Beauty and the Beast

please join us for the classic musical tale of Brains, Beauty and a misunderstood Beast!

Thursday March 29, 7pm
Friday March 30, 2 pm and 7pm
Saturday March 31, 2pm

all shows performed at The Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 N Lincoln Ave, Skokie IL by a talented cast of local homeschoolers!

Purchase Tickets:  $10 adults, $5 in advance through March 27th.  All seats at the door: $12.

This month’s topic:
Differences. How do you manage unschooling for kids of different ages within your family? How do you play to your kids’ differing learning styles? One of your kids wants to try every activity, the other won’t budge from her room — what do you do? What to do if you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye on the topic of your children’s education?
As usual, the topic is a suggestion to get the conversation going. If you have other questions, concerns or ideas you wish to bring to the table, that is absolutely OK.

Meetings are held at Irving park United Methodist Church at 3801 N. Keeler (at Grace).
Basic tea supplies & cookies will be provided, but special treats are always welcome if anyone feels so inspired.

We look forward to seeing new and “old” families, socializing, sharing experiences, and having some kid-free time (nursing children are welcome!)

We look forward to seeing new and “old” families, socializing, sharing experiences, and having some kid-free time (nursing children are welcome!) Please bring any questions you may have to the meeting,  topics are suggested, but as always, parents meetings allow for the discussion to evolve to meet the needs of the families present.   below are the dates and topics scheduled through June.

Monday, Feb. 13
Unschooling Family Relationships & Cohesion. How do unschoolers handle discipline? How do we balance our children’s need for independence against the needs of the family? Can we /should we help our kids become self-directed and motivated? How do we maintain connection to our kids as they move into their teens? How has your way of communicating with your child changed in the course of your unschooling journey?

Monday, March 12
Differences. How do you manage unschooling for kids of different ages within your family? How do you play to your kids’ differing learning styles? One of your kids wants to try every activity, the other won’t budge from her room — what do you do? What to do if you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye on the topic of your children’s education?

Monday, April 9
Taking care of Mom & Dad. How do you take care of your own needs and interests as an unschooling parent? How do you stay motivated / interested? How do you manage your time? How do you draw boundaries between work and family? How do you keep your working spouse connected to your family’s unschooling lifestyle? Would anyone like to address single-parent unschooling?

Monday, May 14
Activity ideas for next year. Do you have ideas for organized activities, workshops, field trips or unschooling events you’d like to organize? Would you like to see certain activities offered in the future? Do you want to help with an activity, but don’t want to be the sole organizer? Let’s get our ideas on the table, send them to the group, and see who wants to work together to make them a reality next year.

Monday, June 11
Social activity TBA.

questions? contact Justyna

What:  Open Gym!

Where:  Riis Park, 6100 W Fullerton, Chicago

When:  Mondays 11:30- 2 pm with outside play afterwards weather permitting.  there is a playground and park, and a sledding hill if it’s snowy.

Cost:  $16 per kid for the gym, 10 week session  (register at the park for the remainder of this session Jan 9- March 25)

Why:  Because it’s fun!  come and play and socialize.  bring lunch for your family.

Parents and kids are responsible for all clean up.  Kids are allowed to use all gym equipment.  Food is permitted in the gym as long as we do not leave a mess.

WHO: Kids from the ages of 8 to 18 who enjoy improvisation and/or drama.

WHAT: Improv and Drama!
Greg will be doing long form improv and short form improv.
Amy will be directing David Mamet’s “The Duck Variations”.
This spring, we’ll be changing our structure just a little bit. There will be a little more overlap this time between everyone in order to build a large, strong ensemble. We will all  spend the first two weeks together improvising, playing theatre games, and reading from script. Greg and Amy will have roles cast and long and short form participants assigned by the 3rd week.

