1. Have you heard how some churches conduct two-day “Bible Walk-Throughs” to acquaint people with the broad, chronological sweep of biblical events? I would enjoy a mini-course with a similar approach to history — a one- or two-day “Walk Through World History.” Yes, from start to finish, just touch on the major highlights. What could we gain from four, 90-minute sessions of speeding through history? Perhaps a framework for our further self-study, a few pieces falling into place, and possibly much more. Now, I wonder who could teach THAT course?

2. In my spare time, in addition to trying to grasp the story of history, I’ve been self-teaching Latin and Math. It’s painful. Even so, I’m amazed at how well I retain what I’ve studied. Contrary to the popular notion of forgetfulness increasing with age, I think I learn better (not faster) than I did when I was younger. Any work I do, in math especially, seems surprisingly fruitful. Recently, for the first time, I finally understood the WHY behind certain math processes. In school we learned HOW. But if I intend to teach math, even at the elementary level, I need to learn the WHY.

I would pay good money (if I had it) to attend a half- to two-day workshop based on the presenter’s thorough understanding and application of Liping Ma’s KNOWING AND TEACHING ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS. The review of this book by Roger Howe is an excellent introduction to this work on how teachers can develop “a profound understanding of fundamental mathematics.” Singapore Math has a well-regarded course for teachers of elementary mathematics (ELEMENTARY MATH FOR TEACHERS), based on the Parker & Baldridge text of the same name. A workshop that would open up these texts and concepts for home educators would be welcome, and bear much fruit.

3. Lastly, and I mean no offense to WTM by this, but I would be interested in learning how to teach the various branches of science synchronously, rather than sequentially, as WTM advocates. The WTM method (biology one year, followed by earth/space science the next, etc.) is one way of doing science education in the home setting. However, I would be interested in a workshop or panel discussion involving experienced, science-loving home educators who would describe for us how to teach Biology, Earth/Space, Physics, and Chemistry across ALL the upper grammar and middle school years [3rd through 8th], in a spiraling pattern of increasing complexity and abstract content. Any information/instruction on how to synchronize/integrate the sciences would be appreciated here.

I wonder if anyone else has any idea how/where you would find speakers/presenters for academic workshops. I’m sure there will be some bigger companies/groups who will do podcasts, but what about these smaller, local events? Even if it’s just a few families? I do like the idea and would love to hear how others have found and evaluated speakers. And how panel discussions are conducted.

Another thing to consider is qualifications. Many hs’ers seem to want ‘proof” (our own customized hs substitution for the ‘expert’) in the form of test scores, college entrance scores, etc., before putting too much stock in what a longtime hs’ing parent (myself, for example, whose dc have almost zilch of such things) has to say about teaching.

And dc are standing here glaring at me with their ‘It’s past time to go’ look, so gotta run.
Kathy

I really appreciate listening to the mp3′s that PHP offers. They helped me to see a somewhat fleshed out plan of what is in the WTM. I would love to be able to do it in person but geography kind of gets in the way sometimes. (who decided to immigrate to freezing cold Alberta anyway??? Oh yeah, my parents…..)

I think the idea of podcasts and such are good but it leaves most of us off the hook for actually doing anything. I don’t have the first clue in how to organize a podcast and my kids aren’t old enough to do it for me:-) However, getting together some knowledgeable people might be within my skill set if I put my mind to it. The problem I have is similar to others. Do I have a big enough audience to merit the time and effort? At present I don’t have a large network of hs friends because it takes time to build those relationships. And there’s the rub. It takes time. It takes time to network, time to plan, time to attend.

Any ambitious tech-oriented high schoolers out there who want to start a business?

I think someone (who?) could:
Start a Web site that serves as a jumping-off point for ‘mini-conferences’, online seminars, whatever you want to call it that serves as some sort of database and clearinghouse for good info on: potential speakers, those who want to speak (the poetry woman above – e-mail some handouts and get a Web cam!), interested parties who want to put together an in-person seminar on X topic in Y city, etc. Making it clear that these are to be academic in nature.
Just do it – get one seminar up and running. Or use something that PHP has videotaped in the past, just to make it easy. Charge something reasonable ($5?) to view it and test the market and get a good marketing list going, then host a live online discussion afterward.

Oh…but if we all had the time to implement all of our wonderful ideas! But I am now more inspired to look for more academic-focused speakers and keep my ears open for opportunities. As a first-year homeschooler, I thought the perception that a lot of these things are fluffy and not useful was mine alone and am happy to see it’s not just me!