
- Homecoming Dance for Teens
- Welcome Reception to meet new friends
- Twilight sessions for parents after the parks close
- Gifts and Talents Fair (show off your favorite subject)
- T-Shirts and Buttons to identify homeschoolers in the parks
- Souvenir Program
Membership in SHEA is not required to attend any of these activities. To find out more about this year’s rally, please visit our website: http://www.southwest-home-education.com
To go straight to the reservations page, use this link: http://sheadisney2009.eventbrite.com
Hope to see you!
Dianne McLean
Regional Director
The View’s Joy Behar Calls Homeschoolers Demented
I guess I am not so shocked at anything that is said on The View but I guess I am most put off in the casual way that Behar says that ‘a lot of homeschoolers are demented’ and that they ‘learn to be afraid of other children’. Her attitude more than the words bother me. Start listening at the 5:45 mark and you will see what I mean. Kudos to Elisabeth Hasselbeck (with whom I have not always agreed) for her support.
So, what do you think?
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