Workshops by Speaker

View workshop descriptions by session.

Lee Andes
Financial Aid: A Road Map to Get You Through the Wilderness
With the many layers of federal, state, and institutional programs and regulations involved, the financial-aid process can be confusing, especially to parents and students undergoing the process for the first time! While the specific answers may vary by institution, Lee Andes provides a “road map” designed to help parents and students navigate the process successfully. He will also review the recent legislative changes to state financial aid that specifically affect homeschool students.

Chuck Bentley

Make, Manage, and Fulfill: Implementing God’s Plan for Your Finances
Whether your finances are a mess or you already have a handle on your spending, a clear, personalized roadmap will help keep you on track to meet your unique goals. Join Chuck Bentley for this fast-paced seminar that utilizes Crown’s Money Map™! Learn practical steps for eliminating debt and receive biblical teaching on how to apply the wisdom of the Bible to everyday financial decision-making.

Living in God’s Economy
Discover how to live in this world, facing day-to-day challenges but also experiencing peace, joy, and, contentment no matter what may happen in the future. The difference is discovering how to navigate the epic battle between Man’s Economy and God’s Economy.

Creative Ways to Increase Your Income
Chuck and Ann Bentley will share a variety of ways families (including children) are increasing their household income. Consider the following success stories: a homeschooled boy who paid for his college education and bought his own home before graduation, a frugal mom who made $800 per month using coupons to get free merchandise to resell, an artistic mom who began designing quilts and established a very large home-based business, and twin girls who helped their family get out of debt through publishing a newsletter. This workshop will provide ideas and insight for discovering your opportunities as well as biblical principles for starting a small home-based business.

Marilyn Boyer

Making It All Happen
Have you ever felt overwhelmed with the demands of parenting? Life is certainly a challenge for parents, especially those who accept the added responsibility of home education. But there are practical ways to make life easier and more productive, and this workshop discusses many of them. Marilyn Boyer, mother of 14 children and a veteran home educator with three decades of experience, shares her techniques for accomplishing a mammoth amount of housework while giving her children a superior education at the same time. Download handout.

Home Educating with Babies and Toddlers and Loving It
It’s a blessing, but it can be stressing! Homeschooling with tiny ones around the house is a special challenge, but one that many moms handle with great success. Come hear how Marilyn Boyer, mother of 14 and a homeschooler with three decades of experience, puts character at the top of the priority list and makes her little ones a valuable part of the home team! Download handout.

Rick Boyer

Raising Cain Without Killing Abel—A Look at Sibling Rivalry
Few irritations strain parents’ nerves like fighting between their children. Fortunately, Scripture contains case studies of many sibling conflicts and some very practical principles for their resolution. Brethren really can dwell in unity! Come and learn how to apply biblical truth to family conflicts.

Vision and Victory for Youth
Growing up has never been easy, and today it is harder than ever before. In fact, America leads the world in teen suicide. Rick Boyer believes that much of the disillusionment among young people today results from a popular culture that has so lowered the expectations of the young that they have adjusted their dreams accordingly. But now a new generation of homeschooled young people is rising and appears poised to shake off complacency and make a lasting impact on American culture. In this talk, Rick looks at the young years from the “other side” and shares how God’s principles give vision and victory for the young person who wants to be more than ordinary! Pre-teens, teens, and young adults—and parents of young people—won’t want to miss this workshop!

The Power of Storytelling: Bringing Learning to Life
For thousands of years, people have used stories to make learning come to life. Jesus, the master teacher, often chose parables to convey important points. In this workshop, Rick Boyer shares simple how-tos of effective storytelling and shows how exciting stories—true and imaginary, live and recorded—can add new dimensions of pleasure to learning. Lessons enjoyed are lessons remembered. Come and hear how to bring life to learning so you can bring learning to life!

Vision for Struggling Moms
Homeschooling is a big job for any woman, and many moms have special burdens. Single moms, moms of large families, moms of children with learning difficulties, moms with uninvolved husbands, moms with seriously ill family members, moms under financial pressure—all face their own daunting challenges. In this workshop, Rick Boyer shares some insights learned from being raised by a single mom and watching his own wife handle training a family of 14 children under sometimes overwhelming challenges—including the death of a teenage son. Not a how-to seminar, this session is designed instead to give you the encouragement you need to see the hand of God in your challenges and to envision the joy awaiting on the other side of the pain.

Carlita Boyles

Teach When Your Child Is Ready to Learn
Do you have a child who just doesn’t understand what you are trying to teach? We know God’s design for our children is good, but how can we help our struggling youngsters grasp that for themselves? In this encouraging workshop, Carlita will discuss possible reasons for our children’s challenges and present a variety of practical ways to adapt your teaching to account for each child’s individuality. Whether you have a beginning student or a student in junior or senior high school, or whether YOU are a struggling learner yourself, this engaging workshop will give you hope, ideas for maximizing learning, and a renewed sense of God’s perfect timing.

The Brain, Memory, and Learning
Are you frustrated that your child consistently has trouble remembering the things you’ve taught? Do you sometimes feel as if you are spinning your wheels as you teach math concepts? In this information-packed talk, Carlita presents valuable insights on the brain, memory, and learning, including research on situations that can positively and negatively affect learning and memory. She shares simple yet effective strategies for optimizing learning and for moving the information your child has learned from short-term memory into long-term memory. Whether you have been homeschooling for 20 minutes or for 20 years, you will come away from this talk with an arsenal of new ideas that will help your children learn more effectively and efficiently.

Encouragement and Strategies for Challenged Parents
Homeschooling a child who struggles with learning can be a very frustrating and emotional experience for both the child and the parent. The struggling child may feel inadequate, and the parent may wonder what is wrong with her child AND with her. In this workshop, Carlita provides gentle encouragement for parents, helping them to let go of the guilt of unmet expectations and to turn to God for wisdom and direction. With both scriptural encouragement and practical suggestions, Carlita helps parents find more success and joy in homeschooling, looking to God’s plan and purpose for each child.

Activities for Families Learning Together
Would you like to teach so that all your children can learn together with the same activities? When you travel, would you like to leave the textbooks at home and learn through life? This workshop is jam-packed with ideas and helpful hints for using travel, arts and crafts, family projects, etc., as springboards to teach multiple subjects to multiple ages. Family learning not only encourages academics but also fosters positive relationships and allows you to show God’s hand in every subject area. Come see how you can teach any subject (even math!) to your whole family.

New! View a convention preview with Carlita Boyles.

