Reaching the Reluctant Writer
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
Many children really do not like to write. Why? This workshop will answer that basic question and teach a specific and successful method of separating the complex process of writing into the smallest possible steps, making it possible for even the most reluctant writer to produce short but complete compositions. He will be proud and motivated to write again. If you remove the problem of what to write, you will be free to help your child learn how to write, using source texts, key word outlines, and “dress-up” checklists. Results guaranteed!
Managing the Multitudes
Charlotte Ellard
Room 106
Mother to 12 children, Charlotte offers encouragement and practical how-to’s the Ellard family has incorporated in family life. This is an annual session at the Expo that is a little different each year, depending on expressed interests. Come with your questions (and exhaustion) and be encouraged!
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Your Kids to Think
Cynthia L Simmons
Room 107
We live in a post-Christian world that promotes wrong ideas and thoughts. It’s imperative that we prepare our children to discern truth from error so that won’t be deceived. This workshop shows hot to incorporate critical thinking in all areas of study.
How to Cultivate Habits or Reading and Writing across Disciplines
Dr. Martha Joseph Watts
Room 108
Participants will learn how to teach children to write habitually without a Burden. Participants will engage in the Writing to Respond Process (WTR). An approach for guiding students on how to engage in analytical writing without added stress. The approach deals with preventing and reducing writing phobia across disciplines. Participants will get a close up look oh how to implement the resources.
Homeschooling with the Brain in Mind
Marla Szwast
Room 109
Take a journey through your child’s brain…don’t worry, we won’t get too detailed! Neuroscience and cognitive science both have many valuable lessons to teach us about learning. Getting some of these basics under your belt as the teacher in your home will help you sort through the overwhelming amount of information and resources that are now available for your homeschool. The goal of this workshop is for you to walk out with more confidence and clarity. You will discover the necessary elements of learning and also what hinders learning. You will also receive a short guide of questions to ask before you buy that shiny new curriculum.
Let’s DO Science!
Ronnie Thomas
Room 110
Science is something that students have to DO. Take part in this OPPORTUNITY to interact with Fun Weird Science strategies as we model engaging hands-on learning experiences guaranteed to keep your scholars hooked. Participating families will benefit from and engage in a variety of STEM-based activities designed for use as lesson hooks, driving focus and/or extensions. Session topics to include but not limited to chemical reactions, force and motion, heat energy, polymers, aeronautics, and life cycles. Walk away with an electronic toolkit of STEAM based activities that can be utilized at home to complement your science exploration efforts!
Parenting by Personality
Karen Whiting
Room 111
Have you ever wondered why one child may be more difficult to parent than another? Are there days when you feel like you just can’t communicate effectively with one or more of your children? Does one child receive the assignment you give him or her and get right to work? Perhaps the issue is not so much behavior as a personality issue. Understanding your child’s personality will give you a useful tool to parent and teach more effectively and with less stress.
10 Things I Would Say to My Younger Homeschooling Self
Belinda J. Bullard
Room 112
An ideal session for those who are beginning a homeschool journey, this is a message of encouragement regarding some considerations for those earliest years of home education. Amidst all of the regulations, the curriculum, the co-ops, and the nay-saying relatives, what is that central idea that will keep you focused? And how are you to block out all of the other distractions to your plan? How do I make sure that the kids are thriving in this environment? We will answer these questions and more in a personal message that hopefully leaves you excited about the days to come.
The Secret is Influence
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
As homeschoolers, our kids have to trust our decisions. They have to believe that we make the very best choices for their education, and they have to be willing to follow our lead even when it doesn’t make sense to them or it’s uncomfortable. Join Jenni and Jody as they break down why true authority is really influence and then walk you through five necessary ingredients to this kind of leadership in your homeschool. In this workshop, J & J will give you tools for keeping your cool. They will talk about the power of definitions and routines, and they will inspire you to examine a few other critical keys to the type of authority and influence that translates into homeschool success.
Working Homeschool Moms: How you can be a Working Mom Pro
Andrea Hall
Room 115/116
You want to homeschool, but you need to work too. Can you do it all? Yes you can! In this session you will discover how a mom of three, teaching at two different online schools, director of a nonprofit and owner of a learning solutions company finds time to balance work, home and school. Buckle your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!
How to Adapt Curriculum for Your Kids Without Losing Your Sanity
Rhonda Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Room 117
Have hope and come learn some easy ways to make your existing curriculum fit your kids’ learning needs and your teaching style. Our kids do not learn generically nor do they fit in a box or a textbook written by people who do not know them. Short of making all your own materials, parents must make curriculum “fit.” Academic learning and life skills are not gained from a box or a book alone. In this workshop we will look at learning from a different perspective for a fresh take on learning. Come experience some ways to help kids learn and move to independence as well as some unusual time management strategies for distracted, bored, learning challenged, or gifted kids. Learn ways to rethink your educational goals and plans so you can tailor the curriculum you already have to your family’s needs. Free yourself from “Chapter 1 Syndrome” (A.K.A. only getting through chapter one before trying something else). You can customize your curriculum to address multiple learning needs for multiple learners without wearing yourself out.
The Eight Components of a Quality Math Education that Many Homeschool Parents Miss
Ed Zaccaro
Room 118
This session will provide parents with information that will help them give their children the opportunity to develop a well-rounded education in mathematics. The session will stress mathematical thinking, rigor, depth, creative thinking, and problem solving. Help your children move from rote instruction to real-life math by showing them how math concepts are applied and how important math is in the world.
Student Led Learning
Dennis DiNoia
Room 119
This hands-on workshop will give parents strategies, guides and the outline for having their children be self-directed learners who have ownership of their learning and assessments. This session will cover portfolio development and presentation skills for students. The session will also give students what they need to assess their own work in a meaningful way discovering their own unique learning potential.
Homeschooling’s Greatest Enemy
Ashley Wiggers
Room 105
The greatest enemy of homeschooling that all parents contend with is fear. Don’t let fear steal from your family’s ability to enjoy and thrive in this homeschooling journey. Come and be encouraged as Ashley shares strategies for recognizing and eliminating fear from your homeschool! This homeschool graduate and daughter of homeschooling pioneers Debbie and Greg Strayer will calm your fears and leave you with a sense of hope.
Our Teens, Ourselves: Homeschooling the “Good Kids” and the Odd Ones Out
Dr. Susan Wise Bauer
Room 106
Home educating a teenager throws into high relief all of the challenges of parenting a budding adult. Susan, still in the trenches (with ages 13, 17, 20 and 22), shares some of the hard-learned wisdom from the last few years: lessons about her own expectations, insights about different schooling methods and how different teens react to them, and thoughts on home schooling the Good Teen, the Odd Kid Out, and the Totally Unmotivated Learner.
Three Constitutional Myths
Paul Engel
Room 107
Studies show that approximately 40% of Americans cannot name a single freedom protect by the First Amendment. Worse, a quick look around shows that most Americans not only know little about the Constitution, but a lot of what they do “know” to be true is actually false. How can we be a land of the free if nobody knows what our freedoms are? How can we claim to be a land of laws when so few know what the supreme law of the land is? How can you know if your government is doing a good job if you don’t even know what it’s supposed to be doing in the first place? Join me and we’ll look at some of the background behind our ignorance of the Constitution. We’ll also look at three things you probably know to be true that aren’t. Not only will your eyes be opened, but we’ll have some fun doing it.
Nerf Guns and Shaving Cream
Kim Wright
Room 108
Engage your active learners through movement, and let the fun begin! In this workshop we will reveal the natural kinesthetic components to reading and spelling and teach parents how to tap into them to enhance learning for all students. As we share stories of teaching an active crew, you will discover the God-given gifts of kinesthetic learners and how to work with them rather than against them. Although this workshop will focus on reading and spelling, the concepts are easily applied to other subjects.
Incorporating Art and Puppetry in the Classroom
Karen Whiting
Room 109
She’ll share how to use art and puppets to introduce new topics, behavior modification, methods for children to practice and summarize lessons, and how art is a natural part of all subjects. Children learn best by doing, making, looking, and talking. They will retain information better when they create objects related to topics studied. As a former television host of Puppets on Parade and author of books on puppetry and crafts, she loves to inspire creativity!
Teaching Your Kids Financial Success in the Real World
Seth Hunter
Room 110
Even young children can start to understand the value of hard work, earning money, and saving for the future. Come and learn some exciting strategies and techniques that will help you prepare your children for the real world. This is a fun workshop with stories and examples that will give you many ideas for your own family.
