The Cure for the Math Curse: Consumer Math
(designed to meet the needs of junior high and high school students)
When: Wednesdays 10:30-noon from April 21st - May 19th
Where: a private home in Cary (please contact me for the address.... due to privacy concerns I don't want to publish it here for obvious reasons!)
We tend to worry a lot about what our student's ACT or SAT scores will be, but the only score that will matter in their lives after they are 21 is their FICO score. Let's make sure they have the knowledge they need to not ruin it early on! Using a variety of materials and activities, learn the basics necessary to understand the ins and outs of:
opening bank accounts (savings, checking, what is a NOW account? ROTH vs a traditional IRAs, etc),
borrowing money (including credit cards and mortgages),
insurance (the different types of insurance, home, car, whole life vs term life, how to pick the right plan),
utility bills and household expenses (how much is your family paying? budget plans and more),
and taxes (do I really need to file? Who pays quarterly? Who gets money back?).
Students will need a calculator in class and will be assigned homework that will include using some of the amortization calculators on bankrate.com.
Cost: The cost of this 5 week class will be $50 and is payable to Kathy Wentz the first day of class.
Credit card payments through paypal are accepted in advance.
Apr 4, 2010
Mar 8, 2010
The Cure for the Algebra Curse: Pre-Algebra
Is your student prepared for Algebra? This series of classes is designed to help your student understand many of the basic concepts needed for Algebra and provide you with a wide variety of games that will reinforce the topics without boring work book pages. Topics to be covered include positive and negative integers, fractions, order of operations, graphing, and single variables.
Where: The Johnsburg Public Library, 3000 N Johnsburg Rd., Johnsburg
When: Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:30 April 6 - May 18th
Cost: $45.00 total
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend for free.
Students should be comfortable with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing but do not need to have memorized all their facts.
Please register in advance with the library at 815-344-0077.
Where: The Johnsburg Public Library, 3000 N Johnsburg Rd., Johnsburg
When: Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:30 April 6 - May 18th
Cost: $45.00 total
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend for free.
Students should be comfortable with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing but do not need to have memorized all their facts.
Please register in advance with the library at 815-344-0077.
Mar 1, 2010
World Math Day is March 3rd!
Celebrate World Math Day by playing with math! Visit the link and get plenty of ideas including the chance to play a totally free and safe online math contest on March 3rd?
Students play at home and at school against other students around the world in live games of mental arithmetic. Each game lasts for 60 seconds and students can play up to 500 games during the official event, earning points for each correct question.
(Don't forget that Pi Day is 3.14, er, March 14th either!)
http://blog.worldmathsday.com/?p=32
Students play at home and at school against other students around the world in live games of mental arithmetic. Each game lasts for 60 seconds and students can play up to 500 games during the official event, earning points for each correct question.
(Don't forget that Pi Day is 3.14, er, March 14th either!)
http://blog.worldmathsday.com/?p=32
Feb 16, 2010
Time to renew that Nature Journal!
For those of you who keep a nature journal and... well.... kind of dropped it when it got COLD....
it is time to pick it up again! This is also the perfect time of the year - the beginning of the year - to start one!
The squirrels, for those of you that were watching, are done with their annual courtship chasing and chittering and have gone back to sleep for a week or two. Baby hawks are about to hatch and soon the skies will again fill with circling mom and dad hawks looking for a tasty meal for their hungry babies. Buds on trees are beginning to swell (measuring the buds on the same 'adopted' tree each week is a great exercise!). Which birds wil visit your bird feeder this month and which will visit next month are different!
For those new to journaling in winter, I highly recommend the book "Guide to Nature in Winter" by Stokes. http://tinyurl.com/yj2o6zv Stokes will help you learn to identify trees by their bark and bud patterns, identify animal tracks, learn about the many different kinds of snow, and much, much more. He also does a great job of showing what a great journal can look like, with loads of sketches and captions and observations doodled here and there among the text.
it is time to pick it up again! This is also the perfect time of the year - the beginning of the year - to start one!
The squirrels, for those of you that were watching, are done with their annual courtship chasing and chittering and have gone back to sleep for a week or two. Baby hawks are about to hatch and soon the skies will again fill with circling mom and dad hawks looking for a tasty meal for their hungry babies. Buds on trees are beginning to swell (measuring the buds on the same 'adopted' tree each week is a great exercise!). Which birds wil visit your bird feeder this month and which will visit next month are different!