Jonathan Brush

Straight Talk About College: What You Need to Know Before You Go and After You Get There
Should you go to college? Why should you go to college? If you do go, what’s the best way to prepare before you get there? Once you’re enrolled, what do you need to know to avoid the pitfalls and take advantage of the opportunities offered by a college education? This session will provide answers to these questions and more from a homeschool graduate, homeschool dad, former college admissions director, and higher education insider.

Yvonne Bunn

The Law—Is Homeschooling Secure?
It’s been legal to homeschool in Virginia since 1983, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. With the changes in the homeschool statute from year to year, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the present law and your rights as a parent. In this workshop, HEAV’s director of government affairs and homeschool support, Yvonne Bunn, will discuss current trends in education at the state and federal level and answer your questions about testing, sports, part-time enrollment, religious exemption, and other topics you would like to discuss.

Introduction to Homeschooling - Free Workshop!
Homeschooling is among the top 10 of more than 200 significant trends that will have an impact on future society, says The Trends Journal, world leader in trends analysis and forecasting. If you’ve wondered what homeschooling is, or who homeschools and why, this fact-filled workshop will give you answers. From the history of homeschooling to the statistical results of the most recent nationwide study, you will receive the information you need to decide if homeschooling is right for you and your family.

How to Begin: What You Really Need to Know - Free Workshop!
Overwhelmed by friendly advice and tons of information? This informative workshop will help you weed through all the things you’ve heard and help you focus on what you really need to know for a successful homeschool year: Am I qualified? How do I prepare? Where can I go for help? What things should I never do? What are some secrets of success? And more! Don’t miss this opportunity to get off to the right start. Download handout.

Know the Law: Notifying and Testing Demystified - Free Workshop!
Know your homeschooling rights—don’t let the “legalese” confuse you! In this workshop, find out who is required to attend school, what requirements you must meet in order to homeschool, what new test and evaluation options may be used, whom you should notify and when, what to do if you are homeschooling because of your sincere religious beliefs, and what types of records you need to keep. Know your options before you begin! Download handout.

Eric Burges

One People: The People of God
Today’s ethnic groups have been separated and stereotyped too long by prejudiced propaganda from the media who claim all the while to be on the side of reconciliation. In this session, you will be challenged to believe that as wise Christians, we carry the balm of healing and respect. Eric will share how to inspire respect and true love for others, traits foundational for good relationships and essential in creating and helping to maintain peace among people of varying backgrounds and beliefs. You will learn that purposeful relationships can be achieved by those who desire to understand both points of view.

Making Marriage Work While Homeschooling
Marriage—does it still work once you start homeschooling? Husband and wife—do they still exist after the journey begins? Marriage is already tough. Statistics show that marriages between Christians fail at the same rate as those between non-Christians. Many homeschoolers are hesitant to share their struggles in marriage with others whose marriages appear to be perfect. Eric and Joyce Burges have been married for 33 years, 23 of which were spent homeschooling their five children. Eric will share a refreshingly transparent view of what marriage really looks like and how to not only stay married through the homeschooling experience, but to thrive in it and come out the other side closer than ever. Come hear how the Burges’s marriage has thrived because of their obedience to a mighty God and how God can turn water into wine.

Joyce Burges

Raising Lovely Daughters in Today‘s World
Do you or your daughter feel challenged at times in the endeavor to raise or to become a gracious young lady? In this session, Joyce identifies the hardships young women face in today’s culture. Joyce features the delightful biblical heroine Esther, showing young ladies that identity, image, influence, and integrity are all qualities given by God. She encourages young ladies to embrace these gifts and challenges those who have seemingly lost these qualities to reclaim them.

Black Books Forever
Joyce will delight your heart as she shares about some of her favorite books by African-American authors. Joyce has put forth much effort over many years to compile a list of great books by and about African Americans that present positive role models and a healthy family perspective. The books she has chosen showcase the rich contributions black authors have made to children’s literature. Good books cross racial lines to unite all readers. Every parent and child will enjoy hearing about these delightful stories in this rich and colorful presentation!

Homeschooling on a Shoestring Budget: Finding Resources to Fit Your Family
Are you barely making ends meet? Are you sick and tired of scrimping and making do? This session will show you how to see wealth in your own home. Most homeschoolers struggle with this issue as they choose to operate on one income so that the wife can stay at home to educate the children. Joyce offers a wealth of information on this topic gleaned from years of homeschooling her own children and mentoring hundreds of mothers through the National Black Home Educators, the ministry she shares with her husband.

Janice Campbell

Homeschooling Through High School
Can it possibly be a good idea to homeschool all the way through high school? Can homeschooled teens get into college? What about teaching advanced math and science? This encouraging seminar is designed to reassure parents (and teens) that it’s not only possible to homeschool through high school, but that it is a wonderful choice. Learn how other families have made it through the high school years, and how you can too!

Decoding the Classics: How to Read, Enjoy, and Teach Great Literature
Have you always wanted to read the classics but haven’t known where to begin? The Great Books are wonderful reading and well worth the effort it takes to understand them. In this inspiring workshop, you’ll learn the basics of how to approach challenging reading assignments, how to use contextual materials to bring unfamiliar settings to life, how to discern an author’s worldview, and how to help your high school students develop the kind of analytical reading skills they will need in college. A handout will provide a suggested reading list for high school students.

Evaluate Student Writing: You Don’t Have to Be an English Major!
Do you know what you need to know to evaluate your students’ writing skills? Can you recognize quality writing when you see it? Most professional teachers use a set of objective standards known as a rubric to fairly evaluate students’ written work and to pinpoint areas needing improvement. You can use this valuable tool also! Learn how to recognize well-written work and how to use a rubric to evaluate writing skills, including content, organization, style, word choice, sentence fluency, and mechanics. The handout will include a reproducible rubric.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Essay?
Writing essays is an essential high school and college skill. There’s no need to be afraid of teaching this important topic! Learn what you need to know in order to teach your teens to organize thoughts, develop and support a thesis, and construct a logical conclusion, all in a compelling and readable style. We’ll review the parts of an essay, learn a five-step writing process, and discuss how to constructively evaluate your student’s writing.

Homeschooling Boys, or “Momma, Wanna See a Snake?”
If you have boys, you've probably noticed that they're a wee bit different from girls. It's not just a difference in the way they learn, but also in how they interact with one another, how they communicate, and how they learn. Join me for this celebration of what it means to be a boy—learn about brain development, learning stages and styles, books boys like, things you can do to strengthen your relationship with your son, and ways to help boys stay engaged with learning as they travel the road toward manhood.

The High School Transcript: It’s Easier Than You Think
There is really nothing scary in the transcript preparation process! Come learn about the three basic sections of a transcript and about how to collect and record information in a professional format. Whatever kind of homeschooling you've done—traditional or not—you can create a transcript that accurately records your student’s achievements. Remember, it’s easier than you think!