Discipline with Love so We Don’t Break Our Children’s Spirits
Monica Irvine
Room 111
This is a topic I get the most questions about and a topic that so many parents are struggling to find balance with: what is effective, age appropriate punishment? When is talking about it enough? What age is too old or too young for certain discipline?… and the list goes on. Come and join me as we discuss essential principles that we must understand before discipline can be effective. Parents, if we’re not careful, even with the best of intentions, we can absolutely damage our children’s precious spirits. If you have been feeling lately that you are not correcting your children as effectively as you would like, come…listen…You will be so grateful that you attended.
Is Genesis a Literal History?
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
Room 112
A six day, young earth understanding of Genesis is the only one that comes from the text itself, which is why the rest of Scripture interprets it that way. Long-age views are a modern aberration that comes from imposing outside ideas of uniformitarian “science” upon the text. See how compromising views render the Bible meaningless to a dying world. You’ll be encouraged and energized to hear there is no need for compromise and that there are answers. The evidence for Creation and the Bible’s account of history is all around us if only we know how to look for it, and Jonathan will show you how to do just that!
What is Cradle to Calling (C2C) Education?
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
Cradle to Calling (C2C) Education is a homeschooling philosophy and method that starts with the end result in mind. It understands that children are not containers that we can pour information into, nor are they an extension of us, their parents. They are their own people, with their own purpose, on their own journey, and we are their mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, guides and wise counsel. But how does that translate into real life homeschooling? In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will break down the core principles of this homeschooling method so you can apply them to all ages and stages of homeschooling and ultimately prepare your kids for a powerful adulthood!
How to Prepare for Homeschooling High School (while your kids are still in elementary and middle school)
Ann E Karako
Room 115/116
So often we don’t want to think about homeschooling high school until the time is upon us — and then we panic, lol. Maybe it’s a good idea to do some groundwork before we reach that point, so that the transition can go as smoothly as possible, and we won’t feel so stressed. In this session, Ann gives several practical ideas for preparing both you and your kids for the homeschool high school experience, even years ahead of time. You can ease your fears now and look forward to the high school years with more confidence than you ever thought possible!
How to Teach Preschool and Lower Elementary Grades
Jennifer Henn
Room 117
Give your children a strong start for the elementary years by capitalizing on their natural curiosity for learning. Jennifer advises on teaching tools, tests, expectations for the school year, and discusses scenarios that explain different ways children learn. This class will have a hand-out.
Better Together! Enrich Your Homeschool Experience
Patricia Wesolowski
Room 118
Are you ready for a change? There are many reasons to participate in co-ops while homeschooling and this workshop will help you develop a vision, organize a co-op, and get excited about reaping the many benefits of homeschooling co-op style! Not only will your children look forward to co-op days, so will the parents! Sharing the workload makes it less stressful on the parents. Creating a safe and friendly audience for your students to learn, practice, and hone their public speaking skills is a must if we are to raise children who are able to articulate their faith! What better way to help our students mature than to place them in a classroom setting with break-out sessions and opportunities for debate and discussion of controversial issues? And, if your co-op includes students of all ages, allowing the older students to become the teachers adds even more to the co-op experience.
Spelling You See –Spelling Success Achieved in Cooperation with How the Brain Learns
Gretchen Roe
Room 119
Spelling You See’s research-based methods empower students to develop skill and confidence in spelling through an effective, engaging, low-stress learning experience using four activities: listening, reading, copywork, and dictation. Join us to learn how to teach spelling without stress or drama.
Teaching and Evaluating Writing
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
Evaluating a student’s writing can be very difficult for anyone, but especially for the parent who may feel less than perfectly confident in her own English or grammar skills. Learn how to provide specific models and stylistic goals for each composition, giving specific assignments to your students for both fiction and non-fiction. Solve the “How long does it have to be?” problem. Never again hear yourself say, “Don’t you want to add a little more detail?” With confidence and precision, you can design and communicate to your students goal- and model-based writing assignments, and can have a concrete tool to objectively evaluate their efforts.
The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are rarely taught)
Ed Zaccaro
Room 106
Mathematicians and scientists have been closely tied to many famous disasters. The Challenger explosion, the failure of the Mars Explorer, and the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse all involved thinking errors. Our future mathematicians and scientists must know how to prevent tragedies such as these from occurring. Because science and mathematics instruction is often dominated by facts and calculation, children are rarely exposed to these important concepts. You will leave this session with many high interest stories and activities that will fascinate your children and show them the strong connections between math and science and the world we live in.
Gain CONFIDENCE to do Science Experiments with your Elementary Students
Norma Street
Room 107
Participate in several exciting science experiments and learn how easy it is to identify variables and constants. Gain confidence to do science experiments with your elementary students as soon as you get home TODAY! Attend our other workshop to do even more experiments with older students!
Repairing the Broken Relationship
Sam and Jasmine Doyle
Room 108
Is your relationship with your child broken? Are you thinking that it is beyond repair or too late? We will encourage you and provide to you ideas and ways that you can build that bridge and connect again.
Rhythm & Writing: Teaching kiddos to print, the RIGHT WAY, using rhymes, music, and videos
Nikki Wilson
Room 109
Occupational Therapist Nikki Wilson will show you how to teach your kiddos to print letters, THE RIGHT WAY, using the Rhythm & Writing handwriting program, where a musical group of animals (The Get Write Crew) teaches correct letter formations using rhymes, music, and videos.
Are you holding your kids back from their creative genius? Let’s find out!
Dwayne Walker
Room 110
A lot of homeschool parents focus on integrating the core academics in their child’s curriculum while ignoring fine arts and creativity. This session educates parents on how limiting their child’s creativity is hindering their opportunities for their future. We will discuss the ways that creativity is used to excel above those who can’t tap into their creativity. The points addressed in this session are tied to real-life examples based on Dwayne’s life growing up with creative freedom and accomplishing his goals. You will leave this session with actionable steps to integrate creative learning into your curriculum.
In the Trenches: Adoption and Homeschooling – Help for the Weary!
Julia Nalle
Room 111
Whether you are an adoptive parent or considering adoption, pull up a chair and listen as Julia Nalle, co-author of BiblioPlan, shares stories from her different adoption journeys. Despite taking all the pre-adoption classes for each of their adoptions, Julia and her husband often found themselves struggling to find resources to guide them as they sought to parent their newest little people. Since they had two biological sons, they assumed that parenting an adoptive child would be much of the same. One of the biggest areas was how to best meet their academic needs. Why isn’t my child learning like my other children? Where does my focus need to be, academically, socially or mentally? Can I meet the needs of my other children when my adopted child/ren requires so much of my time and energy? How do I move forward when my expectations are shattered? Julia will address these questions and more in this honest, down to earth session.
The Power of the Entrepreneurial Mindset plus FREE Homeschool Resources (Ages 10-Adult)
Marianna Brashear
Room 112
Discover free books, courses, and summer camp scholarships as you equip your co-op with ready-to-go lessons and workshops perfect for teaching Economics and Entrepreneurship in a private or group setting. This introductory workshop educates and inspires teachers, parents, and students alike as they learn the importance of individual responsibility, ethical entrepreneurship, strong personal character, and the power of markets. Discover the entrepreneurial mindset and its profound positive effect on personal and professional success no matter the career path your student chooses. Learn how the world really works and become a value creator as you acquire invaluable economic concepts, leadership skills, speaking and interview skills, critical and creative thinking with FEE resources and seminars. And best of all, workshop participants will receive free books and educational resources perfect for the homeschooling journey. Discover how entrepreneurship and sound economics can change your life at FEE.org/Homeschool. Sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).
Cradle to Calling (C2C) Education — The Elementary Years
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
What is the goal of education in the elementary years? Cradle to Calling Education is homeschooling with the end result in mind, and that means starting with a vision and then creating a plan to reach your goals. In the elementary years, students need a strong foundation of basic skills (the three Rs). They need to develop a love of learning, and they need to explore interests and discover talents. In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will give you practical tools for “Cradle to Calling” education that you can put into practice as soon as you get home (and without having to purchase any costly curriculum).
Preparing for College While in Middle and High School
Belinda J. Bullard
Room 115/116
Does the thought of college give you nightmares? Do acronyms like ACT and SAT have you “smh?” This session is ideal for the parent of a middle schooler looking to get an early start, or a high schooler who is in the throes of the college search. We will dissect the college preparation process from the intangibles to the tangibles. We will discuss scholarship sources and minimizing debt, narrowing college choices, recommendation letters, and what to send to your college(s) of choice—including a discussion of why sending too much can be detrimental rather than beneficial.