For those new to journaling in winter, I highly recommend the book "Guide to Nature in Winter" by Stokes. http://tinyurl.com/yj2o6zv Stokes will help you learn to identify trees by their bark and bud patterns, identify animal tracks, learn about the many different kinds of snow, and much, much more. He also does a great job of showing what a great journal can look like, with loads of sketches and captions and observations doodled here and there among the text.
Feb 14, 2010
Environmental Chemistry and Anatomical Survey classes!
Environmental Chemistry Lab II
This course consists of 7 high school level Chemistry laborarotory exercises and related discussions while stressing the Chemistry of Earth's environment. Students are expected to have had prior Chemistry laboratory experience including titrations and chromatography, possibly by having taken Environmental Chemistry I from Mrs. Wentz. Students should be currently studying Chemistry or be prepared to do some reading in between classes.
NKC S05-005, 10:00-11:50, Fridays April 9-May 21st A224, $87 (for seven sessions)
Register with credit card by calling 815-455-8588. Questions? Marie 815-479-7559.
Biology Lab II – Anatomical Survey
This course consists of 7 high school level Biology laboratory exercises and related discussions. Work will
include lessons in lab safety, as well as dissections and experiments designed to encourage a study of the structures, organization, and function of various organisms and how they relate to the human body.
Students should be currently studying Biology or Health or be prepared to do some reading in between classes.
NKC S05-006, 1:00-2:50, Fridays April 9-May 21, A224, $87 (for seven sessions)
Register with credit card by calling 815-455-8588. Questions? Marie 815-479-7559.
This course consists of 7 high school level Chemistry laborarotory exercises and related discussions while stressing the Chemistry of Earth's environment. Students are expected to have had prior Chemistry laboratory experience including titrations and chromatography, possibly by having taken Environmental Chemistry I from Mrs. Wentz. Students should be currently studying Chemistry or be prepared to do some reading in between classes.
NKC S05-005, 10:00-11:50, Fridays April 9-May 21st A224, $87 (for seven sessions)
Register with credit card by calling 815-455-8588. Questions? Marie 815-479-7559.
Biology Lab II – Anatomical Survey
This course consists of 7 high school level Biology laboratory exercises and related discussions. Work will
include lessons in lab safety, as well as dissections and experiments designed to encourage a study of the structures, organization, and function of various organisms and how they relate to the human body.
Students should be currently studying Biology or Health or be prepared to do some reading in between classes.
NKC S05-006, 1:00-2:50, Fridays April 9-May 21, A224, $87 (for seven sessions)
Register with credit card by calling 815-455-8588. Questions? Marie 815-479-7559.
Feb 5, 2010
Johnsburg Public Library's April Food for Fines Program
I have had several requests for info about the annual 'Food for Fines" at the Johnsburg Public Library (and, of course, their Homeschool Resource Center!). I can't imagine why - as homeschoolers would NEVER bring an item back late or lose a book........ but here is the information:
JPL's Food For Fines program is celebrated on National Library Week each year. This year that is April 11-17th.
Donate one non-perishable food item for each separate fine (as in each item). (Food cannot be used to pay for lost or damaged items, or for collection agency fees.)
More Answers: Let's face it - the reality is that the library just wants their stuff back. If you bring it back NOW you CAN pay the fine with food later. If you have already been taken to collection - return the item NOW and during food for fines you can pay the $10 agency collection fee and bring in a can of food to pay off the rest. Obviously, the best thing is to avoid the collection agency in the first place because once you are sent to them you can't get away from that $10 fee
Lastly, the donated food will all be given to the F.I.S.H. Food Pantry which assists McHenry area families in need. Yes, extra donations are always very cheerfully accepted.
JPL's Food For Fines program is celebrated on National Library Week each year. This year that is April 11-17th.
Donate one non-perishable food item for each separate fine (as in each item). (Food cannot be used to pay for lost or damaged items, or for collection agency fees.)
More Answers: Let's face it - the reality is that the library just wants their stuff back. If you bring it back NOW you CAN pay the fine with food later. If you have already been taken to collection - return the item NOW and during food for fines you can pay the $10 agency collection fee and bring in a can of food to pay off the rest. Obviously, the best thing is to avoid the collection agency in the first place because once you are sent to them you can't get away from that $10 fee
Lastly, the donated food will all be given to the F.I.S.H. Food Pantry which assists McHenry area families in need. Yes, extra donations are always very cheerfully accepted.
