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Terry Small a.k.a. “The Brain Man” is described as Canada’s #1 Learning expert and is touring NZ for the first time ever in March! An experienced teacher of all ages through to adult level, Terry is a sought after International speaker who will leave you astounded at the wonders of the human brain while giving practical tips to help your brain work more efficiently. Over 175 000 people have attended Terry’s seminars worldwide and he comes highly recommended by those on the USA speaker circuit. Scroll down to the bottom to read a short article by Terry.
Registrations are due to go live next week so if you haven’t already, send an email to firelight@learnex.co.nz and you will added to the mailing list. Terry will be speaking in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. The “Learning with the Brain in Mind” tour is brought to you by the Firelight Foundation, a not for profit organisation committed to bringing quality international speakers to New Zealand. Past speakers have included: Steve Demme, Dr Jay Wile, Sally Clarkson, Jim Weiss and Andrew Pudewa.
Pricing will vary from centre to centre but has been dramatically cut for this tour as Terry has been willing to waive his standard appearance fee for these homeschooling events (after some arm twisting!) which means his loss is our gain. : - Further information will be posted next week. Save some supervisory allowance if you haven’t already spent it on violin lessons!
Volunteersneeded
The Firelight Foundation is a not for profit organisation which aims to support home educating parents so this is an opportunity for you to give something back and help organise an event in return for reduced or free entry. Last conference had 400+ attendees so we simply cannot function without your help!
Available jobs:
Registration coordinator for Auckland – computer skills (Word, Excel & email) and adept record keeping are a must for this
Sponsorship
Helpers on the day (Auckland) – kitchen roster (this is an excellent job for teenagers!) carparking attendants, handing out notes, AV desk, welcomers, registration desk etc.
Cleaner (Auckland) – this is a paid position
If any of these sound like you (or your teens), please email fusfam@learnex.co.nz
Sponsors
Tours of this magnitude cost into the tens of thousands of dollars so we are currently looking for sponsors for all three events. You may choose to sponsor all three centres or just one centre. Sponsors will receive publicity on all outgoing emails, web links and/or email links, acknowledgement in the printed programme, verbal mention at the venue and wall display space/powerpoint. Please contact me off list to discuss this if you are interested or know someone else who would be. We are limiting the number of sponsors so don’t miss out.
Dates
Palmerston North (combined with Curriculum Fair) – Thursday 11 March
Reformed Church, Ruahine Street
Times & contact details to be advised
Auckland – Friday 12 (evening) & Saturday 13 March
Details to be advised (venue will be in Manukau City)
Full childcare programme available. Further details to be advised.
Further Information
Further information about the topics covered in each centre as well as registration details will be posted next week. In the meantime, please circulate this information to your home education networks. We’d like to offer the opportunity to home education families before opening this up to the wider public.
Erena
The Mind Your Brain tour is brought to you with the help of the following organizations:
Below is an article written by Terry to whet your appetite.
By Terry Small a.k.a. “The Brain Guy”
Family Concern recently completed a study involving three groups of young people. One group was consistently praised for previous performance, another group was criticized, and the third group was ignored. Those who were praised improved dramatically, those who were criticized also improved (but not as much), and the group that was ignored barely improved at all. Charles Schwab said, “I have yet to find the person – however exalted his or her station – who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.” By the same token young people who are raised in a spirit of praise and approval are going to be happier, more productive, and more obedient than those who are constantly criticized. We become, in large part, what we think about. Therefore, the input into a teenager’s mind is very important.
Here is a great tip: The two most powerful times for this input is early in the morning and late at night. Some psychologists have estimated that the first encounter of a significant nature that you have each day has more impact than the next five encounters as far as your thinking and your attitude are concerned. With this in mind, it is extremely important that these first and last encounters of the day with your kids be positive. These are great times for specific, well-earned praise
Congratulations on learning something about your brain today. The Brain Bulletin goes out to almost 20,000 people worldwide and is committed to help to do just that. If you missed any Brain Bulletins you can find them in the Brain Bulletin Archive:
World Maths Day was designed to encourage student participation in a fun and engaging online maths event.
