Susan Wise Bauer Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 It seems to me that we've been tossing around the idea of an online home education conference for YEARS. And I think that we're finally in a position to do something about it. Now that we have the Well-Trained Mind Academy platform, we can host home education seminars that are actually about EDUCATION. (What a concept, huh?) So I want you forum folks to be the first to know that we'll be hosting an array of "Summer Sessions," beginning in June. I'll have more details soon, but each session will be three related workshops, presented by one speaker, that will run three consecutive weeks on the same day and time. (So, for example, I'll present three workshops on various aspects of preparing for/planning out high school, on three consecutive Wednesdays at 7 PM EST.) Each workshop will be around 90 minutes long, with a presentation followed by at least 30-40 minutes of Q&A. We're still working on pricing, but for much less than a conference registration, you'll get to attend, take advantage of personal interaction with the speaker, and do it all in your PJs from your kitchen table. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing, so if you can't make one of the workshops or are in a distant time zone, you won't miss out. You can have a look at the platform here: http://www.wtmacademy.com/preview/. Jim Weiss, Julie Bogart, and I are already confirmed. I won't give other names until details are finalized, but I've recruited (and am continuing to hunt down!) a number of long-time friends and educational acquaintances, as well as some fresh new voices. Would love to hear any thoughts you might have on pricing, timing, topics, and speakers you'd like to see! SWB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :party: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Wonderful news! Please keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Woo-hoo! Humble request: Could you put the workshop recordings in plain audio form too? I'm much more likely to find time to listen to a speaker while doing dishes or shoveling the driveway, than I am to carve out time to sit for 90 minutes and watch a video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 YAY! I'm excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 "...and there was MUCH rejoicing!" :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Great news!. There is such a need for this in the homeschool community. I'm tired of all the "extras" that have snuck into homeschool conferences. I'm with Plink--the option to have audio downloads would be wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiden Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :party: Such exciting news! I'll third the request for an audio-only download option ... OOH, I can have my husband play them in the car on a road trip in July instead of all political podcasts for 8 straight hours! A podcast would rock, but I trust my techie husband to figure out a way to get any audio file onto his phone so he can plug it in to the radio. :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Above The Rowan Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I don't have access to emoticons on my mobile, but take my word for it - I am doing a happy dance! Living up in fairly rural Ontario most conferences and conventions are just too far away to be feasible for me. This would be a really great option for me. Super.exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tress Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :party: On behalve of all the WTM-homeschoolers in the Netherlands.....uhm, that would be me&myself.....THANK YOU! Looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This sounds wonderful. Two women I wanted to suggest as possible speakers: Kathy Kuhl and Bon Crowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This sounds wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Sounds great! :hurray: I'd like to hear something on homeschooling during those pesky logic years as well as the planning for high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaeFlowers Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This sounds great! I can't wait! I second the homeschooling in the logic years as a topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loesje22000 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I love the idea!!!! Although I don't think it will be easy to attend from a Western-European timezone :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aras Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :hurray: What a wonderful idea! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spring Flower Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :hurray: So excited to attend!!! I'd love a class on homeschooling 2E kids. I realize it may not be possible but I thought I'd request it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Amazing news! Maybe add in Michael Clay Thompson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I am thrilled to read this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco_Clark Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Oooooh, are you doing a class on writing? Totally excited, and also putting in a hint about an audio-only option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezrabean2005 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This is very exciting! I have not been able to attend a conference in the past because I am always working or homeschooling. What a great idea!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 That's amazing. I would pay for that. :) Here's a topic that I don't have time to look at myself--Keeping History Alive in the Age of Common Core Many people are newly accountable to Common Core based state testing (even home schooling families in certain states). Many of us are also watching STEM kind of take over the classroom. I think that history is incredibly important, but didn't get much of it in school until high school. I'd love to see a speaker talk about: How to integrate historical perspectives into after-schooling to supplement history-weak school curricula. How to ensure that a home school curriculum is able to continue the liberal arts and history with the added stress of integrating CC curriculum. Tips on doing history with kids who aren't that much into stories and dates. Geography and history--how to integrate these? Which texts integrate them well? