Archive Notice:
This is an archived version of the emailed newsletter: "Updates!" All contact info has been deleted for privacy sake. If you need information on any of the events/items posted on this blog please email ccheupdates@gmail.com for further information.
Gymnastics Starts – Today!!
The gymnastics program is set to start on Monday October 25th (starting at 2:45 for K & under and 3:30 for school-aged kids) at the E-center Gymnasium (the Gymn in the Little Gem building in Lake Linden). Please see the linked pamphlet for registration information:
If you have further questions please call (withheld for archive)
Fieldtrip to Lake Linden School Forest (RSVP TODAY!)
On October 29th (Friday) at 1:30 p,m. at the Lake Linden School Forest we will have another field trip as described below. Depending on the number of families that attend, it could cost ~$4 or so per family. Bring your tree guide books and other plant identification material. We will have a great time, again!
Tree Identification and Determining Forest Types
Michelle (withheld for archive), from MTU and her husband Justin, a licensed consulting forester, will lead us in a forestry field trip at the Lake Linden School Forest on Friday, October 29th at 1:30. We will be identifying trees using dichotomous keys and field guides, along with determining the forest types by observing the soil and ground vegetation present.
Justin will also demonstrate the high-tech tools foresters currently use to take forest measurements and we will compare these with the tools used in the past.
Please RSVP to (withheld for archive) TODAY (Monday October 25th) so that we can determine the level of interest in the field trip. We hope to get at least 4 or 5 families so that we can share in the reasonable cost ($25) of the field trip and keep these opportunities coming for our students! If you aren't sure you can come and you don't RSVP, you are still very welcome to just show up, but we need enough families to confirm so that we can commit to the field trip. Thanks!
CCHE Board Meeting Highlights -
On Thursday, October 14th CCHE hosted a Parents' Night Out in which general homeschooling resource materials were shared. Additional topics of discussion at the Parents' Night Out included the reasons for/benefits of homeschooling and how to convince skeptical family of your choice to homeschool.
This was followed by the quarterly board meeting -
Oct 2010 Meeting Highlights:
- There is one seat open for a general board member.
- We are considering changing Parents Night Out from quarterly to monthly. Please take the survey at: http://polldaddy.com/s/571E6873381A10C7
- Look for a new streamlined approach to our web communications in the coming months. Visit us on http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=352919601518, http://ccheupdates.blogspot.com/ and http://www.cchomeeducators.com/ to see some of the newly made improvements, including the addition of a start-up packet for home school newcomers (coming soon).
- We are considering some fund raising options. Amazon.com book sales are being explored. Check out the new books store: http://astore.amazon.com/coppcounhomee-20 (still under construction - check back frequently for new sale items)
- The next Board meeting will be held near the end of January. The discussion topic will be math curriculum.
From Val – Please email any comments or suggestion you have for the webpages/bookstore/etc. to ccheupdates@gmail.com
Interest in Young Adult Readers Program -
Is anyone interested in participating in a book club for young adult readers? The Portage Lake District Library is seeking input towards organizing such a group. Contact Chris at the PLDL if you are interested.
Chris (withheld for archive)
Family Engineering Night - PLDL
This is a great opportunity for parents and kids to have fun while working together to solve science and engineering design challenges.
Family Engineering Night
Monday, November 1
6:00 - 7:30 p.m
Grades K-6
See you there!
Chris (withheld for archive)
Slime-Time Field Trip at PLDL -
On Tuesday, November 9th at 1 pm at the Portage Lake Library, the MTU Society for Biomaterials is going to show our 4th through 12th grade students about Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering!!
Slime Time Hands-On Lesson & Career Opportunities!!
The Society for Biomaterials is a national society student chapter at Michigan Tech who show interest in the advancement of math and science in the field of biomaterials.
The Slime Time presentation consists of a brief talk about engineering and biomaterials.
After the short presentation, students divide into groups and are shown different biomedical devices, such as a knee and hip prosthesis, stents, and many other devices.
Students are asked to identify what types of material properties they feel would be important to consider for this device and that they think could be made better.
Following the presentation of the devices, students get to make slime using solutions of borax, glue, and food coloring (my kids have made this before). The slime is used to demonstrate viscoelastic material properties and how this relates to the body, and why it is important for the design of biomedical devices.
Please bring a quart size Ziploc bag that seals well, for each of your students – 4th grade thru highschool that will be participating. Younger siblings and parents are welcome to attend and help their 4th – 12th grade siblings/children.
RSVP with your number of students to (withheld for archive) by the end of the day November 5th if you know that you plan to attend, so that we can get an approximate count (like ~5 vs. ~30) of students attending so that we have enough supplies available. Please come even if you didn't get a chance to RSVP, though.
Spectrum Training Systems – Appleton, WI
November 10th: "Preventing Special Education Due Process Through Effective Educational Collaboration"
With Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D., a Professor of Special Education, and Chair of the Diversity in Learning & Development Department at the National-Louis University in Chicago. He received his doctorate in Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and instructs a number of different subjects such as: individualized curriculum and instruction; transition; socio-emotional supports; differentiated instruction; introduction to children and adolescents with exceptional educational needs; and collaborative and consultative teaming and teaching.
