There is a place that you can take violin lessons called Avalon Music Academy, and they are located in Dundas.  The director's name is Stephen Parton.  Phone number (905)627-6710.  They also have a web site that you can check out.  www.avalonmusic.ca.   The reason why I am so excited about our lessons this year and this particular organization is that they are so PRO homeschoolers.   I'm pretty sure he does free seminars or presentations as well, not just on Avalon in particular but the importance of music in children's lives, so I thought maybe you could consider that for one of your homeschool meetings that you have. 

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The Waldorf school of  Halton is offering after school classes, lectures & painting programs.  The instructor is an art therapist. and it will be 8 weeks on Tuesdays.  331-4387.

My name is Jeff Duncan. I work for Alpha Omega Publications, the leader in technology driven curriculum. A home school representative is a new position for AOP and am trying to establish relationships with home school networks across the country. I offer discounts to your members and free shipping.  Jeff Duncan  Alpha Omega Publications
Home School Business Development Cell (817) 798 - 6261

The Kool Klay Kafé is a paint-it-yourself ceramic studio in downtown Dundas which can offer a variety of ceramics-programs to your group. You can make an appointment to drop in with your group to paint ceramic pieces that have already been cleaned and fired. Instruction is included as well as glazing and firing. Hand building clay sessions can also be designed around your group's needs and time schedules. We also have evening dresses (and one small tuxedo) and accessories for your tea party at Kool Klay. Please contact Gloria Mostyn at 905 628-6062, from 10 - 5, Tuesday through Saturday for more information.

MacDonald Learning & Resource Centre and the Out-of-the-Box Early Reading Program! We would like to update you regarding our progress in the New Year... Our NEW website has been launched!! Visit us at http://www.outofthebox-earlyreading.com <>

Hi All, Our website is now finished for my un/homeschooling book, Homeschooling Reflections.  I'd love to have you visit the site.  My five children have learned at home since 1981, when the oldest two left public school.  They all remained at home until entering college.  At this time Chris, who is married and has a daughter, is working as an accountant.  Shawn will graduate in Dec. with a degree in Theatre, and is applying for graduate school.  Devin is a journey man in the heating/air conditioning field.  Donika majors in music and dance at Grossmont Community College, and Trevor at 15 is still home.    This book covers some of the stories of our experiences.  It is written to provide you mentoring support, as though I was your older sister.  I talk about some of the challenges we have encountered, and some of the questions I have been asked through the years. I'm taking advanced orders, which won't be processed until the book is ready to send out. ****PLEASE NOTE ORDERS PLACED BY OCT 15 WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING.   The cover of the book was designed by my good friend's daughter, Ashley Parsons, who was homeschooled.  The website was created by my nephew, Steven Potter, who left high school out of boredom to attend technical school for computers, which he also left to run his own business.  It has been an amazing life experience, not only to watch my children grow to young adults, four of whom are now out in the world, but also to watch the growth of the un/homeschooling movement.   Please visit the website at: www.Homeschoolingreflections.com Thanks, Connie Colten

Do you ever hear comments like these about teaching writing?
"I just don’t feel confident assessing my own child’s writing ability."
"When it comes to teaching composition, I don’t know where to start."
"Writing is so subjective; how can I be sure I’m being fair?"
Many homeschooling parents are looking for help in this important academic area. That’s why I started WriteAtHome—to support homeschooling parents looking for an objective third-party to help coach and assess studentwriting.  We pair every student with an experienced Writing Coach to walk him or her  through the writing process and offer feedback and encouragement on every assignment.  We offer a range of classes for students in grades 6-12, including summer workshops in essay and creative writing.
For more information, visit our web site by clicking here:   http://www.writeathome.net.