Seven Life Breathing Phrases to Speak To Your Kids
Alice Reinhardt
Room 117
What grade do you give yourself in communicating with your children? What grade would they give you? Does poor communication stand in the way of your relationship with others, especially your children? Learning to communicate is a life-long process and most of us have never been given the proper tools to improve or direct communication away from harmful words. Hurtful communication actually damages relationships in the long term and negatively affects your homeschooling. Applying these seven phrases can be an incredible tool in your homeschool toolbox.
Discover the World of Speech & Debate
Patsy Butman
Room 118
This workshop will include presentations by current nationally ranked students. Mrs. Butman cover the many benefits of participating in competitive speech and debate and how local families can get involved. There will be a short Q &A at the end.
Is Homeschooling Math Straining Your Relationship With Your Children? (Let’s find the trouble spots!)
Tom Clark
Room 119
This provocative and educational session will explore the reasons behind the difficulty in teaching traditional “trouble spots” in Mathematics. Topics will be determined by the audience, and may include operations with fractions and decimals, story problems, operations with signed numbers, and numerous others, all of which seem to indicate that Mathematics is naturally “difficult”, understandable only by the few that seem to be “wired” for it. In fact, the secret to mastery in Mathematics is the understanding of concepts. Strategies will be shared which will demonstrate how students at all levels can benefit from a critical-thinking approach to learning.
Writing Should Be A Different Story When It’s Taught at Home
Ashley Wiggers
Room 105
Ashley’s story of going from non-writer to published author is unconventional. The support and encouragement she received through her homeschool experience enabled her to be the writer and Editor-in-Chief of Homeschooling Today magazine she is now. You are not just a teacher, you’re also the parent. This means when we teach writing in our homes, it should look different than when it’s taught in other settings. Find out how you can implement these important writing principles in your home!
The Well-Prepared Student (High School): How to Get Ready for College
Dr. Susan Wise Bauer
Room 106
In this session, learn what and how to teach your child in grades 9-12–before they fill out those applications and head off for the freshman year. What expections should you have for high school? How can you teach those subjects that stump you? How should you personalize the high school curriculum for your student, while still making sure that the basics are covered? What skills will your student need to develop in order to thrive in college? As a college instructor, Susan Wise Bauer has taught scores of college freshmen and knows what they should have learned before the freshman year; as a home educating parent, she has graduated one high school student (now at UVA) and is in the thicket of high school with two more.
Homeschooling in Georgia—Legislative Update & Challenges that Remain
Mary Beth Morris
Room 107
Be informed! Join us for this session as a GHEA representative shares about recent and expected future developments related to homeschooling that have occurred in the Georgia legislature, as well as state agencies. We will discuss lessons that were learned in leading the grassroots effort to defeat dangerous legislation in 2019. We will also share an exciting development related to college admissions in Georgia. We’ll discuss challenges that remain and how each of us can do our part to protect the homeschooling freedom that we enjoy in Georgia. Learn how GHEA is working for you. Q&A to follow presentation, time permitting.
Transforming Struggling Readers to Excellent Readers in Months—Not Years!
Dee Tadlock
Room 108
Learn about Read Right®, an innovative reading intervention program that challenges mainstream thinking in the field of reading and explains why so many students have reading problems. Research results will be presented, confirming the effectiveness of Read Right. The methodology is in alignment with how the brain learns a process, which accounts for the rapid and impressive results. Your son or daughter can access Read Right at home through real-time live tutoring via audio and video conferencing software.
Parent as Career Coach: The Conversation (Workshop for Parents)
Grace Dyson
Room 109
Parents are the first real career coach in the lives of their children and young adults. This topic will cover the skills of the coaching conversation including discussions with your older college or post high school young adult. The coaching conversation will help you to rethink your approach and come away with skills you can apply immediately.
Fun Ideas for Teaching Grammar Effectively
Wanda Phillips
Room 110
The author of Easy Grammar and Daily GRAMS will share fun ideas and strategies that enhance mastery learning. Dr. Phillips will cover strategies for teaching specific concepts as well as general ideas for memorable learning.
Master My Monster – Perils of a Classroom Teacher Turned Homeschool Mom
Laurie Beachell
Room 111
Do I dwell on my inadequacies? Do my feelings stem from soaking my thinking in self-pity? Join me as we choose to marinate our anxious thoughts in Biblical truths!
Multi-sensory Learning: Managing Different Learning Styles (ES/MS)
Freya H Fitzpatrick
Room 112
Learn the basics of the theory of visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile (VAKT) learning. This class will teach you how to apply strategies to accommodate or enrich your children’s learning. I’ll show you techniques to involve these modalities of learning in spelling, math, reading, social studies, science and other subjects. For parents of elementary/middle school students.
Helping Our Children Craft Relationships and Improve Communication Skills for Today and the Future
Rhonda Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Room 113/114
Who cares if your child knows everything if your child can’t communicate it? Come learn practical activities you can do to help your child interact better with peers, adults, and strangers in today’s every changing world. Knowing how to communicate with a variety of people is a life skill which impacts everything from making connections with peers to landing a job. There are things parents can do for kids who are off track or need extra help such as gifted, 2e, learning challenged kids, as well as kids who may get a new label “Internet Gaming Disorder.” Developing levels of friendships (what is a friend anyway?) and helping kids think through interactions with people from multiple centers of influence will be discussed. Parents can add social skills training to current goals and plans to incorporated it into everyday life.
3 Simple—But Significant—Steps to Transform Your Homeschooling Journey
Laura Macfarlan
Room 115/116
Home education is not for sissies. In choosing this lifestyle, your family embraced a journey that brings tremendous joy — but also daily stress and challenges that can seem overwhelming, at times. Because no one understands a homeschool mom like someone who is walking the same path, Laura Macfarlan (from A Reason For Homeschool) wants to introduce you to “M.U.M. 3D,” a simple framework that helps women commit to supporting and nurturing one another in intentional, authentic relationships with others who share their passion and calling. Whether you’re a homeschool group leader who is wants to minister to the mothers in your group or a mom who’s looking for a way to stop feeling overwhelmed and isolated by the demands of home education, “M.U.M. 3D” can be tailored to your needs. It works well with a small group of 3-4 women, but is equally effective in a one-on-one support partnership. Join Laura to learn how to impact moms — and the kingdom of God — through this meaningful program.
How to Teach Upper Elementary Grades
Jennifer Henn
Room 117
Learn the most important subjects to teach and examples of curriculum to use. Jennifer also explains using computer software programs verses online classes, grading and motivation, and extra-curricular activities. This class will have a hand-out.
12 Business Ideas Young Entrepreneurs Can Start This Summer!
Billy Smith & Mark Baker
Room 118
In this workshop we will introduce in detail 12 great business ideas that a homeschooler can start. We’ll discuss each idea and provide links to helpful resources to get your young entrepreneur going in the right direction. We’ll also share some of the key things we’ve learned from our own entrepreneurial journeys (both from our successes and our failures). And we will discuss the benefits and numerous ways that a child’s character can grow through being an entrepreneur. We will conclude the workshop with a question and answer time.
SAT Math – It’s Not the Math, It’s the Question that is Confusing!
Dennis DiNoia
Room 119
Join Mr. D for a mini-SAT Boot Camp. Mr. D will be showing the tips and techniques from his SAT Boot Camps. This workshop will focus on math, the language behind the questions and show participants what they really need to know before taking the math section of the SAT. Find out the words on the test that give tips for how to solve the questions as well learning what formulas you really need to know before the taking the SAT. Students and parents alike will learn how to unravel the questions being asked into something they can solve quickly and easily. These techniques can be used for other testing situations and subject areas as well.
Reading Strategies for the Struggling or Non-Reader
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
As schools have made reading their new god, believing that producing good readers will solve all their academic problems, many children—the dyslexic, the easily distracted, the auditorily challenged—are truly left behind in the rush to improve test scores. What schools don’t know (but what many parents discover) is that reading is not simply being able to rapidly decode symbols with the eyes. With humor and insight, Andrew will share stories and strategies for helping students who need to engage the cognitive processes of reading, but who are more likely to excel through a wider variety of practical, creative, and imaginative approaches.
