Service to Homeschooling Families

I was recently sent this information and wanted to forward it on to our tribal youth program. I am not sure if anyone on the rez is homeschooled, but in case there is someone I am hoping this may be beneficial.
Title: Service to Homeschooling Families
Format: Online
Dates: December 8, 2009 – January 11, 2010
To register for this workshop: Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/rural/workshop/441
Fee: Special Rural Initiative Grant Fee: $0.00

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, well over one million children are being homeschooled in the United States. Studies show that a majority of homeschooling families rely on libraries as their primary source of learning materials. Although homeschoolers are among the most active users, few libraries offer specialized services to this high-needs population.

As a result of this course you will be able to:

· Reach out to homeschooling families

· Plan services benefiting homeschoolers, as well as other families

· Develop low-cost, high-impact programs targeted to homeschooling families

· Create collections for the widest possible use by homeschoolers



Author of "Helping Homeschoolers in the Library," Adrienne Furness will introduce you to the philosophies, trends, and regulations that impact homeschoolers and how homeschooling operates on a daily basis. You will come away with ideas on how to create a welcoming environment for these families and with strategies to reach out to and connect with homeschooling organizations in your community.



Course Description: During the course, you will be completing assignments and participating in online discussions, with the goal of learning from each other and generating a wide variety of outreach, program, and collection ideas. In online meetings you will have the opportunity to hear from librarians who have developed unique programs and services for this user community.



Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:



· Module 1: Who Are Homeschoolers?

Homeschooling facts

Why families homeschool

Major philosophies and trends

Homeschoolers’ schedules

· Module 2: Outreach to Homeschoolers

Homeschooling laws

Homeschooling organizations

Potential library obstacles for homeschooling families

· Module 3: Developing Programs for Homeschoolers

Considerations when planning programs

Developing low-cost programs that have maximum impact

Welcoming homeschoolers into non-homeschooling programs

· Module 4: Developing Collections for Homeschoolers

Identifying items that will have the widest use

Locating reviews and evaluating resources

Balancing the collection

Housing the collection



Instructor: Adrienne Furness. Adrienne Furness is a Children's and Family Services Librarian at the Webster Public Library in Webster, NY. She has spent over a decade working with homeschoolers in various settings, providing basic library services as well as targeted programming and collections. She served as administrator of a 2005-2007 New York State Parent and Child Services Grant dedicated to better serving homeschoolers in the Monroe County Library System. Adrienne is a frequent conference speaker and the author of Helping Homeschoolers in the Library (ALA Editions, 2008).



Time required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 to 2½ hours per week. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, it is recommended that you complete each week's assignments within that week to stay in sync with other learners.



Who Should Take This Course: Public library staff and managers who interact with homeschoolers, purchase materials, plan programs, or set library policies and procedures; school librarians from districts that provide additional services to homeschoolers; anyone interested in library services for homeschooling families.



Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at

http://www.infopeople.org/training/learning_details.html.



Course Start: This online learning course starts on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. Because several holidays fall within what would normally be a four-week course, the end date has been extended to January 11 to allow sufficient time to finish the four modules.



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To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information about Infopeople Training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/workshop



If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at assist@infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.