Iowa City Secular Homeschool Group

Are you interested in Drumming Lessons?

2011-04-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

This is a video from our first drumming session. We are trying to make arrangements for more sessions. If you are interested, get in touch with us.

2010-11-12T08:50:00.001-08:00

November Newsletter!

2010-11-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

November Newsletter

This is a new idea and we are going to see how it takes off.
I will send out reminders but those who are interested should start thinking about what they would like to see in the December Newsletter.

Submissions might include: articles, recipes,craft ideas, artwork, poetry, short stories or essays, curriculum review.

You get the idea. Enjoy!

FFFF

2010-10-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Over at Fiddle Mama Tara has been doing a fun and frugal family adventures post and since she is on her way home to us, I thought we could fill in.

Saturday Evening @ The Center
English Country Dance

This one isn't quite free but I thought it fell under the frugal category.

There will be a Special Halloween English Country Dance this Saturday. Costumes are encouraged! Hope to see you there.

English Country Dance
Saturday, Oct. 30
7:00 P.M.
The Center
28 S Linn St
Iowa City

Beginners welcome
No partner necessary.
$3 donation is appreciated, thanks.
For more info call 384-8209 or 338-5378

Sunday Afternoon @ Uptown Bills

Family Halloween Party
Uptown Bill's
730 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA
Bring the "little cruisers" to Uptown Bill's for a Halloween Party. There will be treats and live music.

Tara is much better at digging this sort of thing up than I am so be sure to check out the link to her blog next Friday.

Clarification May Be in Order

2010-10-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

On October 8th I was contacted by Rob Daniels of the Iowa City Press Citizen asking me about doing a profile story about the group. I took the question to the yahoo group and enough members were okay with meeting with him so I began working to set things up. In the interest of providing Mr. Daniels with some background about the group I sent this information back to him in an e-mail.

The IC Secular Homeschool group is composed of both independent hs’ing families and hs’ing families that are registered with the district homeschool assistance program (HSAP). So while the testing out at the center doesn’t impact all of our members, I think attendance may be low at activities this week and it would be better to try to connect next week, if that would work for you.

As a bit of history, the IC Secular group has been around for many years however in previous years it was known as ICHEN. The group changed its name and clarified its policies a couple of years ago. Our official tagline states, “This secular homeschool association welcomes all Iowa City and surrounding area families who are interested in creating community with homeschooling families of all backgrounds and lifestyles.” We have a blog, a facebook group and a yahoo group. The blog (which we don’t update as frequently as we should) address is http://iowacitysecularhomeschool.blogspot.com/

Mr. Daniels then turned that information along with personal interviews done on October 20th into an article which appeared in today's edition of the Press Citizen.

Suffice it to say that we feel that quotes were about as accurately relayed as the information from the e-mail and I have concerns that the article could create a great deal of confusion that we should try to clear up.

First of all, the IC Secular Homeschool group has nothing to do with organizing testing. In fact, not all of our members choose to test. I have no idea where that came from. The only time the testing was mentioned was in the context above. It never came up in the interview.

Secondly, as to our groups association with the ICHSAP; I don't think Mr. Daniels quite grasped the distinction between the two groups. I don't know how I could have made it much clearer than I did in the e-mail. So I guess that is why the HSAP figured so prominently in the article, because it wasn't something we talked about a good deal.

I thought I did a good job of pointing out that we were a different group than the HSAP. I mentioned our group is able to extend support to families who might live in outlying districts or who might not be interested in joining an HSAP. I also think I mentioned that I hosted a coffee for members of our group to meet Jan back in the days when the HSAP was just getting started. I do know that I said, "We were here first." in a very affected, petulant manner so there shouldn't have been any confusion unless Mr. Daniels just wasn't listening to us at all.

Sarah's comment about the HSAP was made when we were discussing curriculum choices and homeschooling methods and my understanding was that she made the comment referencing the fact that the ICHSAP was hands off in terms of those decisions.

To be clear, those members of this group who also belong to the ICHSAP see it as fantastic source of help and support. Dan and Kathryn work very hard to create educational programming and to provide learning opportunities and those of us who do participate appreciate their hard work very much.

But I would also like to make it clear that we are a distinct and separate group. We are creating a community of homeschoolers which welcomes ALL families and offers friendship and support. I am not sure that article made that clear.

2010-10-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came by today!

