Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
September 2002 Newsletter
Mission Statement
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers is an open, not-for-profit home education network, providing social and creative outlets for homeschooling families. We are not devoted to any one homeschooling approach, political platform, religious outlook, or philosophical ideal. Our homeschooling community supports all families, regardless of their personal lifestyle or educational choices in the area of home education. Our motto is "hozho," a Navajo word meaning "harmony" or "walking in beauty or friendship."
Quote of the Month
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." William Butler YeatsCalendar
(check below for related announcements)
Science Fair Tutorial Saturday, September 7
First Park Meeting Tuesday, September 10
Middle Reader's Group Tuesday, September 10
First Park Day at Himmel Park Thursday, September 12
National History Day Workshop Saturday, September 14
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, September 17
Welcome Back Potluck Tuesday, September 17
Deadline for Phone Tree Friday, September 20
Create Our Own Club Meeting Friday, September 20
National History Day Workshop Saturday, September 21
Newsletter Deadline Saturday, September 21
Homeschool Information Meeting Sunday, September 22
Rock Art Activity Tuesday, September 24
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, September 25
National History Day Workshop Saturday, September 28
Curriculum Fair Tuesday, October 1
Announcements
Science Fair Tutorial Saturday, September 7
Join Tori Carlson, Lou Kennedy and Susan Elsberry on Saturday, September 7 at Nanini Library Meeting Room, 7300 N.Shannon Rd. from 1-3:00 PM. We will say as little as possible and feature children who have attended the Home Educators and SARSEF Science Fairs telling of their adventures and showcasing their boards. A representative will also speak on requirements for a SARSEF approved project. Paperwork for the December 7, 2002 Home Educators Science Fair will be available. If you are unable to attend, Lou Kennedy will have the forms for SDH. Chant "It will all be over before Christmas this year!"
First Park Meeting Tuesday, September 10
Our first park meeting will be Tuesday, September 10th. Since it is still warm we will meet at 9:30 am with announcements at 10. See you there!
Middle Reader Group Tuesday, September 10
Middle Reader Group (ages 8-11 approx.) will meet Tuesday, September 10 after announcements to discuss "Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers. Join us to talk about how much you liked the book and offer suggestions for books to reading in following months. For more information contact Christine S.
Himmel Park Day Thursday, September 12
Beginning September 12th, join us on Thursdays at about 10:00 AM. Himmel Park is located on Tucson Blvd. near Speedway. We meet at the Westside play equipment. There is a shaded play area, a place to rollerblade or roller skate, and a library. This is mainly a play park day. No official announcements will be made. If you have any questions, contact Tara O.
National History Day Workshops Begins Saturday, September 14
Want to learn more effective ways to teach social studies and meet the Arizona State Standards? Just want students to have fun learning social studies?
NHD Workshops for adults (free)
· Free materials courtesy of the Arizona Humanities Council
· Free Lunch (sense a pattern?)
· Use original archival materials
· Learn how we can help you
· Meet real students who LIKE social studies (and maybe didn't before)
· Continuing education credit for teachers
Dates and locations (9:30-3:00) are:
· Sept 14th Buena High School Sierra Vista
· Sept 21st Arizona Historical Society Tempe (register early-nearly filled!)
· Sept 28th Sharot Hall Museum Prescott
· Oct. 12th Arizona Historical Society Tucson
Advance registration is required. Attendance limited to 28 participants. Like to know more? Contact Laurie Devine, Arizona State Archives, ldevine@lib.az.us, phone 602-542-4159 or check our website http://nhd.lib.az.us.
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, September 17
The goal of this group is to provide the teens with a chance to exchange opinions about various topics in an atmosphere of mutual respect. There is no age requirement but participants need to be old enough to be interested in the topic and able to listen to other peoples' points of view. We will meet at the park every other week. The discussion will begin 1/2 hour before the regular meeting and will last about 1/2 hour. Any questions, call Brian M.
THE FIRST MEETING is Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 9:00 AM. The topic is immigration. In the last several months over 100 people have died from dehydration in the desert around Tucson. They were trying to cross over from Mexico to Arizona. Some Tucsonans want to put water tanks in the desert to prevent those deaths. Others want to build a wall or hire more border patrol officers to stop or arrest people because they are crossing over illegally. Who are these people and why are they coming across the border? What do you think should be done?
Welcome Back Potluck Tuesday, September 17
Bring some food, eating utensils, and your own good company, and we will have a good time. The potluck will start just after announcements and will be set up under the ramada.