Start Strong: How to Start the Homeschool Year Right
Andrea Hall
Room 106
Are you new to homeschooling? Are you tired of going round and round in circles with no clarity or direction in your homeschool? Join us as we talk about 10 steps to starting the homeschool year right with Andrea Hall, M.Ed. a veteran homeschool parent of three, a certified educator and learning solutions specialist.
Jurassic Reality: Dinosaurs and most asked questions!
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
Room 107
People of all ages are captivated by dinosaurs. Unfortunately, evolutionists use dinosaurs to indoctrinate the young and the old with an earth history that includes millions of years but has no room for the Bible. This presentation will show the power of a person’s starting assumptions (or “worldview”) when interpreting past events, and will define the different types of sciences used in investigating the world around us, with a thorough exploration of these enigmatic lizards. Let’s take dinosaurs to the Bible and see what God’s word has to say about them!
Too Much of a Good Thing? The Dangers of Taking Antioxidants
Benjamin Barringer
Room 108
Are you a biohacker? You are if you have pursued natural ways to improve your health. The biohacker’s mindset is, “Show me the research and then let me try it for myself.” Since the discovery of antioxidants over 100 years ago, it was assumed that taking large quantities of them was a good thing. But is it? Come and learn how to biohack your health based on the latest scientific research and discover a new paradigm shift from supplementation to activation. There is hope for anyone who doesn’t want to accept aches, ailments, and exhaustion as a normal part of growing older!
Recovering Real Education
Ryan Weston
Room 109
Our culture has an apparent obsession with the idea of inventing and developing new methods of educating. Ideas such as Discovery based learning, Problem-based learning, Experiential-based learning, and Constructivist learning all have a couple things in common. Join us for a conversation about what we should reject and what we should embrace.
Scripture Memory / Helping your family memorize scripture
Tommy Hendricks
Room 110
Ever wanted your family to memorize chunks of scripture? Tried to get started, but just didn’t stick with it? Come check out Mega Verses and see how hundreds of families have memorized large passages of scripture that helps you and your family in your everyday life.
Simplify Your Day with Versatile Video Course Options
Mary McIntyre
Room 111
Battling burnout? Fearing failure? Overworked and overwhelmed? If any of these terms describe you, come hear how BJU Press video courses can offer variety, free you up for one-on-one time, and offer skilled instruction in difficult subject areas.
Prime Numbers – The Gateway to Algebra and Beyond!
Dennis DiNoia
Room 112
Dennis DiNoia has been immersed in education for over 30 years. He holds a M.A. in Education from the University of South Florida and has been a Florida State Certified Secondary Mathematics Teacher since 1988. He is affectionately known to all of his students as Mr. D. Mr. D had also provided his skills for many years to homeschool families as a private tutor. Four years ago a mom stated: “Mr. D, my son finally understands Algebra. Would you please just write your own book?” For the past four years, Mr. D did just that. The curriculum has been designed for students taking pre-algebra to pre-calculus. This math program infuses problem solving and treating math as a language as the basis for its delivery and offers the equivalent of a personal teacher in one’s home or co-op. Mr. D has also created a distance learning program with live online classes for students across the United States.
Cradle to Calling (C2C) Education — The Middle School Years
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
What is the goal of education in the middle school years? Cradle to Calling Education is homeschooling with the end result in mind, and that means understanding the needs of each season and creating a plan to meet those needs. The middle school years is the time to find direction. It’s the time to begin creating a long term plan. Students who are college bound will need to lay a firm foundation of study skills. These are the years to think outside of the curriculum box and explore internships and apprenticeships, a time for kids to start their own businesses, to capitalize on contests and awards programs, to dive deeply into extra curricular activities and to ultimately create a unique high school plan. In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will give you practical tools making the most of the middle school years.
Five Essentials for Success
Teresa Moon
Room 115/116
The research is clear. There are five essentials for success in education and in the workplace. These five C’s appear in university studies, marketplace research, and missions training. They are being integrated across educational programs in prep schools, home schools and underground Christian co-ops in cultures hostile to Christianity. Learn how to integrate them into your own home education as you prepare real students for the real world.
Raising Courageous Kids to Confront a Sexualized Culture
Shawnna Cody
Room 117
Today’s kids are being exposed to pornography early (think 8 to 11 years old) — and our pop culture tells them it’s a healthy outlet for sexuality. Families will learn how to create a safe online space and encourage ongoing conversations that empower kids to not only look away from sexualized media, but also to confront our sex-obsessed culture. You can teach your kids to train their hearts and minds to be skillful, daring, and brave.
How to Ace the SAT/ACT/CLT?
Jean Burk
Room 118
(Discover how this is a learnable test and every question can be answered in 30 seconds or less.) Test-prep Guru, Jean Burk, will share her secrets of SAT success that have helped tens of thousands of students raise their test scores as much as 600 points! Learn how to find shortcuts in test patterns and save time on all types of questions. Math, Writing, Reading and Essay are all covered in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you have kids in middle and high school, you can’t miss this seminar about preparing them for tests like the SAT/ACT/CLT!
Lasting Links to More Effective Homeschooling
Karen Whiting
Room 119
Children have different learning styles (as do adults). The most effective learning comes when they are taught with that in mind. Part of the learning style they prefer is directly related to their personalities and how they receive and process information. You may say the same words to each child and each of them will respond in a different way. The missing link may be your child’s personality. A little information will go a long way when it comes to understanding your child’s personality in the classroom and beyond.
Adapting Curriculum for Struggling Learners
Peggy Alier
Room 105
Discover ideas for planning, scheduling, and adapting materials to meet your child’s learning style.
College Admissions and Scholarship Tips
Charlotte Ellard
Room 106
With 10 homeschooled high school graduates that have gone to college on full scholarships to various schools( from large public universities to very small private Christian schools), Charlotte shares wisdom from experience on obtaining college admission and scholarships.
Understanding the Root Cause of ADHD & Behavioral Disorders
Edward Finucan
Room 107
Brain Balance is an after school program utilizing the latest brain research to help children with Learning Disorders like ADHD, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and Autism to function better academically, socially and behaviorally. Research shows that children with these labels have areas of brain underconnectivity, especially between the right and left hemispheres. One of the two hemispheres of the Brain has become STRONGER AND FASTER and the other has become WEAKER AND SLOWER. When this happens the two hemispheres become functionally disconnected and are unable to communicate effectively. The characteristics of the stronger, faster hemisphere become amplified while the characteristics of the weaker, slower hemisphere are muted. This lack of balance translates into the noticeable academic, social and behavioral problems that these children exhibit. Come Learn how the Brain Balance Program™ identifies and improves areas of Brain Underconnectivity to give your child their best chance at success.
Creating an Environment Geared to Helping Your Young Child Figure-Out How to Make Excellent Reading Happen
Dee Tadlock
Room 108
Every year there is a small percentage, but a fairly large number, of three- and four-year-olds who learn to read excellently without ever being instructed. When you ask the parents how this happened, they shrug their shoulders and say, “I have no idea. She got up last Saturday morning and started reading.” These children’s parents, by accident, created the kind of environment required to enable their children’s brains to painlessly and seamlessly figure out how to make excellent reading happen. Come to this presentation and learn how to create such an environment on purpose.
Four Habits that Help Improve Health
Mike Hanik
Room 109
Every person is responsible for their own health and developing healthy habits. This workshop will explore the benefits of exercise, sleep, diet and breathing and provide tips on how to build healthy habits into daily routines.
Experience Excellence in Writing
Rachel Rist
Room 110
Come and discover award-winning Excellence in Writing, a method of teaching composition that really works. Using this program, students of all ages will learn to write stories, reports and essays with style. This workshop will give you an overview of the program and show you how you can get started.
Poor Smart Rich (Six Goals for Young Americans)
John Segal
Room 111
The six critical goals for young Americans. How to stay out of poverty, reach the middle class and beyond. How to talk to young people so they will listen. Teaching how taking responsibility gives young people life skills to achieve a successful, faith-filled, and exciting life plan. Financial Literacy.
Fully online Dual Enrollment – eCore
Randy Blackmon
Room 112
Families need flexibility, affordability and QUALITY. eCore delivers 30 fully online core courses through 21 partner colleges and universities across Georgia. eCore students have a near 90% success rate. Dual Enrollment monies (gaFutures) are available for eligible students. Come learn more!