Susan Chrisman

When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
In this workshop on burnout, Susan Chrisman will show you how to watch for S-M-O-K-E in your life. As smoke is an indicator of fire, so there are indicators of potential burnout in the life of a homeschool mom. Hear Susan, a mom with 25 years of homeschooling experience, share her heart—along with the warning signs of burnout and insights on how to avoid it.

Preschool and Kindergarten Education at Home - Part 1
Understanding the developmental abilities of your young child is essential before planning a preschool or kindergarten curriculum. What should your child know by age six? How does your young child learn? How do you give your child a solid foundation for future academic learning? Susan Chrisman, homeschool mom of five and grandmother of three, will show you the keys to early education.

Preschool and Kindergarten Education at Home - Part 2
What are the best ways to secure for your young child a strong academic foundation? Understanding how your child learns is the beginning. In this workshop, Susan Chrisman will equip you to take that knowledge and learn how to set goals for and record what your young child needs to know. You will learn the specifics of academic preparation, as well as how to apply the knowledge learned in Part 1.

A Home Educator’s Guide to Scheduling and Planning
Susan will break down the task of educating into step-by-step details that will get you started with a workable schedule. This practical session will offer tips on lesson planning; help you plan yearly, weekly, and daily schedules; and give you ideas on what to do with toddlers and preschoolers during school time.

What Is Education?
Our view of education is usually limited to our own experience. Understanding what true education is will help you set your priorities, choose your curriculum, determine your schedule, visualize your overall educational picture, and follow your daily plan. This workshop contains information to guide you as you lay a foundation for your many educational decisions, expanding your idea of what education is and how to achieve it.

Habit Training: Key to Maintaining Your Sanity
All parents train their children in habits—good ones and bad ones—whether purposefully or not. The habits we teach our children will ultimately help in the formation of their character. Join Susan Chrisman in a study of Charlotte Mason’s teaching on habits. This is a practical workshop on how to teach habits to your children—habits that will make for easier days at home and bring character formation into focus.

New! View a convention preview with Susan Chrisman.

Tom Clark

Teaching Mathematics as a Language: What Gets Lost in the Translation?
Did you know that Mathematics has parts of speech and sentence structure, just as any spoken language does? Did you know that understanding the “grammar” of Mathematics greatly helps students with problem solving and applications? In this workshop, Tom Clark, founder of VideoText Interactive and author of Algebra: A Complete Course and Geometry: A Complete Course, clearly and humorously demonstrates this quality of mathematical language. At last, you will truly understand the roles of all types of mathematical symbols. You will see how easy it is to translate between Mathematics and English, enabling you to improve your understanding and teaching of “story problems” at all levels.

Identifying and Avoiding the Trouble Spots in Math
Join Tom Clark, founder of VideoText Interactive and author of Algebra: A Complete Course and Geometry: A Complete Course, as he offers an entertaining and educational session designed to help you discover the reasons behind the difficulties in several traditional trouble spots in math. Topics discussed will be determined by the audience and may include division of fractions and multiplication of decimals (using those mindless rules), long division, story problems, positive and negative numbers, or other topics.

DR. S.M. Davis

Anger: The Destroyer
Probably the number one thing spiritually killing children in Bible-believing homes and churches is the anger of one or both of the parents. Anger also destroys the oneness between a husband and wife. Many parents think their wrath is justified by their children’s disobedience and rebellion. It is more likely that the rebellion is caused and escalated by the anger. Your anger isn’t caused by what is outside you; it is caused by what is happening inside you. This workshop will share seven key thoughts to stop “Anger: the Destroyer.” Download handout.

Three Key Elements of Successful Parenting
Though there may be some exceptions, generally speaking, if a child chooses evil as an adult, it is probably because his parents failed in some way to properly train him as a child. There are three key elements in successful parenting that work together to help parents produce wise, godly children. This workshop presents parents with these three practical strategies that may also be called “The ABCs of Successful Parenting.” Download handout.

How to Build a Storm-Proof Marriage
There is no such thing as a marriage without storms. Paul promised that those who marry “shall have trouble in the flesh.” Since all marriages have problems, why do some end in divorce and some do not? Because one home is solidly put together on a foundation where two people are living out God’s truth on a daily basis! They’ve used wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to build a house with a solid foundation that wind and rain and floods can’t bring down. Come discover the components of a strong, storm-proof foundation for your marriage. Download handout.

How to Avoid Defrauding in Courtship or Betrothal
God apparently takes very seriously His command in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 against defrauding. God is trying to communicate to us his views of the three phases of human life: “Single or Not Betrothed,” “Betrothed or Espoused,” and “Married.” Come and learn the specific purpose of each phase and how to experience each one in a God-honoring way. Download handout,

Michael Farris

The Third Wave of Homeschooling Challenges
The challenges homeschoolers faced years ago—academics and socialization—were based on easily refutable lies. Today’s challenges, however, are fundamentally different. Come hear Michael Farris as he shares the newest challenges to homeschoolers, explains how they will impact us today and tomorrow, and outlines a plan of action to protect homeschooling and parental rights.

The Homeschooling Father
Even busy executives with 10 children like Mike Farris can and should take part in homeschooling—not just in teaching, but in supporting their wives.

Commencement Address: Walk Worthy

Rick Green

Is America One Nation Under God?
Were the Founding Fathers men of faith? Have the courts always ruled against expressions of faith in the public square? Are the founding documents of America "godless" or "God-filled"? Gain an historical perspective concerning the current debate regarding whether or not our nation was founded on biblical principles, how that founding should affect current public policy, and whether our faith should be part of both our private and public lives.

Restoring America's Constitution
America is successful because of her foundational, constitutional principles. Learn the biblical philosophy behind the Constitution and the role that each of us as free citizens must fulfill if America's constitutional principles are to survive for the next generation. In this presentation, Rick gives a fast-paced history of America's miraculous beginning, including how her founding documents came to be. He then walks through the steps we must take to preserve those foundations.

Influence of the Bible in America
The Bible's profound influence on America, widely understood by previous generations, is largely unrecognized today. For years, Americans saw the Bible as a practical guidebook for directing every aspect of daily life, understanding that it therefore shaped American government, law, and education, as well as our free enterprise system, our views of private property, our social services, and so much more. This inspiring presentation documents the dramatic impact of the Bible on American life and culture over the past four centuries.

Passing the Torch of Freedom
Every American generation has been full of amazing sacrifice and heroism by individuals who answered the call to stand guard at the watchtower of freedom. Now it's our turn. We must not only be willing to sacrifice a small portion of our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, but we must also purposefully pass the torch of freedom to the next generation, training them to do the same.