Between Newsletter Announcement Options
Occasionally it happens that information needs to reach group members between newsletters. For instance, a last minute change to time or place for an already- setup- event, or someone discovers at the last minute that something is going on in the community that would be of interest to members, or events set up during the summer when no newsletter is produced.
To ensure that announcements reach all members, two distribution options are available.
TO RECEIVE MESSAGES
1) Email
If you want to get announcements via Email, then you must ensure that you are subscribed to the SDH Newsletter group - NOT the SDH Discuss group (contact Sharon A. to get on the SDH Newsletter group.).
2) Telephone
If you want to be contacted by telephone, there will be a phone tree. This will be a true tree, and each person will be responsible for making a certain number of calls (no more than 3). If you wish to be on the tree, let me, Frances A., know by September 20, as I would like to have it set up and distributed by early October. Because it will be a true tree, anyone wishing to join later can easily do so.
If you don't wish to participate in either of these options you will have to make your own arrangements for ensuring that you get these last minute announcements.
SENDING A MESSAGE:
If you have a message to get to the group, you will need to do two things:
1) Phone me, Frances A., with your message, to get the phone tree started.
2) Post your message to the SDH newsletter group (sdhnewsletter@yahoogroups.com). Again, this is NOT the SHD Discuss group. If your message has to get out within hours you will ALSO need to call Sharon A. and alert her. As moderator, she has to okay the message before it will actually be sent to everyone.
If you do not have internet access for doing this, you will need to find someone willing to do it for you. In this instance you may want to put an all-caps opening line advising people to call you, and not to reply by email.
Create Our Own Club Meeting Friday, September 20
Some of us met in May to discuss starting a Campfire family club but decided against it for several reasons, including not wanting to sell hundreds (!) of candy bars. At the time we discussed starting our own club, so I'm inviting everyone who is interested to come to a swim & pizza party on Friday, September 20th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. We'll meet at my house (Continental Ranch, i.e. FAR North West) at 10 a.m. for discussion & then follow it with pizza & swimming at the community pool. Open to boys & girls of all ages & their parents. Call Heather M for directions.
In the interest of keeping our options open, here is another idea for the group: Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute's international environmental and humanitarian program for young people. Its mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for the environment, animals and the human community. All Roots & Shoots members, from pre-K to university, demonstrate their care and concern for living things through service projects in their communities. Here is the website for more info http://www.janegoodall.org/rs/.
Newsletter Deadline Saturday, September 21
Homeschooling Information Meeting Sunday, September 22
presented by Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Sunday, September 22, 2002, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Nanini Library
7300 N. Shannon Rd.
Tucson, Arizona
Join experienced homeschoolers for a relaxed and informal discussion about homeschooling - what it is, how to do it, why to love it! If you have questions, please e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com, or call 883-1543. For directions and a map, please check out this terrific page put together by Tucson - Pima Public Library - http://www.lib.ci.tucson.az.us/nanini/directions.htm.
Art Activity Tuesday, September 24
I have thin pieces of flagstone that are perfect for "rock art" and nothing else. Colin and I have some background information on Rock Art for those who are interested and we will plan to bring the "rocks", oil pastels and chalk for painting masterpieces on September 24. Start time will be determined at Announcements. Please let me know in advance who plans to attend, so I can ensure enough flagstone pieces for everyone. This is quick and fun. Susan E. elsberry@concentric.net.
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, September 25
Every last Wednesday of the month we continue to meet at Borders on Oracle for Coffee or tea. We get together from 7:30 PM on, but some of us get there quite a bit later, after husbands come home or the kids are in bed. We chat, laugh, and a few of us bring a project to work on (knitting, crochet, sorting pictures, etc.). This is open to any parent, but so far only moms have shown up. It is a great way to get to know others better and there is always a mix of parents with younger and older children, so you can ask lots of questions too and discuss things. For more info contact Sybelle V.
Curriculum Fair Tuesday, October 1
Plan ahead and start cleaning out the closets! Look for things you and your children are done with that you may want to bring to sell to others for a small price. This could be true curriculum, books, games, or anything else that helped your children (or you!) learn.
Shakespeare Theatre Troupe Friday/Saturday, October 11/12
Our own SDH Shakespeare Theatre Troupe will be performing Much Ado About Nothing on October 11 at 3pm and
Oct 12 at 7pm. The performance will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 6901 E. Kenyon Dr., which is just southeast of Palo Verde Park. The Troupe consists of SDH pre-teens and teens and they have put in an extraordinary effort putting this play together. Come see the fruit of their labor and enjoy one of Shakespeare's most popular plays! If you have any questions contact Carolyn M. or Kim B.
