Harmony in Homeschooling Austin

Location: Springs Enrichment Academy, off of Hwy 290 West, about 3 miles past Nutty Brown RD.

UPDATED July 23rd, 2008 - We have changed the schedule a bit... Due to enrollment and feedback from many in the Austin Waldorf homeschooling community we have decided to make some changes. For those already registered, we will make adjustments over the next two weeks, please have patience with us as we put things into place.

In the feedback we received from many of you, we found that while you love David & Susan Darcy and you love Susan Beck, you have many opportunities regularly to be with them and that you would like something fresh. I understand Sigi was also there not too long ago. Sigi and I have been brainstorming ways to bring you something fresh and at a lower cost - and also to maintain our aim of building and growing your community there in Austin as homeschooling families.

All participants will still receive a DVD set of the conference so you can come and really participate without the worry of note taking!

We are still limited on space (40 slots) but with the changes we are making we believe we will all be comfortable at the center. Childcare is still available, limited to 15 slots. The cost includes spouses/partners and grandparents for the Friday evening session, we also have a reduced fee for partners that want to join us all day Saturday. Please register through our store.

Friday evening, 7:00-8:30pm... While many feel that homeschooling should be a family affair, a lot of families struggle with how to include fathers and grandparents in this. It can lead to alienation on the part of these very important family members and can then also move to resentment and strife - now of course these family members must be willing participants, but we have to give them the fertile ground for their attitudes to grow positively in this area. Friday evening will focus on the root of the family - while it supports homeschooling, this does not mean that only homeschoolers can attend - it will be an evening of sharing and learning how to speak so we can not only be heard but so we can lead as well. Please bring fathers (even if you are divorced!)

Time	Saturday, August 9th
9:00-9:30 am	Registration, checking in
9:45am	Introductions, morning blessing (I am looking for a volunteer - I'd like a multi-faith prayer if possible please.)
10:00am	Be a Beacon! with Melisa Nielsen: this time will focus on being a beacon for your family. As an extension of Friday night's talk, this will be aimed at mom - getting mom happy and keeping her that way! Only YOU can make those changes and it doesn't matter what your current circumstances are. Come ready to be challenged in your thinking and filled with ideas! Also come ready to participate and share with others.
11:30 am	Lunch break, come ready to chat with Melisa, Sigi and socialize with each other. This will be a communal feast of hearts and minds.
1:00pm	Storytelling with Sigi: Sigi has published a new book on fables and extending the story for your child - while fables usually mean grade 2 work, Sigi will be focusing on how to extend any story for any age and also how to grow storytelling for those who feel that they do not have the skills or need to get stronger. This will be a great class for moms with children of all ages - from birth on up!
3:00pm	Break for tea
3:30pm	Make it Work! with Melisa Nielsen: As you are planning your school year, you may be struggling with how to make it work with a large or a small family, mothering, teaching, and caring for those children and preparing daily lessons. Melisa will bring her experience as a mother of a growing family and as a consultant to all sized families to life as she helps you plan your year. Come ready to work and ask questions - let's get your year planned! Planning will help you stay focused, keep your rhythm and also avoid burn out! Melisa will also answer grade specific questions on how to adapt certain portions of the Waldorf method to home use.
5:00pm	End of the day gathering.
7:00- 8:30pm	Sigi will be on hand to teach drawing/coloring techniques for those interested. We realize she came to Austin in the recent past to teach this workshop and this will a refresher for those who wish it and also an introduction to those who may have missed her.

Registration is for Friday night and all day Saturday, lunch and tea are included, $110 per person. Spouse/partner/grandparents wishing to join their Mama Beacon are welcome for $60, will include lunch and tea for Saturday. Childcare will run $10 for Friday evening and $30 for all day Saturday, lunch included.

For those who have already registered, we will be making adjustments. We appreciate your patience. Putting together a conference entails many expenses and refunding everyone all at once is simply not possible. We do hope that you will want to come and join the new effort put forth - we are offering product credit OR refunds that will be issued by August 30th for refunds and by August 15th for those wishing to use the conference difference in product from A Little Garden Flower.

For those who have been approved for scholarships, these are still in place, we will need to make a few adjustments but I think we will have it all covered!

Email us with any questions: lacmama@yahoo.com

I want to thank everyone for their love and support with this! We are learning and growing, it is all a process - a journey if you will. Many blessings.