Family Village Homeschoolers - Berkeley, California

Welcome!

2007-05-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

After thirteen good years, the Family Village homeschool group has come to a close. Our members are still present and active in other area groups. We hope so see you around! See the list of Links on this page for more information about homeschooling in the Bay Area.

Photos

2006-10-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Some History

2006-10-24T13:39:00.001-07:00

Family Villagers welcome all home-based learners to join us. We have an interesting history which began with four unschooling families whose children now are grown and are involved in many interesting projects and studies as young adults.

We have been happy to have children and young people together at Park Days and other events and projects throughout our history, and have seen the benefits of bringing all ages and generations together in learning and recreational activities. One of the many highlights of Family Villagers' experiences over the years has been of older kids playing with, and mentoring, younger children. We look forward to what the future holds in store for us all.

When we first started in 1995, Family Village met in Berkeley's Live Oak Park, on the north side, specifically avoiding the play equipment by the recreational building on the south side of the park. The idea was that the focus would stay on people, and on creativity, rather than on equipment that too often scripts children's play.

Indeed, the little children played under bushes, making fairy houses, the teens enjoyed walks by the creek, never far away, but with a sense of some freedom to be a bit on their own, and others played in the open grassy area, or played with the exciting dress up clothes a few families diligently brought week after week. Our library was brought in crates with books and magazines available for check-out. We had seasonal special gatherings and events, and had history and science days.

At some point, during the summers, we started rotating parks as our usual quiet park space was full of summer camp programs. There were ups and downs to moving around; there was variety, but then many people missed out on Park Days if they weren't absolutely regular attendees and weren't up-to-date on where the group was gathering a particular Monday. Even regulars sometimes got confused about which park, or where it was located. Then there was the issue of bathrooms. Not every park has them, and then there was the park in El Cerrito for which we paid for a bathroom key, but then sometimes that key never made it to the park. Logistical problem, big time.

Everyone's first question about homeschoolers is about socialization, imagining us all locking our kids in closets, right? They haven't a clue about our Park Days not infrequently stretching into 6 hours as kids and parents are just too busy hanging out, playing, or maybe building structures out of sticks and branches. Who ever figured that jumper cables would do great double duty in rigging up a bamboo pole structure? Along with some ivy vines, that structure would be likely to be standing next week.

Finally, one of our families with chemical injuries due to pesticide poisoning realized that they could not attend Park Days held in cities in which pesticides are used in parks so we realized as a group that we needed to keep Park Day in our base city, Berkeley, a city with a policy of no pesticide use in parks and with a history of park gardeners staunchly against pesticide use, speaking up publicly against municipal use in other cities such as Oakland.

While Family Village is based in Berkeley, families attend from cities as far away as San Leandro, Lafayette, El Sobrante, Richmond and sometimes San Francisco.

Some years ago, we moved our Park Day to Codornices, a wonderful old Berkeley park. It has a little of everything for everybody. Like Live Oak, it is inviting to many both because of the sheer beauty of the surroundings, but also because there are so many areas to explore. Older kids can tramp around wooded paths and by the creek while younger ones who want climbing structures have those. Everyone loves the big, big swingset and the cement slide. And there's a tunnel leading to the Berkeley Rose Garden, another lovely area to explore. There is a big grassy area, basketball courts, and the amazing bamboo grove. Teens can be seen swinging as they figure out the world together, playing interesting card or board games by the creek, walking on the many trails or going to the Rose Garden -- when they aren't in the midst of planning some great creation such as a movie script.

While many other homeschooling groups change locations week by week, we've stuck with Codornices for many happy years. The future may tell a different story, and some have suggested the idea of moving around for variety, but many have felt Codornices to be most desirable and that there is a lot of good in having at least one East Bay group with a set location.

-- Max V., 2007

Family Village Park Day - a history

2006-10-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, Family Village met at Live Oak Park, on the north side, specifically avoiding the play equipment by the recreational building on the south side of the park. The idea was that the focus would stay on people, and on creativity, rather than on equipment that too often scripts children's play.

Indeed, the little children played under bushes, making fairy houses, the teens enjoyed walks by the creek, never far away, but with a sense of some freedom to be a bit on their own, and others played in the open grassy area, or played with the exciting dress up clothes a few families diligently brought week after week. Our library was brought in crates with books and magazines available for check-out. We had seasonal special gatherings and events, and had history and science days.

