About Chester County Scholars

This is an inclusive group of home and cyber school families; a non-discriminatory group with the focus of socializing, support, and enrichment for tweens and teens. We have a Junior Scholar subgroup for siblings of member teens and for those who would like to take part in multi-age activities.
Our philosophy is based upon respect for ourselves and others, empowerment through education and a dedication to life-long learning.

This group serves to connect members (active or more passive) and at this juncture, membership is free; so we welcome all to help this inclusive group grow, and to help encourage others to continue to homeschool through the teen years.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Sign Language

I'm having a hard time finding a sign language teacher who will travel to a home. Is anyone up for doing videos and just a free club? Books and videos are available that are really great - the biggie is someone to practice with, i.e., a small crowd.

email me if you are open to this.

Online Book Club (staring NOW)

First book - starting NOW - The Wizard of Oz.

The great thing - this book is available in the original format and for less ability or younger readers. As a supplement, there is the movie which is different but it can be compared.

I can offer guiding questions for this.

Anyone who wants to read it, begin - and we'll meet back here July 23 on AIM or yahoo, and discuss a bit. For those who can't make it, I'll have points that were brought up and more questions to pique your interest and views and forward them to anyone who is interested....In August, we can do an in-person evening with the movie, popcorn and critiquing how horrid the movie is compared to the book(s) :)
(Or not! Maybe you like the movie better)

Food for thought on this - was Dorothy a victim? Why do we often feel she is a victim through the movie?
Is the wicked witch really evil or, what makes her evil? What attributes both make and break their character for you?

Email Michele ASAP if you want to be on this list for Wizard of Oz.

Afternoon Art Live Model

Let's pick an afternoon in the winter where we can add to our art by experiencing a live model drawing class.
I like the idea because barring an art major, how many times will someone have this opportunity. Chances are high my child won't be an art major so I'd like to have him experience the G rated version of live model drawing.


Should we use pencil or charcoal?

A teen or adult model? What should they wear?

Should we expand this into portraits, hands, feet, etc., with a live model?

Should we incorporate science/anatomy?

Should we also bring a pad and paper to a local museum and draw a sculpture or capture another painting or drawing on paper at some point?

If there is any interest, pick a date you'd like to do this and mail Michele.

Yearbook Club

This is youth driven. I can drop the items into my Mac and we can purchase on demand.

Those interested in this club should keep a pad and/or camera handy to record the year. If you are in a another coop, we can list coop highlights also that are specific to your coop -- in a nutshell, whatever you are doing (Girl Scouts, Music, Science labs of interest, personal endeavors and so on) record it.

Youth-We will need a yearbook editor and key staff. Please volunteer yourself or someone you know to be a part of this! Any parent who wants to jump in and help, please feel free to.

American Politics: Campaign Strategies Workshop

Bringing together current events, psychology, marketing and government into a workshop.

What we will do is forward information in September, then you have until October to work on your theories and findings. In November we'll gather for an afternoon after Chess Club (for those not participating in Chess, arrive at 3ish) for an hour or so of discussion and presentation.
If you didn't come up with much or just want to observe to learn, that is fine also.

If you are interested, choose a date and mail me asap. When I get a few dates, I'll choose the most popular and post it.

Looking for a Field Trip Coordinator

If anyone is interested in organizing monthly or bi-monthly trips that teens would like, please step forward. Realize that this is for tweens, not not teens.
Ideas can be educational or social, formal or informal.