German-American ePal Program

Approved by HSLDA

Learn about German culture first hand by communicating with German students of similar ages and interests who live in Germany through the German-American ePal Program. American homeschoolers ages 12 to 17 and their families, and German public/private school children may participate. Forge new friendships and broaden your horizons!

A knowledge of German is not required, although homeschoolers studying German will rapidly improve their language skills. Participants are paired with same-gender ePals according to similarities. As a family learning adventure we encourage parents to oversee their child’s ePal experience.

German ePal students attend schools in Ludwigsburg, Markgröningen, Stuttgart and Hagen, Germany. Teachers select students from their English classes who have a working knowledge of English to be paired with American homeschoolers.

ePal Directors
German Director: Susan Gleason;
educator, traveler and homeschool mom who is fluent in German.

U.S. Director: Sondra Muench;
educator, traveler and homeschool mom.

There is a one-time enrollment fee.
U.S. Homeschoolers: 1 Student $6
Homeschool Family Fee: $10
(if you have 2 or more students in your household)

How does one sign up?
Send via Email, Fax or U.S. Mail your child’s first and last name, gender (if not apparent by their name), full mailing address, telephone number--telephone # of parents, not just cell phone of epal, age, date of birth, email address, parent’s email address (if different), a list of hobbies/interests and favorite school subjects to info@homeschoolamericainc.org. The Registration Fee is due at time of registration. Go to www.homeschoolamericainc.org and click on the Donation page to pay by credit card. Credit card payment is secure. (If payee name is different from registering student(s) name please note that in your communication to us.) Personal data we request is used for registration purposes only and for coordinating student participation. It is not intended to infringe upon individual rights or personal privacy. We do not share or sell any information with outside sources.

When faxing or mailing registration information, send payment (check or money order, made payable to Homeschool America. No cash, please!) to:

Homeschool America
German-American ePal Program
313 N. High Street
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

What happens next?
After information is received, enrollees are screened (for security reasons) and each student receives guideline information. Following contact, students will be paired according to age, gender and interests and will receive ePal contact information. Once placement is complete we will contact you periodically to assist with any questions or needs.

Students may request more than one ePal at no additional charge and also Christian ePals.

FALL SCIENCE CLASSES will be offered by Creation Insights starting the week of September 19.   All instruction is designed to help students to observe, enjoy and understand the harmony and purpose of God's creation through the eyes of Scripture. Lessons include experiments, demonstrations, and applications of concepts. 

