Audience: Parents
| Title: | How to Protect Your Family Against a Truant Officer or Social Worker Visit | | Speaker: | J. Michael Smith | | Length: | 45—60 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Child Protective Services, Dealing with Social Workers, Legal | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | As the government’s ever—growing role expands to encompass family life and decision—making, the information presented in this seminar is critical for every attendee. Michael Smith calls upon over two decades of defending homeschooling families against social services and child protective service contacts to inform the audience of the newest threat to their freedom. This session primarily addresses your state’s laws relating to social services contacts and provides general application for other states as well. Audiences find this session “very, very informative,” “clearly presented, enjoyable to listen to,” and “a necessity.” |
| Title: | Principles for Principals | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Parents | | Description: | Fathers love to see their children thrive in the homeschool environment, but they often reap what others (their wives) have sown. Nobody knows this better than Scott Somerville, whose wife has taught their six children “forever.” Come hear Scott share the principles that have changed him from a homeschooling couch potato to a real principal. |
| Title: | What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew about Homeschooling | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Marriage, Motivational, Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Fathers, Parents | | Description: | 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! |
| Title: | The Spiritual Power of a Mother | | Speaker: | Michael P. Farris | | Length: | 30—60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Mothers, Parents | | Description: | Have you ever wondered how Samuel could remember the prayer of his mother when she sent him off to be trained by Eli? Hannah is just one example of a mother who dramatically impacted the life of her child by her prayer, her protection, her instruction, and her overcoming spirit. These uplifting stories should encourage all parents—but especially mothers—as we sacrifice to homeschool our children. |
| Title: | Cross—Eyed Parenting | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 45-minute speech, plus Q&A | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Mothers, Parents | | Description: | Though we may start homeschooling with noble goals of discipling our children and leading them onward in godliness, it is easy to quickly grow weary in welldoing. We can become too busy to feed ourselves before attempting to feed our children. We can be deceived into thinking that our successes and failures rest on our own shoulders. We can develop habits of speech and action that are harmful to our children. In short, we are as much in need of sanctification and growth as are our students! Sound familiar? Come learn the releasing truth of how a daily practice of preaching the gospel to ourselves can inform many common situations in our schools and reveal one of homeschooling’s best—kept secrets: we are as much sanctified by the process of homeschooling as are our children! |
| Title: | Co—ops Worthy of the Name | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 1—2 60—minute sessions (each hour includes 20—minute Q&A) | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | Come hear answers to a variety of questions related to co—ops. Marcia Somerville has been leading co—ops for 10 years in various settings, has been involved in other group study contexts, and has helped co—op leaders around the country work through difficult situations.
Session 1: In this overview of co—ops, parents new to the idea can get answers to a host of questions: What exactly is a co—op? What makes it different from “drop and shop” resource centers or university model schools? What are the benefits and costs of involving my children in co—ops? Do co—ops benefit younger children? Are older kids going to suffer unless I enroll them?
Session 2: Are you thinking, “I have caught the vision and I want to start a co—op. Where do I begin?” From her personal experience, Marcia Somerville details important first steps to starting a co—op, common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and sound principles to build on. She reminds women of the importance of involving their husbands in the first stages of starting a co—op, and explains how co—ops provide opportunities for the sanctification of parents as well as children. Much time is left for questions in this helpful, practical session. |
| Title: | Teaching with Tapestry of Grace | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | Do you hear “classical ed” and feel simultaneously intimidated and inspired? Marcia Somerville would like to help you with both! Come find out that you truly can deliver a classics—based, apologetics—oriented curriculum to every student in your house—and love the process all the way! |
| Title: | The Hidden Treasure in Your Home | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | General Session | | Topic: | Motivational | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. There is treasure hidden in your home, and homeschoolers have given up almost everything to be able to take hold of it. Scott Somerville puts the sacrifices and rewards of homeschooling into eternal perspective. |
| Title: | Gifted and Special Education | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | The special education laws are paved with good intentions, but they do not always lead families where they want to go. Scott Somerville has been advising homeschool families with exceptional children since 1992. In this workshop, he explains the history and logic of the federal special education laws, and helps families find their way through the maze. |
