Conference 2007 an overwhelming success!

The Conference on October 6, 2007 was well attended and  the feedback CHN has been receiving is overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to all who helped make the day so successful.

Please check back for details on the next CHN conference and note that volunteers will be needed if it is to occur. Please e-mail us if you are willing to help make sure another conference happens.

For your reference, here is the schedule which was followed this year:
 

• 9:00 - 9:45 am
  
  Registration open.
  Used Curriculum Sale, Book Sale, Exhibitors, Vendors, Bake Sale and Refreshments Sale open.
   

• 9:45 am
  
  Welcome Presentation
   

• 10:00 - 10:50

  Trusting Your Child's Inner Compass
  Speaker: Special Guest Speaker Peter Kowalke

  Critical Thinking Skills
  Speaker: Cindy Powers

  Little Known Stories and Facts about CT
  Speaker: Jan Brennan

  Hands-on Funshop
  Felting for all ages, with an adult
  Facilitated by Stephanie Niles
  Supply fee of $5. Limited to 15 participants.
  Make a washcloth and soap. We'll wrap natural soap with sheep's wool, called roving, and turn it into felt right on the bar of soap using hands and warm water. Learn about some of the different ways to felt wool and experience wet-felting. Each participant will bring home your own felted bar of soap.
   

• 11:00 - 11:50

  Legal Updates: What do we need to know?
  Speakers: Judy Aron and Deborah Stevenson

  The Unschooling Lifestyle
  Speakers: Mary Draper, Ginnie Chase and Tucker Chase

  Preschool Homeschool
  Speaker: Lani Siciliano

  Confident Home Educators: Overcome the doubts, fears, and guilt experienced by some homeschoolers.
  Speaker: Alan Schaeffer

  CT Homeschool Inclusive:
  Meet the Founder and enjoy a Meet and Greet for members.

  Hands-on Funshop
  Artist Trading Cards
  Facilitated by Erika Pitre-Davis
  Come learn techniques and make your own trading cards, then do some trading.
   

• 12:00 - 12:50
  
  Break for Lunch and Live Entertainment
  Bring a blanket and picnic lunch and enjoy the anticipated warm weather and beautiful grounds. Information on local restaurants will be available for those who prefer to leave the grounds. Members of the Central Connecticut Civic Youth Orchestra will perform and be available to answer questions.
   

• 1:00 - 1:50
  
  Frugal Families: Homeschooling on a budget
  Speakers: C.J. Wong, Jennifer Murphy, and Anna Seitz Hickey

  The Balancing Act: How to balance your needs with those of your children
  Speaker: Mary Draper, Sue Cox

  Reading Readiness:  What about “late readers”?
  Speakers: Special Guest Speaker Peter Kowalke, and Laurie Doig

  Classical Commentary: Learn how the classical curriculum works, its challenges and rewards, and how to tailor it to make it work for you and your child.
  Speaker: Diane Speed

  The Gift of Grandparents: A session for Grandparents to learn more about homeschooling
  Speakers: Cheryl Munson and Rosemary Maloney

  Children's Activity:
  Creative Movement and Jazz for 3-6 year olds, with an adult
  Faciliated by Zandy LaPlant

  Hands-on Funshop
  Chess
  Facilitated by Jake LaPlant
  Instruction, competition, hints and tips. Exact level will be determined by participation.
   

• 2:00 - 2:50

  Living with Joy: Get in touch with the joyful side of homeschooling life
  Speaker: Erika Davis-Pitre

  Support support: Secrets to a successful homeschool support group
  Speakers: Sue Stern and Sue Cox

  More children, More Love: The joys and challenges of homeschooling a large family:
  Speakers: Didi O’Brien and Lani Siciliano

  Homeschooling Dads: How to answer “those” questions
  Speaker: Wil Mueller

  Hands-on Funshop
  Meishi for all ages, younger children with an adult
  Facilitated by Chrissy Panciera
  Make your own introduction and friendship cards using in the style of Japanese Meishi cards. Meishi is a Japanese business card. However, children and young adults get really into the making and then sharing of Meishi in Japan. They can contain the persons name, picture, email, address, etc...as much or as little as you would want a new friend to know about you. Kids hand them out and exchange Meishi and they are as fun to decorate as they are to share.

  Hands-on Funshop
  Ship Drawing
  Facilitated by Michael Martinez
  Step by step ship drawing. The ships included will be a merchant ship, battleship, and ferry.
   

• 3:00 - 3:50

  Meet Grown Homeschoolers
  Special Guest Speaker: Peter Kowalke and Grown Homeschooled Special Guests

  Special Standouts: Meeting the needs of special children
  Speakers: Ann Mione, Theresa Lynch, and Tami Galili

  Delightful Diversity: The many faces of homeschooling
  Speakers: Erika Davis-Pitre and Vicki Marnin

  Lapbooking for parents and kids
  Speaker: Vicki Merrill

  Hands-on Funshop
  Dance: Jazz, Hip Hop & Modern, for ages 7 and up
  Facilitated by Zandy LaPlant
   

• 4:00 - 4:50

  Viewing of Part One of Growing Without Schooling
  Presenter: Peter Kowalke

  Unschooling 101
  Speakers: Ned Vare, Luz Shosie, and Helen LaPlant

  A Day in the Life: Homeschooling days
  Speakers: Christine Montano and Erika Davis-Pitre

  Busy Bees: Setting up spelling, geography, etc. bees for your group
  Speaker: Joan Myers

  Hands-on Funshop
  Henna
  Facilitated by Sonali Karim
  Come enjoy a personal mehndi session! Mehndi is the ancient Indian art of applying henna paste to adorn the body, usually the hands and feet, with intricate designs and patterns. Henna is also used in many other cultures around the world to decorate the body. Henna is completely natural and safe, and designs wash out completely in a few weeks.
  
  Hands-on Funshop
  Beading for all ages, younger children with an adult
  Facilitated by Peg Bigger
  Make a beaded project.
   

• 5:00 - 5:50

  Viewing of Part Two of Growing Without Schooling
  followed by a question and answer period
  Presenter: Peter Kowalke

  Beyond Curriculum: Community Resources
  Speaker: Loretta Santos

  The Gift of Homeschooling for Gifted Children
  Speaker Lorel Shea

  Hands-on Funshop
  Bookmaking
  Facilitated by Karen Sugalski
  Make a book to fill with your own inspiration.

Special Guest Speaker:  Peter Kowalke

Peter Kowalke is the producer, videographer, and editor of Grown Without Schooling. Released in 2002, Grown Without Schooling was one of the first documentaries produced about homeschooling. Peter currently writes about grown homeschoolers for Life Learning Magazine. He has also been a columnist for Home Education Magazine and Home Educator's Family Times, and speaks regularly at homeschooling conferences. In 1997 was the subject of a feature article in the New York Times Sunday Magazine.

Additional Conference Features:

• Teen lounge, Little Ones room and a location for games throughout the day. (Special thanks to Jenna Cox for her help in the Little Ones room.)

• Exhibit hall with new vendors and old favorites

• Homeschool family cottage industry exhibitors

• New and expanded used book / curriculum / puzzle / toy sale

• Bake Sale

• A playground on this beautiful, private, family friendly facility