Potluck Tomorrow

2010-10-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

I've had several e-mails asking for directions to the potluck tomorrow so I thought I would post them on here, too. The potluck is from 1-4 p.m. and it is a costume party.
You will want to bring a dish to share and table service.

Drinks will be provided. Those who have been to previous years parties know about the steaming cauldron ;-)

There will also be activities and games. So be sure to come out!

Directions to the Solon Public Library:

From Iowa City head North on Hwy 1 (Dodge Street turns into Hwy 1), you will go across I-80 overpass.

Drive North for 8 miles, go through most of the town, won't take long ;), then turn Left onto Main St. (BP gas station on the corner, and blinking traffic light)

Keep going forward at the 4 way stop sign, just down the hill and on the right side of the road will be the Solon Public Library.

The meeting room is on the right in the hallway.

Don't miss our remaining October Events!

2010-10-11T19:58:00.001-07:00

In addition to our weekly meetups at the Rec Center and the ICM,
we have the following events planned for October.

October Potluck & Costume Party

Sunday, October 24 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Solon Public Library
320 W Main St

Bring a dish to share and table service. We will have games and activities planned with a Halloween theme.

Spiders K-5
Wednesday, October 13 · 10:00am - 11:00am
ICN Room Iowa City Public Library
Do you have students who love spiders? In this session, a naturalist from the Polk County Conservation Board discusses different types of spiders, such as web weavers and hunters. Students make a spider web and learn how spiders catch their food. This interactive program also allows time for students to ask questions, so come prepared.

Beastly Poetry
Monday, October 25 · 10:00am - 11:00am
ICN Room Iowa City Public Library

Boo! It's almost Halloween and this interactive poetry session is a must for students as we share Polka-Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown and more! Spiders, ghosts and creepy creatures abound as we discuss poetic elements and write poetry together. Seasonal writing and publishing ideas and activities will also be presented. Don't be scared...sign up today for a beautifully, beastly good time!

Registrants agree to provide each student with the following materials:

•two 8 1/2 X 11 sheets of paper
•pencil

2010-10-08T20:32:00.001-07:00

Learn Free from Lillian Mauser-Carter on Vimeo.

September Potluck

2010-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out Sunday.
It was a great time!

Reminder: Potluck on Sunday

2010-09-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that the September Potluck is Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the Saddlebrook Clubhouse.

Please bring your own table service and a dish to share.
Also if you would like to bring a game, feel free but there are usually plenty to choose from.

Directions to Saddlebrook Clubhouse

Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education

2010-09-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Education scientist Sugata Mitra tackles one of the greatest problems of education -- the best teachers and schools don't exist where they're needed most. In a series of real-life experiments from New Delhi to South Africa to Italy, he gave kids self-supervised access to the web and saw results that could revolutionize how we think about teaching.

K-12 Connection Class: Insects

2010-09-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have registered for the following classes:

Amphibians and Reptiles
Wednesday September 22, 2010, 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Scheduled ICN Site: 694 (Iowa City Public Library)

Join naturalists from the Warren County Conservation Board to explore the similarities and differences between these groups of animals. Learn about the characteristics and life cycles of amphibians and reptiles. Also discover which creatures live in Iowa. Live animals will be on-hand throughout the presentation.
The Warren County naturalists involve students in the educational fun throughout the session, so please come prepared with questions about these fascinating groups of animals.

Insects
Wednesday September 29, 2010, 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Scheduled ICN Site: 694 (Iowa City Public Library)

“They're creepy and they're crawly, but they're awesome! Students learn what it takes to be part of the largest group of animals in the world. Students are invited to get up close and personal with a giant cockroach and other 'creepy crawly critters' by exploring the fascinating world of insects. This interactive program also allows time for students to ask questions, so come prepared.”

It would be fun if we could get a nice group together to participate. The boys like it because we get to see other groups of homeschoolers from throughout the state who are also participating in the class.

If parents of preschoolers want to drop their older kids (K-5 is the suggested range for this class) off in the ICN room and then take their preschooler to storytime that would work out well.

Fall Schedule of Events

2010-09-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

So we will be updating our weekly activities, a bit, so that they better coincide with the ICHSAP activities.

Gymnasium Fun

Robert A Lee Rec Center

1:00 pm. - 3:00 p.m,

Monday Afternoons starting September 13th

Iowa Children's Museum

1:00 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Wednesday Afternoons starting September 8th

Teen's Meetup

Meet at the ICPL
1:00 p.m. _ ?

