“Shoppers World book fair to benefit homeschooling group” plus 1 more

Shoppers World book fair to benefit homeschooling group

Posted: 10 May 2010 04:08 PM PDT

Spot the Dog and storyteller Norah Dooley will be among the featured guests at a book fair Friday at Barnes & Noble to benefit a homeschooling organization.

Supporters who visit the free, all-day fair at the Shoppers World store can learn about homeschooling, meet and talk with parents and see homeschooled students in action.

People who make a purchase can use special vouchers so a percentage of the sale will go to support the Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM), a nonprofit agency and support organization.

The book fair will run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1 Worcester Road.

Patrick Farenga, author of "Teach Your Own" and a national homeschooling figure, will offer a talk and sign books at 8 p.m.

In the morning, storyteller, children's author, and former homeschooling parent Norah Dooley will perform some "Stories from the Neighbors" and introduce some storytelling games at 10. Dooley will also greet guests and sign her books, which include "Everybody Cooks Rice" and "Everybody Bakes Bread."

Framingham homeschooler Cassandra Turner-Goldsmith will have a display about Greek Mythology from 10 a.m. to 2:30 pm. Other homeschooled students will set up a Junior Lego League creation in the afternoon, art work all day, and projects about geography, history, and science at a display area from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., homeschooled Boston-area Suzuki violinists will perform, led by Bekka Schellenberg. Starting at 12:30 p.m., students will present readings of fiction, classical and folk music for string ensemble, a magic show, and more. At 2:30 p.m. there will be face painting and board games.

At 4 p.m., AHEM representatives will offer an informational session on homeschooling, focusing on the theme "A Day in the Life."

Homeschooled students from the Jae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute, Ashland, MA will do a demonstration at 6 p.m., and Spot the Dog will greet visitors and be available for photographs at 7 p.m.

Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, independent, grassroots, volunteer-run, educational organization that gathers and disseminates information about homeschooling in Massachusetts through education, advocacy, and events.

Vouchers are available on the AHEM web site www.ahem.info/Bookfair_Flyer_with_Vouchers.pdf. Online purchases made with a special code between May 14-19 will also help support AHEM.

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JAMELIA WORRIES OVER U.K. HOMESCHOOLING

Posted: 20 May 2010 04:55 AM PDT

British R and B star JAMELIA has called for more "stringent checks" for parents who homeschool their kids in the U.K., admitting she has never been monitored by education authorities.

In 2008, the singer decided to remove her eldest daughter Teja, now nine, from the British school system so she could personally tutor the youngster at home.

She now gives lessons to her youngest daughter, four-year-old Tiana, as well - but reveals officials have never dropped in to check up on the girls' progress.

She tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "I had to tell the school I was taking Teja out of mainstream eduction and they informed the local authority, but there has been no monitoring. That surprised and slightly worried me. I'd prefer more stringent checks as it could easily be abused."

But Jamelia is convinced homeschooling is the best option for her family, especially in light of her divorce from soccer star Darren Byfield last year (09).

She adds, "Sending them to school while I was going through my recent divorce would have been terrible for them, especially with me being in the public eye. I've been able to protect them, as they have me... Being at such close quarters with them, they're coming to terms with it (the divorce) much better than they would otherwise have done."

--IANS-WENN

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