Physics of Flight Educational Animal Program at WCPL

The Natural History Educational Company of the Midsouth

"Physics of Flight" the educational animal program with Bob Tarter will be at Williamson County Public Library August 6, 2015. There will be 3 shows: 2:30pm, 4:00pm, and 6:00pm. 

From WCPL: 
Come meet and learn about owls, hawks, and more! "Physics of Flight" offers a fascinating view of nature’s first fliers, or “gliders”, and how they uniquely navigate their habitat. Come and meet live birds and other animals that fly!

How Music Lessons Lighten Homeschool Planning

It's back-to-school planning time and for homeschool families, lesson planning can often take longer than teaching. As a homeschool parent, I get it. I'm a professional guitar teacher, but in our homeschool I am the Science and Bible teacher. I know what it's like to spend 20 minutes prepping something for science class and it only gets a 20 second spotlight in the actual lesson. Combine all the subjects and that's a lot of prep time to meet the 4 hours per day of school children's needs.

That's one of the bonus benefits of music lessons for homeschoolers. Let's say your child takes guitar lessons from me as part of their education. It's a 30-minute lesson, but to truly learn an instrument, students need to practice at least 30-minutes everyday. That takes care of 2 1/2 hours of school time every week!

I am currently scheduling students for the new school year and have a few openings available (ages 6 and up). Lessons are 30-minutes, once a week and cost $25 per lesson. ($100 for a 4-week month, $125 for a 5-week month.) Hour lessons are available for advanced students. Besides guitar, I also offer lessons on bass guitar, ukulele, stage performance, songwriting, and artist development. Adult students are welcome, too!

I'm located just half a mile off I-65 (Exit 65, Hwy. 96) in Franklin. If you'd like to add guitar lessons to your homeschool plan this year, call me, Marty Keith, at 615 415 1942 or email johnmartinkeith at hotmail dot com

Here's what some of my students and their parents have to say

Franklin Police Teen Academy Now Accepting Applications

FOR INFO:

Franklin PD Teen Academy

 

Fun, Educational and Free Field Trips to Plan This School Year By Jennifer Smeltser

Going on field trips is a big part in the lives of homeschoolers. If you are anything like me, you are probably always looking for an excuse to just go somewhere. There are a lot fun and educational places to visit in the Williamson County area. Did you know many of them have free admission days for your children, and sometimes you, to enjoy everything the venues have to offer?

The following is a list of locations in or around the Williamson County area. It is not exhaustive, but gives you a starting point for

Growing Kids Educational Garden Class To Visit Bear Creek Farm

Register now for the July classes at the Growing Kids Educational Garden which includes a visit to meet the pigs and cows at Bear Creek Farm. Classes at the Growing Kids garden give children a fun way to learn more about where food comes from; why fresh veggies can help them to be healthy and strong and how their garden can actually benefit the environment. Classes are free and designed for kids from kindergarten through 4th grade. 

Class size is limited.

Get more info and register for classes now!

Thanks to Lisa Tidwell of The Franklin Farmers Market Educational Foundation for sharing the Growing Kids information with us!

Barnes & Noble Cool Springs Launches Second Annual Get Pop-Cultured™ Celebration

A Month-Long Series of Events You Won’t Want to Miss Starting July 1, 2015

Barnes & Noble is launching the second annual Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble celebration on July 1, a month-long series of events you won’t want to miss. Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble was first established in 2014 to bring to life customers’ favorite books, characters, movies, artists, illustrators and pop-culture icons with themed events, author signings, panel discussions, contests, exclusive content, giveaways and prizes, sneak peeks, activities, and more. This year it continues and features an even more expansive lineup of events, appearances, giveaways and more, including weekly Throwback Thursdays celebrating a different decade every week from the 50s through the 90s, a To Kill a Mockingbird Read-A-Thon, a Minions Fun event, Manga Mania, Fan Girl Friday, Vinyl Day, James Patterson Day a Dr. Seuss Spectacular and many more unique events and promotions all throughout July.

Local Anti-Trafficking Organization Freedom's Promise by Susan Powell

There is no question that human trafficking has been a recurring headline in recent years as people become more aware of the scope and magnitude of this industry, both domestically and abroad. When we face statistics such as 21 million lives held in captivity and a $32 billion industry that is thriving, our common response is to feel numb and helpless.

One local organization, Freedom’s Promise, is challenging us to recognize that we aren’t helpless by inviting us to join in the fight against child

Have you considered homeschooling? By Jennifer Smeltser

When parents choose to homeschool their children, a lot of thought usually goes into the process before making the decision. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart, but that does not mean you should not consider the challenge if you are feeling led to take the lead role in your child’s education. With the growing number of families seeking alternatives to public school, many common questions arise. If you have considered homeschooling as an option, the answers to the following questions may help you in making your decision.

Is homeschooling legal?

Using The Books of the Gardener in the Classroom by Lauren Brandenburg

What started out as a novel about an ordinary boy growing up in a small Kentucky town, quickly escalated into a ten book series about a world hidden below the earth—a place where goodness grows in unique garden communities, and evil fights to walk among them. I wanted to provide a clean read with spiritual allegory that was not only appropriate for tweens, but also exciting, relevant, and an alternative to some of the more popular contemporary titles. It shouldn’t have surprised me when I received the following from a parent in Nebraska:  Lauren, my family loved your first book, and are looking forward to the second! We are a homeschooling family and chose to use it as a read aloud.

Thompson's Station Homeschool Curriculum Sale This Saturday

Don't miss the Thompson's Station Homeschool Curriculum Sale!

Saturday May 23, 2015  

8am – Noon 

Half-Price Sale: Noon – 3pm 

2855 Sutherland Drive Thompson’s Station, TN 37179

• Homeschool Curriculum: ABeka, Alpha Omega, Apologia, Answers in Genesis, BJU Press, Handwriting Without Tears, MathUSee, My Father’s World, Memoria Press, Rod and Staff, Singapore Math, Sonlight, Story of the World, Teaching Textbooks & more! 
• Books: children’s books, parenting books, board books, & general interest books.
  DVDs and CDs