Cradle to Calling (C2C) Education– The High School Years
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
What is the goal of education in the high school years? Cradle to Calling Education is homeschooling with the end result in mind and that means having a clear vision of the next steps and making deliberate educational choices toward those steps. The high school years are the launching pad for adulthood. By the end of this season, we should be ready to release our students into a purposeful life of their own. For some, adulthood begins with college. For others, it starts with a vocation or a business venture. Either way, homeschoolers can design the high school years very intentionally to launch kids into the sweet spot of success. In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will show you how.
Maximizing your Effectiveness: How to get more done in a day
Brandy Champeau
Room 115/116
Have you ever thought that there were not enough hours in the day and not enough you to go around? As a single, working, homeschooling mother of 3 children, including one with special needs, I am an expert at getting things done and still finding room for pie. In this session, I will share some of my best ideas on how to cut out the waste and maximize your effectiveness in your home so that you can get more done in a day, without feeling overwhelmed. You will leave with concrete tips and tricks that you can implement right away to begin maximizing your effectiveness in your own house.
How to Teach Middle School
Jennifer Henn
Room 117
Middle school is no time to panic. These should be years of extended but exciting learning. Jennifer encourages you to learn along with your teens and help them mature academically and socially. She discusses subjects to teach, incorporating multiple subjects together, and how to help your kids manage their schedules. This class will have a hand-out.
Surviving Your Special Needs Child
Cynthia L Simmons
Room 118
Teaching and parenting a disabled child presents unique problems. This workshop will guide you in addressing your child’s needs while managing the entire family, your own emotions, and preparing for the future.
Simplifying Algebra for the Hesitant Learner! (When are we going to have to use this stuff anyway?)
Tom Clark
Room 119
In this instructional workshop, we will discover the analytical questions students must ask, in order to solve any basic algebraic equation or inequality. Specifically, participants will discover that there are only two basic relations in Algebra, and only three complications on those basic relations. They will then generate those questions which must be used by students to analyze those algebraic relations. Participants will play the role of the Algebra student, developing and demonstrating this inquiry-based approach, from a pure mathematical perspective. Participants will leave the workshop with new strategies, guaranteed to generate success, and a new, positive attitude about their ability to understand Mathematics.
Cultivating Language Talents: From Preschool through High School
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
Listening and reading well, speaking and writing clearly, thinking and debating effectively are abilities that most parents hope to cultivate in their children. With that goal in mind, Andrew will explore various environments and activities which will accelerate the development of these language skills, beginning with the youngest students and continuing into the high school years.
How to Create Your Own Homeschool Curriculum
Andrea Hall
Room 106
Do you need help planning or creating your own homeschool curriculum? Join us as we dive into curriculum with Andrea Hall, M.Ed. a veteran homeschool parent of three, a certified educator and learning solutions specialist.
Common Fears about Homeschooling High School — WRECKED
Ann E Karako
Room 107
You know you’re afraid of homeschooling high school. It’s intimidating and scary, and you think you’re gonna mess up big time. This session discusses the most common fears had by moms of teens everywhere — and then reveals how to overcome them. Whatever your concern, Ann has either had it herself or heard it from other moms, and she has the experience to ease your fears and encourage you to continue homeschooling through graduation. You’ll come away from this session feeling empowered and relieved!
All About Gen Z
Melissa Shipman
Room 108
Researchers are busy investigating the generation born from about 1995-2012! I’ll share their fascinating findings about this ever-connected generation, and we’ll talk about what to do with this information as we teach, lead, and parent Gen Z.
Navigating the World of Work for Teens (Workshop for Teens)
Grace Dyson
Room 109
This workshop will introduce students to the career skill families and career clusters that will help them narrow down possible future professions. This session will cover online research, informational interviewing demos, and other resources to clarify the world of work. Teens will leave with multiple action steps of learning.
You Are Not A Cosmic Accident
Walter Jurek
Room 110
The logical conclusion of evolution’s message is that each of us is nothing more than a cosmic accident. The truth is: God created the universe (Genesis 1:1) and He created this world to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). He populated this world with people who are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14); and more than that, we are His workmanship, His craftmanship, created for a purpose. In this presentation we will explore some of the evidence for the intelligent design of us and the universe. Then we’ll look at some tools to help us discover the unique, God-given design of our children to use for making wise educational choices.
Heart of Hospitality
Melanie Adams
Room 111
We can make our homes the hub of the world by serving and loving others through hospitable hearts. We train our children to be an integral part of the process teaching by example to live other oriented lives.
Is your child an entrepreneur? Wait, are you one too?
Dennis DiNoia
Room 112
Discover what an entrepreneur is and how to be one during this session. Often times the entrepreneur inside us is not allowed to come out simply because we do not relate to ourselves as an entrepreneur. During this session, participants will begin their journey of living the life of an entrepreneur now and not waiting for a college degree or some great business opportunity. Learn what financial success is and how to achieve it no matter how old you are. Everyone attending will discover the entrepreneur within themselves, moms, dads and young people. Oh yes you can!
Cultivating Agency in Our Kids
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
A sense of agency is knowing you have the power to choose in every situation. It’s being proactive. It’s being resourceful and being able to take initiative. It’s developing a growth mindset. It’s the very quality that allowed one man to survive the horrors of the Holocaust while everyone died around him. And it is one of the most powerful qualities that we can cultivate in our kids through the homeschool experience. In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will offer powerful curriculum for developing agency in our kids.
Creating a Winning High School Resume for College and Scholarship Applications
Freya H Fitzpatrick
Room 115/116
An introductory seminar which gives an overview of how to make sure your children fulfill not only the minimums for a high school education, but how to prepare your child to have a winning portfolio for college and scholarship applications. I will explain the importance of not only doing the basics – good grades, some sports, arts, etc. – but also how to develop those extras that will make their college and scholarship applications shine.
PLAY! Is it Necessary in Homeschooling?
Alice Reinhardt
Room 117
Do you give yourself and your child permission to play or is it seen as a waste of time and lack of discipline? Studies from Harvard and the AAP are showing that play is critical to a child’s development and intelligence. How do we write that down in the lesson plan book or better yet, how do we answer well-meaning parents, neighbors and friends when they question why we let our children play. Play isn’t just a break or relief from serious learning, play IS a child’s work and involves serious learning. Come learn how to play, when to play and why it matters.
Finally Finished and Ready to Share
Patricia Wesolowski
Room 118
Homeschooling 9 children over the past 32 years has been a joy-filled experience, but not an experience void of frustration, confusion, and regret. Learn from my mistakes and as well as those experienced by homeschooling friends, and be encouraged to make changes in your homeschooling journey so that you can complete the course without major regrets. This workshop is great for those just starting out as well as those who have been homeschooling for years (who need some encouragement and direction) with suggestions for beginning and ending well.
Teaching Math (and other subjects) in the Real World
Seth Hunter
Room 119
If you struggle to answer the question “How will we ever use this in real life?” then this session is for you! Come and learn different strategies to turn every day activities such as eating breakfast or cleaning your room into learning opportunities for all subjects. These valuable techniques will help you teach children of all ages difficult concepts by using real life.
However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Three Decades of Teaching
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
In this talk, Andrew shares many humorous experiences (and painful lessons) he has learned over thirty years of teaching and homeschooling, including: It’s hard not to do to your kids what was done to you; Process over product; All kids are different; “Progressive” education doesn’t mean progress; What real “college and career readiness” is, and two secret keys to successful teaching. You will be challenged or reassured (or both!) but sure to leave with an expanded vision of your calling as a homeschooling educator.
What is Literary Analysis? When, Why, and How Should I Teach It?
Dr. Susan Wise Bauer
Room 106
You know that your children should read—but what else should you be doing to teach them skills in literature? After teaching literature at the college level for over a decade, Susan has seen the results of many different methods. This seminar will guide you towards the most effective way to teach literature. Offers a foundational explanation of what literary analysis is, a list of skills that need to be covered, guidance in how to teach them, and resource recommendations.
Understanding the Root Cause of ADHD & Behavioral Disorders
Edward Finucan
Room 107
Brain Balance is an after school program utilizing the latest brain research to help children with Learning Disorders like ADHD, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and Autism to function better academically, socially and behaviorally. Research shows that children with these labels have areas of brain underconnectivity, especially between the right and left hemispheres. One of the two hemispheres of the Brain has become STRONGER AND FASTER and the other has become WEAKER AND SLOWER. When this happens the two hemispheres become functionally disconnected and are unable to communicate effectively. The characteristics of the stronger, faster hemisphere become amplified while the characteristics of the weaker, slower hemisphere are muted. This lack of balance translates into the noticeable academic, social and behavioral problems that these children exhibit. Come Learn how the Brain Balance Program™ identifies and improves areas of Brain Underconnectivity to give your child their best chance at success.