At some point, during the summers, we started rotating parks as our usual quiet park space was full of summer camp programs. There were ups and downs to moving around; there was variety, but then many people missed out on Park Days if they weren't absolutely regular attendees and weren't up-to-date on where the group was gathering a particular Monday. Even regulars sometimes got confused about which park, or where it was located. Then there was the issue of bathrooms. Not every park has them, and then there was the park in El Cerrito for which we paid for a bathroom key, but then sometimes that key never made it to the park. Logistical problem, big time.

Everyone's first question about homeschoolers is about socialization, imagining us all locking our kids in closets, right? They haven't a clue about our Park Days not infrequently stretching into 6 hours as kids and parents are just too busy hanging out, playing, or maybe building structures out of sticks and branches. Who ever figured that jumper cables would do great double duty in rigging up a bamboo pole structure? Along with some ivy vines, that structure would be likely to be standing next week.

Finally, one of our families with chemical injuries due to pesticide poisoning realized that they could not attend Park Days held in cities in which pesticides are used in parks so we realized as a group that we needed to keep Park Day in our base city, Berkeley, a city with a policy of no pesticide use in parks and with a history of park gardeners staunchly against pesticide use, speaking up publicly against municipal use in other cities such as Oakland.

While Family Village is based in Berkeley, families attend from cities as far away as San Leandro, Lafayette, El Sobrante and sometimes San Francisco.

Some years ago, we moved our Park Day to Codornices, a wonderful old Berkeley park. It has a little of everything for everybody. Like Live Oak, it is inviting to many both because of the sheer beauty of the surroundings, but also because there are so many areas to explore. Older kids can tramp around wooded paths and by the creek while younger ones who want climbing structures have those. Everyone loves the big, big swingset and the cement slide. And there's a tunnel leading to the Berkeley Rose Garden, another lovely area to explore. There is a big grassy area, basketball courts, and the amazing bamboo grove. Teens can be seen swinging as they figure out the world together, playing interesting card or board games by the creek, walking on the many trails or going to the Rose Garden -- when they aren't in the midst of planning some great creation such as a movie script.

While many other homeschooling groups change locations week by week, we've stuck with Codornices for many happy years. The future may tell a different story, and some have suggested the idea of moving around for variety, but many have felt Codornices to be most desirable and that there is a lot of good in having at least one East Bay group with a set location.

-- Max V., 2007

The Family Village Homeschoolers group came to a close in the summer of 2008.

Inspirations

2006-05-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

John Holt.
John Taylor Gatto, the ex NYC revered teacher who wrote Dumbing Us Down and the more recent tome, The Underground History of American Education: An Intimate Investigation Into the Prison of Modern Schooling.
Grace Llewelyn's wonderful book, The Teenage Liberation Handbook, would be another obvious one.
Lewis, Amini and Lannon's treasure, A General Theory of Love, about attachment and brain development.

Family Village Contact People

2006-05-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

These people have volunteered to answer questions and help put people in touch with homeschooling resources. They are happy to help you develop projects or activities. They will also be glad to direct you to the appropriate people within the Family Village.

They can also inform you about the Family Village email list, paper newsletter, and member directory.

Maxina V., 510-895-2312, beneficialbug@netzero.net
Mary D., 510-548-7435
Jennifer B., braunsav@pon.net

Homeschooling links

2006-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Some Helpful Homeschooling Websites

CHN - California Homeschool Network
HSC -HomeSchool Association of California
Homefires - The Journal of Home Schooling Online

Some Helpful Homeschooling Email Lists

CA Homeschool Association List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaliforniaHS

We invite you to join this information and timely list and ask the questions you have about homeschooling you children. CHN’s legal and legislative chairs are on this list. Potential problems are discussed first and as they are unfolding. Stay Informed!

CA Homeschool Announcement List:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaliforniaHS-announcements

This announcement list is for CA homeschoolers who want to receive homeschooling announcements, alerts, and other important info-without extra discussion, debate, or chatting.

CA Homeschool Calendar List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaliforniaHS-Calendar

This is an announcement-only list for activities, field trips, and other fun things happening in CA.

Linda Lane quote

2006-05-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

-“When I was considering homeschooling my second grader, I polled 12 K-2 teachers about the number of quality learning hours in a school day. In my area, they had the kids for six hours each day, five days a week. How much of that time was actually spent learning? At this academically blue ribbon, top-of-the-nation school, the resounding response was that teachers experienced an average of 45 minutes of quality teaching time each day. Those minutes were spread throughout all their class subjects……. Those quality 45 minutes were spent teaching to a class (with an average of just under two dozen students per class) -not one-on-one.”

