Too Cool For School: Creating an awesome program for Homeschoolers.

1. Too Cool For School:Creating an awesome program for Homeschoolers. Presented by Renée Beaulieu Nancy Cohen

2. Introduction • Introduction • Homeschooling & Libraries • Historical Perspective • Motivation for Homeschooling • Unique Challenges • Getting an idea • Making it work for our patrons • Research • Survey • The Event • Room, handouts and refreshments • Activity stations • Scavenger hunts • Classes • Forming friendships • Conclusion

3. Homeschooling & Libraries • Why should libraries do programming for homeschoolers? • It is estimated that there are 60,000 Homeschooling families in Canada • We can provide a lot of the resources they need • We can help them learn how to use the library • We can provide a welcoming community space where they can make connections with other homeschooling families.

4. Historical Perspective • 1840 - Children attend school about 3 months of the year for 3 or 4 years • By mid 1800’s structure of modern school system is emerging as proponents start to push for public education • “Leading educators, or school promoters, argued that mass schooling could instill appropriate modes of thought and behaviour into children. In their minds, the purpose of mass schooling did not primarily involve the acquisition of academic knowledge. School systems were designed to solve a wide variety of problems ranging from crime to poverty, and from idleness to vagrancy.” The Canadian Encyclopedia

5. 1960’s – counter culture and revolution • With the shift to more liberal values schools became more liberal as well. • Conservative Christian parents and others who wanted to go back to more traditional schooling started to look for alternatives.

6. Motivation for Homeschooling Dissatisfaction with public schools Concerns about academic testing Religious Imperatives Special needs

7. Unique challenges • the reasons that parents choose to homeschool present unique challenges for library programming • Whole family attends program so activities must be suitable for a wide age range

8. Getting an idea

9. Making it work for our patrons • Research

10. MPL Survey to Homeschoolers • How often does your family use the library? • Weekly • More than once a month • Monthly • Other (please specify) • What resources does your family use or search for at the library? (choose all that apply) • Nonfiction • Fiction • DVD • Music • Homeschooling how-to & activity books • Periodicals/Magazines • Audiobooks • Computer software • Reference books • Internet access • Library programs (story time, book clubs, etc) • Meeting space • How well does your local library (staff, available materials, programs, etc.) meet your needs as a homeschooling family? • Exceeds our needs • Adequately meets our needs • Often fails to meet our needs • Never meets our need

11. What would you most like to see added to the library’s collection or programs to better serve you as a homeschooling family? • Which type of programs would benefit your family? • How many children do you homeschool and how old are they? • How often would you be willing to come to the library for a planned program? • Never • Once a month for 2 hours • Twice a month for 2 hours each time • Twice a month for 1 hour each time • Other (please specify) • Which days would be best for you and your family to attend a program? (choose all that apply) • Tuesday afternoon • Wednesday afternoon • Thursday afternoon • Friday afternoon • Is there anything else you wish to relate about your experiences with public libraries as a homeschooling parent?

12. Books • 57 Games to Play in the Library or Classroom by Carol K Lee • Core Knowledge Series by E.D. Hersch Jr. • Creating the One-Shot Library Workshop: A Step-by-Step guide by JerilynVeldof • Family Storytime: Twenty-Four Creative Programs for All Ages by Rob Reid • Going Places with Youth Outreach: Smart Marketing Strategies for Your Library by Angela B. Pfeil • Grades K-6: A How-To-Do-It Manuel for Librarians by Carolyn Garner • Helping homeschoolers in the library By Adrienne Furness • Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith • Homeschooling the Early Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 3-to-8-Year-Old Child by Linda Dobson • Homeschooling the Middle Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 8-to-12-Year-Old Child by Shari Henry • Learning About Books and Libraries: A Gold Mine of Games by Carol K Lee & Janet Langford • Learning About Books and Libraries 2: A Gold Mine of Games by Carol K Lee & Janet Langford • Something Funny Happened at the Library: How to create Humorous Programs for Children and Young Adults by Rob Reid • Talk About Books! A Guide for Book Clubs, Literature Circles, and Discussion Groups, Grades 4-8 by Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith • Teaching Library Media Skills in Grades K-6: A How-To-Do-It Manuel for Librarians by Carolyn Garner • Teen Volunteer Services in Libraries by Kellie M. Gillespie • The Complete Home Learning Sourcebook: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents & Educators by Rebecca Rupp • The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling’s Most Respected Voices by Linda Dobson • The Kids’ Book Club: Lively Reading and Activities for Grades 1-3 by Desiree Webber

13. Articles • Homeschoolers at the public library: Are library services and policies keeping pace? By McCarthy, A. & Andersen, D.L. (2006-2007). JLAMS, 3(1), 5-44. • In a class of their own: as more families turn to homeschooling, public libraries can be an invaluable resource. School Library Journal. 8, 44-6. By Slattery, A. (2005) • Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning by American Association of School Librarians and Association for Educational Communications and Technology • Outreach to homeschoolers. Alki,3,13. By McLean, C. (2001). • Reaching out to homeschooling families: Services and programs Illinois Libraries. 1, 44-6 by Kaplan, P. (2001). • Serving homeschooled teens and their parents by Lerch, M.T. & Welch, J. (2004). Blogs/Websites • Goddessmoon.org/education/geddess_moon_circles_academy.htm • Groups.yahoo.com/group/simplyhomeschooling/ • Home Education magazine - www.home-ed-magazine.com • Homeschooldiner.com • Homeschooling and Libraries Blog by Adrienne Furness - http://www.watat.com/ • Homeschooling.about.com • http://homeschoolnb.blogspot.ca/ (seems a bit out of date, but might have some good leads anyways) • Life Learning magazine - www.lifelearningmagazine.com • National Home Education Research Institute - http://www.nheri.org/ (American)

14. The Event • Room set-up, handouts and refreshments • Name Tags • Refreshment Table • Handouts and Library Info

15. Activity stations • Baby Station • Color Station • Magnet & Number Stations

17. Scissors Station • LettersStation • Play Doh Station

19. Building Stations • iPad Station • Boogie Station • Craft Station

23. Geography , History, Math & Science Stations • Yoga Station • Game Station

24. Scavenger Hunts Find the English Easy Reader section.

25. Fact Card #1: How far away can a tiger's roar be heard?_____________________________ Fact Card #1 Most tigers have about 100 stripes. No two tigers have the same stripe pattern. A tiger's roar is so loud that it can be heard more than a mile away.

27. Computer class

28. Storytime

29. Forming friendships

30. Conclusion