New! View a convention preview with Rick Green.

Joyce Herzog

Secrets Teachers Never Tell
Joyce’s most popular workshop is often “standing room only.” Learn 12 secrets that will simplify your life AND enhance your teaching! Learn how to begin the year, what months are more conducive to learning, what to do when the year isn’t long enough, how children learn, and so much more. Joyce draws from more than 30 years of experience to present concepts that make your job more effective and reduce stress. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and a LOAD will be lifted from your shoulders. Download handout.

Choosing and Using Curriculum - Free Workshop!
Confused about educational styles, grade levels, or what your learner can do independently? Want to know the pros and cons of various reading and math curricula? Come hear this before you spend your budget! Joyce Herzog, author of Choosing and Using Curriculum, presents both principles to consider and specific comments on many available materials and their effectiveness. Understand your needs and choices better so that you can choose more effectively and waste less money on materials that don’t work! Download handout.

Simplified Grammar
Teaching grammar doesn’t have to be boring! In this one-hour workshop, most parents learn and understand more grammar than they did in their whole school career. And even better than that, it equips them to teach it in a way that makes sense. This class will teach you how to teach grammar with understanding—from simple sentences and their parts through the parts of speech, sentence complements, and kinds of sentences. Come see how! Download handout.

Rx for YOUR Special Needs
Whether you are working with a learner who has a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, Down syndrome, or autism, you will find help here. From general tips to specific helps to resources, this workshop provides it all. Download handout.

Learning in Spite of Labels
Come see into the heart of your struggling learner—even if he is gifted in some areas. Discover the underlying problem, look at his strengths, and learn some strategies to get moving in the right direction. You’ll laugh and you may cry, but you will learn!

From Passion to Calling
Do I know my child well enough to guide his education? How do I help my child move from what he loves to what God has called him to be? How can I help him know where God is leading him? These are noble words, but all he wants to do is play with LEGOs! Help me! Learn some guiding principles and practical ideas to help your child discover his passions and see God’s calling on his life. Everyone can be involved in ministry; find out how. Download handout.

Mark Holden

The Father’s Role in Home Education
Our heavenly Father designed for men to model His relationship to His children. The great vacuum of male servant-leadership has allowed for many misconceptions and practices concerning the man’s role in God’s plan. This session is both a look at biblical manhood as it relates to child training and a call back to biblical fathering.

Decisions That Keep You Away from Home
Every choice we make has far-reaching implications. Often the important ends up being sacrificed for the urgent. In this session, we will evaluate the kinds of choices that can entrap parents, preventing them from parenting biblically and excluding them from the richest of life’s blessings.

The Place of Discipline in Successful Child Training
One of the most frequent reasons for homeschooling burnout is poor behavior in children. This session is designed to provide instruction and parenting skills that will enable successful child rearing.

The Power of a Father’s Blessing
The words a dad uses are powerful in the life of his child. The Bible records many instances in which men wield the power of life and death by their words. This session will provide evidence of the power—and encouragement to use it to produce life in the next generation.

Stan John

Special Convention Feature
Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project
Come get equipped to reach your household and community with the truth! The Truth Project curriculum is a systematic and comprehensive biblical worldview study covering God's design for work, science, family, government, art, ethics, etc. This conference track will equip you to make a Christ-centered difference in the culture by applying God's principles to daily life. You’ll leave trained to be The Truth Project hosts in your own community, and equipped with the DVDs and materials you need! Cost: An additional $79* (cost of DVDs and materials given on completion of the training). Spouses are free!
*The cost is $99 if you are not attending any other part of the convention.

Tracy Klicka

Order in the House! Peace Vs. Chaos in the Home
In this workshop, Tracy Klicka will discuss the wisdom of doing all things “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) and will highlight principles of ordering one’s day and organizing the home for the glory of God.

Five Reasons Moms Quit School—and How You Can Keep from Becoming a Dropout
Tracy Klicka hasn’t met a homeschool mom yet who at some point in her homeschooling experience doesn’t desperately want to quit. Sometimes it seems the challenges are more than we can take, but there is hope. Be encouraged not just to survive but to thrive in raising children for the Lord.

A Journey of Grace: Coming Alongside Your Child in the Teen Years
What does parenting look like as your child enters into the young adult years? What are your child’s greatest needs, strengths, and weaknesses? What priorities do you as a parent embrace during this time of your child’s transition into adulthood? With four teens and one adult child living at home, plus another one married, Tracy personally shares some of the struggles, joys, and failures of her parenting. She encourages moms and dads to have great hope in our faithful God who desires to knit the hearts of parents and their children together for His glory during this special season of life.

Jamie Lash

Using Failures as Stepping Stones for Success
If you are not willing to fail, you actually prevent yourself from achieving your potential. Don’t play it safe! You’ve got to fail enough that you learn how to be a success. This dynamite session will help free you from fear of failure and cautious living so that you can live boldly.

How to Be More Motivated Than an Olympic Champion
Olympic athletes build their lives around their quest, developing amazing focus, determination, perseverance, teachability, and the belief that they can do it. But they seek “a crown that will not last,” not “a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV). One reward from God is worth more than anything on earth! Learn how to be deeply motivated God’s way so that you can be a champion in your quest to fulfill the awesome purpose He has for your life.

Trusting God in Times of Trial
During times of trial, the enemy may whisper, “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t let this happen to you.” The Hebrews faced 10 wilderness trials and kept interpreting the adversity as “proof” that God had not been good to them. Circumstances are not always good, but God always is! In this session, you will learn the one habit that will keep your heart rejoicing, regardless of your circumstances.

Learned Helplessness: How to Defeat Self-Defeating Thoughts
Does your child ever say “I can’t” before he or she even tries? Does just thinking about a subject make him freeze for no apparent reason? Why do some people give up, while others never do? When people believe their efforts are in vain, they feel hopeless and have no energy. They have learned to be helpless. This session will tell you how to conquer learned helplessness and its devastating effects, not only in the lives of your children but also in your own life.

Kerin Morgan

Benefits of Infant and Toddler Training
How can the first years of a baby’s life bring benefits that will help us when they are school-age? Can early childhood training really make the school years go more smoothly? What do we need to do to train our little ones? Join Kerin as she shares from her own experience and training how and why infant and toddler training can provide benefits in the school years.

Structuring the Day with Infants and Toddlers in the Home
There really is a way to get it all done even with babies in the home! Kerin will share practical ways to structure the day to accomplish all the “to dos” that a home with little ones can create. If you apply some of these ideas Kerin has gleaned from her own busy years or from other moms who have walked this season before, you can enjoy time with the children and your husband, get your chores done, and even rest!