-Linda Lane, Teaching Hours?, California Homeschooler, December, 2004.

Robert Frost quote

2006-05-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

-“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper.” Robert Frost

Announcements

2006-05-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Announcing a San Francisco Bay Area
Homeschoolers Make-and-Take Craft Fair
Sponsored by SFBUN
Benefitting the Women's Daytime Drop-in Center (WDDC)
in Berkeley*
Thursday December 6, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar Street, Berkeley

. Hand-crafted Items for Sale
. Make-and-Take Craft Tables
. Benefit Soup Lunch
. Raffle
. Entertainment

Calling all crafters!

Sell hand-crafted items, made by homeschooled kids,
parents, or families, such as: soaps, greeting cards,
jewelry, wreaths, hand-knit items, ceramics, pet
rocks, etc.

Or, organize and provide supplies for a make-and-take
table, and charge a fee for participants to create a
craft suitable for gift-giving. You keep your
profits. Some examples are: herbal sachets, beeswax
rolled candles, candle holders, holiday ornaments, and
bead buddies.

So, mark your calendar and start crafting! To
sign-up, please contact Robyn at ratalman@yahoo.com,
or Joanna at ridingmom@mac.com. Please let us know if
you'll be running a make-and-take table or selling
your own crafts, and what kind of crafts you will be
selling/making.

Booth fee for make-and-take organizers: one item for
the raffle, no additional fee.
Booth fee for sellers: slliding scale, $5 to $15 per
booth, plus one item for the raffle.

All proceeds from booth fees, raffle, and soup lunch
will be donated to the WDDC. Sellers and
make-and-take organizers may keep their own incomes.
http://www.womensdropin.org/
WDDC serves homeless women and their children by
providing meals, parenting support, advocacy, and
assistance in obtaining many needed services.

Thank you! We hope you'll be able to join us for this
exciting event!

About Family Village Homeschoolers

2006-05-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

The Family Village Homeschoolers is a support group that began in 1995. The group adheres to the principle that we all are actively involved in what our children are doing and learning.

By being with our children and each other during activities, we come to know participating families better and build bonds of friendship and mutual support. We work toward group harmony that is inclusive of the entire family.

Park Days

We have weekly park days on Monday afternoon. This is a time for families to meet with one another, socialize and participate in a variety of learning activities.

Village Meetings

We have Village Meetings as needed. These meetings are primarily for business and problem solving. They are intended to make our group function smoothly. At these meetings we use a form of Group Consensus to make decisions.

We have a group Document that presents and defines the principles by which our group operates.

Activities

Cooperatively or individually families create learning activities for the group. Some of these include field trips, art and science projects and celebrating the season’s special occasions.

Purpose

"families learning together as a lifelong endeavor"

The purpose of this group is to enhance each family’s homeschooling efforts by providing an environment where families can support each other and organize educational, social and recreational activities in accordance with our philosophy; and to provide information about homeschooling to potential new families.

Our Park Days are an opportunity to meet and discuss issues with other homeschoolers. We welcome interested families currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling.

Our group is a network of families who support each other based on shared values that have led to an exceptional environment for our children. These are the values that have brought our group together and form the basis of our philosophy statement. We hope that presenting our philosophy clearly will help us preserve this environment.

Philosophy: Values & Principles

We are a group of parents and children who learn together, which we believe enhances the parent-child relationship, strengthens family ties, and enables children to develop relationships with others at their own pace. We respect the intrinsic capability and individuality of each child and parent. We feel learning is an integral part of life. We believe that the continuing interaction of parents and children, both between and within families, creates the best environment for learning.

Guidelines

Based on our philosophy, when we participate in group functions:

We include all ages.
Parents are actively involved with their children.
Each person contributes to the group.
We value diversity
We support each other’s individual interests.
We work out problems as friends, with open communication and goodwill toward each other.

Directory

For those who wish to have their names listed, a directory of participating families is available. For information contact Jennifer B. at braunsav@pon.net

Email List

A group email list is available for group announcements, notice of homeschooling events, group discussion, and distribution of information of interest to homeschoolers. Information not related to homeschooling can be posted if OT (for Off Topic) is written at the beginning of the subject line. For inclusion on the email list please contact Jennifer B. at braunsav@pon.net

Contact people

These people have volunteered to answer questions and help put people in touch with homeschooling resources. They are happy to help you develop projects or activities. They will also be glad to direct you to the appropriate people within the Family Village. Family Village contact people are listed on our website here.