Upcoming Events!

In addition to offering my FREE weekly (by appointment only) consultations where I help families one-on-one I am offering several workshops and opportunities for more general support in the next few months. You are invited to attend one or all.  All of the listed workshops are located in McHenry County, are FREE, and are open to anyone with questions at any level.  

NEXT WEDNESDAY, July 29th 

Homeschool Roadmap

Homeschooling is a lot like going on a road trip. Some of us like to just get in the car with a destination in mind and have fun finding loads of cool things to see and places to eat and stay along the way. Other folks plan out every mile and every stop with two weeks of hotel reservations made in advance or they hire a guide to do that for them. It doesn't matter how you travel as long as you have a fun and successful time. We will discuss the law, resources, and lot of the options on the homeschooling road and help you figure out which options will work for your unique situation. 

7 - 9pm at the Johnsburg Public Library (one block east of the traffic circle no matter what your GPS tells you!)

no registration required

Ideal for the new homeschooler or one who is frustrated or confused with the sheer abundance of choices available today. 

(I will offer another of these at the Johnsburg Library in August if there is enough interest.)

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Huntley Public Library

Part I is 5:00-6:15 p.m.      

Everything You Wished You Knew About Homeschooling In Northern Illinois, But Were Afraid to Ask.  

Covered topics will include the many options available in education today, current legal information affecting home educators in our local area, and much more.  

**6:15-6:30 p.m.

Snack break (snack provided)

 Part II - 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Homeschooling for Cheapskates

Homeschooling doesn’t need to be expensive.  In fact, many find that it is virtually free!  Join us for a discussion about how to homeschool using free materials and resources available on the internet, at the library, and in your community.  For adults.  Please share the information with others who would be interested.  Everyone is welcome! 

Registration required.  Call the Children’s Desk at 847-669-5386 ext. 26 to register for Part I, Part II, or both.

Tuesday, September 8th

11 - 2 pm

Homeschool Expo - no presentations but a lot of different resources available to you during that time

Park Place in Crystal Lake (CL Park District) 

Saturday, September 19th

10 am - 4 pm

Used Curriculum Flea Market (10-1:00) and 

Eat, Meet and Greet with Q&A (1:15-3:00)

Illinois HOUSE Fall Meeting (3-4:00) open to all homeschoolers. Loads of information!  

If you want to sell INDOORS at the Flea Market you DO need to register. It is recommended that you register for the outdoor spaces as well - but is not required. 

For full details and to register to sell please visit   https://sites.google.com/site/hrcopenhouse/

The folks at ARC are working to develop a non-common core college placement test as an alternative to private schools who are not teaching CCSS. This would be an alternative to the ACT and SAT.

Already we have over 800 colleges and universities that do not require or use the SAT or ACT. (For a list please visit fairtest.org ).

I am not finding a web page for it this group though. If anyone finds it please let me know!

Google's 4 Week Internet Camp starts Monday!

Google has brought together Khan Academy, National Geographic, National Parks, and NASA to launch Camp Google: a free, four-week online camp for kids 7-10, filled with fun science activities and exploration. Talk about an awesome collaboration! Wow.

Every Monday camp kicks off with a live adventure that you can access right from the Camp Googlesite. The adventures begins July 13th with Ocean Week. Your kids will head deep into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to explore. Later this summer, they can join a live hike up an active volcano with a Park Ranger and a jam session with a music star. Everyone is welcome and you can jump in anytime.

We came, We shopped...

We had a great turn-out for yesterday's Used Curriculum Flea Market, Open House, and Panel Discussion! I heard that most of our sellers sold quite a bit and that most of the buyers went away happy. We had a terrific discussion about a lot of "hot topics" during the panel discussion as well.

Were you there???



Did you miss the June used curriculum sale? If so, be sure to put the next one, sponsored by Illinois HOUSE, on your calendar today! 

September 19, 2015

and thanks to Michelle H. for permission to use the photo! 

Cream of the Crop Photo Contest

PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED FOR CREAM OF THE CROP PHOTO CONTEST

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announces the 3rd annual Cream of the Crop agriculture photo contest for Illinois photographers ages 8 to 18.

“We hope students take the opportunity to showcase their creativity and learn more about Illinois agriculture,” Frerichs said.

Participants must be Illinois residents and amateur photographers. Contestants will compete in three age categories: 8 to 10, 11 to 14, and 15 to 18. Each contestant is limited to two photo entries. Photo entries must be in JPG format, 300 dpi, and no larger than 5MB.