Judi Munday

Using Effective Instruction and Performance-Based Teaching
In this workshop, Judi teaches parents how to develop active learners who have motivation and great participation in their own instruction. Learn how to present new material in ways that go well beyond the standard “pencil-and-paper” or book-based forms of teaching. Find out how to incorporate multi-sensory instruction and alternative methods of presentation and assessment for subjects that are typically evaluated traditionally. This is a very practical workshop that will equip you to help each of your children become a more successful learner! Download handout.

Developing Independent Learners
Students with special needs typically require a lot of parental attention and extra instructional time, which can both wear out the parent and sometimes cause the child to become overly dependent. Students need to transition from one-on-one teaching with external rewards to self-directed, internal motivation. Parents of middle elementary to high school level students will learn specific strategy-based tools to build motivation, and attendees will be equipped with a toolkit of study skills applicable to a variety of academic subjects. Learn to create rubrics, explore the benefits of assistive technology, and find out how to transform students into more independent learners. Download handout.

Strategies for Teaching Children with Communication Challenges
Students increasingly struggle with communication challenges. These challenges impact how they acquire, understand, use, and recall new information both in the family and in the homeschool. New academic learning, comprehension, and recall are often limited by oral, written, receptive, and expressive language disabilities; non-verbal learning disabilities; or reading delays. Judi will discuss these deficits, providing parents with evidence-based strategies and instructional tools to help, and explaining how and when to apply each strategy and accommodation. This is a very nuts-and-bolts workshop loaded with practical skills to incorporate into daily teaching—without excessive advance lesson planning or preparation time! Download handout.

New! View a convention preview with Judi Munday.

Sarah Olbris

What Do My Child’s Test Scores Really Mean?
Since computerized test results are often not fully understood, parents may lose beneficial tools to help shape their children’s education. Join Sarah as she interprets the significance of test scores and explains how to discover a balanced view of your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Parents will gain a clearer understanding of the many types of achievement tests, the differences between percentile and stanine scores, and the benefits of testing to monitor progress and to guide instruction.

Diego Rodriguez

How Big Is God?
You have never seen the science of astronomy presented like this! Come see the presentation that Israel Wayne of Christianworldview.net says is “the most amazing presentation I’ve ever seen by anyone, anywhere!” Using a combination of photos, computer animation, and other special effects, the 4th Day Alliance will take you on a journey through space to help you envision the size of the Earth, our Solar System, the Milky Way, and ultimately, the entire universe! Dennis Petersen of the Creation Resource Foundation says that the presentation is “...magnificent in content and unparalleled in viewer impact. Unforgettable, inspiring, and, for some, even life-changing...”

Classical Astronomy
Before telescopes, spacecraft, spectroscopes, lunar modules, space stations, and space probes, there was once a thriving science of astronomy that relied completely on math and visual observation. Learn how to recover and restore this once widely known scientific field.

Astronomy in the Bible
The Bible has many references to astronomy within its pages. Learn about the Mazzaroth, Orion, Pleiades, wandering stars, the Bright and Morning Star, and much more!

Mary Schofield

How to Stay Motivated, Confident, and Organized While Homeschooling
It is written, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Goal setting does not have to be a cumbersome, time-consuming task. Instead, the job should bring encouragement, motivation, and a clear direction. Having clear goals will make it easier to do a good job on your routine educational chores of choosing curriculum, scheduling, lesson planning, and teaching. Well-defined goals can make the difference between success and failure!

Junior High Needs
Junior High is a unique and special time of growing up. In order to take full advantage of these precious years, spiritual, physical, and academic needs must all be considered. In this workshop, learn how to custom-design your students’ junior high years to help them to “grow and wax strong in spirit, becoming filled with wisdom; and having the grace of God upon them” (Luke 2:40, KJV).

Bible and the Three Rs for Elementary-Age Children
While children are in the elementary grades, parents must focus most of their teaching time on Bible, reading, writing, and arithmetic. These subjects form the foundation for upper-level education, and they open the door to all the other school subjects. This workshop will provide an overview of what to cover and when, how to know whether to move on or to spend additional time teaching basic concepts, what to do when a child is “ahead” or “behind” his grade level, and how to have confidence that your children are learning what they need to learn.

Choosing Curriculum for Junior and Senior High School
Selecting curriculum for the upper grades can become a real nightmare. On the one hand, many materials seem designed for a classroom setting and require expensive equipment; on the other hand, homeschool-designed materials vary so widely in ability level (for both students and teachers) that it is hard to know what will work. Parents often wonder if they need an advanced degree to teach advanced courses, if “throwing money” at a difficult subject will help, or if materials they like are too basic to count for high school. In this session, we will focus on resources for a variety of subjects that almost any family can use.

Top 10 Leadership Tips
The modern homeschooling movement has been underway for more than 30 years now and has produced gifted leaders and established support groups that effectively serve homeschool families. What do veteran leaders say are the most important tips for new leaders to know? Mary Schofield asked this question of leaders of some of the largest and longest-running Christian homeschool groups in the world, as well as of many small-group leaders and new trend setters who present innovations and philosophical ideas that affect not only homeschooling, but that influence the overall educational and social directions of our nation. In this workshop, we will look at the practices and tips that great homeschool leaders say have helped them the most in their leadership positions.

Marcia Somerville

Tips for Teaching a Houseful
Are you trying to teach elementary, junior high, or high school students at the same time, perhaps with one or two toddlers underfoot? With six grown children successfully graduated from her homeschool, Marcia Somerville’s been there and done that—and has many practical tips to share. In this workshop, Marcia will explain some overarching principles that will encourage you to make a quiet home the foundation of your homeschool. She’ll help you look at your children’s development in three areas (academic, social, and emotional) and think of their development in terms of stages, not ages. Following the chronological development of the average large family, this session covers the full range: birth to grade 12. Download handout.

Beyond Books: Variety & Customization in Our Teaching Methods
As a homeschooler, you actually have the opportunity to give a more varied and broad education to your child than traditional schools do. Why? Reading is not the only way we learn! In fact, some students learn better by hearing--or by doing. In our homeschools, we can custom-design our teaching methods to the ways our kids learn best! Do you know how you learn best? We tend to teach from what's easiest for us, and thus get stuck in teaching ruts without even realizing it. How do you know what kind of learner your child is? And, once you do know, how do you teach to that kind of learning? Marcia will answer these questions in this information-packed session that will expand on the possibilities for instruction that only a homeschool can offer!

New! View a convention preview with Marcia Somerville.