Feb 2, 2010
Charts and Graphs Math Class in Cary
The Cure for the Math Curse: Charts & Graphs Math Club
Wednesdays from March 3rd through to March 24th, 2010 10:30-12:0 am
This series of four classes will concentrate on getting a better working knowledge and conceptual understanding of how to structure and organize data. Learning how to read charts and graphs is a vital tool to understand consumer economics, statistics and almost every science - and is used extensively on the science portion of the ACT and on the SAT. We will use quality math literature and a wide variety of games and activities to encourage your child to play their way to a love of math.
Cost: $40 Final day for registration is March 1st, 2010.
These classes will be held in a private home in Cary. If you are interested please contact me for further information.
Wednesdays from March 3rd through to March 24th, 2010 10:30-12:0 am
This series of four classes will concentrate on getting a better working knowledge and conceptual understanding of how to structure and organize data. Learning how to read charts and graphs is a vital tool to understand consumer economics, statistics and almost every science - and is used extensively on the science portion of the ACT and on the SAT. We will use quality math literature and a wide variety of games and activities to encourage your child to play their way to a love of math.
Cost: $40 Final day for registration is March 1st, 2010.
These classes will be held in a private home in Cary. If you are interested please contact me for further information.
Jan 31, 2010
Summer Plans
A few important dates you might be interested in are on my calendar:
June 3-5th will be the Friends of the Johnsburg Public Library's Used Book Sale.
July 10th will be the Homeschool Resource Center Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market. I already have two wonderful guest speakers lined up:
Alison McKee, author of From Homeschool to College and Work: Turning Your Homeschooled Experiences into College and Job Portfolios and
Homeschooling Our Children:Unschooling Ourselves and
Barbara Frank, author of The Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling and
Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers.
I am still working on what classes to offer this summer. I'm afraid it is harder to plan out classes for the summer when it is still January but I am planning on my Fresh Water Ecology and Field Geology classes again. Please let me know if you would like the Fruit Fly Genetics class offered!
June 3-5th will be the Friends of the Johnsburg Public Library's Used Book Sale.
July 10th will be the Homeschool Resource Center Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market. I already have two wonderful guest speakers lined up:
Alison McKee, author of From Homeschool to College and Work: Turning Your Homeschooled Experiences into College and Job Portfolios and
Homeschooling Our Children:Unschooling Ourselves and
Barbara Frank, author of The Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling and
Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers.
I am still working on what classes to offer this summer. I'm afraid it is harder to plan out classes for the summer when it is still January but I am planning on my Fresh Water Ecology and Field Geology classes again. Please let me know if you would like the Fruit Fly Genetics class offered!
Jan 30, 2010
CLPD The Cure for the Algebra Curse: Intro to Algebra
(for grades 4 and up)
This series of classes will introduce a fun way (using LEGOs and dice) to learn beginning algebraic concepts from 2x = 8 and ending with -4(5 - x) = 3x - 12. Students need a foundation in both multiplication and division, but do not need to have memorized all their math facts.
These classes began in January. While I don't recomend students new to Algebra's principles join the class once started, students who are somewhat familiar with Algebra or who have taken my Algebra class before and want a refresher ate certainly welcome to join us in the middle.
Classes are held Thursdays from noon - 1:00 p.m. in Crystal Lake, IL.
For registration information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ya7zekb
This series of classes will introduce a fun way (using LEGOs and dice) to learn beginning algebraic concepts from 2x = 8 and ending with -4(5 - x) = 3x - 12. Students need a foundation in both multiplication and division, but do not need to have memorized all their math facts.
These classes began in January. While I don't recomend students new to Algebra's principles join the class once started, students who are somewhat familiar with Algebra or who have taken my Algebra class before and want a refresher ate certainly welcome to join us in the middle.
Classes are held Thursdays from noon - 1:00 p.m. in Crystal Lake, IL.
For registration information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/ya7zekb
CLPD Science Club: Chemistry!
Together, we will explore what matter is and how it forms the world as we know it. Topics to be covered will include elements, mixtures, compounds, density, chromatography, acids and bases, exothermic and endothermic reactions and plastics. Weather permitting we will visit the lake and do some fresh water testing. Students should be prepared to use measuring and graphing skills to perform experiments.
These classes will be held at the Crystal Lake Park District's Rotary Building on Thursdays from 1-2:30 from March 4th - April 15th.
You can find registration information here: http://tinyurl.com/ya7zekb
These classes will be held at the Crystal Lake Park District's Rotary Building on Thursdays from 1-2:30 from March 4th - April 15th.
You can find registration information here: http://tinyurl.com/ya7zekb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)