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Congratulations to Little Bluestem
Students & Staff in the News!
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  • Pandemic Boosts Homeschooling Interest (Centralia Sentinel -  October 6, 2020

  • Earth Day Special Broadcast (WDBX Community Radio 91.1 FM -  April 22, 2019  6:00 - 8:00 am)

  • Teaching Techniques for Homeschoolers (Effingham Daily News -  February 18, 2018)

  • HackSI Grows Young Minds (WSIL TV Channel 3 - November 5, 2017)

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Recent Publications
Renee Schwartz
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  • "Sparking Curiosity Through Spelling" by Virginia Berg and Renee        Schwartz, Research Bulletin published by the Research Institute for    Waldorf Education, Fall/Winter 2021, pp.72-79  https://www.waldorflibrary.org/images/RB26_2.pdf

  • "A Comparison of Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia in the Early  Childhood Years" by Renee Schwartz, Gateways published by the  Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, Spring 2021  https://www.waldorflibrary.org/images/gw_80.pdf

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Community Partnerships

Little Bluestem began in 2016 as a collaboration between three homeschooling moms:
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Renee Schwartz, M.S. Curriculum & Instruction
professional curriculum writer and homeschool consultant

http://www.waldorfcurriculum.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-schwartz-4a2a3995/

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Sheila King, postpartum doula

http://www.mothersloveservices.com

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Colleen Price, early childhood educator
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Our group has since grown and expanded and we are proud to have relationships with many organizations in our community:
Ana&Mei
Boulder and Bloom
Carbondale Public Library
Effingham Public Library
Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation
Green Venturing / The Climate Economy
HackSI
Language and Literacy Solutions
Libre Unschool
Little River Research & Design
Southern Illinois Suzuki Strings
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We have visits from a wide variety of special guests, ranging from artists to beekeepers, computer programmers to microbiologists. 
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Students also participate in and enjoy local events such as:
All Species Puppet Parade, Turley Park
Dymaxion Days, Buckminster Fuller Dome Home
Edible Book Festival, Morris Library, SIUC
Holi, Morris Library, SIUC
Logan Days, General John A. Logan Museum
Pumpkin Glow Hike, Oakland Nature Preserve
Sandwiches & Strings, Artspace 304
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Some of our field trip destinations have included:
Alto Clay Works, Alto Pass IL
Bandy's Pumpkin Patch, Johnston City IL
Bell Smith Springs, Shawnee National Forest
Cache River State Natural Area, Belknap IL
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville IL 
Carbondale Fire Station, Carbondale IL
Giant City State Park, Makanda IL
Greer's Lost Creek Blueberries, Carbondale IL
Inspiration Point, Shawnee National Forest
Labyrinth Peace Park, Carbondale IL
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis MO
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis MO
Neighborhood Co-op Grocery, Carbondale IL
Purdy School, Harrison-Bruce Historical Village
Rolling Oak Alpaca Ranch, Makanda IL
Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis MO
The Science Center, Carbondale IL
Shawnee Hills Lavender, Cobden IL
Trail of Tears State Park, Cape Girardeau MO
Tower Rock, Grand Tower IL
University Museum, Carbondale IL
The Yarn Shoppe, Herrin IL
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We are honored to have visited the Southern Illinois University campus and met with distinguished faculty:
Dr. Karla Gage
Dr. Scott Hamilton-Brehm
Dr. Sedonia Sipes
 
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