Scott Somerville

How to Lead Teens
The word “teenager” is not in the Bible—so where do Christian parents get the wisdom (and patience!) they need to raise their teenage sons and daughters? In this encouraging workshop, Scott brings biblical truth and his own experience to bear on the task of raising teens.

New! View a convention preview with Scott Somerville.

What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Homeschooling
Scott Somerville dared to ask 100 homeschool moms for their personal “wish lists”—and was relieved to discover there is hope for homeschool husbands! These women weren’t asking the impossible, nor were they looking for a whole new man; instead, they wanted their husbands to show their love in some practical, pastoral, and personal ways. Scott combines information with motivation for life-changing results! Download handout.

Debbie Strayer

Understanding Teaching and Learning Styles
Since our goal as homeschoolers is to teach as effectively as possible, it can be stressful when the lessons we teach aren’t understood or our children seem frustrated. Learn how to overcome obstacles that may limit your ability to teach and your children’s ability to understand. With humor and honesty, Debbie will provide tips that can help your children achieve their greatest learning success.

The Natural Approach to Teaching Thinking
Thinking skills are buzzwords in education today—everyone wants to include them in their curriculum plans! In this seminar, Debbie will explain what thinking skills are and how to incorporate strategies into daily life that will bring great results in your child’s ability to think. Include these ideas to add critical thinking to any curriculum! For Christian homeschoolers, teaching critical thinking is a great way to prepare your children to give an account for the hope that is in them.

Richard Swenson

Margin, Balance, and Priorities: Making Space in Our Lives for the Things That Matter Most
Life in modern-day America is essentially devoid of time and space. Not the Star Trek kind—the sanity kind. Chronic overloading is the culprit; margin (capacity) and balance (equilibrium) are the antidotes. Without the help of these two essential friends, our timeless priorities (the things that matter most) are displaced by clutter, glitter, and routine panic.

Modern Families on a Treadmill: Run Over by High-Speed Good Intentions
Many well-intentioned families are overloaded and overwhelmed, driven by powerful cultural forces. Healthy families, on the other hand, often create a margin to facilitate well-being. Margin restores what culture has taken away: time to listen, strength to care, space to love. Download handout.

In the Beginning, God Created; In the End, Sovereignty Wins
Science and Scriptures combine to reveal a God who is brilliant and wise, powerful and precise, intimate and personal. When we better understand the genius of His creation, it helps us to rest in His sovereignty. To know Him is to trust Him; to trust Him is to rest in Him. Download handout.

Future Trends: Understanding Our Times
We live in a pregnant age, an era of historical discontinuity where everything is being shaken. The math is stratospheric and incomprehensible and, frankly, no longer works. Change, already frenzied, will increase a thousand times in the next century. Volatility is evident in every sector leading to a “soft-anarchy” where no center is holding. We do not flinch from analyzing our times, but we engage future trends with an unshakable certainty that “behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadows, keeping watch above his own.”

Phillip Telfer

Finding Freedom in a Media-Captive Culture
Finding freedom often starts with an understanding that we might be blind to our captivity. When Jesus talked to His followers about gaining freedom, they responded, “We…have never been in bondage to anyone” (John 8:33 WEB). This generation has become captive to TV, social networks, texting, video games, pornography, and a number of other forms of electronic media that have taken control of many lives and are holding them hostage. Many adults, young adults, teens, and children have been deceived by the world’s philosophy that freedom means doing whatever you please. Learn what authentic freedom is and how to escape the cultural walls that try to keep us from it. Download handout.

Media Choices: Convictions or Compromise?
Need help for raising children in a media-saturated society? Are you concerned about the impact of video games, Facebook, YouTube, iPods, texting, television, and more? Do you feel as if you are cowering like Israel before the giant Goliath who continues to mock God and taunt the nation? Have no fear—there’s help to be found in God’s Word. This workshop will teach you how you can fight the media giant in your life using biblical principles instead of legalistic rules. Download handout.

Handle with Care: Family Conflicts over Media & Entertainment
What do you do when you discover your kids are digitally connected to nearly everything and everyone but you? How should a spouse respond if the husband and wife are not on the same page regarding media choices in the home? Rediscover timeless biblical principles that can be applied to modern family struggles. Download handout.

Regaining Focus in an Age of Digital Distractions
For more than 60 years, American culture has had an ever-increasing infatuation with electronic media and entertainment. A handful of thoughtful skeptics in the past contemplated the long-term effects on family, society, and individuals. Now we are reaping the consequences. More and more studies confirm what some had rightly predicted: our ability to be attentive is steadily eroding. We are becoming less attentive to our families, study, work, and—most importantly—to God. What are the results, and what will it take to regain the ground that has been lost? Download handout.

Carol Topp

Help! My Homeschool Group Is Growing
As the homeschooling movement grows, so do support groups and homeschool co-ops. More organization is needed to handle larger memberships. Here is some advice from a homeschooling mother and CPA who works with non-profit organizations on how to start and manage a larger group. Carol Topp will discuss boards, budgets, and by-laws in this helpful workshop for group leaders and board members. Download handout.

Micro Business for Teenagers: Starting a Micro Business - Part 1
This workshop offers encouragement for teenagers to start and run their own micro business. They will learn a lot—while earning some money. A micro business can be started quickly and easily with no debt from home. Presenter Carol Topp, CPA, has counseled dozens of teenagers starting a business and will discuss business plans and ideas. Teenagers and their parents are encouraged to attend together! Download handout.

Micro Business for Teenagers: Money and Taxes - Part 2
This workshop offers encouragement for teenagers to start and run their own micro business. Presenter Carol Topp, CPA, has counseled dozens of teenagers starting a business and will discuss taxes and record keeping and explain the basics of a business tax return, business deductions, and the “hidden” tax on the Form 1040. Carol puts difficult accounting and tax issues into easy-to-understand English. Teenagers and their parents are encouraged to attend together! Download handout.

Budget Is a Dirty Word
This workshop covers how to plan your spending to fit your priorities, how to set up your finances to run automatically, how to know if you are in financial trouble, and how to get out of debt successfully. Scriptures and biblical concepts are sprinkled in, but the workshop is not a Bible study on finances. The workshop is practical and lively and includes group participation. Download handout.

How to Teach Kids About Managing Money (When You’re Not Doing So Great Yourself)
So you don’t consider yourself a financial role model? Take heart—you can still teach your kids financial principles. This workshop offers tips on how to teach your kids the money basics as part of your busy lifestyle. We’ll also discuss what topics to teach at each age from preschoolers to college age. Download handout.

New! View a convention preview with Carol Topp.