Also there has been some interest in getting together to swim on Friday afternoons, but plans haven't really been finalized for that, yet.

Back-to-School Update

2010-08-12T15:22:00.001-07:00

There are a few events applicable to homeschool parents coming up here in Iowa City area.

Jo Ann Fabrics is hosting their Teacher Appreciation Days Saturday & Sunday, August 14th & 15th. If you aren't already signed up for their teacher rewards program, there is more information at Joann.com/teachers

Staples is hosting their Teacher Appreciation on August 21st.

Both companies extend their teacher appreciation programs to homeschooling parents. If you hear of any other events like this, please pass the information along and I will share it here.

The Iowa City Homeschool Assistance Program will be having registration from August 16th -18th at the Homeschool Assistance Center located behind Northwest Junior High at 1507 8th Street in Coralville. If you need more information e-mail Dan McRoberts at mcrobert.dan@iccsd.k12.ia.us

Also Save the Date September 26th on your calendar. The Iowa City Secular Homeschool Group will be hosting a potluck at the Saddlebrook Clubhouse from 1 - 4:30 p.m. I will post more information later next week but we are thinking of doing a curriculum swap if we have enough interest.

2010-07-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I enjoy Sir Ken? This video was brought to my attention by the Iowa Community College Online Consortium which is working on a program called "Learning Paths" which will emphasize personalized learning. I strongly recommend that those of you working with high school students look into the ICCOC .

Regularly Scheduled Events

2010-06-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Park Days @ Wetherby Park
2400 Taylor Drive, Iowa City
Fridays from 1:30 p.m until we go home. We were there until almost 4 p.m. last Friday
We were going to rotate parks but I think that makes it hard to keep track of and the kids LOVED the new splash pad. So definitely come with swim suits, water and snacks. Also, there is a restroom at the park. If transportation is an issue, please call Stephany

If it rains, we meet at the Robert A. Lee Rec Center Gymnasium.

Picnic and Swimming
We plan on doing this every other Monday barring weather which has not been working in our favor this month.
Next Date: June 28.
12:30 p.m. - until we go home
F.W Kent Park

Meet at the picnic area outside the swim area. We are planning on a potluck style picnic but never really know how many people are in town and planning on showing up.

Iowa Children's Museum Playdate
Coralridge Mall
1:30 p.m - 3:30 p.m
Every other Tuesday.
Next Date: July 6th

Friday Park Days: Rain or Shine

2010-06-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check the calendar for info about the Friday Park Days.
We will be meeting at Robert A. Lee Rec Center if the weather is bad.
I am fairly certain we are going to keep this consistent during the winter months as well.

Farm Visit Friday

2010-04-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

There is a farm field trip scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Be sure to wear shoes that can be washed.

Pavelka's Point Meats

710 Ivanhoe Road

Mt. Vernon, IA 52314

The directions: Highway #1 from Iowa City and through Solon. Approximately 1-2 miles north of Solon, turn right/east on 140^th Street. 140^th Street blends into Sutliff Road. Travel on Sutliff Road to Vega Road. Vega is a T intersection. Turn left or north on Vega. Travel approximately one mile to the top of the hill and past the windmill. The driveway to the Ellison farm is on your left. There are farm buildings here, but no house. I could meet you there to start the tour. The young lambs and their mothers are on down the road at the Pavelka farm about 1-2 miles.

Thanks to the Cedar Rapids Gazette

2010-03-11T09:07:00.000-08:00

The Iowa City Secular Homeschool group thanks the Gazette for their supportive stance on homeschooling as evidenced in today's Gazette Editorial.
In addition, I would like to personally thank Meredith Hines-Dochterman for her positive portrayal of homeschooling in the Iowa City area. In both her recent front page article that ran in last Sunday's Gazette and a previous article she wrote about our homeschool floor hockey day, she has been very objective and open-minded.
Given how little interest the Iowa City papers have taken in Iowa City homeschool events and information, it might be to members' advantage to subscribe to the Gazette if we want to keep track of news pertaining to our community. The Gazette has been doing a good job of following the HSAP legislation debate in Des Moines, as well.

2010-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

We had a nice turnout for today's presentation
by Budcat Programming. Thanks so much
to our presenters.

