Weekend Activities - Beautiful Fall Weather Edition

It's going to be a beautiful weekend - so here's to getting out and enjoying it while it lasts! Once again, here's a list of things happening in the Cleveland area.

Half Price Books Educator Appreciation Weekend - October 6th-1oth
Discount of 20% this weekend! You'll hear me sing the praises of Half Price Books many, many, times - I love this store. Bring a copy of your letter from the school district you submitted your annual notification to and the store will issue you a discount card that's good for one year. This card gets you a 10% discount anytime as well as the 20% discount that's offered periodically (such as this weekend). Visit their website for more information and to find a store.

Cleveland Metroparks Outdoor Odyssey - Saturday, October 8th
Noon - 4:00pm Kids can pick up a "passport" and travel recreation discoveries at this free, annual event at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights. Young visitors can experience the great outdoors with a variety of fun activities, including fishing, golf putting and chipping, outdoor skills demonstrations, nature crafts and more. For more information call 216-206-1000.

Goblins in the Garden at The Holden Arboretum - October 8th and 9th
11:00-4:30 at the Corning Visitor Center. Celebrate Halloween at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH. Bring your costumed children and trick-or-treat during the daylight hours in our decorated garden setting. Other activities include: wagon rides, leaf trail, cornstalk maze, straw pyramid climb, face and hand painting, live entertainment, and free apples and cider! Dogs on leashes and in costume are welcome as well. Rain or shine event. For more information visit their website.

Autumn Hayrides Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation - Saturday 1-5
In the Strawberry Picnic Area parking lot - take a 30 minute tractor-pulled ride through the forest for $3. For more information call 440-473-3370.

Three Acre Corn Maze - Lake Metroparks Farmpark Kirtland, OH
11-4 daily - have fun navigating the twists and turns of the corn maze. $6 adults and $4 kids ages 2-11pm.

Simply A Maizing
Located in Andover, OH features corn mazes, petting zoo, hay ride and pumpkin patch. Open on the weekends you can find more information at their website.

Hayride and Corn Maze at Pickering Hill Farms Avon, OH
The family-owned farm is celebrating the arrival of fall on their 2-acre pumpkin patch and 1-acre corn maze all month! From noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, you can catch a free hayride out to the patch. The whole festival is free, except a $1 charge per person for the corn maze.

Farm Days at Crocker Park Market Westlake, OH - Saturday, October 8th 9-3
At 11 a.m., the special programs start with wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, pony rides, chalk art, face-painting, antique tractors and live music.

39th Annual Woolybear Festival - Sunday, October 9th Vermillion, OH
Head down to Vermillion for one of the biggest parades in the state - 15 marching bands, floats, animals, clowns, vintage cars and local radio and TV personalities, the parade is expected to be two hours long, starting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on Liberty Avenue.

Cleveland Lakefront State Park Fall Festival - October 15th-16th
1 PM at Euclid Beach • Kids' activities, hayrides, games & crafts • For more information call 216-881-8141 ext 3001 or visit the website.

Have a Great Weekend!

~ Dori

 

Review of Write Shop

Today's post is about the Write Shop writing curriculum.  I first heard about this program from Colleen Crowley and she sounded so excited about it that I asked her to share her experience here on Cleveland Homeschooler.  Colleen has been a homeschooling mom for eight years and is the founder of the TripleCHomeschoolers group, which you can find out more about on the groups page. 

 

 

Writing paragraphs or papers was agony for me in school and I was concerned about how I was going to help my children become good writers when I had no idea what I was doing. We use Abeka for most subjects and love it, but I didn't feel their way of teaching how to write papers and such were very user friendly at all.  In fact I couldn't find any program that seemed parent friendly until "Write Shop." This program breaks it down, step by step, has checklists for both the child and the parent, so both know what is expected. There is an abundance of word lists in the back, directions in great detail per step, pages of advice and explanations, just so much help. There is so much help and information it was a bit overwhelming at first to figure it all out!

It has 3 tracts to pick from, you can complete it in a year, two years, or 3 years, it's up to you.   And normally the child only spends about 15 minutes a day on the lesson, so they don't feel overwhelmed.

