TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR (CASH OR CHEQUE ONLY)
Homeschooling Kaleidoscope Poster 2015 Final PDF
Join the Manitoba Association for Schooling at Home (MASH) for a day of homeschooling encouragement!
TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR (CASH OR CHEQUE ONLY)
Individual Tickets $30 each
Couple’s Tickets for married and common-law partners $40 for two
(If digital payment is a concern, please contact MASH for assistance.)
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Workshops, titles and speakers may by subject to change)
9:00 am Meet and Greet
9:30 Veteran Questions and Answer
Bring your questions and this group of longtime veteran homeschoolers will try to provide answers and
insights into the very rewarding but often difficult adventure of homeschooling.
10:30 Workshop Slot #1
- Homeschool Teen and Young Adult Q and A – Meet some homeschool graduates and older teens one is studying fulltime at college, one is in her second year of engineering, one tried out two universities and then decided to strike out on his own music career, one is helping mentor other homeschool teens, and a few are just about to start their
adult journeys. - Creating Your Own Support Group – Jennifer Gehman is a mother of five children who have been homeschooled since the beginning. Her oldest “graduated” from homeschool two years ago and she is still homeschooling her 17, 16, 14 and 10 year olds. She is a relaxed, eclectic homeschooler who tends to a literary approach a la Charlotte Mason. Her biggest struggles have been second guessing herself and keeping her house clean when 7 creative people are constantly creating masterpieces in it! Jennifer has been a part of five support groups over the years, two of which she was a founding member of. Her first group morphed into a second group as the needs of the community changed. Due to philosophical differences she left the group, which continues to this day. Her third and fourth groups were enjoyable but short lived. Her latest group is a small group of families responsible for creating the homeschool Shakespeare play that is performed every April.
- Strategies for Raising Bilingual or Multilingual Children in a Homeschool Setting – Rachael Fecyk-Lamb is the proud mother of a boy who is being raised in a multilingual and multicultural family. She currently home schools her son and two nephews. Previously she homeschooled two other nephews and sees home education as the best fit for her family. Rachael earned a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education with a specialization in second/additional language education. She also has certificates in Montessori education at the infant/toddler and preschool/ kindergarten levels. In this session, we will discuss what it means to “know a language” and to “really be multi/bilingual”. The importance of literacy for language growth will be emphasized. We will talk about how to support your children’s language growth at all ages. Ideas for parents who are themselves multi/bilingual and strategies for unilingual parents will be provided.
11:30 Workshop Slot #2
- Dads and Homeschooling – Kirby Gehman is a long time homeschooling father who began this journey by letting his wife follow a crazy dream, but quickly became a strong advocate as he saw his children grow and flourish. His oldest daughter, after only ever being homeschooled, recently entered the difficult Creative Communications program at Red River. He has four children still at home completing their education. Join him for an informal discussion of the role of Dads in the homeschooling process and how to navigate the in and outs of providing an education for your children when you are not generally the primary teaching parent.
- Homeschool Organization – Jennifer Gehman manages to alphabetize her spices but can’t remember the last time the floors were washed, the dogs were walked, or her homeschool notification forms were submitted before the due date! She and her partner and five children all live and work from home. They are all creative types acquiring collections of musical instrument, board games, comiccon costumes, unfinished manuscripts, and other paraphernalia, plus they homeschool. She doesn’t have any easy answers, but she will share some tips and ideas for how she stays sane among the clutter and chaos.
- Unschooling Adventure – Sarah Swanson has been homeschooling her two children for six years, since her oldest was in grade 1. She is a longtime member of the Freeskool homeschool group and a firm believer in childled learning. In addition to homeschooling her children she recently completed her training to become a Paramedic. Join her to discuss the ups and downs of an unschooling approach to educating children.
12:30 Bring Your Own Bag Lunch and a refillable water bottle.
1:45 Workshop Slot #3
- Hands-On Homeschool Science – Summer Hansell is a veteran homeschooler of 3 kids, founding member of the winnipeg freeskool group, and past employee of Mad Science of Manitoba where she taught handson science to kids of all ages for more than ten years. She currently lives on a multigenerational mixed farm in the Parklands area, with her partner, Blue Harland, and her kids and grandson; goats, ducks, pigs, geese and too many chickens. In “HandsOn Homeschool Science” we will examine some questions together about the importance of science education and the best ways to approach it. A combination of information sharing, brainstorming, and handson fun designed to inspire our scientific imaginations and renew our homeschool learning adventure.
- Learning Differences in the Homeschool – Linda Harrison has been an occupational therapist for 14 years, primarily in a mental health setting. She is the author of Daily Living Skills Worksheets: Reproducible Resources for Teaching Independent Living Skills. She has homeschooled her two children (now 9 and 11 years old) for 3.5 years, and is a member of the MASH Advisory Committee. Linda will discuss some general approaches and strategies for teaching new material in a way that is adapted to your child’s needs. Some common disorders that can interfere with learning will be briefly described, including high functioning autism (Aspergers), ADHD, sensory processing disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. She will describe the difference between remediation (addressing the child’s abilities) and compensation (adapting the task or the environment to help the child), and give specific examples. A discussion on where to go for assistance will be facilitated.
2:45 Break
3-4 Keynote Speaker – Bonnie Ferguson-Baird
Bonnie FergusonBaird is a wife, and mother of three. Her social work background has led her through teaching, counselling, parenting, leadership, service opportunities and for the last 8 years, homeschooling. Her enthusiasm, humour and a love for learning new things will encourage you to find your own path.
Keep your eyes on the prize! You love your kids, and homeschooling…. Most days! But how do you stay focused on those “not so great” days? Come add some tools to your tool box by finding out how to dream and plan about learning WITH your kids, and how to keep your dream clear and in focus on those “trying” days. Come talk about paths, tomatoes, bathrooms and dreams, and leave feeling connected and encouraged.
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TICKETS – Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another individual. Please email [email protected] with names of original purchaser and new attendee.
There is NO NEED to print paper tickets or confirmation emails. Your name will appear on the attendee list at the door.
LUNCH IS NOT PROVIDED: Please bring your own brown bag lunch and a refillable water bottle.
NURSING BABIES ONLY: While we at MASH love toddlers and children, this event cannot accommodate them!
Individual Tickets $30 each
Couple’s Tickets for married and common-law partners $40 for two
(If digital payment is a concern, please contact MASH for assistance.)