Reminder: Budcat and Board Games

2010-03-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

Budcat Creations

Friday, March 5, 2010
1:30pm-3:00pm

Iowa City Public Library
Room A

Anyone interested in knowing more
about the computer game making industry.

Someone from Budcat Creations
http://www.budcat.com/ will come and talk about
what goes on at a computer game making company.

Located in Iowa City, Iowa, Budcat Creations is a
developer of quality entertainment software for
the PC and console markets. With over eight years
of development experience and more than fifteen
published titles under its belt, Budcat stands
ready to deal with anything thrown its way. A game
studio in Iowa? Sounds like trickery. But, they
assure you, they're not actually a farm who has
mistaken themselves as a game development studio.

Board Game Day

The first March Board Game Day is Monday, March 8th from
2-4 p.m. at the Saddlebrook Clubhouse.

Bring your favorite board games and snacks to share .
Directions to the clubhouse:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=paddock+blvd,+iowa+city,+ia&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.972233,78.310547&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A

New Feature: Weekly Discussion Video

2010-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

For further discussion on this video, please feel free to comment here or in the corresponding discussion on the yahoo group.

Homeschooling for the 21st Century

2010-02-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

While not particularly pertaining to homeschoolers, I have to admit that the cartoon above made me giggle. It also brought to mind something someone said at the ICHSAP parents' meeting the other night. "No one writes letters anymore." This is very true and while there is often an emphasis on providing a more classical education in homeschool circles , some of us of us might fall into the trap of spending too much time focusing on those lost skills. One only has to look at the staggering number of penmanship curriculum packages being marketed to homeschoolers to see that this issue comes up a lot. While I admit that letter writing is a practice I would like to see revived, I recognize that this is an old-fashioned skill rarely used in the business world, today.

I question the wisdom of getting bogged down by spending hours teaching perfect manuscript or script. I think that focus (and the dollars spent on this curriculum) might be misplaced. I can't help but think it might be better to use a typing program to teach a child the proper format of a letter, rather than a penmanship program.

The child of the 21st century is probably better served by learning to type, navigate software and how to write an effective e-mail than spending hours learning how to write the perfect cursive capital "Q". I can't remember the last time I was called upon to do so, yet I work with computers and e-mail every day of my life. Most employers will tell you that computer skills are the number one requirement they have of job applicants. Even a carpenter or a mechanic is likely to have to order materials with a computer. The repairman who came to service my washer and dryer the other day had a laptop with him which had to be used as a diagnostic tool before he could work on my washer. We live in a post-industrial society, the number of unskilled blue collar jobs available are dwindling daily.

I guess the whole point to my ramble is that although we may feel that the education system is providing a less comprehensive education than it once did, we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater and insist on a completely classical education. We have to learn to incorporate the old with the new if we are going to prepare our children for the current job market.

Irish Session at the Center!

2010-02-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would pass this invite along... We went to the last session and it was a lot of fun.

Join us the last Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm in the Assembly Room of the Center in Iowa City (28 South Linn Street). All are welcome to play, dance, or just listen.

The next session is coming up on February 28th!

Irish traditional music sessions are mostly-informal gatherings at which people play Irish traditional music. The Irish language word for "session" is seisiún...

The "Field Guide to the Irish Music Session" defines a session as:
...a gathering of Irish traditional musicians for the purpose of celebrating their common interest in the music by playing it together in a relaxed, informal setting, while in the process generally beefing up the mystical cultural mantra that hums along uninterruptedly beneath all manifestations of Irishness worldwide.

Upcoming Events

2010-02-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

So I have been bad about looking to see if folks are posting events they organize on the blog. I will try to keep a closer eye on things but as always be sure to check out the calendar link. I am much better about remembering to update that...Stephany

The Iowa City HSAP is having a Parent's Night on Thursday that sounds as though it will be interesting.

Budcat Creations

Friday, March 5, 2010
1:00p-3:30p

Iowa City Public Library
Room A

Anyone interested in knowing more
about the computer game making industry.

Someone from Budcat Creations
http://www.budcat.com/ will come and talk about
what goes on at a computer game making company.

Located in Iowa City, Iowa, Budcat Creations is a
developer of quality entertainment software for
the PC and console markets. With over eight years
of development experience and more than fifteen
published titles under its belt, Budcat stands
ready to deal with anything thrown its way. A game
studio in Iowa? Sounds like trickery. But, they
assure you, they're not actually a farm who has
mistaken themselves as a game development studio.

