Two Prefield Educational Planning Seminars will be held during 2011-2012:

1) Sept 27-30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida
2) May 14-17, 2012 in Wheaton, Illinois

This seminar, sponsored by Interaction International and by SHARE Education Services, is a "must" for any parents who will be home schooling or using national schools to educate their children or who are investigating their educationaloptions where they will be serving.

THIS SEMINAR WILL HELP PARENTS ANSWER QUESTIONS SUCH AS:

• What educational option is best for our children? Will it work for all our children?
• How can we use the national schools successfully?
• How can we help our children learn a second language? 
• How can we develop a workable educational plan for our family that fits our goals, values, and ministry?
• How do we choose a homeschooling curriculum?
• How do we get started in homeschooling?
• How do we teach specific skills such as reading and writing?
• How can we prepare our children for the transitions they will make in leaving this culture and entering a new one?

These are the important questions the Prefield Educational Planning Seminar is specifically designed to address. Unfortunately, these are often the issues that bring families home prematurely.  A recent study on attrition indicated that issues related to the care and education of their children was the leading factor that caused families to leave their places of service
.

FEEDBACK!!  PARENTS WHO ATTENDED PREVIOUS SEMINARS SAID:

“The Prefield Educational Planning Seminar transformed the way we look at our children's education. No longer are we at the mercy of whatever educational opportunities happen to be around where we live. Instead, we now have a plan and the tools to flex that plan for our kids.”

“The seminar was such a great resource because practitioners from every imaginable educational option were present. They not only gave their professional advice, but also spoke from personal experience with each option (homeschooling, national schools, on-line schooling, international Christian schools/boarding
school, etc.). For us, it seems like the only limit to options for educating kids overseas is our creativity.”
 
“One of the most productive activities was the opportunity to craft our own philosophy of education and an educational plan for our family. Once we worked on this, we sat down one-on-one with consultants from Interaction. They were available twice for hour-long sessions to help us with specifics about our situation.
This time was invaluable for us! What a privilege to sit down with people who not only care about the Kingdom and its work, but also about us and our children and their educational needs and who also have the expertise to give some good advice on how we can be effective in disciplemaking—first with our chil-dren and then to others God has called us to.”

CHILDCARE:                            

Each year on evaluations, parents report they gained so much from the seminar because they were able to spend time focusing on their children's education. Consequently, we do not offer childcare at this program. They appreciated the opportunity to discuss each evening the things that had been presented in the workshops and shared in advising sessions during that day. Parents felt they got far more out of the seminar then they would have if their children had attended.

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION:

For Orlando: The The seminar will be held at the Hawthorne Suites Airport Hotel in Orlando, FL and participants will be housed there as well. The price for rooms is $89 per night. Hotel charges will be payable through Interaction. All rooms are suites and include a kitchen, dining and living area in addition to the sleeping area. All rooms have high speed Internet. The hotel also has a heated pool, an exercise room and a sports court. To make hotel reservations, contact Virginia Travis, the Prefield Seminar Coordinator at 630.653.8780.

There is free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel and there are many restaurants within walking distance of the hotel including Bennigans, Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, TGI Fridays, Tony Roma’s  and Wendy’s. Breakfast and lunch (except Tuesday) are included, but participants are on their own for dinner each day.

The conference will start on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 with registration at 12:30 pm and will end at approximately 4 pm on Friday, September 30th, 2011. Please plan your arrival and departure times so that you are able to attend the entire seminar and not have to leave early.

For Wheaton: The seminar will be held at College Church in Wheaton, IL (located on the corners of Seminary and Washington near the Wheaton College campus). Breakfast and lunch (except Monday) are included, but participants are on their own for dinner each day. When we receive your registration, we will send (by e-mail) a complete registration packet which includes housing information, schedule and additional forms (on your family and children) that will need to be completed and returned. A wide variety of housing options (at various price ranges) are available nearby. At the seminar, each family will receive an extensive notebook of resources and materials. In addition, many resources are available for review and some resources are available for purchase.                                                                           

The conference will start on Monday, May 14th at 1:00 pm for registration and the first session will start at 1:30 pm. The seminar will end at approximately 4:00 pm on Thursday, May 17th. There will be an evening session on the first day, but the remaining evenings are free. Please plan your arrival and departure times so that you are able to attend the entire seminar.

IMPORTANCE OF BOTH PARENTS ATTENDING:

We recognize that both parents will not play the same day-to-day role in their children’s education, but believe both parents need to be informed about these issues and to actively participate in making these decisions. Consequently, we urge both husband and wife to attend the seminar if at all possible. Previous participants have found it helpful for both parents to hear the information presented, to discuss their questions with an advisor and to work together on developing the educational plans for their children.

CONTACT OR REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Interaction—Prefield Educational Planning Seminar

Address:   P. O. Box 863, Wheaton, IL 60189

Phone:   (630) 653-8780   /   Fax:   (815) 846-1778

E-mail:   office@interactionintl.org