Public Speaking: the Most Feared Activity
Teresa Moon
Room 108
Research tells us people are more afraid of speaking in public than of dying. When at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. The real influencers for Christ’s kingdom are those who can articulate their ideas winsomely and well. Our kids have important ideas to share and significant contributions to make. You can coach them to become communicators for Christ everywhere, always!
Homeschooling While Your Youngest Still Eats Crayons
Marla Szwast
Room 109
Tired of all the blog posts suggesting you deal with toddlers by given them something to color while you work with your older kids? If your youngest eats crayons, you need other suggestions. This workshop will dive into scheduling, practical tips, mindset shifts, and encouragement for those with toddlers in tow. I began homeschooling in those very trenches as I had six children in eight years.
Teaching Excellence without Oppressing Your Child
Cynthia L Simmons
Room 110
We all want our children to live up to their potential but not communicate that we only love them when they preform. This workshop gives guidance on balanced parenting that combines love and high expectations.
Multisensory Strategies for Homeschool Reading Instruction
Jennifer Hasser, M.Ed.
Room 111
Research shows that when we engage the senses of our students, they are more likely to remember what they learn. In this lively workshop, Jennifer Hasser will provide homeschool parents with multisensory games and activities to make language arts instruction efficient and effective. Regardless of whether your child is a natural reader or one who struggles, you will learn strategies you can put into place immediately to meet your child where they are and bring instruction to life. Come prepared to be inspired and to view language arts instruction in a whole new light! Appropriate for homeschool parents of students of all ages.
How to Think and Talk Math!
Dennis DiNoia
Room 112
What if math was its own language? Learn to speak math similar to the way you learn to speak other new languages. Learn the basic foundations on which the math language is created and how to see Algebra skills in basic math. This workshop will give participants wanting to expand their thinking to higher levels of math using basic operations they already know. Learn how the “secrets” of mental math and how to apply them in everyday situations. Participants access a common math language that can be used at any grade level.
Raising kids with passion and purpose
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
How much more powerful is it to educate a person who is passionate about learning and feels a sense of purpose in their education than it is trying to teach someone who is only there out of obligation? In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will talk about practical ways of inspiring passion and a strong sense of purpose as a primary function of homeschooling.
The Learning House
Dr. Sheila E. Sapp
Room 115/116
Homeschoolers, parents, and childcare providers under the guidance of the author learn how to change every day mundane household chores into meaningful learning experiences to develop and reinforce reading, mathematics, language, and writing readiness skills for 3-7 year old children. Additionally, a participants will explore how to utilize rooms in their homes as vibrant learning stations.
Art Integration: How to integrate art into your curriculum
Dwayne Walker
Room 117
This session is tailored to parents who have kids who are passionate about art, but you don’t quite know exactly what to do to help them. Maybe you don’t feel like you’re “artsy” or “creative” yourself. Maybe you find yourself saying, “My child draws better than me!”, or “I can’t even draw a stick figure!”. The good news is that you are able to still help your child tap into their creativity and become successful using their passions. There are so many benefits, actionable methods, and examples that will help you build out a curriculum that engages kids and teens using art.
Mary Heart + Martha Home = Peace & Joy
Laura Macfarlan
Room 118
As a veteran home educator, Laura Macfarlan understands the struggle of Mary hearts living in a Martha world. She will share insights for balancing your heart for God with the demands of a home and family, and inspire you to meet daily with Jesus — intentionally filling up to be ready for pouring out. Everyone who attends will receive a free home management hand-out with easy-to-follow daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Join us, and reap the blessings of Peace and Joy in your home!
What is a Learning Lifestyle, Why do I need one and How do I get it?
Brandy Champeau
Room 119
Learning isn’t something that begins at preschool and ends when you graduate high school or college. In order to live your Best Expression you must learn to treat learning like breathing – as something essential to life. In this motivational presentation, I talk about the traits that make up a learning lifestyle and how to nurture those traits in yourself and in those around you.
Making Geography Memorable
Ashley Wiggers
Room 105
Geography helps students understand cause and effect and teaches critical thinking effortlessly. Don’t miss the opportunity to help your children see the big picture of learning with the essential pieces of cultural and geographic knowledge. Come hear Ashley (a homeschool graduate and author) share about the importance of geography and how to integrate it into your homeschool.
What You Need to Know About Test Scores
Charlotte Ellard
Room 106
Test score importance is on a moving scale. Mother of 10 homeschooled students who continued on to college, and Coordinator of Homeschool Admission for Berry College, Charlotte brings a seasoned perspective on ACTs, SATs, and CLTs, APs, CLEPs, ACCUPLACER, ASVAB and SAT II Subject Tests. How do you compare tests? How do you efficiently prepare? How important or optional are they? Bring/send your teens and tweens that are remotely interested in college possibilities. Capitalizing on or ignoring these tests can be worth tens of thousands in college and careers.
The Secret to Why Your Student Struggles in Math
Gretchen Roe
Room 107
Math struggles can be so emotional – for students AND parents alike. A confidence destroyer for any age! How do you solve a student’s math anxiety, and help them succeed? Come learn proven, practical solutions to restore mathematical confidence and reach grade-level proficiency quickly. This workshop is of benefit to any age learner, but particularly to parents of teenagers who are struggling with middle and high school level math.
“They aren’t kids anymore”–Transitions (from childhood to teen, from teen to adult)–how to handle them
Sam and Jasmine Doyle
Room 108
We are surprised to see that are kids are “growing up” or “all grown up”. We will encourage you by providing you ideas on how to handle those transitions, both within your own heart, but also in your relationship with your kids.
Soaring not Struggling: Preventing and Teaching Struggling Readers and Spellers
Kim Wright
Room 109
Reading and spelling are complex skills that involve the mind, muscle memory, learning styles and the heart. This workshop will lay the foundations for teaching reading and spelling, aid parents in selecting curriculum, and help parents heal and guard their students’ hearts from discouragement. In this workshop we will learn: why oversimplifications, such as teaching S says /s/, discourage math and science-minded students; and ways to teach to the strengths of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners while strengthening their weaknesses.
Family Discipleship
Tommy Hendricks
Room 110
Practical ideas for leading family devotions, managing your calendar, building up your marriage, and leading your kids to know, love and serve Christ. You will enjoy this session and walk out with some great resources to begin or continue discipling your family.
What’s All This Fuss About Teaching History Classically?
Julia Nalle
Room 111
Despite being an avid reader as a child and devouring hundreds of history-related books, Julia Nalle dreaded history class. To her, history classes were a barrage of boring lectures and endless dates. Come listen as Julia, co-author of BiblioPlan shares her personal journey and how God changed her heart concerning history. Those changes have influenced her to rethink the importance of not only how we teach history, but who and why? Why is it so important to have children merging history with their literature? What is the value of teaching children history in order? Why do we integrate the Biblical and Church story with the rest of history? Should we teach children about world religions? Should we expose our children to the violence in history? We will answer these questions and more as Julia offers 8 reasons why she believes studying history in order and with purpose is vital to our children’s education.
Teaching Entrepreneurship & Economics with FREE resources for Parents/Educators & Co-ops (Teens and Adults)
Marianna Brashear
Room 112
The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) Online Courses and Workshops engage, educate, and inspire students by equipping teachers, parents, and co-op leaders with everything they need to deliver the important message of ethical entrepreneurship, strong character, personal responsibility, and free markets. These free resources are designed to be delivered by non-economists using interactive, hands-on activities and guided discussions which cultivate leadership skills, speaking and interview skills, critical and creative thinking. Discover free workshops such as Economics in One Day and Entrepreneurship in Action as well as opportunities to receive full scholarships to FEE’s sought-after summer camps and other opportunities available to homeschool students. Sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE.org/homeschool).
Show Me Their Friends, and I’ll Tell You Who They Are
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
We might not normally think of training kids for strong friendships as part of homeschooling, but the truth is our kids’ friends will have a powerful impact on who they become, especially friendships in the middle and high school years. Our kids need to understand the powerful influence that friends will have on their lives. They need to understand the goals of friendships so they can choose wisely, and then need to understand how to create boundaries to protect their relationships and how to identify their own personal rules in relationships and their dealbreakers. In this workshop, Jenni and Jody will give you some powerful tools for training your kids to find and build strong friendships.