Board Game Day

The first March Board Game Day is Monday, March 8th from
2-4 p.m. at the Saddlebrook Clubhouse.

Bring your favorite board games and snacks to share .

Schools and Creativity

2010-02-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

This video came up for discussion in one of my classes. Thought I would pass it along.

Pics from December Potluck

2009-12-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

2009-09-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Insects

IPTV Distance Learning Class

Date:	Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Time:	9:55am - 10:55am
Location:	ICN Classroom
Street:	Iowa City Public Library

Description

Polk County Conservation Board ICN event. They're creepy and they're crawly, but they're awesome! Students learn what it takes to be part of the largest group of animals in the world. Students are invited to get up close and personal with a giant cockroach and other 'creepy crawly critters' by exploring the fascinating world of insects. This interactive program also allows time for students to ask questions, so come prepared.

2009-09-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

Arthur's Sleepover

IPTV Distance Learning Class

Date:	Friday, September 25, 2009
Time:	9:50am - 10:50am
Location:	ICN Classroom
Street:	Iowa City Public Library

Everyone loves a sleepover! Join us for this exciting ICN session where we read the book Arthur's Sleepover by Marc Brown and engage students in interdisciplinary activities designed to foster learning while having fun at Arthur's sleepover. During the session we will sing Arthur's theme song, pack our paper suitcases with sleepover words, read Arthur's Sleepover, vote for our favorite book genre, map Arthur's sleepover campsite, and use pretzels to spell Arthur's name!

2009-09-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Parent's Night Out: Reminder

Grown Up Socialization

Date:	Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Time:	6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location:	Tierra Coffee
Street:	1150 5th St
City/Town:	Coralville, IA

2009-09-03T15:21:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
4:00p-5:00p
Roots & Shoots Meeting
Iowa City Public Library
Meeting Room A

The Roots & Shoots, a youth service program organized by the Jane Goodall institute, is about making positive change happen for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe. Contact johnsoncountyrootsandshoots@gmail.com for more information.

Floor Hockey Today

2009-08-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Reminder from:		iowacitysecularhomeschoolgroup Yahoo! Group

Title:		Homeschoolers Floor Hockey

Date:		Monday August 17, 2009
Time:		1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Repeats:		This event repeats every week.
Location:		2701 Bradford Drive Scanlon Gymnasium/Mercer Park Aquatic Center
Notes:		Come have fun with us! We play floor hockey and socialize. All ages are welcome and adults are encouraged to play. Adult supervision required for children ages 9 and under. Equipment provided. If you want more information, send an email to Sherry at bridge_2_learning@ yahoo.com

2009-08-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

Not-Back-to-School Picnic: Rain or Shine

2009-08-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

The Saddlebrook Clubhouse is a large indoor facility so today's picnic
is going on as scheduled.

Board games, card games and other indoor activities will be provided so please don't miss out on the fun because of the rain.

ICHSAP Registration August 17th - 19th

2009-08-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would pass this along from Jan Krieger of the ICHSAP,

Dan and I will be in the office bright and early Monday morning and you are welcome to stop in to register between 8am-3pm. We have asked that you come to the HSAP Center to register Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8-3pm) but if your schedule does not permit please drop us an email and let us know your plans.

We have one activity scheduled for August 25 which is a visit to a farm (we will give you more details next week). The September newsletter will be available at the end of next week. Our plan is to use the same format which is offering most of our activities Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. If there are days or times that work better for your family please let us know at registration and we will try and accommodate.
If you have any questions please drop us an email or stop by the office next week.

Not-Back-to-School Picnic

2009-08-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 16th
noon - 4 p.m.

Saddlebrook Clubhouse on Paddock Drive

Bring a dish to share, drinks and a table service.

Fun and Games will be provided.

Wednesday Morning Playdates

2009-05-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Join us on Wednesday mornings at the Iowa City Library around 10:30 a.m. We play outside at the playground (weather permitting) or inside the library while some of the younger kids enjoy storytime.

ETA: 8/14 We are currently discussing changes to this on Facebook. I will post when we work out what we want to do.

April Potluck

2009-04-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

The April Potluck will be held on April 26th.

We will meet at Oak Grove Park on the corner of South Dodge Street and Page Street around 1 p.m.