For the first time since I started homeschooling 8 years ago, I feel with this program that I'll be able to help my children learn to write efficiently, clearly, creatively and effectively. I think it's the most parent and child friendly writing program out there.

I wish I had been taught this way! I can't rave enough about this program and I can see how far it will be taking us once we've completed the program. My son's papers have been written beautifully. I was amazed at the talent my son seems to have found due to this program.  We're doing the 3 year tract and we've completed the first year.  We started in 8th grade, and by the time he finishes the program, he'll be writing college level papers.  My younger son has seen how much the older one has enjoyed the program and is looking forward to starting with the program when he reaches 8th grade.

They do offer an elementary program, but I haven't used it so can't comment, except that I'm sure it's wonderful as well.

Colleen was even kind enough to share a sample of her son's writing - the assignment was to describe a season:

Time to Fall

    As I swing open my front door, fall overcomes me and my senses.  Sweet and fragrant, the aroma of autumn hung in the air.  Red, brown, orange, yellow, and gray leaves all gently fell to the ground, slightly crunching as people stepped upon them.  Children jumped into the leaf piles that the adults had raked, frustrating the adults.  Birds chirped as they rested on the barren branches to prepare for the flight south as winter was well on its way.  The evergreens forced themselves to be seen through the rainbow colored trees, just as much as a tired and weary child does to those around him.  The sweet cool air brushed up against my face revealing the sight of my warm breath as I exhaled, reminding me of the season coming ahead; the joy of it all!

 

Thank you Colleen! For more information click here to go to the Write Shop website. Has anyone else used this program? Is there another program that's worked well for you?

~ Dori

End-of-September-I-Can't-Believe-It's-October Upcoming Events

I have some bad news. That giveaway I mentioned last week? It's not happening. Yet! As it turns out, that giveaway wasn't so great. It was something that I was contacted about and after some preliminary research I thought it would be a good opportunity. BUT, after numerous attempts at using the product myself and only ending up frustrated, I decided I don't have the heart to pass it on to you.  So,  I am working on a replacement giveaway for next week - something that maybe you'll actually want.  Please forgive me.  And be sure to check back next week.

I'll be heading out of town for a few days but wanted to highlight a few things happening soon that may interest you.  If you know of something that fellow homeschoolers and their families may be interested in, then please share with us.

Have a great weekend!

~ Dori

 



 

Family Friday Night: Folktales Campfire at North Chagrin Reservation Nature Center - Friday, 7:30-9:00pm. Roast marshmallows around a fire and listen to stories about owls, bats and more - free!

Spanish Classes in Cleveland Heights and University Heights start this Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st.  Classes are for grades 2-8 and spaces are still available. For more information you can check out the Yahoo Group page here.

Hayes Civil War Reenactment - Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH. For full information, including ticket prices and schedule of events for each day click here.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Homeschool Focus Group - Monday, October 3rd 4-5:30pm.  The group will be helping us to determine the effectiveness of a web tool the Zoo is creating to be available to educators called a “Virtual Learning Environment”.  For more information or to attend please contact Chad Fifer, Education Specialist 216-661-6500 ext.4457

Make Your Own Mad Science - Tuesday, October 4th 4:00pm at Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library - Free! How would you like to build your own catapult, or shoot off a rocket using ordinary kitchen ingredients? Kids in grade 3 to 6 can join us three weeks in a row for a scientific blast of fun! You can check out the website here.

Science of Agriculture Workshop - Grades K-5 October 4th and grades 6-12 on October 5th.  Information and registration can be found here.

Newport Aquarium Fall Homeschool Days - October 12th and 14th tickets only $11 each. More information can be found here.

 

Five Reasons Why Homeschooling is Crazy

Is homeschooling a crazy idea?  Yes.  And no.

Five Reasons Why Homeschooling is Crazy

1. Your kids are with you all the time.
2. Your kids are with you all. The. Time. It bears repeating.
3. You are completely responsible for the education of your children.
4. Your kids won’t spend a lot of time around other children the same age.
5. Your children may not learn what they are “supposed” to for their grade level.

I don't know what this picture has to do with this post, I just thought it was funny.