To find more contest rules and to submit photos, go to the treasurer’s office website atwww.illinoistreasurer.gov. Click on the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest link and follow upload instructions or read the rules. The submission deadline is July 9, 2015.

Winners and runners-up will be notified by telephone call and email. Winning entries will be published online and in print.

The Cream of the Crop photo contest is a part of the Treasurer’s Ag Invest program. For more information, visit www.illinoistreasurer.gov, call (217) 558-6217 or emailaginvest@illinoistreasurer.gov .

Johnsburg Library Homeschool Resource Center Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market!

Father's Day Weekend!

Homeschooling for Cheapskates - April 7th

Homeschooling doesn't need to be expensive. In fact, many find that homeschooling is virtually free! 

 Join us for a discussion with Kathy Wentz about how to homeschool using materials and resources 

available for free (or cheap) on the Internet, at the library, or in your community.

Be sure to bring your impossible dreams!

Tuesday, April 7^th from 6-8pm

Huntley Area Public Library   11000 Ruth Rd, Huntley, IL 60142

Cost: Free (of course!)

Please register in advance at:

www.huntleylibrary.org or 847-669-5386

PARCC Myths Busted!

Excellent article helping to explain current IL law as it relates to PARCC testing!

Please read!

FAQ: Johnsburg Public Library Homeschool Resource Center

As always, the library’s database is fully searchable for all items in the collection and a full list of the Homeschool Resource Center (HRC) inventory can be had just by downloading it from the library's web site <http://johnsburglibrary.org>.  There are over 2000 items though, so you may think twice before doing this on a smartphone!

Walking in for the first time is often overwhelming because of the sheer number of items. The entire room is organized by Dewey Decimal number - not by grade level.  So, all the economic books are over near the American government books and these are not near either the math or the American history books.  If you don’t know what Dewey number you are looking for, please ask a staff member. Science kits (microscopes, telescopes, chemistry glassware, vacuum pumps, etc.) are in the red and white boxes or on the upper shelves. Games and small items are on the upper shelves or in the hanging bags.

I have been working hard to keep the HRC's collection free of Common Core (CC) materials. Several of the publishers we have do have newer versions that are CC but I am not on updating any of these materials as long as they are CC compliant. I know that having some older versions is frustrating to some of you - but it is also thrilling to many more of you. If you are specifically seeking CC materials please let me know I can help you through online resources.
All materials have a 6 week check out time. Books and magazines can be inter-library loaned (ILL) or returned through ILL if you come and pick them up. Kits (including the microscopes, telescopes and games) can not be inter- library loaned. Please note: if you return items through ILL we recommend you allow two full weeks for them to get to Johnsburg before the item is actually due.

When you only have a 12' by 12' room there is only so much space. The more you check out (including through inter-library loan) the more I can keep in the collection because there simply is more room on the shelves.  Otherwise, for each new item I put in I have to pull an item from the collection.

Yes, we take donations!  Many of the items in the HRC were donated to the library and many others were sold at the annual HRC Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market in order to raise money for new items. Only 40% of the current collection is from the original grant - so 60% of the current collection is new. Please, oh please, mark any and all donations intended for the HRC with “HRC” or I will not see them.  Lastly, be sure to get your donation receipt when you drop off your donation so that you can write off the full value of your donation. The Friends of the Johnsburg Library is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Holds may be placed on HRC items even if you have an out of district library card. Almost all Illinois library cards are valid at the Johnsburg Library. The exceptions are those of you with rural cards or those few of you who belong to non-public libraries. If none of your property tax money goes to a library district and you have not paid to upgrade your card locally, please call the library in advance to ask if you would be able to check out materials.

And, as always, I am available for free, but limited, educational consultations on Wednesday evenings from 7 -9 pm at the HRC. (I charge $40 an hour for all other times and locations but offer more services during private consultations).

New Session of CLPD Classes Begins 2/19/15!

All Classes are at the Crystal Lake Park District's Veteran Acres Park Rotary Building and will begin 2/19/15 and end 4/2/15. No classes on 3/26/15.




4442-1 Home School Karate 4-7 years 11:30-12:00


4542-5 Home School Karate 8-18 years 12:00-1:00


4442-3 Math and Science Club 7-10 years 3:00-4:00


4640-8 Math and Science Club 8-15 years 2:00-3:00


4540-4 Arts and Crafts 4-7 years 9:30-10:30


4542-4 Pen and Mouse Club 6-18 years 10:30-12:00



4540-6 Computer Illustration 8-18 years 12:00-1:00