Tucson Cowboy Music Round Up Thursday, October 31
Mark your calendars for Oct. 31st! There will be an extraordinary opportunity for homeschoolers. The Tucson Cowboy Music Round Up is hosting an educational program for homeschoolers. The program will highlight the old west......everything from cowboys to the range to western music and more! This is a program that runs nationally and I have heard it is wonderful! There will be 3 or 4 workshops (each 15 min.) that teach different aspects of the old west. Then a 45 min. concert afterwards. They told me that while 4th thru 6th graders would gleen alot (since they may be studying U.S. History then) they welcome all homeschoolers of any age because they are such a "love to learn" and "polite" group of children! Anyway, the whole thing is FREE! Also, I will be receiving an educational packet before Oct. 31st that you can share with your children and I will make copies for each family that wants to participate. As I get more info. I'll forward it on. We do have to reserve so I'll have a sign up sheet at the park next Tues. If you will not be at the park please email me with how many people will be in your party. Thanks, Amber A. (my email address is new so please don't use the one on the sheet from last year) alltucson4@comcast.net.
Notes from August 20, 2002 Parents' Organizational Meeting
About 15 parents attended the organizational meeting. It was divided into two parts. First we went over the Who's Who List, to make sure that necessary jobs were filled. Then we set proposed dates for major SDH activities over the 2002 - 2003 year.
Alice G. will continue to serve as SDH treasurer. She will accept all receipts for reimbursement of SDH-related expenses. Alice also presented a brief treasurer's report.
It was agreed that SDH will accept only cash payment of membership fees. The possibility of waiting until October to accept membership money was discussed. It was emphasized that one reason people are anxious to join SDH is that they want to ensure receipt of both the newsletter and timely notifications of group events.
Debbie G. will continue taking notes for the group.
Lisa F. will be in charge of maintaining and updating the Who's Who List.
Eileen D. volunteered to verify whether people who were not at the organizational meeting were still planning on filling the positions they had either held or were taking over .
Debbie G. will continue to run the SDH web site and will train someone as a back-up person.
Sharon A. will continue maintaining the roster. An updated roster will be available in mid-October after new members have joined. Until then, copies of the existing roster will be brought to September park meetings to be handed out to new members.
Kim B. will once again serve as newsletter editor.
Michelle Y. will be the official park shouter for announcements, and will ask for one other person to assist her.
Karen M. will continue as an official contact for SDH, but the group still needs one or two more people for this job.
Debbie G. will handle any media inquiries for interviews.
Kim B. will take over as SDH's citywide representative.
It was agreed to discontinue the paper calendar of events because of lack of use.
Project report club is currently without a coordinator, but there is a possibility of the job being filled by two younger members of the group.
We need to arrange for a photographer for the group photograph in February.
Sharon A. will continue to be in charge of t-shirts for the group. Sweatshirts will also be offered this year.
Next followed a discussion of various topics: how to encourage and recognize volunteers; is there any interest in a written history of the group; how should information be disseminated to members who don't receive e-mail notifications; how exactly does the present system work (yahoo groups?); are there too many lists; what about the phone tree.
Frances A. volunteered to create and operate a phone tree for members who do not receive e-mail from the group.
Mary Lou K. will arrange for a hot air balloon demonstration in November.
We need someone to be in charge of the Valentine exchange in February.
Sybelle V.E. will find someone to be the Crafty Ladies Coordinator.
It was agreed to discontinue the curriculum library due to lack of use.
It looks like the eastside parents' coffee night is on hiatus.
The Men's Group needs a coordinator.
Karen M. will continue running the homeschooling information nights.
Debbie G. will continue to provide the SDH membership cards.
Christine G. will take over handing out the newcomer packets and will find someone to assist her as backup.
Brian M. will continue leading the teen discussion group.
Brian M. will act as coordinator for SDH parent meetings.
There is no one in charge of sports.
Debbie G. will get things ready for Ted Walker Day at Old Tucson, and will look for someone to complete it.
The Skills Bank needs to be more accessible.
Sharon and Jason A. will continue to moderate the SDH discussion list.
Nicole S. is handling the Scholastic Books orders for SDH.
Frances A. is doing tickets for the Arizona Theater Company's production of "Much Ado about Nothing." Lisa F. will handle the arrangements for the remainder of the ATC schedule.
Mary Lou K. is the SDH Science Fair Representative.
Whether the group should have a yearbook was discussed.
The park bulletin board is supposed to transform into a notebook. Exactly who is in charge of doing this is unclear.
Alicia M. is in charge of UA Presents.