TOPICS AND LESSONS
Grades 3-5 "Visions of the Invisible" Week 1  The Laws of the Beams and Poppers Week 2  Making the Air Apparent Week 3  Working Under (Water) Pressure Week 4  Sticky Tricks with H-2-O Week 5  Being the Salt (Water) of the Earth Week 6  Carbon Dioxide - It's a Real Gas Week 7  Sound Instruction about Sound Week 8  Color it Autumn Week 9  How to do Light Work What is more common than air, water, sound, and light?  And yet what could be better examples of God's daily provision for his creation?  Using weekly hands-on activities, students will discover how water molecules, wave lengths, and wobbly strings make life both possible and enjoyable. Each is encouraged to "do this at home" and they may even teach parents "why the sky is blue."		Grades 6-8 Neighborhood Natural Wonders Week 1  Getting Your Feet Wet Week 2  The Water of Life and Health Week 3  It's a Small World in a Pond Week 4  A Microscopic Look at God's Greatness Week 5  Practical Prairie Preservation Practices Week 6  Seeing the Trees through the Forest Week 7  Eco-Purpose in Creation Week 8  Designer Animals Week 9  Principles of Biblical Stewardship Following the theme "to observe, enjoy, and understand the harmony and purpose of God's creation," each student will learn how to view the works of God with fresh eyes and minds. Wetland ecology, the design of a cup plant stem, the eating habits of a paramecium, and water strider counter-shading will all help display how God "founded the world by his wisdom." Jer. 10:12
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES in Wisconsin Oostburg: Private home; Mondays, September 20 through November 15 grades 3-5, 1:00-2:00 PM / grades 6-8, 2:00-3:00 PM West Bend / Cedarburg area: Riveredge Nature Center; Tuesdays, September 21 through November 16 grades 3-5, 1:00-2:00 PM / grades 6-8, 2:00-3:00 PM Waukesha: Private home (near Elmbrook Church); Thursdays, September 23 through November 18 grades 3-5, 10:00-11:00 AM / grades 6-8, 11:00 AM-noon Oconomowoc: White Stone Comm. Church; Thursdays, September 23 through November 18 grades 6-8, 1:00-2:00 PM / grades 3-5, 2:00-3:00 PM   Each class meets for one hour per week during the nine-week session. Each class meets for one hour per week during the nine-week session. Enrollment deadline is September 16.  Early enrollment is recommended due to limited class sizes. Parents are welcome to sit in on any class. Please contact Michael DuMez, director, at creationinsights@gmail.com or 920-564-2402 for details. Family costs for each session: 1 student=$95, 2 students=$180, 3 students=$250, 4 students=$290 Reduced costs or individual payment schedules can be arranged if needed. For additional details, other science classes, and creation tours, please contact our website creationinsights.com. Upcoming sessions (specific dates to be announced later) Winter 2011 - Early January through mid March Grades 3-5, "Magnetism, Electricity and Motors" Grades 6-8, "Dissection, Cells, and Physical and Chemical Changes" Spring 2011 - Mid March through mid May Grades 3-5, "Levers, Machines, Metrics, and Soils" Grades 6-8, "Heat, Atmosphere, Birds, and Flowers" The Edison Project the science of technology The Edison Project is a Science class designed for INVENTORS/DISCOVERS who possess the Edison Trait. Totally hands-on, to-the-point, teacher assisted learning. Each assignment can be completed in about one hour. The entire family can get involved or the kids can do it safely by themselves. Lab equipment can be purchased from your local Radio Shack. The budding scientist in your home will love this class.  Class Fee: $55 per quarter, 40 lessons Students age 8 and up Register now at www.quickstudylabs.com. Students are accepted once every eight weeks. See website for start date! Website Testimonial Page ^top of page^

Reading Horizons:
Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself

The Reading Horizons homeschool reading program helps its users build powerful foundational reading skills! Give your child a reading program that guarantees they will make fast gains in reading-grade levels through a tried-and-true, research-based program: Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself.

This method has been used successfully for over 30 years in classrooms and homes across the nation and is employed and endorsed by Harvard University and the Florida Center for Reading Research. The easy-to-teach direct instruction materials and self-guided student software of the Reading Horizons program make a perfect combination to any reading curriculum. The program uses a multi-sensory approach that appeals to a student's individual learning style - visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic.

We encourage you to try Reading Horizons free online resources and experience the difference the program can provide for you or your child. Please call anytime if you need any help or explanation with Reading Horizons resources - (800) 705-6568.

For additional information visit Reading Horizons at: http://www.readinghorizonsathome.com/
or email info@readinghorizons.com

The benefits of the Reading Horizons program are highlighted in the reflections of this homeschooling parent:

"We have five daughters and have home schooled for about 17 years. During those years we have tried over 8 phonics programs. I was trying to find one that was easy to teach, useable with all ages, and non-consumable. Two years ago I went to a conference and wandered over to the Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself booth. Since we'd used a curriculum with markings before, I really wanted that in my 'ideal phonics program!' I was immediately impressed with the simplicity of the system. Our 8-year-old commented one day, 'I really understand this. I never understood what you were trying to teach me before.' We are deeply grateful for the Discover Intensive Phonics system as it has ended my search for the 'ideal phonics program.'" I was becoming weary with all the effort!" - Kristie Swanson

Paint-your-own Pottery Class - http://potsnpaints.com
Enrollment for this class is year round. It is open to both homeschool families and the general public for registration. We offer both "mobile" and a main location for classes. Family costs for the session are determined by the type of greenware your child chooses to paint. Parents are welcome to sit in on the class. Each class is one-and-a-half to two hours in length. Please contact the Homeschool America office at (920) 723-3649 or email sondramuench@charter.net for details.

Scrapbooking
This program is open to both homeschool families and the public. It will teach creative ways to keep your memories and share them with friends and family.

Yearbook Spectrum
This program is open to all homeschool students in the state of Wisconsin. It enables each homeschool group to be involved in creating their own class memories or groups can work together to create a large region yearbook.