Strategies for immediately applying special education collaborative success will be shared in this dynamic workshop. Topics include effective teaching, information recording, data-progress procedures, interpersonal relationship building, active listening and problem-solving. Dr. Schwarz has been a vital part of many due process procedures serving as an expert witness and has experienced first-hand what is needed to prevent due process. He will use this knowledge in providing the most important and current information for making teaching and recording procedures valuable and accountable.
November 11th: "No More Meltdowns: Handling Challenging Behaviors & Teaching Social Skills"
With Jed Baker, Ph.D., the Director of the Social Skills Training Project in Maplewood, New Jersey. He writes, lectures, and provides training across the country on the topic of social skills training for individuals with Asperger Syndrome and related Pervasive Developmental Disorders. His work has been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.
Students on the autism spectrum often present with difficulty regulating their feelings and interacting socially. This interactive workshop describes how to handle meltdowns and design effective behavior plans to prevent these moments and reduce frustration and anxiety. The second part of the presentation details strategies to motivate students to learn, ways to teach social skills, how to generalize skills into the natural setting and increase acceptance and tolerance from peers.
One day fee: $140
Two day fee: $205
Visit web page for more information and registration
Fourth Thursday in History -
Copper Country Calamities
Fires have been all-too common in Copper Country history, and have had a major impact on the communities we live and work in today. Join Avis of the Houghton-Keweenaw County Genealogical Society as she presents an illustrated discussion of some of the dramatic blazes that occurred between 1869 and 1959, and describes how they have affected our history.
West has been investigating historic fires and other calamities for several years. She will explain why fires in the past were so bad they could destroy an entire town, describe how some of those communities rebuilt, and explain why others did not. She will also highlight the technological advancements that have made communities safer over time: the invention and installation of call boxes; fire hydrants; and pumpers have made communities much more responsive to the dangers of fire. West's work examines not only the way Copper Country communities have changed because of fire, but more importantly, highlights peoples' resiliency in the face of difficult and challenging times.
This program will be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 28th, at the Calumet Township Fire Hall, located at 56825 Mine Street, in Calumet, Michigan. It is part of the Fourth Thursday in History program sponsored by Keweenaw National Historical Park.
The Fourth Thursday in History series arranges public presentations on important aspects of Copper Country and regional history, including techniques for historic preservation. Presentations are scheduled in venues throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula, particularly at historic sites associated with specific topics. They are free and open to the public.
For further information, including specific directions to this event, contact Keweenaw National Historical Park (withheld for archive), or check the web at www.nps.gov/kewe.
Items to Remember:
Parents' Night Out Quiz – CCHE wants to organize a monthly Parent's Night (or other) get together. Please take a moment to participate in the quiz that will help guide this event! http://polldaddy.com/s/571E6873381A10C7
Open Swim at Finlandia University – every Thursday, 1-2pm ($2 per a person; $6 for a family, with possible gym time afterwards until 2:30). We've had an incredible turn-out. Parents can swim too or enjoy some time chatting with other adults. This is an excellent way to get to know other homeschoolers while giving the kids some exercise and group activities!
Vote for Copper Country Humane Society – help them win a $2,000 grant. Just visit: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3
Community Comments/Questions:
CALL FOR AUTHORS – CCHE would like to start putting articles on one of their blog sites and Facebook fan page. This is a great way for our kids and parents to get published. If you have any ideas you'd like to try out – please contact me at: ccheupdates@gmail.com. Different formats can be accommodated and full credit will be given to the author. Once enough articles are collected, there may also be an opportunity to have the book published!
To visit the sites where the articles would initially be posted – check out:
http://cchearticles.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=154729924564619
Do you have a blog? Many homeschool families maintain blogs to keep the extended families updated on activities. If you have a blog that is appropriate for all ages and caters to homeschooling, education or family – CCHE would love to link to it! Just email the link to me or if it is on blogger.com just "follow" http://ccheupdates.blogspot.com. Thank you!
From Val (Updates Coordinator):
I spent last week making sure your privacy and personal information is protected. All archived posts are now edited to remove contact info and the contacts used to produce the "Updates!" were all organized and confirmed. Please let me know if you have any further concerns about your privacy or how your personal information is used/stored by Copper Country Home Educators.
You may remember that I've sent out the link for Teachers Pay Teachers before but it deserves repeating. This website lets teachers (including homeschooling parents) sell lesson plans, worksheets and other originally designed educational materials. So if you make your own lesson plans or worksheets and would like to make a little money – check it out. Additionally, Teacher Pay Teachers offers some free materials (10 each week). Here's a couple from this week that I found interesting…
Math Connection for Literature - "Holes" By Louis Sachar - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holes-Louis-Sachar-Math-Connection-Coordinate-Points
Art/Technology Connection – Self Portraits
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classic-Self-portrait-with-Technology
U.S. History – Alexander Hamiliton, St. Croix and Slavery
Other free materials (over 8,000!):
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Free-Downloads
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http://www.cchomeeducators.com/
Remember if you miss or lose a CCHE Updates email you can view an archive of our Updates on our home website and on: http://ccheupdates.blogspot.com
CCHE does not pass on emails/addresses/names from any of our mailing lists (electronic or snail mail) to any other groups, organizations or individuals.
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