The meeting concluded with establishing dates for the 2002 2003 year. A proposed calendar of events will be included in the September newsletter, in addition to being available at park meetings. If anyone has a problem with any dates, please get in touch with Karen M. or Debbie G., or e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com.
If you have any questions about this meeting, please speak with Debbie G. or e-mail debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
SDH Jobs Available
These SDH jobs are currently unfilled. Please take a look at the list and see if you are interested in volunteering for one:
Announcement at Park Meetings
Dads' Meeting Coordinator
Group Photograph Coordinator
Newcomer Packet Distributor
Project Report Club Organizers (2)
SDH Information and Announcement Notebook (replaces the bulletin board)
Skills List
Ted Walker Day coordinator
Please contact Eileen D. or Debbie G., or e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com.
SDH WEBSITE UPDATE
A quick note to let people know that I have added links to about ten new articles on SDH's Homeschooling News web page. To take a look at the stories, please visit http://www.hozho.homestead.com/homeschoolingnews.html. Many of these stories are related to homeschooling in California. There has been some controversy in that state over the status of homeschooling. If you want to learn more about the situation, I have put together a page with background, links, and more. You can find it at http://www.hozho.homestead.com/californiacontroversy.html.
Thank you for every comment and suggestion that people have sent about the SDH web site. It has been great to hear other ideas. If you have a question, criticism, or helpful suggestion, please e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com!
Homeschooling Ideas from SDH Members
This summer some SDH members had an information sharing party. It went so well and we learned so much that we decided to sum up our ideas for the new membership packet and the rest of the members of SDH. The people on the list have volunteered to answer questions about the materials they use. Please use the SDH directory to locate them.
Biosphere Tour
We purchased a Destination Mars Science-by-Mail Challenge from Kendall/Hunt publishers working with the Boston Museum this summer and would like to offer a copy of 3 Chapters+ on "Food for a Year, Composting, and Water for a Year" info and activities and then tour Biosphere 2 when the weather cools down. The copies will run @24 pages and cost $1.00 or $2.00. If you are interested in an all-ages tour of Biosphere 2 and /or the Regenerative Life Support booklet, please contact Susan E. at elsberry@concentric.net. It is a fun tour, but involves a lot of walking up and down the paths between the far-flung buildings. There are wonderful curriculum programs and special offers for classes geared to Grades 4 and up.
Homeschool Classes
The France Academy of Dance website has information about new homeschooling classes coming this fall. Included are Journalism, Irish Step Dance, Choir, Ballet, Mock Trial, Musical Theatre, Science, Ancient Egypt and Art. The homeschool classes are taking place between 1-3 pm weekdays.
Registration is August 12-16 and most classes start August 19, however late registration is available.
You can read the newsletter L'Aire online and see the class schedule and descriptions at: www.FranceAcademy.com You can reach France Academy by phone at: 327-0546
You can visit France Academy of Dance at 5633 East Speedway Blvd.
Free Homeschool Stuff
These are offers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA. One is a poster and game, the other is a collection of learning activities on a CD-ROM. Both can be ordered by homeschoolers and other educators free of charge:
A Jason-1 Oceanic Adventure - Voyage on the High Seas
This game is suitable for play both within and outside of the classroom, and although designed for children ages 9-13, it offers a fun, learning opportunity for the entire family. In addition to being a game, it is an eye-catching poster showing continents, oceans and all of the major ocean currents. On the reverse, there are black and white educational activities designed to be reproduced directly from the poster for use in the classroom. These activities are provided below in PDF format.
Visit to an Ocean Planet
This is an innovative CD-ROM in that science, ocean, climate and life education is made fun and interactive. It has interactive learning games that kids really enjoy. It also contains activities that can be directly imported into a classroom.
Kids Voting Arizona
Michelle Steinberg from "Kids Voting Arizona" http://www.kidsvotingaz.org
passes along the following information about the KidsVoting program for those who are interested in using it as a way to teach their kids about voting:
Home schoolers are more than welcome to participate. We have sent a request to all home school groups to include a link on their sites as well. Home school parents can log onto our site and 1. access the kindergarten-12th grade curriculum by going to the educators page, clicking on the link to Kids Voting USA and their user name is CIVICS and the password is ALIVE. Parents can also request early ballots for their kids, log onto the site from Oct 3-25 to cast their on-line, early ballot or go to the site after Sept 1 and find a list of polling places in their area.
Students kindergarten though 12th grade may vote with Kids Voting.
The curriculum is designed to introduce and demonstrate important voting concepts to kids using wonderful, hands-on activities. So the program is two-pronged. The education component and the elections component. The curriculum is utilized across Arizona by most public, private, parochial, charter, home and special facilities schools. Every school age child statewide has an opportunity to participate.