Please bring a dish to share and your own table service.

Yahoo group members will find a flyer to print off and post sometime tomorrow. Let's publicize this one a little.

At the picnic, I will have flyers printed and available publicizing the bi-monthly meeting @ the playground outside the library, as well.

Basket Making Class

2009-04-06T18:28:00.001-07:00

( Edited to add that Katy needs to have the money for this class by the 15th in order for the
supplies to be ordered in time. )

Katy Diltz has organized a basketmaking workshop for us
with a friend of hers. I have seen the baskets we will
be making in the class. They are really cute and what
a great skill to develop.

Anyone welcome - children and adults
She recommends 4th graders and up
This is not a place for toddlers

Saturday, April 25
10 am to 2 pm
Pot luck lunch - Please bring a dish to share

Will be at Jeanne Dudley's Studio
3338 Linn-Buchanan Rd (don't Mapquest her house, it's wrong)
Troy Mills, IA 52344

Directions:
Linn-Buchanan Rd is the first gravel road north of Troy Mills. It's on
the north edge of town.
Go west on Linn-Buchanan Rd about 3/4 of a mile
Her place is the 5th place on the left side of the road.

The Goat Farm is right across the road from her
Her place is a white one story house
I'll have a sign out front that says "Basket Class"

FRIENDS OF THE IOWA CITY FARMERS MARKET HOSTS "SPRINGTIME RUMPUS & FUN-RAISER"

2009-04-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

The Friends of the Iowa City Farmers Market will host the "Springtime Rumpus and Fun-Raiser" at Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gymnasium on Friday, April 17th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.to benefit the second annual Iowa City Farmers Market Kids Day. This family event will include educational activities, a bounce house (and other toys), live music, and door prizes. Admission is $2. Pizza from the Wedge Pizzeria, Applecart Orchard cider, baked goods, and other refreshments will be available at an additional charge. Volunteers for this event are welcome. Contact farmersmarket@iowa-city.org for more information.

April Planning

2009-04-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

We are planning a picnic for the April potluck.
Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions
for time or place.

Also if anyone knows of family friendly Earth Day events,
please leave a comment.

March Potluck and other March Events

2009-03-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

The March Potluck will be held on March 21st.
We have been having a good turnout at these events
but would always welcome new faces.

Remember families with preschool age children are welcome
to come get involved. There is a art group meeting on a bi-monthly
basis for younger homeschoolers as well.

For information about location of these and other events please feel free
to join the yahoo group.

Scattergood Barn Dance

2009-02-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

Several of us have plans to go to the Scattergood Barndance scheduled for February 20th. Carpool arrangements should be possible.

It should be a lot of fun. A group of us went to the Senior Center for English Country Dancing last week and we had a blast.

2009-01-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Beggarmen and Irish Dancers at the Englert!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Englert Theatre

Washington Street

Iowa City, IA

The Beggarmen, an acoustic quartet, find their roots in the traditional music of Ireland and other Celtic regions, supplementing the rich variety of traditional tunes with original compositions. Known for fine instrumental work on fiddle, guitar, tin whistles, mandolin, uilleann pipes and bodhran (the Irish frame drum), The Beggarmen also lend their voices to the mix for a varied, entertaining show.

Described by the Iowa City Press Citizen as a "passionate, crowd pleasing whirlwind" and by the Cedar Rapids Gazette simply as "one of the best bands in the area," they will be joined on the Englert stage by lively Irish step dancers Meg Konzelman, Shannon Evoy, and Amy LeMieux, who received her training from the McNulty School of Irish Dance and the World Academy of Irish Dancing.

FREE ADMISSION. The Beggarmen encourage audience members to each bring an item for donation to the Iowa City Crisis Center. The items most in need include diapers, hearty soups/stews, canned soup, canned meat, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly/jam, rice, pasta, and toilet paper.