Take the Mystery Out of Homeschooling: A Workshop for New Homeschoolers
Jennifer Henn
Room 115/116
Learn homeschool basics. This class covers: compliance with homeschool laws, scheduling the school year, what subjects to teach, standardized testing, grading, record keeping, and more. Bring your questions to this informative workshop.
Grandparents and Homeschooling….How Does This Work
Alice Reinhardt
Room 117
This session is completely adapted to the questions of the crowd. Navigating the waters of a third generation involved with homeschooling can be daunting. More and more grandparents are taking a greater involvement in homeschooling either through desire or need. This will be a question and answer time centered around grandparent involvement. To what degree are they included? How are boundaries established? What are ways to include them? What do you do about antagonism or misplaced expectations? As a grandmother to 10, Alice can offer insight into the benefits of homeschooling as well as tips on how to include that third generation to make the homeschooling experience even better.
8 Ways to Spark Intellectual Curiosity and Passion in Mathematically Gifted Students
Ed Zaccaro
Room 118
Learn eight ways to nurture your children’s curiosity and creativity by presenting them with real world situations that require insight, creative problem-solving and collaboration. These investigations allow students to (1) Simulate an engineering team (2) Take on the role of lawyers who are analyzing how statistics have been manipulated (3) Learn about the role of mathematically gifted individuals who used their gifts to save lives. (4) Become a team of journalists looking at why the math in several news articles is incorrect. These ideas will help children become passionate about mathematics while developing a deeper understanding of its real world uses.
The Art of Teaching Thinking: You CAN homeschool – without a prepackaged program! (MS/HS)
Freya H Fitzpatrick
Room 119
This seminar covers Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning, and how to painlessly teach thinking skills. These skills are what test-makers are determined to find out if our children have learned: main idea, sequencing, character inference, cause and effect, compare and contrast, inferences, fantasy and fiction versus fact, synthesis, drawing conclusions, predicting conclusions and more.
The Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
We’ve all suffered it at one time or another: frustration about writing assignments. Either on the receiving end, or perhaps now on the giving end, there can be a few distinctly discouraging aspects to teaching and being taught writing. The tough questions include: What to correct and how to give a grade? How much help is too much? Isn’t the assignment clear enough? Why don’t students find their own errors? Learn and avoid four teaching mistakes that contribute to this frustration: Overcorrecting, Holding Back Help, Unclear Assignments, and Over-Expectation.
Homeschooling the Real (Distractable, Impatient, Argumentative, Unenthusiastic, Non-Book-Loving, Inattentive, Poky, Vague) Child
Dr. Susan Wise Bauer
Room 106
High academic achievement (and particular the book-centered kind of achievement recommended by classical educators) often seems designed for one kind of student: the mature, self-directed, disciplined child who loves to read. In this workshop, learn how to deal with the other 90% of students. Includes practical strategies for dealing with roadblocks in the way of academic achievement, as well as time-tested advice for teaching to your child’s strengths while still addressing weaknesses. Susan Wise Bauer, classical educator, college instructor, and author, was home schooled herself and has homeschooled her own four real children, now aged 13-22 (the oldest two are now university students).
Homeschooling in Georgia—Legislative Update & Challenges that Remain
Mary Beth Morris
Room 107
Be informed! Join us for this session as a GHEA representative shares about recent and expected future developments related to homeschooling that have occurred in the Georgia legislature, as well as state agencies. We will discuss lessons that were learned in leading the grassroots effort to defeat dangerous legislation in 2019. We will also share an exciting development related to college admissions in Georgia. We’ll discuss challenges that remain and how each of us can do our part to protect the homeschooling freedom that we enjoy in Georgia. Learn how GHEA is working for you. Q&A to follow presentation, time permitting.
Cultivating Habits for Success in Literacy across Disciplines
Dr. Martha Joseph Watts
Room 108
Participants will be introduced to the WTR process and its resources. They will be presented with information on how to cultivate habits that will move students from reluctant to confident thinkers and writers.
RightStart™ Math: Why it Works
Eve Hullette
Room 109
Have you heard the buzz about RightStart™ Math? Hear about our philosophy and what sets us apart from other curricula. We will teach children that a real mathematical problem is like a puzzle, that math is more than memorization, and that math is fun. Come and learn what’s special about our math program!
Supportive Homeschool Grandparenting
Karen Whiting
Room 110
Tested ideas on how to support homeschooling as a grandparent. Includes: *Auxiliary teaching with fun game activities, field trips, and other ideas *Listening to children share what they’ve learned to reinforce subjects studied *Online/distance tutoring/listening to reading *Use skills to help analyze and teach in their expertise (example: speech therapy, business plans, career guidance) *Home economics and shop training in cooking, home repairs, music, sewing, etiquette, etc (sharing of talents) * Giving parents a break *Help with home organizing *Look up and send helpful links
The Christian Roots of Science & busting evolutionary myths
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
Room 111
Why did science flourish in the West, and only the West? The biblical worldview provided the presuppositions that allowed science to flourish while it was stillborn in other places such as Greece and China. Evolutionists deny this biblical foundation for science by accusing Christianity of superstitions that held science back. Jonathan deftly busts the myth of the ‘Dark Ages’—a time marked by many scientific advances. He also busts the myths of Galileo, belief in a flat earth, and more.
Goal Setting – A Family Event!
Dennis DiNoia
Room 112
Goal setting is often thought of as a great idea and something everyone needs to do but we rarely do it and when we do, we usually lose track of the goal along the way. In this workshop, goals are brought to life through creation and conversation. Everyone participating will create a goal and a visual display for that goal during the workshop. This process can be done with family members over and over again as well as with other homeschool groups as activities. The process is created in a fun and fast paced style with everyone having an opportunity to create and share their goal that will leave each participant inspired by their goal and by the goals of others.
Brand new homeschoolers
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
Why are you choosing to homeschool? What are your goals for this journey? How will you get from where you are today to the vision you have for homeschooling? Do you feel unqualified? Do you feel uncertain about which curriculum to choose and how to structure your day and how to keep the necessary records? Let Jenni and Jody guide you to the starting line and help you lay a course toward the end result that you are hoping to achieve.
12 Business Ideas Young Entrepreneurs Can Start This Summer!
Billy Smith & Mark Baker
Room 115/116
In this workshop we will introduce in detail 12 great business ideas that a homeschooler can start. We’ll discuss each idea and provide links to helpful resources to get your young entrepreneur going in the right direction. We’ll also share some of the key things we’ve learned from our own entrepreneurial journeys (both from our successes and our failures). And we will discuss the benefits and numerous ways that a child’s character can grow through being an entrepreneur. We will conclude the workshop with a question and answer time.
Free College at Your Fingertips
Jean Burk
Room 117
(Learn different ways to get scholarships as well as FREE college!) Are you ready to make $500 an hour? Although it sounds too good to be true, it’s possible to earn this much in scholarships for college. Author, Jean Burk, will teach you two important concepts: how to get into the college of your choice and how to find the scholarships to pay for it. You will learn methods of receiving substantial scholarships that go beyond tuition and may include room and board, graduate school, and money to study abroad! Unlock the keys to finding free college at your fingertips!
Gain CONFIDENCE to do Science Experiments with your Middle & High School Students
Norma Street
Room 118
Participate in several exciting science experiments and learn how easy it is to identify variables and constants. Gain confidence to do science experiments with your middle & high school students as soon as you get home TODAY! Attend our other workshop to learn how to do even more experiments with younger students!
How to Avoid the 5 Mistakes Most People Make when Teaching Math to 3 to 13 yo’s
Susan Loibl
Room 119
Are you just starting to homeschool and want to make sure your child actually enjoys math? Seeing math frustration in your older child and want to change course? Susan can help you dodge mistakes most people unwittingly make when teaching math and put you on the path to true math understanding and success with easy-to-implement techniques. Create an environment for your child to learn – and love – math!
Transforming Your Homeschool Into an Adventure
Ashley Wiggers
Room 105
We all want the adventure, but what does it really take to make this dream a reality? Come hear this homeschool grad share the methods that made her schooling experience memorable and successful. From living books and reading aloud to understanding developmental stages, Ashley will help transform the way you see your homeschool. Homeschooling can be the adventure of a lifetime. Come to this workshop and find out how.
Nuts and Bolts of Homeschooling High School (hint: it’s not that hard)
Ann E Karako
Room 106
This is one of those sessions that will answer questions you never even knew you had. From planning coursework, understanding graduation requirements, and choosing curriculum, to assigning credit, writing a transcript, and beyond — Ann will fill you in on almost everything you need to know to be a success at homeschooling high school. There really isn’t that much to it, and once you’ve heard what she has to say in this session, you’ll be ready to get started!