It involves games of live mental arithmetic that students around the world play against each other.
Each game lasts for 60 seconds and students can play up to 500 games during the official event which has already begun, earning points for each correct question.
Students who answer the most questions appear in the Hall of Fame. Would be great to see some Home Educators in the Hall of Fame. (There are no New Zealanders or Home Educators on the top 50 at this stage – lets change that)
Sound fun? Why not head over and take a look?
See the new World Maths Day 2010 video with students from host city Johannesburg, South Africa inviting the world to participate in 2010!
I have just received this email below saying that home educators can enter this competition:
The National Schools Challenge is part of the Planet 2010 event and school students can compete in online challenges using a wide range of technologies including computers, online design software, YouTube, digital cameras and phones.
Blessings Barbara
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your email.
Yes, we will allow home schooled students to enter the National Schools Challenge. The only competition where this is an issue is the ‘Story’ Challenge – as the prizes are ‘telescopes for your school’. If the winner is a homeschooled student then they will need to nominate a school to gift the telescope to. (From Barbara – perhaps we could try nominating a support group in this competition.)
When registering, please specify ‘home schooled’ as your School Name. If you wish to enter the Photography Challenge, it is ok for students to take photos around the home (or their learning environment).
The Telecommunications Industry Group (TIG) is running the Planet 2010: Visit the Futureconference at SkyCity Convention Centre on 12-13 March this year.
The National Schools Challenge is part of the Planet 2010 event and school students can compete in online challenges using a wide range of technologies including computers, online design software, YouTube, digital cameras and phones.
Registrations for the National Schools Challenge open on 1 February 2010. Click here to register.
If you are one of the winners on Mathletics World Maths Day on 3rd March (register free at www.worldmathsday.com) you’ll be able to compete live in online realtime maths challenges at the Planet 2010 conference on 13th March 2010. Bring all your friends to cheer you on!!
Win awesome prizes, including Sony Ericsson W705 Walkman phones, Casio watches, Digital Cameras, Calculators
Mobile Phones, HP Netbooks and for your school, Telescopes!
Sponsored by:
Please contact us if you have any queries regarding the National Schools Challenge. Email: info@tig.org.nz
For more information on the Planet 2010 event visit the Planet website.
Uwe Romeike and his wife Hannelore work with their children at home in Morristown, Tenn.
Wade Payne / AP
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike are not like other asylum seekers, people fleeing war or torture in places like Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. They’re music teachers from a village in southern Germany. And yet, in what appears to be the first case of its kind, the couple and their five children were granted asylum in the U.S. last week by an immigration judge who ruled that they had a “well-founded fear of persecution” in their home country for engaging in what has become a popular albeit somewhat controversial American practice — homeschooling their children.
The Romeikes, who are Evangelical Christians, took their three eldest children out of school in the town of Bissingen in 2006 because they were concerned about the impact the government-approved curriculum and the public-school environment would have on their social development. “Over the past 10 to 20 years, the curriculum in public schools in Germany has been more and more against Christian values, and my eldest children were having problems with violence, bullying and peer pressure. It’s important for parents to have the freedom to choose the way their children can be taught,” Uwe Romeike said in a statement provided by the couple’s attorney, Michael Donnelly of the Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).
But here’s the problem: in Germany it’s compulsory for children to attend school, and the Romeikes soon found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Local authorities slapped the couple with a $10,000 fine, and police even took their children to school when the Romeikes refused to send them. Fearing that they could lose custody of their kids or even be put in jail, the Romeikes fled to the U.S. in 2008, looking for a community where they could educate their kids as they saw fit.
