Deanne Crawford:  Homeschool Conference Speaker and Workshop Leader Details

Math Wars!
Is math a war zone in your homeschool? Are your children a casualty of the latest trends in math education in the public schools? Sequential? Spiral? American? Asian? What about manipulatives? Choosing math curriculum seems so complicated. In this workshop, we take a look at the “battlefield” through the lenses of Rainbow’s FAMILY factors in order to give clarity to the Math-field. Our workshop starts with an overview of the history of math education in the US, continues with a look at what needs to be learned when, and concludes with a comparative look at many popular math programs.

Reading A-B-C’s
Teaching reading is as easy as A-B-C…or is it?  Join us as we examine the A-B-C’s of teaching reading: Approach, Blend and Curriculum. In this workshop, we will examine the popular approaches of teaching children to read; the current research on reading success and provide an overview of the wide range of available curriculum. Pre-reading exercises and tips designed to develop reading fluency and comprehension will be shared to equip your emergent reader.

Games: It’s Not Just for FUN Anymore!
Games = Learning. Homeschooling families have successfully used games to reinforce learning since the beginning of the homeschool movement. But what if your child doesn’t learn like other children? Maybe they struggle with concepts? Or perhaps they have unique learning struggles that effect their concentration or focus? What if NOTHING you have tried seems to work? Games are the perfect learning tool for all learners and as parents we simply need to learn how to effectively use them in our home.  Come learn how to incorporate hands-on learning, reinforcement and practice into your homeschool day.   You will also be given an opportunity to look, feel, and experience an eclectic collection of educational games and learn how to successfully integrate education through games into your homeschool.

Counting to Calculus: Laying a strong foundation in the Elementary Years
Providing our children a solid foundation in math is at the heart of the  homeschool vision for many families. Yet, the experts can’t seem to agree on what is the best way for children to learn. Drill to Instill (or is that Kill?) or Math Discovery? Skills based or Think like a Mathematician? Memorize Facts or Calculator Dependence?  Does it really matter how children learn to do math--as long as hey learn? In this workshop, we will explore the two main theories on elementary math education and examine curricula and non-curricula options for building a strong foundation in the early years.

Deanne’s journey into homeschooling began in 1997 when she removed her oldest child from the neighborhood K-8 school. Deanne and her husband, Manuel then educated their daughter, Amanda, through high school and is currently teaching their son, Jackson, a junior. Eclectic in her approach, she preferred to pick and choose what she felt will work best for her children and is a self-proclaimed “curriculum junkie”. With a background as a registered nurse, she feels giving children a love for science is a vital part of home-education and is one that is best “caught not taught”. She currently works part time at Rainbow Resource Center as a curriculum consultant, and desires to encourage and equip families in their homeschooling journey.

From Deanne:  I look forward to “talking” with you and answering any questions you may have regarding homeschooling and curricula.