Five Reasons Why Homeschooling Makes Sense

1. Your kids are with you all the time.  You get to experience the good, the bad and everything in between together as a family. 
2. Your kids are with you all. The. Time. It bears repeating.  You have the opportunity to protect tender hearts and teach by example.
3. You are completely responsible for the education of your children. You get to decide what they learn, when they learn and how they learn it. You can include or exclude the things that don’t mesh with their individual learning styles or your family’s values.
4. Your kids won’t spend a lot of time around other children the same age. They’ll make friends with kids who are older and kids who are younger. They’ll learn to treat people of all ages and races with respect – from babies to the elderly.  They’ll be better prepared for the “real world” when they find themselves working alongside people of all different ages and ethnic groups.
5. Your children may not learn what they are “supposed” to for their grade level. They will have the ability to work ahead or take more time with what they are learning and the freedom to explore their unique interests.

Homeschooling is not for every family. It is one of many choices for educating your children. But for MY family, it has truly been a blessing.

~ Dori

Why do you feel that homeschooling is crazy?  Why do you feel that it makes sense?

Upcoming Events and Some Cookies from Heaven

Happy Fall! Here are some things happening soon that may interest you:

Museum Day - Tomorrow! FREE admission to participating  museums in the area. For more information click here.

School Pictures for Homeschoolers - Hobbyist Photographer Jodie M. Amiot is offering a special for homeschooling families in the area to have pictures taken at a great rate. You can get more information on her Facebook page here.

Mentor Library Lego Club -  Tomorrow! Check out the calendar for more information.

Homeschool Martial Arts- Classes starting this week!  If you are at all interested, please contact Mr. Hannah for a free class visit.  He integrates character training and overall fitness into the program, as well as peer teaching and leadership opportunities. More information can be found on the classes page.

Next week I'll have details about exciting things happening in October and a giveaway!

First I need to wrap my brain around the idea that it is, in fact, almost OCTOBER.

Also - I don't know about you, but cold, rainy days sometimes make me feel like baking. Or, more specifically, like eating baked goods.  And so I share this recipe with you. These are quite possibly the best cookies ever in the history of everything. I'm currently regretting my decision to NOT buy any chocolate chips this week at the grocery store.

Brown Butter Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown butter coconut what?!

Small Pieces of Heaven would also be an appropriate title.

My husband came home from work one day and told me about these cookies.  Someone he works with had baked them and brought them in to share.  He ate about 42 of them.  I'm guessing.

A Little About Me and A Little About You

Warning: this post is a little on the long side. BUT - there's a surprise at the end!

A Little About Me

I thought that I'd take a little time to introduce myself and explain more about why I started this website.  I suppose you could say that it was born out of a few things; passion, frustration, vision.  I have a passion for being a homeschooling mom.  I have felt much frustration in the inability to find information and articles related to homeschooling, specifically in the Cleveland area, all in one spot.  And I have a vision for what I hope that this website will be for the homeschooling community.

I am a homeschooling mom to four boys and I've written previously about when I came to the decision to homeschool, why I came to that decision and a little about how homeschooling in our family looks.  And, in case you need a good laugh, I even shared the details of one of our homeschooling days with a newborn.  It's a topic that I've become passionate about and look forward to sharing with you.

Gym Class for Homeschoolers!

I'm on my way back from a late summer vacation in Florida, but wanted to pop in to tell you about a new gym class that starts this Friday, September 9th.  The class will be held at the Hillcrest YMCA in Lyndhurst and will run for five and six weeks at a time. Each class will include free play time and a structured class in a different sport.  Class will be weekly on Fridays from 9:30am - 11:00am and the cost is $20 a session for YMCA members and $40 a session for non-members. If you're not a member you will also pay a yearly $25 program member fee which gives you the ability to sign up for any classes without becoming a member.



This is such a great opportunity for kids to get out and be active while learning about many different sports. The first session will start with baseball, then football, basketball, backyard sports, tennis, soccer and sports combo (possibly to include swimming since that session will be in the spring).

If you have any questions or need to register contact the Hillcrest YMCA 5000 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst, OH 44124 (216) 382-4300.

There's only a few days left to register for the first session and it's a really great deal. My boys are VERY excited and we hope to see you there!

~ Dori