That’s exactly what they found in Morristown, Tenn., a town of about 27,000 deep in the Bible Belt. Donnelly says the Romeikes flourished in the environment, becoming “very disciplined” teachers tackling subjects like math, history and social science with the help of textbooks and other teaching materials, all in accordance with state law. The couple also joined a local group that organizes activities and field trips for homeschooled children in the area. Once they were settled in their new community, they applied for asylum in the U.S., claiming they’d be persecuted if they were sent back to Germany…
Wellington ‘not back to school picnic’ Monday 8 February
To kick the year off, the ‘not back to school picnic’ will be held on Monday 8 February, at Khandallah Park on Woodmancote Road from 10am. This is a native forest reserve with plenty of space, walking tracks, and an outdoor summer pool. The play area includes a flying fox, new junior play area and a giant rock climbing structure. There is also a cafe next to the pool.
If the weather isn’t nice on the day, the picnic will be postponed.
From: THE CONTINUING COLLAPSE January, Anno Domini 2010
Homeschooling Family Granted Political Asylum
Immigration Judge Says Germany Violating Basic Human Rights
A federal judge in Tennessee today granted political asylum to the Romeikes, a German Christian homeschooling family from Bissinggen, Germany, who fled persecution in August 2008 seeking political asylum in the United States.
As many of you may know, the German government has been aggressively persecuting Christian homeschoolers using Nazi-era laws. Moreover, the German government has used its power in the EU to create a legal and administrative environment that has become increasingly hostile to homeschooling throughout Europe.
In his decision Judge Burman recognized that homeschooling is a fundamental human right:
“We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution,” said Judge Burman. “The world might be a better place if it did. However, the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate.”
Burman added, “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution…therefore, they are eligible for asylum…and the court will grant asylum.”
In addition to its repercussions in Germany and across Europe, Judge Burman’s decision is a blow against the elements of the educational establishment and the political left in the United States that would like to eliminate homeschooling or regulate independent homeschooling out of existence.
As a final word, The Continuing Collapse would like to point out that cases like these are not won in a vacuum. Judge Burman was obviously influenced by the now widespread perception that homeschooling is a legitimate educational alternative. That perception has been created over the years by homeschool parents, by the selfless work of homeschool leaders at the state and local level, by those who have promoted homeschooling throuugh the media (magazines, radio talk show, television, internet, etc.), and by our national organizations such as NHERI. In this particular case, HSLDA was the tip of the spear, and we should all give thanks for the tremendous job it has done in this case. The ultimate glory and thanks, of course, are due to God.
11.00am – 12.00pm Session 1 Getting started in Home education: Craig Smith Preparing for Tertiary: Wintech, University and Vision College reps Reading, the Reluctant Reader and Maths Reluctant: Rowena Powell Coping with/Avoiding Burnout: Barbara Smith
12 pm–12.45pm Lunch BYO. Tea and coffee provided
12.45 pm – 1.25pm Session 2 Is it possible to discipline children in our undisciplined society: Craig Smith Books, Great books and more books: Barbara Smith Teaching Writing: Gladys Billings Lapbooking and Unit Studies: Johanna Whittaker
1.30pm – 2.30pm Session 3 Dads: Craig Smith Homeschooling on the Smell of an Oily Rag: Margaret Evans Training our Children’s Minds: Barbara Smith Homeschooling Large Families: Katherine Baxendine
2.40pm – 3.15pm Panel of homeschooling parents, and homeschool graduates – chaired by Craig Smith.
“Just wanting to hear from people who have been homeschooled themselves. Did you go right through with homeschooling, or did you go to school at some point? Why were you homeschooled (parent’s choice, or necessity)? How did you find it? If you transitioned to school later (eg, high school), how did you find that? Did you go on to tertiary education? Lol, just a few questions Would love to hear people’s experiences.” Click here to add your experience
The other thread is a general home education discussion which has been going for a long time. Do take time to visit:
Seventeen-year-old Johnny Collinson phoned home earlier this week to give his parents a bit of news – he’d just become the youngest mountaineer to climb the highest peak on all seven continents, known as the Seven Summits.
“We don’t try to get too excited about things, but there’s definitely a sense of relief that he’s done it,” the teen’s father, Jim, told PEOPLE from the family’s home in Snowbird, Utah.
Collinson managed to make it to the 16,067-foot-high summit of Mt. Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, several hours before speaking with his dad. Despite powerful gusts and subzero temperatures, Collinson unhooked himself from his climbing partner and skied off the top of Mt. Vinson to a campsite several thousand feet below.