VENDOR WORKSHOPS

Raising Accountable Kids One Step at a Time ~ Accountable Kids
Discover ways to develop accountability, responsibility, respect, and confidence in your children by understanding how to apply essential parenting principles. This is an interactive workshop demonstrating hands-on tools that foster character development, organizational skills, money management, and positive behaviors. You will also hear heartwarming stories that inspire new ways to strengthen relationships in the home.

Introducing Analytical Grammar ~ Analytical Grammar, Inc.
Robin Finley, the author, will explain how Analytical Grammar differs from other programs on the market. You can teach this important subject, thoroughly and comprehensively, in much less time and with less repetition. Analytical Grammar was recommended in The Well-Trained Mind, Simply Charlotte Mason, and The Old Schoolhouse magazine and received an “A” rating from Homeschoolingfromtheheart.com.

“Teaching” the Junior High & High School Sciences at Home ~ Apologia
This seminar explains how any parent can help his or her children learn science at the upper levels by reading and learning alongside the student. The session provides study timelines for both the science-oriented and the non-science-oriented student, addresses the mathematical skills needed in order to maintain the proposed timeline, and discusses the curriculum that will make it possible for the homeschooling parent to provide a quality high school science education for his or her children.

Weaving History with His-Story ~ Biblioplan for Families
Biblioplan for Families is a history curriculum guide that presents the history of ancient civilizations, early and modern America, the church and the world—all woven together with scripture, biographies of great Christians, and quality children’s literature. The entire family can enjoy history together with this chronological study plan, and parents will enjoy the easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for each learning age. Our flexible, use-friendly plans cover grades K-12 and require minimal parental preparation.

Fun Activities for Foreign Language ~ Bilingual Books, Inc.
Homeschooling offers the freedom to tailor foreign language instruction to your child’s interests. Create guided yet spontaneous conversations, play games, cook together, plan a trip together, create a unit based on your child’s interests…all in a foreign language. Jessie McGuire will bring her bag of activities and games that make learning a foreign language a fun, family experience. She’ll give you ideas for activity-oriented language adventures your entire family can enjoy together. Handouts will be appropriate for any language.

Why Compost? Hands-On Learning, Science Lessons, and More! ~ Biome in a Box
Learn why everyone is talking about worms and the joy of indoor composting, also known as vermicomposting. Let Gina Ridgway—former environmental consultant, educator, and inventor of the WormWatcher—explain the soil food web and the reasons why many gardeners are discovering how easy it is to compost indoors. Worm watching lets you save money on chemical fertilizers, promotes self-reliance, and is a great educational tool for budding scientists. Hundreds of teaching activities can be explored through this one topic!

Ways to Help Nonstandard Learners ~ BJU Press/Precept Marketing Group
Chances are, you and your child learn differently. And if you have more than one child, you’re well aware of just how unique each learner can be. Find out from someone who has worn all of those labels how to understand what’s going on in the brain of your nonstandard learners. We will be short on theory and long on practical, creative ideas. Discover hope and help that can lead to success as you work with your nonstandard learner.

Do Not Eat the Bread of Idleness ~ Bread Beckers
Sue Becker, who has a degree in food science from the University of Georgia, will present basic nutritional information on how to greatly reduce the risk of common diseases by focusing on the importance of returning to God’s perfect provision for our food and health. She’ll use references from the books of Matthew, Exodus, Proverbs, Isaiah, and Psalms.

The Classical Education Journey ~ Classical Conversations
Teaching multiple subjects to multiple grades at once? Learn how Classical Conversations can help parents navigate the educational journey using Christian principles and the classical tools of learning.

Changing Lives with Words ~ Dynamic Literacy
Reading is the key to learning, and vocabulary is the key to reading. Discover a method for growing vocabulary that does not rely on memorization but that teaches the system of meaning behind English instead. This method leads to exponential vocabulary growth.

Teach Your Child Music ~ Ebaru Publishing
A music education is a very special blessing that not only enriches a child’s life by giving a child the special skills to share the beauty of music with others, but that also builds the child’s self-esteem, fosters leadership development, improves academic skills, encourages a child’s creativity, and enhances a child’s communication skills. Even a parent with little or no musical background can effectively teach his or her child music. This workshop, which includes lots of demonstrations, introduces a fun and easy approach to incorporate music into your curriculum.

The Unified Approach to Teaching ~ Geography Matters
Connectedness is the most important quality in effective and memorable teaching! Teach history, science, geography, and language skills (such as reading, writing, and word studies) to multiple ages using the unified approach. Come to this workshop to hear how to unify your subjects, engage your students, and teach critical thinking skills—while still having a life!

What’s Most Important for Your Child? ~ Gospel for Asia
What is God’s calling on your life as a parent? The most important heritage you can give your child is to know the Lord and what His calling is. Come hear how other families are living this out.

Well-Planned Day - Yes, It Is Possible ~ Home Educating Family Publishing
This workshop will cover the 10 components necessary to structuring and managing a well-planned day for both home and school.

Home School Astronomy Presentation ~ Home School Astronomy
Do you want to teach astronomy but don’t know where to start? Join Home School Astronomy for a large-screen sampling of their vivid and engaging astronomy presentations. These beautiful and exciting astronomy teaching presentations play full screen on any computer and come with a full curriculum. Get the astronomy resources you need to capture your student’s attention and imagination.

Experience Excellence in Writing ~ Institute for Excellence in Writing
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 both give you an overview of the program and show you how to get started.

Excite, Unite, Delight ~ Joyceherzog.com
Bring excitement back to learning as you unite the family, and bring delight to the hearts and eyes of learner and teacher alike. The goal of our products is to bring the family together into enjoyable and purposeful hands-on active learning. Learn through all the channels so that you gain through your strengths while you build on your weak areas. Work and play in groups even when your children’s ages and levels range several years.

Planning Field Trips on a Budget! ~ Kids Love Travel Educational Resources
Through hands-on visuals and lively storytelling, author (and Family Travel Mom) Michele Zavatsky will take you on an educational journey through a region of the country. Discover easy, inexpensive field trips (many of which are nearby but which you might not have thought about!) that you can use to cover history, discover natural wonders such as hidden castles and caves, learn how to make things, and—best of all—taste-test many yummy snacks. Learn to create family memories on fun day trips!

Preparing for Perilous Times ~ Knight’s Book Knook
As the days we live in become more difficult and the economy worsens, we need to be ready not only to help our own families but also to show hospitality to strangers and others in need. This time we are living in will present awesome opportunities to share the gospel...will you be ready? Learn the reasons and areas to prepare and some practical things you can do to be ready. How much do you need? How do you get started? And so much more.