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Yay! I thought Ed Zaccaro was a great speaker a few years ago at the Va Homeschoolers conference, with a lot of great insights about teaching problem solving in math. I would love to see someone talking about science education in a way that isn't just "here's five cool experiments you could do" or "go take a nature walk." Just something in depth. Maybe the woman who writes Pandia Press's science materials. Or Bernard Nebel who wrote BFSU. Or someone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This is so exciting! I agree with Farrar that Ed Zacarro and Bernard Nebel would both be fantastic. I'd love to hear about helping students apply their math skills to solving problems in the "real world" and laying a great foundation of science knowledge that builds through the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :hurray: *squeal* That sounds amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Awesome!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guilfordlake Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 :hurray: I'll add yet another vote for audio download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 **squee!!!** This is so exciting! I'll add my vote to sessions on dealing with the logic stage (we're moving into it next year, and I'm TERRIFIED!), and math/problem solving and science, as mentioned by Farrar and others above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Yay! I thought Ed Zaccaro was a great speaker a few years ago at the Va Homeschoolers conference, with a lot of great insights about teaching problem solving in math. I would love to see someone talking about science education in a way that isn't just "here's five cool experiments you could do" or "go take a nature walk." Just something in depth. Maybe the woman who writes Pandia Press's science materials. Or Bernard Nebel who wrote BFSU. Or someone... Seconding Ed Zaccaro. I love these science ideas too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Yes, please to all of these: Ed Zaccaro Bernard Nebel Michael Clay Thompson Julie Bogart Dare I ask: Richard Rusczyk or someone from AoPS Maybe longtime board members who have shared their knowledge over the years And a logic stage lecture, with focus on expectations for the content subjects like history, science, and literature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 You had me at pajamas. ;) I am in for the High School talks. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 What about yoga pants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Andrew Pudewa is a good speaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 GREAT idea. I am not near a large convention now and would really like this option. Can't wait!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Definitely modelling of teaching literature and writing at the logic and rhetoric stages without necessarily using study guides or much curriculum would be very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Andrew Pudewa is a good speaker. Yes! Wasn't he the inspiration for the epic Circe thread? I feel I need to amend my post as more people chime in. Me typing furiously: Forgot this one... Oh and this person... Oh yeah and here's another... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Yea! Sounds wonderful! You might have your tech people check out the live-streaming podcast classes from Creative Live for ideas on moderating and including live-viewer questions. :) Wishing you and all the team the best of success in this new venture! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom42 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Great news! I would love to attend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyB Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thank you! This news might just get me through February! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kfamily Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thank you! This would be wonderful! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thank you! :) :) :) You rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deee Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Whoohoo! Finally something we Aussies can access, even if we have to stay up all night! D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimk3 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 YAY!!! This is would be the only way my husband and I could "attend" a conference together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugsMama Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Denise Eide of Logic of English would be fab as well! I am loving the other names being tossed around too! :) How exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zarabellesmom Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thrilled with this idea and love the names being tossed around. These are folks that never come to Atlanta. I can't wait to see what you manage to put together and who will participate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbollin Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Yes! Wasn't he the inspiration for the epic Circe thread? I'm thinking it was Andrew Kern. ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 That sounds fabulous! Thank you, Susan! I'm particularly interested in anything related to high school, especially 2E kids, high school, and the road to college. I'd also love to see any strategies for homeschooling large families with big age spans, including how to keep the primary educator from being bored by going through everything a gazillion times. I don't know how tech works, but if the videos are accessible via tablet, that would be important to me so I can watch while doing dishes or nursing my baby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I'm thinking it was Andrew Kern. ??? You're right. Andrew / Andrew. Tomato/tomahto right? I feel like an idiot but I'll leave the post up. How about Andrew Kern too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) I've seen Shelagh Gallagher speak at the RFWP conference and enjoyed her talks. Just tossing that out there. I'm about to order her Problem Based Learning Units for One on the plague, so her things have been on my mind. Edited January 30, 2015 by Momof3littles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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