Before children can be asked to learn mathematics or applied mathematics, before the teaching of mathematics can be reformed, the question ought to be raised—are we really sure we know what we want to teach?  Demystifying 5th grade mathematics” argues that 5th grade in the public schools is the ideal time to teach students the basics of mathematics. But current text books fail to do so, and in fact reflect a totally distorted view of both mathematics and applied mathematics—which the author contends are two separate and distinct subjects and require totally different approaches to learning.   Current textbooks follow the same fundamental prototype and it is this prototype that the author systematically demonstrates is contradictory, fragmented where it should be continuous, makes many half-true or false statements, and makes the learning of fundamental concepts and skills far more difficult than need be.  The critique is always from the point of what is actually true of mathematics or applied mathematics.  But if what is included is incoherent and wasteful, what is systematically excluded deprives the student of not only any understanding of mathematics or applied mathematics, but of the unique contribution the study of mathematics could offer the student for all facets of the student’s life. Exclusion of essential information = mystification..www.challengerbooks.com/Demystifying Maths Books/mathbooks.htm

This is posted by: boutram@cogeco.ca. For over twenty-five of my thirty-three years of teaching, I developed and classroom tested a diagnostic math program. At the present time, it covers from grades two to eight in whole numbers, fractions and decimals. This program would greatly enhance your homeschooling math program because in my classroom it was run as an individualized program where every student worked at his/her own level. It is also designed so that the student can master the basic operations. My program will supply the necessary practice which is needed to do this. For example, I have divided subtraction of Whole Numbers into 27 skills. Each of these skills has 32 carefully designed mechanical questions which can be used for practice, along with problem solving.  The diagnostic testing indicates where your child should start in my program. The diagnostic tets will tell you what your child knows and does not know. Each grade level of skills contains four diagnostic tests. Every booklet of skills ends with problem solving. Teacher notes accompany each skill.

We have several websites that specialize in assisting learners and students to master or improve their spoken, written, listening and  English grammar skills and/or improve their TOEFL exams with our practice TOEFL exams.....all of our products are offered thru the internet via an on-line subscription, CD-ROM, download and, for older versions of our products, for free. We have had over 500,000 users either take our 50 hour (31 interactive lessons)  English language subscription course, down load our software or receive one of our products by CD. We are sure that visitors to your site will greatly benefit from one or more of our offerings and you can rest assured that they will not be disappointed with your link to our site.........Please feel free to check out our sites and let us know how we can help visitors to your site improve their English skills, TOEFL exam scores or spend hours playing fun and challenging ESL games.
Thank you for your time and consideration, All the best in the New Year,
Sincerely, Daniel J. Brimm dbrimm@eslprosystems.com   President ESL Pro Systems Ltd.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you a new Educational Services company, "Academics Ontario", operating out of London, Ontario.  Academics Ontario exists to support homeschooling families and private schools in Ontario in practical, academic ways.   As an educator with eight years experience in the private school system, five of which were in administration, I know first hand the struggles alternative educators face when implementing meaningful, challenging curriculum into their programs. With the new Ontario curriculum comes even more challenges! Academics Ontario provides group seminars as well as in-home consultations that deal specifically with implementing curriculum into homeschooling programs. For teenaged students, we also provide Guidance and career counselling. We would like to send you some written information on the services we provide, and to offer your homeschooling network with a free presentation outlining our services and products in more detail. Please feel free to e-mail back a mailing address, or contact us directly at (519)680-7788, to learn more about what Academics Ontario can do for you. I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Mrs. Kerry Wilson

Computers, the Internet, Nanotechnology -- technological innovation makes giant leaps almost daily it seems. You probably know that one of the biggest challenges facing families and educators today is preparing children for the technology-rich, 21st Century workplace. Because of this pervasive challenge, Edventures Online developed an online curriculum designed to challenge and nurture students of all learning levels! Our site features hundreds of exciting, motivating courses that successfully prepare children for life in the 21st Century through exciting hands-on learning and portfolio building! Come and see how Edventures prepares students for the technological workplace and builds skills for the 21st Century! Select one of the links below to take advantage of a completely FREE trial, and just for visiting, we'll enter you in our Learning Lab giveaway!!
FAMILIES Click Here for Home Learning Solutions!! http://www.edventures.com/l/10/hm10/index.html
TEACHERS Click Here for Classroom Solutions! http://discover.edventures.com/group/signup.php    Thanks for your time and best wishes for success in all your  educational efforts!
Sincerely, The Staff at Edventures Online