Collinson, who was home-schooled by his mother and is a champion freestyle skier, began his quest for the Seven Summits a year ago when he climbed Argentina’s Aconcagua (22,841 feet). Five months later (in May 2009), he stood on top of Mt. Everest (29,028 feet).
“He used to dream about standing on top of Everest ever since he was three,” says his dad, an avalanche safety expert. “He’d picture himself standing up there in his windbreaker and tennis shoes.”
Regarded as one of mountaineering’s most extreme challenges, only about 200 climbers can say they’ve bagged the Seven Summits. “This was difficult for him,” says his father. “But he wanted it bad. It was the culmination of years of work and dreaming.”
Blue/Pink sheep option pictured, other reversible option: Pink/Cream floral
Click here to add text
Blue/Pink sheep option pictured, other reversible option: Pink/Cream floral
1
Single-sided Colour Options: (Listed top to bottom of picture) ~ Daisy ~ Blue Floral ~ Purple ~ Pale Pink ~ Classic Floral ~ Blue Dot (Pictured) ~ Pink Dot ~ Candy Plaid ~ Crazy Pink
Click here to add text
Single-sided Colour Options:
(Listed top to bottom of picture)
~ Daisy
~ Blue Floral
~ Purple
~ Pale Pink
~ Classic Floral
~ Blue Dot (Pictured)
~ Pink Dot
~ Candy Plaid
~ Crazy Pink
Be comfortable with breastfeeding! – no more awkwardness when feeding in public!
This feeding cover simply hangs around mum’s neck to provide modesty and makes breastfeeding instantly discreet!
Two coloured Reversible Covers $20 each (plus postage)
Single colour bound edge Covers $18 each (plus postage)
Generous width to give plenty of cover whichever side you are feeding on
Adjustable button-closed neck strap
The apron has boning around neck edge which gives mum a kind of peep-hole to keep an eye on her baby
Made of light-weight breathable fabric so mum and baby won’t get hot
Makes a great present for a first-time mother
Perfect as a baby shower gift
May shrink when first washed
This from a Kiwi mum who lives in Australia:
“These are JUST WONDERFUL! Perfect design. I love it. And because it is cotton it is nice and light for the baby to feed under it and doesn’t make either of us too hot on these hot Australia days (last week temps up to 50 degrees!). My favourite feature (there are a lot of good features in this simple design) is the boning to allow me to see [baby] and get her attached. This (and the great size) differentiates this feeding cloth from your average blanket which you might use when feeding.”
To purchase email: charmagne_smith [at] yahoo [dot] co.nz
Date: Thursday 4th February 11am to 2:00pm
Venue: Cornwallis Park (and beach), Waitakere
Whether you’re home educating or just thinking about it, take this
opportunity to come along and meet with others from around the
region. This will give you a chance to ask questions, find support,
share ideas and have fun.
Bring: Picnic lunch,
children, spouse,
partner, family,
sunhats, sunscreen,
swim suits and water
bottles.
Enjoy: The beach, a
safe swim, sun & shade,
nature trail, kite
flying, safe ball play,
boogie boarding. Feel
free to make a whole day of it.
Important: This beautiful area is an Auckland Regional Park. There
is no opportunity to fish or gather shellfish, and please note that
dogs are not allowed. Please take away your own rubbish when
you leave.
Directions: From Nth Western Mwy driving away from Auckland city
• Take Gt. North Rd exit
• From Gt. North Rd continue onto Ash St.
• Continue onto Rata St
• Continue onto Titirangi Rd
• At roundabout just past Titirangi village shops take 1st exit
onto Huia Rd
• Keep left to stay on Huia Rd
• Approx 11 Kms along Huia Rd, turn left into Cornwallis Rd
• Cornwallis Park and Beach at end of road
This event will only be cancelled if there is heavy rain or gale
force winds. If unsure on the day phone Stewart 021 654 528
Would love to hear people’s experiences.” 
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