Now the Answer to All of Your Foreign Language Needs for All Grades (Pre-K4-12)! ~ La Clase Divertida
Come join Senior Gamache in a lively workshop to see how your family can comprehensively learn Spanish together in a fun, non-intimidating way through conversation, songs, games, crafts, cooking, and cultural stories. The program starts out slow and easy with the basics and works systematically into high school level grammatical structure. See how FUN Spanish can be! Also learn about our new high school Spanish 1 and 2 courses offered live via webcam teleconferencing, as well as the potentially upcoming Spanish 3 (and French).

Secrets of Great Spelling ~ Latin Road/Phonics Road
Great spelling does not have to be a mystery when you know...the rest of the story. Public school methods of memorizing words using pictures, workbooks, and games will never give a student the tools to know HOW English is built and WHY it is built the way it is. Learn not only the foundations of great spelling, writing, and reading, but also how to coordinate grammar, composition, and Latin in a multi-sensory approach with music, art, and literature.

Math You See and Understand ~ Math-U-See
In this overview of Math-U-See, we will demonstrate how to use hands-on manipulatives to present addition, subtraction, regrouping (carrying and borrowing), double-digit multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and algebra.

Curriculum for Hands-On, Creative, and Gifted Learners ~ Moving Beyond the Page
Are you looking for a curriculum that will foster a love of learning in your children? Come learn about a program that has amazing literature, hands-on activities, fun projects, and real-world application. Moving Beyond the Page is a full curriculum that integrates science, social studies, and language arts in a challenging and engaging way. Come learn more about Moving Beyond the Page and discover practical ways to bring the joy back into homeschooling.

Combining Classical Education, Charlotte Mason, and Unit Studies with a Christian Perspective ~ My Father’s World
The myriad of homeschool choices can be overwhelming, like interstates, highways, back roads, and scenic routes. Why not blend the best of each method? Join My Father’s World as we show how to instill biblical values while integrating great literature, chronological history, geography, hands-on activities, notebooks and timelines, narration, study of Greek and Latin roots, nature studies, and more. Enjoy short, well-planned lessons in the morning, with time to pursue individual interests in the afternoons.

Winning the Math Battle with RightStart Mathematics Games ~ RightStart Mathematics
Put your kids on a winning team by playing math card games from the award-winning RightStart Mathematics program. Games are fun and exciting! Games provide practice for the facts! Games become an application for the information! Children of various abilities can play together. Join us for some FUN as we play addition, multiplication, and fraction games. Learn how you can help your children become lifelong lovers of math.

Rosetta Stone Homeschool Foreign Language Curriculum ~ Rosetta Stone
Experience firsthand the power of Rosetta Stone^® Homeschool. We’ll explore how this program provides students with a rich, interactive, and engaging language-learning experience, while giving parents the tools and resources needed to track and manage student progress. Find out why Rosetta Stone is homeschool’s #1 foreign language curriculum. Come join us for this interactive language-learning experience!

Saxon and Singapore: Understanding Two Top Homeschool Math Approaches ~ Saxon Homeschool
Saxon and Singapore are very different but equally intriguing for the strong results they have produced. Learn about Saxon’s unique incremental approach and Math in Focus: The Singapore Approach, the newest Singapore math adaptation.

Raising Kids Who Love to Learn ~ Sonlight Curriculum
Success in education is best measured by a love of learning. But how do you create students who love to learn? By inspiring them with great literature, biographies, and living books! But which books are best, how many can you include, and how do you make a schedule? The questions never end, and the decisions can be very overwhelming. Learn how the Sonlight program can help! This workshop will inspire and help you develop the love for learning in your home through the Sonlight program.

The Struggling Reader! Am I Emphasizing the Right Things? ~ The Struggling Reader
Does your son or daughter seem to be faltering in their efforts to learn to read? Is it the curriculum? Is it you? Based on current research, Dr. Eckenwiler and his wife, Kristen, have designed this workshop to help parents better understand the most essential elements of the reading process, along with those critical ingredients that must be emphasized to produce a successful, capable reader.

Effective Computer-Assisted Foreign Language Learning ~ Tell Me More Homeschool Foreign Languages
Homeschool foreign language learning is most effective when it is interactive, engaging, and comprehensive. An effective software solution is immersive, while maintaining tutor/student positioning; inspiring interest; rewarding progress; and completely addressing the target language in reading, writing, listening and comprehension, and speaking and pronunciation—all while providing comprehensive grammar instruction.

Breathing Life into Your Language Arts ~ Total Language Plus
Great literature can provide the motivation to learn language arts. While your third- through twelfth-grade students reads novels they love, they can develop stronger comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, and critical thinking skills. Total Language Plus can bring fresh air to your language arts program.

Planning for High School and Beyond ~ University of Nebraska-Lincoln Independent Study High School
Who knew college planning began at (or before!) ninth grade? Attendees of this workshop will learn about planning a high school curriculum for your homeschooled child to meet college admissions requirements. We will review college and university (state, private, and selective) admission standards for homeschooled students and discuss course planning and selection to fulfill those requirements. This session is a must for all parents of college-bound students, regardless of grade level!

Dealing with the Distractibility in Your Sidetracked Child ~ Vintage Remedies
Today’s children are bombarded by substances known or suspected to inhibit cognitive functioning. With so many factors working against them, is it any wonder that parents complain of easily distractible children with short attention spans? Learn how to recognize and identify what factors may be limiting your children and what you can do to create an environment that is conducive to learning.

Using Sequential Spelling in Your Homeschool ~ Wave 3 Learning, Inc.
Sequential Spelling teaches students to recognize patterns of spelling based on the rules of the English language but without all the complicated explanations. In just 15 minutes per day, your children can successfully learn to spell. You ask your children to spell a simple root word or suffix, such as in, and, to help them understand the meaning, you use the word in a sentence. Students then spell the word and correct their own work immediately.

The Most Fascinating Discussion of Grammar in the History of the World (or Your Money Back) ~ Write at Home
There is perhaps no subject more intrinsically boring than grammar. Maybe that’s why students don’t get it, and why we hate teaching it. In this workshop, learn that grammar ain’t isn’t so hard, and that it can actually (sometimes) be (sort of) fun(ish). Take the World’s Trickiest Grammar Quiz. Plus, Brian Wasko will reveal the secret that guarantees your students will never make a grammar error in their writing again! How can you pass that up?

Do I Have to Take U.S. Government? ~ Zeezok Publishing
High school government doesn’t have to be boring! With more than two decades of classroom teaching experience, Mr. Tim Spickler shares his thoughts on generating enthusiasm for a subject matter of vital importance to the future of our nation. Learn tips and techniques for turning whining into a want-to attitude.