Part of the free Community Spotlight Series, presented by the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

Interesting Contests

2009-01-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

Young Voices of America Tell A Children’s Story

Whether you are a big brother or sister, mom or dad, grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, cousin, babysitter, or just the next door neighbor, reading a young child a story is one of the most rewarding activities that one can do. Children’s stories must appeal to the very young; write your stories for children ages 2 through 5. They can inspire, inform, teach a lesson, or entertain. Remember your audience; children in the 2 - 5 age groups have short attention spans. Think about writing your story in scenes or sequences. Each scene should be no longer than 50 – 100 words for a total of only 500 – 1000 words. Vocabulary level should be approximately third grade (8 years old), but the story should appeal to a fairly wide age range. Entries MUST be received by February 3, 2009 (If mailed- postmarked by January 31, 2009)

American Museum of Natural History's Young Naturalist Awards

The Young Naturalist Awards is an inquiry-based science competition for students in grades 7-12 to promote participation and communication in science. Deadline for this year's contest is March 2, 2009.

Food Drive for Johnson County Food Bank

2008-12-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Lisa brought some food for us to take to the Crisis Center to crafting last week which gave us an idea!

The kids and I volunteer at the Crisis Center so we would like to ask members of the group to contribute some non-perishable food items for us to donate on behalf of the Iowa City Homeschool groups.

Please bring some donations along to Floor Hockey, Crafting Circle or just drop them off at our house. We will be delivering the items to the food bank on the 22nd as that is likely to be the week that the Food Bank will be hit the hardest.

There is still time to help with the Salvation Army Toy Program

2008-12-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

The days were shifted around a bit due to the bad weather on Tuesday.

Darian met up with Sherry and family to help out this morning . 'Tis the season to get involved!

Volunteers of all ages are also needed to sort, pack and distribute Christmas toys to area needy children.

^{December 11th}

9am to Noon / 5pm to 7pm / 7pm to 9pm

Dec. 16^th

9am to 8pm

Dec. 17 and 18th^th

9am to Noon

For more information please contact:

Jacki Brennan

Toy Program Volunteer Coordinator

339-1487 or 430-3091

Good Times!

2008-12-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

The crafting group and the potluck were both a lot of fun.
Thanks for coming everyone! We are looking forward to
more fun this week at craft group when Lisa is going
to attempt to teach us all to crochet snowflakes...

Playdate tomorrow afternoon

2008-12-02T15:53:00.001-08:00

We have discussed moving the Wednesday afternoon playdates to members homes on a rotating basis, so as to keep down the crazy energy at the library. I'd like to offer my home tomorrow afternoon if no one objects; I have a fresh batch of playdough made, though I am somewhat short on snacks. If you need the address or directions, just send me a quick email. sarah@impressionsbysarah.com

Sarah

Weekend Events

2008-12-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

There is a lot going on this weekend (other than our potluck and my birthday ;-P) I thought I would post about these events as a way of supporting local artisans and merchants.

Craft and Fancy: A Handmade Gift Sale
Saturday, December 6th 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, December 7th Noon - 5 p.m.
Home Ec Workshop
207 N. Linn Street
Iowa City, IA

The "Craft and Fancy" sale and open house will feature handmade offerings from local artisans and fiber artists.

Doug Hanson's Annual Studio Sale
Saturday, December 6, 2008
10:00am - 5:00pm
Hanson's Studio
412 3rd St NW
Mount Vernon, IA 52314

Doug Hanson is a potter and professor at Cornell College. Be sure to check out his annual studio sale.

Holiday Farmers Market
Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center
220 S. Gilbert St.
Lower level - Gymnasium

Over 60 of our Iowa City Farmers Market Vendors will be present selling baked goods, meats, produce, herbs and spices, salsa and sauces, jams and jellies, candy and kettle corn, coffee and egg rolls. Other items will include candles, soaps, lotions, pet treats and toys, jewelry, greeting cards and paper products, woodcrafts, blankets, scarves, and many other homemade products. Admission is FREE.

Video Game Collection at the Iowa City Public Library

2008-12-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

The Iowa City Public Library will begin to circulate video games for Playstation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 consoles on Thursday, December 4 at 2:30 p.m., following early release from Iowa City schools. The collection is geared towards children and teenagers, but all patrons will be able to check out games. At this time, only Wii games will be available in the Children's Room collection. The size of the collection is limited at this time so no more than two games can be checked out at one time. The check-out period is one week with no renewals.

The Library will also have Wii consoles available for one-week check out. Console check out will be available for checkout only to Iowa City residents and residents of areas covered by contracts for service (rural Johnson County, University Heights and Hill, IA). Patrons under the age of 18 will need to have a parent or guardian sign a permission form to check out a Wii.

Teens are reminded of Thursday night Gaming in the Computer Lab from 6-8 p.m. December 4 and 18.