Yes, there is a space provided for write-in candidates on both the paper ballot and the online ballot. The ballots will also be available in Spanish.
Anyone who has questions about KidsVoting should contact Michelle at kvazed@juno.com.
NHEN Launches Membership Drive!
Since its founding in 1999, NHEN, an all-volunteer organization connecting homeschoolers nationwide, has evolved into a respected source of information for the homeschooling community as well as the general public. Our award-winning website contains a wealth of first-hand information about homeschooling, written from a variety of viewpoints. In keeping with our mission statement, NHEN espouses no one particular political agenda or homeschooling philosophy. Instead, we know that homeschooling parents can read all of the material and determine for themselves what is best for their family.
In response to media requests, we help reporters find accurate, balanced information about homeschooling and put them in touch with NHEN members who have previously indicated a willingness to be interviewed. Information and interviews provided by NHEN contacts have appeared in articles in Time, on National Public Radio, and
other national, state, and local media.
All homeschoolers are invited to participate in our network. NHEN membership is free. By joining NHEN you will add your voice to those of thousands of other homeschoolers who have approved our mission statement. NHEN operates only through volunteer contributions. Once you've joined, be sure to read the NHENotes and find out how you
could help! NHEN T-shirts, fanny packs, and tote bags are also available for sale. And, as a 501C3 nonprofit organization, NHEN is happy to receive a donation of any size.
Join us and help change the way the world sees homeschooling!
National Home Education Network
P.O. Box 7844
Long Beach, California 90807
Proposed SDH 2002 - 2003 Calendar of Events
Please review this proposed schedule. If you have questions, comments or concerns, please speak with Karen M. or Debbie G., or e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com.
September 10, 2002 First Park Meeting - 9:30 a.m.
September 17 Welcome Back Potluck
October 1 Curriculum Fair
October 15 Clothing Exchange
October 29 Halloween/Harvest Festival
Park Meeting Time changes to noon
November 5 Hot Air Balloon Rides
December 7 Pima County Homeschoolers Science Fair
December 17 Last meeting before holidays
January 7, 2003 First meeting after holidays
Welcome Back Potluck
February 11 Valentine Exchange
Group photograph
March 21 Deadline for Rube Goldberg Contest entries
April 1 April Fool's Day Potluck
April 15 Park meeting time changes to 9:30 a.m.
May 13 Last meeting before summer
End-of-Year Potluck
August 20 Parents' Organizational Meeting at Frances A.'s house
September 9 First park meeting after summer - 9:30 a.m.
Articles Written by SDH Members
To School or not to School - by Dawn Falbe
So here endeth our first year of home schooling; or should I say unschooling or maybe a combination of both. These past few weeks I've seriously been considering putting Zak in school as I feel worn out and beat up. I've talked to a few other mothers and it seems that the summer time can be a challenge as there are no park meetings, people are away, no regularly scheduled activities and it's like being in an oven in Tucson!! Steve and I had switched roles for 4 months and he'd taken over the kids and me working so it didn't really affect me until he went back to work and our roles changed back again. I seem to be a referee between my two boys, with Zak usually being the instigator of arguments. So my solution "put him in school"... I checked out Kino, an alternative school and Waldorf. Decided against Waldorf and kept Kino in the back of my mind. Kino is a place where kids pretty much do what they want when they want but they do it with other kids. This I really liked the sound of until I had a play date with one of the other SDH members who said to me "So you are going to pay over $600 a month for your son to do what he's doing at home for free?" That was a jolt....
I realized that this was about me and not really about him. I don't doubt for one minute that having my kids learn what they want to learn at their own pace is right for them. So I think this has more to do with acceptance about where I'm at and my own fears and insecurities. "What if I don't do "it" right?" "What if they are scarred for life?" "What if they don't learn what they are "supposed" to learn?" "What if they don't know how to socialize with others?" As long as I keep in mind that this is about me and not really about my kids I and they will get through the upcoming years.
Yesterday my son had his 7th birthday party. There were a variety of kids there both unschooled and kids that go to school. He had a fabulous time. I heard my son saying to one of the girls he'd invited "You look very nice Alex is that a new dress you have on?" she brushed him off with "I've had this old dress for a long time Zak". I thought I was going to fall off my chair. I guess that's all part of socializing.
So come September 10th I'll be at the first park meeting ready to start our 2nd year. Knowing that I got through the 1st one. Each day is a new learning experience about myself and how I am able to adapt to this lifestyle. My kids have no problems with it. So to school or not to school? I think not to school.... for this week anyway......