Can Spelling Be Remediated? Yes! But Not by Studying Word Lists and Taking a Test on Friday.
Dee Tadlock
Room 108
Spelling ability seems to be something that students either have or they don’t have. Research confirms that attempts to improve spelling through memorizing word lists or studying word origins have little effect. Learn about an innovative approach that relies on the plasticity of the brain to quickly transform poor spellers to good spellers.
Rhythm & Writing: Teaching kiddos to print, the RIGHT WAY, using rhymes, music, and videos
Nikki Wilson
Room 109
Occupational Therapist Nikki Wilson will show you how to teach your kiddos to print letters, THE RIGHT WAY, using the Rhythm & Writing handwriting program, where a musical group of animals (The Get Write Crew) teaches correct letter formations using rhymes, music, and videos.
Preparing for College (It’s Easier Than You Might Think)
Patricia Wesolowski
Room 110
How can a parent be sure their students are prepared for life after high school? When do you begin preparing and what all do you need to do in order to be sure your students are prepared for college? With intention and well-planning, it is not difficult to homeschool your high school student with confidence. Come and find out more about dual enrolling, transcripts, scholarships and college testing. Do not rule out private colleges that come with high sticker prices because there are many ways to bring down the cost of college! You can do this!
Poor Smart Rich, Six Goals for Young Americans
John Segal
Room 111
Overview of the Six Critical Goals for your Americans. How to stay out of poverty, reach the middle class and beyond. How to talk to young people so they will listen. How to teach young people that taking responsibility gives life skills which allow them to achieve successful, faith-filled, exciting lives.
Bonus Paterfamilias: Identifying the Father’s Role in Home Education
Ryan Weston
Room 112
In Ancient Rome the oldest male member of the family was considered paterfamilias (Latin: father of the family). This individual was understood to be authoritative over and responsible for his entire household. Similarly, the Christian scriptures place authority and responsibility primarily on the father. Join us for an opportunity to explore how this can inform and improve your homeschooling experience.
How to Design Usable Plans for Gifted, 2e, or Learning Challenged Students Who Don’t Fit the Mold
Rhonda Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Room 113/114
What do you teach a child who appears to know a whole lot and/or very little at the same time? This workshop teaches parents how to develop practical, usable educational plans for kids who do not fit the mold. Parents can develop strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on weaknesses. Come learn the difference between accelerated and enriched education plans and explore sample plans for incorporating one or both. See options for providing both knowledge building opportunities and skills development and make them part of your education plans. Additionally, social and emotional needs of children who learn differently will be discussed as well as options for addressing it. Parents will leave with lots of practical ideas they can adapt to their child. Teaching kids who learn differently does not have to be overwhelming. Have hope! Be encouraged to know you are not alone.
Stop Fighting with Your Kids! Five Steps to Less Stress in Your Home
Jennifer Henn
Room 115/116
“I don’t know how you stand being with your kids all day,” say neighbors and friends. We assure them that we love our kids…but do we like them? Perfect curriculum will not solve attitude problems. I implemented each of these five steps in my home and share from personal stories. Come learn how to get the school work done while maintaining a loving relationship with your children.
How to Pray for Your Child
Alice Reinhardt
Room 117
Praying without ceasing is a no-brainer for moms. The situations our children find themselves in keep a breath of prayer on our lips. Whether it is praying for protection, healing, wisdom, revelation or salvation, our children need our prayers. And whereas praying for our children is instinctual as a mom, sometimes knowing how to pray leaves us still feeling anxious even as we pray. The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We can learn from His advice in praying for our children.
The Greatest Mathematical Gift Parents Can Give Their Children — The Ability to Solve Problems
Ed Zaccaro
Room 118
The development of problem solving skills is one of the most important aspects of a mathematics education, not only because they are an integral part of all higher mathematics, but because they also are important for real-world applications in eventual careers and in life. The strategies presented in this session will force students to change normal thinking patterns and approach problems in a different way. This will enable them to more effectively apply critical thinking skills to problems they encounter in their education and in life. This session will also give you the answer to the question frequently asked by children: When will we ever use algebra?
Don’t Just Teach History, Build a World Changer
Belinda J. Bullard
Room 119
It has been said that ‘He who does not know his history is doomed to repeat it.’ As an increasingly global society, understanding the historical perspective of others is no longer a “nice thing to do;” this is a critical skill that helps our children reach their destiny. In this session, we will uncover various ways to create history studies that are geared toward building a generation of leaders. We will discuss how to teach the more difficult topics without creating difficult moments, and why a significant change from traditional history is important for this generation.
Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day
Andrew Pudewa
Room 105
Children like to do what they can do, they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do. If you want excited and enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. If it matters, children will learn it, and if it doesn’t, they won’t. This session will enlighten you with specific ways to find and create relevancy for children, even when they have no apparent interest.
Does Physical Education Improve Academic Performance?
Mike Hanik
Room 108
Exercise is one of the best things a person can do for their brain health. In this workshop, Mike Hanik will share what the research has found out about the connection between exercise and learning.
Uncovering MY Story (Joint workshop for Parents and Teens)
Grace Dyson
Room 109
Working as a team, teens with their parents will partner to uncover personality, interests, skills, abilities, and values as they relate to life purpose and future professions. In this fun and interactive session, parents and teens go on this journey together to identify clues to the teen’s future from the stories of the teen’s life.
Death Was Not on My Calendar Homeschooling thru Seasons of Loss
Melanie Adams
Room 110
We all must go thru the Valley of the Shadow of death at some point in time. We all must go thru trials as our parent’s age and life happens. Job loss, wayward children, and a plethora of struggles can derail our lives. Treading these deep waters while homeschooling can be a blessing in the midst of hardship. This talk is for Ladies only.
Biological Robotics: Incredible Design in Life
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
Room 111
We can tell when something shows evidence of having a human designer. So when things in nature show those same characteristics—only on a much more complex level—it makes sense to attribute that to a Designer as well. Jonathan discusses several pieces of evidence of magnificent design in nature, including DNA, molecular machines, the complexity of the cell, and more. He also demolishes arguments of ‘bad design’.
What is a Right?
Paul Engel
Room 112
There is a lot of talk today about “rights”. But as Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride said, “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” In this session, we’ll cut through the rhetoric and hyperbole, investigate the definition of a right, look at the different types of rights along with when and how we can legitimately exercise our rights. Then, time permitting, you’ll have the chance to discuss different rights claims with others.
How do you do it all?
Jenni Stahlmann and Jody Hagaman
Room 113/114
This is the #1 question that people ask us, and as it turns out, we actually have an answer. For those who don’t know us, we have ten kids between us; we’re homeschool moms, radio show hosts, columnists, curriculum writers and speakers. And like many of you, we also run field trips and lead scouting troops and 4-H clubs and volunteer at our local homeschool co-op. By trial and error and research and the wisdom of those who have gone before us, we have landed on some really powerful tools that help us live to our fullest potential.
Teaching Your Kids to Handle Money
Cynthia L Simmons
Room 115/116
This class goes beyond math to give parents the tools to teach their child how to set up a family budget and manage their income.
Becoming a Tech Confident Parent
Shawnna Cody
Room 117
“What apps are safe? How can I know if my kids see bad stuff on Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media? Can I be notified if someone e-mails or texts my teen a sexual picture or video? Help me protect the whole device!” If you’re looking for answers to solve today’s tech dilemmas, this session is for you.
Schooling the Whole Child: Fulfilling your student’s physical, emotional, and cognitive needs
Erica Gregory LMFT & Denise Harold M.Ed.
Room 118
Participants will learn to navigate their children’s continuously changing physical, emotional, and cognitive needs while also fostering accountability and independence. We will answer: What is normal developmentally? How do I understand my child’s behaviors and respond effectively? When does my child need extra support?
Grandparents—Pillars of the Family
Karen Whiting
Room 119
No longer can parents head to the rocking chair to relax when they see their children walk across the stage with diplomas in hand. This is just the beginning of another phase of life. Once your children have children, your new role as grandparents opens many exciting doors for you as well as bringing new responsibilities and opportunities to continue to support your children and pour into your grandchildren. Many families have two working parents so when gaps arise, parents many times must turn to their parents to step in and conduct school, drive carpool, or just be there with the children.