Salvation Army Christmas Toy Program Volunteers Needed

2008-12-01T08:10:00.001-08:00

Volunteers of all ages are also needed to sort, pack and distribute Christmas toys to area needy children.

Dec. 9^th and 10^th

9am to Noon / 5pm to 7pm / 7pm to 9pm

Dec. 16^th

9am to 8pm

Dec. 17 and 18th^th

9am to Noon

For more information please contact:

Jacki Brennan

Toy Program Volunteer Coordinator

339-1487 or 430-3091

National Heritage Essay Contest

2008-12-01T07:08:00.001-08:00

I received information about this contest from Jan Krieger. If anyone would like a copy of the addendum, let me know. ~ Stephany

"On behalf of the Old Capitol and University Sertoma Clubs, we would like to invite home
schooled students in Johnson County who are in the eighth grade to participate in our
annual National Heritage Essay Contest. The topic for the essay this year is:

What do you believe should be done to get young people more involved in the political process?

Each student who participates in the contest should complete the enclosed Addendum
to Essay and attach it to his or her essay. The essay should be typed, and should be
1,000 words or less. The essays must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January
30, 2008 to Dennis J. Mitchell, Meardon, Sueppel & Downer P.L.C., 122 South Linn
Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240. "

December Potluck

2008-11-27T10:54:00.001-08:00

Steve and I will host a December potluck the evening of December 6th. We can shoot for eating at 5:30 but if you want to come as early as 4:00, that would be great! I think those times works well for the parents of the younger kids.

Should we do a white elephant gift exchange again this year? That was fun last year. I actually made a point of saving some items for it when we cleaned our garage this summer.

2009 River of Words Environmental Poetry & Art Contest

2008-11-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

IOWATER annnounces the River of Words Environmental Poetry & Art Contest

River of Words (ROW) conducts an environmental poetry and art contest for youth aged 5 to 19 in grades K-12 every year. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of their own watershed, and to express what they discover through poetry and art. Each year, eight U.S. winners, one international winner, and a ROW Teacher of the Year are selected to be honored during National Poetry Month (April) at an Award Ceremony at The Library of Congress in Washington, DC. (ROW is affiliated with The Library of Congress Center for the Book.)

River of Words also publishes an annual poetry book of winning submissions, selected by Robert Hass, and exhibits the children's paintings at museums, libraries, conferences, and other venues around the world. The contest is free, and every child is acknowledged with a personalized “Watershed Explorer" certificate. Children may enter on their own or through schools, nature centers, libraries, youth clubs, and other organizations.

River of Words is coordinated in Iowa by IOWATER. Entries not chosen as finalists or grand prize winners in the international contest are returned to IOWATER, where they are judged in an Iowa statewide River of Words contest.

Chat with Dayna Martin

2008-11-25T05:55:00.000-08:00

Unschooling Chat--1st Sun of every month

In "The_Homeschooling_Nook" chat room...5-6pm pacific, 6-7pm mountain, 7-8pm central, 8-9pm eastern. Dayna Martin, Radical Unschooling Advocate and recent guest on the Dr. Phil Show, is hosting an informative, fun and supportive chat about Unschooling once a month!

Join Dayna and other Radical Unschoolers as they discuss Unschooling philosophy and share their joyful lives with others. Learn how to apply the Radical Unschooling philosophy with your own family!
Visit Dayna at www.UnschoolingAmerica.com

Buy Nothing Day Invite

2008-11-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Learning to Needle Felt

The girls and I would like to invite everyone to craft at our house on Friday, November 28th to observe "Buy Nothing Day" by crafting homemade holiday gifts. I plan on having some easy projects for younger children available as well as teaching anyone who is interested to needle felt. If you are not interested in that bring your knitting, crocheting, embroidery or any other project you have going. I will have coffee, tea, hot cocoa and some sort of snacks. It would be great if other people could bring snacks, too.
For more information visit, Adbuster.org Buy Nothing Day . The girls and I were talking today and we think that next year it would be fantastic if the homeschooling group were to help organize an Alternative Gift Fair or something
of that sort.

E-mail me at stephany@naturallysimple.org if you would like directions.

Glad to have this group

2008-11-24T16:18:00.001-08:00

I am so glad to have this group. I hope we organize lots of fun activities and events. I am looking forward to meeting more homeschooling families in the IC area.