Educational Freedom

CT Law and Policy

How to Homeschool

CHN Services

Finding Support

Conference Information

Supporting CHN
 

Please help support this website
by placing your Amazon.com
orders through this link.

CT Homeschool Network
PO Box 115
Goshen, CT 06756

Copyright © 2003 - 2007
CT Homeschool Network
All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

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