University to hold first event for homeschooling community

Homeschool Day 2016 will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and will offer talks and workshops by more than 30 presenters on a variety of topics for homeschool parents, elementary and secondary students.

Elementary-aged students will be able to participate in art and science activities, an archaeology dig, music lessons, and a literature event in the library. Workshops for secondary students will include a 3D printing activity, smartphone and Arduino computer programming, and forensic science experiments.

Parent workshops will cover such topics as how to develop lifelong reading interests in children, how to teach writing strategies, how to deal with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and neuroscience strategies for teaching kids.

Tours will be provided throughout the day to the World Museum of Natural History, archaeology museum, observatory, and general campus.

La Sierra’s School of Education and Department of Curriculum and Instruction are organizing the event.

“This is the first time La Sierra University is hosting a teaching and learning conference specifically for the homeschool community,” said Keith Drieberg, department chair. “This is important for the university, as our mission is rooted in inquiry, learning and service. We believe in the commitment and sacrifice these families make in the lives of their children.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 3.4 percent of children ages 5-17, or 1.7 million school-age children, were homeschooled in the 2011-12 school year. The National Home Education Research Institute in a January report puts the number of homeschool students this year at 2.2 million and states the population appears to have grown about 2-8 percent per annum over the past few years. 

Homeschool parent Valerie Chu says she frequently looks for new ideas and lessons to share with her daughter, Hayleigh, age 11. “When I heard about the Homeschool Day at La Sierra University, I was very excited,” Chu said. “Attending a homeschool day with my child, it gives not only the opportunity to prepare and plan for my next steps in teaching, but also my child in learning and preparation for further studies. At the same time, we get to meet other parents, students, teachers and professors and share ideas.”

Ticket packages for Homeschool Day range from $27.37 for one parent and one child, to $69.57 for a family of six. A buffet lunch is included for all registered participants. For further information call 951-785-2203 or email homeschool@lasierra.edu. For an activity schedule and to register visit lasierra.edu/homeschoolday2016.

La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. A campus map is available at https://lasierra.edu/campus-map/.