WHEN: WEDNESDAYS 10-noon and/or 12:30-2:30
February 22- April 25
3 Performance dates TBA (first week of May or last week of April)

WHERE: PROP THTR 3502 N Elston (near Kedzie/Elston/Addison intersection)

HOW MUCH?: Full day $240 (early bird price of $225 if you register before Feb 8!)
Half day $140
As always, sibling discounts and payment plans are available

DON’T KNOW GREG OR AMY? HERE ARE THEIR RAP SHEETS:

Amy Eaton has been working with young people and theater for the past 23 years. Before that, she was a young person. She founded Mudlark Theater Company (“no small parts, just small actors”) on the belief that young people are capable of creating interesting, funny, intelligent theater.  She was the Artistic Director for Mudlark for 5 years and prior to that Evanston Children’s Theater for 5 years. She has been an artist in residence for both Gallery 37 and Urban Gateways, working with kids of all ages throughout Chicago. She also toured nationally with Sunshine Too, a group of Deaf and Hearing performers. She has acted and directed for such companies as Tellin’ Tales Theater, Curious Theater Branch, Great Beast, NonSoFar, Redmoon, Mary-Arrchie and Thunder Road Ensemble. She curated and performed in Honor Thy Mother, a collection of autobiographical performance pieces. She graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Writing.

Greg Callozzo has been performing and directing in and around Chicago for many years.  First attracted to improv because there’s no lines to memorize, he discovered the work of Viola Spolin who introduced the use of games, storytelling and dramatics while working with children at Hull House in the 1920s.  Inspired, he attended Second City Conservatory which led to performance at IO and Annoyance Theaters as well as with Saint Sebastian Players, New Rock Theater and PorkchopCo.  He’s created and guided many workshops for Madison Public Schools, local park districts, schools and homeschool groups.  He attended Boise State and DePaul universities for theater and business.  Guess where he got his degree…

GOT QUESTIONS? WANT TO REGISTER?  contact  amy

something for everyone-  all classes held at The Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 N Lincoln Ave, Skokie IL

for questions, please contact Amy J

looking for a great place to find all sorts of resources and activities for homeschooling in and around Chicago?  Homeschool Habitat is back!  check it out and make use of it!

Park days have come to an end, but if you are still looking for an opportunity to play outside come to Pond Monday

Who:  parents and kids, everyone who likes ponds and being outdoors.

When:  Mondays beginning Oct 10, 1 pm

Where:  Riis Park Pond the pond is located west of the parking lot on Fullerton, just east of Naragannsett

What to bring:  pond nets, buckets, fishing gear, boots, dry clothes, blankets, picnics, foam swords and other toys, kites, knitting etc…

Where:  Foster Beach, meet either on the beach early in the day or up on the grass east of the beach house after 3:30

Who:  Anyone celebrating not back to school, plus friends and family

This is a potluck, please bring food and beverages to share with the group.  Things to bring, a blanket, folding table, camp chairs, a grill.

Every Friday is beach day at Foster Beach,  we generally meet past the 2nd lifeguard tower, towards the water.  11- whenever.  Look for a lot of umbrellas close together.

These are family activities for kids of all ages and parents or caregivers.

July 18 Chopin Park
3420 N. Long Ave. (5400 West)

July 25 Hamlin Park
3035 N. Hoyne (near Diversey & Damen) – POOL

August 1 Jefferson Park (note: changed from Wilson park due to construction

4822 N Long.  POOL

August 8 Harold Washington Playlot Park
5200 S. Hyde Park Blvd (near 53rd & Lake Shore Dr.)

August 15 Margate Park
4921 N. Marine Dr. (near Lawrence & Lake Shore Dr.)

August 22 Rehm Park
East Ave. & Garfield in Oak Park (exit 290 at Austin)
August 29 Unity Park
2636 N. Kimball – WATER SPRINKLER

Sept. 5 NO PARK DAY (Labor Day)

Sept 12 Indian Boundary Park
2500 W. Lunt (1 block west of Western Ave.)

Sept. 19 Peterson Park
5801 N. Pulaski (in North Park Village, follow signs to playground)

Sept. 26 Riis Park
6100 W. Fullerton (playground is on Meade near Fullerton)

Oct. 3 Stevenson Park
49 Lake St., Oak Park