Seven years and counting!
Seven years, that’s how long the Aberásturi Home Academy has been in existence. Well, at least for Bea. She’s now on 7th Grade, while Jude is in 5th Grade. Xia, who was homeschooled until the 6th Grade, is now a freshman in college.
Our homeschool journey has been bumpy to say the least. We started with a very structured set up, then tried out interest-led learning, then the fear of difficulty transitioning from homeschool to a traditional school for high school kicked in, so we we went back (sort of) to a structured set-up, then realized that we are defeating our purpose of homeschooling, so we went back to interest-led learning, then took the leap and went independent, and here we are.
This year is our seventh, and our plans of sending Bea off to a traditional school this year just went pffffftt. I’m not sure what happened. June came and she just didn’t want to go, so okay. Roll up sleeves and prepare for Grade 7.
That’s why I’m really excited for this year’s Homeschool Conference. As teacher mommy, I know I need this. I’ve been simply downloading the DepEd curriculum and checking out the required competencies as our learning guide, while we continue to encourage the kids to pursue their respective passions. Bea wants to learn foreign languages, dabbles on art, computer coding and literature. Jude is still focused on astronomy, geography, history and building structures. So while I try to keep up with their interests, I have to equip myself with the knowledge on how I can prepare them for a possible transition to high school, or maybe farther down the road, to college.
International and Local Speakers
This year’s keynote speakers are big names in the global homeschooling movement – Michael Donnelly, the secretary of the Global Home Education Conference 2016 to be held in Brazil and Rachael Carman, bestselling author and publisher of Apologia.
In addition, there will be smaller workshops to choose from, with the following topics:
- Singled Out by Mike Donnelly
- Give Me One Good Reason to Homeschool by Davis Carman (Rachael Carman’s husband)
- Homeschool 101 with Tina Rodriguez
- Getting Homeschoolers Ready for the World through Independent Homeschooling with Ched Arzadon
- Stretching Your P100 (because it’s important to be money-wise to be able to homeschool thriftily but effectively) by Chinkee Tan, and
- Parenting Basics: Getting Your Children To Listen and Learn by Edric and Joy Mendoza
I’m sure you can tell in which workshop I’ll be. 🙂
Arts and Crafts Workshops for Kids (and Kids-At-Heart)
Yes, you can bring your kids, too! Manila Workshops has put together a series of workshops to keep the kids busy. You can choose from any of the workshops and register your kids for a minimal fee of Php500.00, materials included. Only 25 students per class, so better register early!
Check this out!
String Art by DMC
Kids will hammer away to create different colorful figures, abstract or representational, using just wood, nails and various threads. For ages 13 and up.
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Mandala by DMC
Learn how to create beautiful hanging ornaments by mixing patterns and colors with just your thread. For ages 13 and up.
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Cross Stitch by DMC
Remember the cross-stitch craze? Introduce your child to this absorbing hobby that can produce beautiful home wall decors with clean and precise X’s. For ages 9 and up.
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Dream Catcher by DMC
Native Americans believe that dreams can be caught. Kids will love making their own dream catchers with a hoop, threads and eye-catching decors arranged in a web for a good night’s sleep. For ages 13 and up.
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Basic Calligraphy by Little Ms Printer Marj Liwag
Let your kids learn to write in beautiful calligraphy in this workshop to be facilitated by Marj Liwag of Little Ms Printer. For ages 6 and up.
Morning: 10:00 – 12:00 a.m.
Afternoon: 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Important Details
This year’s Homeschool Conference will be at the Samsung Hall, SM Convention Center SM Aura (Meeting Rooms 4-6), from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. An All Access Pass (pass to go in and out of all three venues, including the exposition venue) is at Php 1,000 per person for the early bird rate (until October 11), and Php 1,200 for the regular rate. So register now to avail of the early bird rate! Please use the code THWHOMESCHCONF2.
To help you better plan your day, you can download the conference program here.
But wait, there’s more!
I’m giving away FREE ALL ACCESS PASS to one lucky winner, AND an adult coloring book from Bee Happy Crafts. Cool, yeah? I’m so excited, I want to join, too! So please, go ahead and join! Will see you at the conference!
Do you have questions, comments or feedback about this post?
Please leave me a message, or post them, at my Facebook Page.
Marge, also known as The Happy WAHM, is a virtual assistant who turned her passion for entrepreneurship into a worthy endeavor of offering complete business solutions to CEOs and business owners around the world. She turned her back on a thriving corporate career to become a hands-on mom and created a lifestyle that allowed her to build a homebased career, homeschool her children, and still have time to pursue her passion for arts and crafting.
She only posts her content on her website, TheHappyWAHM.com. If you see this content on someone else’s site then it is NOT by any means authorized.