| Title: | Biblical and Classical Education | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | During the Industrial Revolution, people analyzed the steps of traditional craftsmanship and built factories that could churn out mountains of products on an assembly line. America’s public schools use this industrial model. Schools segregate children into “grades,” break time up into “periods,” and divide education into “subjects.” The goal of academic mass production is a secular citizen who can work, pay taxes, and vote. This method of education is cheaper than older ways of teaching, but there is no evidence that it is better. In this session, Scott and Marcia Somerville explain how homeschoolers can take advantage of the biblical and classical models of education. |
| Title: | Keeping the H.E.A.R.T. in Homeschooling | | Speaker: | Tracy Klicka | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | All, Mothers, Parents | | Description: | As Tracy Klicka has experienced, it is not always easy for a homeschooling mom to keep her focus, her joy, or the hearts of her children. More than academics, homeschooling is about growing in God’s grace for both parents and children! If you are feeling discouraged, come and be renewed in five crucial areas of your homeschooling adventure. |
| Title: | The Nearness of God Is My Good | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 45-minute speech, plus Q&A | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Spiritual | | Audience: | Mothers, Parents | | Description: | For many years, Marcia Somerville failed to enjoy a strong devotional life because she did not really believe that the nearness of God was her greatest good. She also battled with the sin of craven fear. Now, out of her experiences as a homeschool mom, Marcia shares transparently about her struggles in these areas and how God has granted grace and victory. She includes a strong exhortation on the primary importance of a strong devotional life for homeschooling moms, and lists practical steps to establish and deepen it. “Very encouraging” is the most frequent response to this talk! |
| Title: | Cravings and Conflict | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 45-;minute speech, plus Q&A | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Mothers, Parents | | Description: | Conflict is a part of life. Homeschooling doesn’t generally make conflicts less frequent; rather, our close proximity to our spouses and children often provides extra temptations. Add in the fact that we really have to accomplish quite a bit every day, and you can have a recipe for constant strife! Conflicts often seem painfully difficult and confusing. However, there’s a simple biblical principle at work in all conflicts. In every case, one or both of the combatants is craving his own way. Marcia speaks from James 4:1 (“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”) and demonstrates that most conflicts can be managed better when those involved admit their cravings and work towards glorifying God by focusing on understanding and seeking to meet the needs of others, rather than selfishly focusing on their own desires. Marcia give practical ways that parents can use these principles with children, and spouses can use them with one another, as families seek to glorify God in the homeschool setting. |
| Title: | Courtship | | Speaker: | Thomas J. Schmidt | | Length: | 30–45 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Marriage, Parenting, Teens | | Audience: | Parents, Teens | | Description: | Having firsthand experience of courtship with his wife, Susan, Tj shares how courtship can be an alternative to dating. One couple’s story of how their families sought courtship as a foundation for a lifelong commitment in marriage. |
| Title: | Elements of Writing Instruction | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 1—2 60—minute sessions (each session includes a 20—minute Q&A) | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | No matter what curriculum we choose, there are basic elements in teaching our children to write. By starting with a general, overarching set of goals and principles, we can see clearly where we want to go with writing instruction and thus use our curriculum more effectively. In two sessions, Marcia Somerville simplifies and clarifies the goals parents should adopt when teaching their children to communicate effectively in written form.
Session 1: What are the elements of all good writing? What constitutes a well written sentence, paragraph, or essay? How much fiction should my child write? Should my child type on a computer or write by hand? Using PowerPoint slides and simple, straightforward language, Marcia outlines the process, from kindergarten through 12th grade, of teaching any child to write well.
Session 2: This session, which focuses on grading writing, can build on the previous one. Using the information she shared in Session 1 about sentences, paragraphs, transitions, reports, and essays, Marcia discusses how to actually grade our students’ writing. The session includes practice in grading writing samples and gives general help about knowing where to start when evaluating our children’s papers. |
| Title: | Meeting with God: A Toolbox Approach | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 30-minute speech, plus Q&A | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Fathers, Mothers, Parents | | Description: | We teach every other subject; why not also equip our children to have daily, excellent quiet times with God? Marcia Somerville explores a variety of approaches to meeting with God each morning. Her own experience with her six very different children led her to adopt a “toolbox” approach. She taught her children a variety of ways to approach God each day, and then allowed them to choose the tools that worked best in various seasons of their lives: praying the Psalms, chart—based Scripture studies, praying the Lord’s prayer, Kay Arthur’s principle approach, and more. Marcia provides a list of techniques and explains most of them in this highly practical, informative session. She prays that this information will give you the tools you need to lead your children in establishing rich, daily times of meeting with God! (This session builds on, but is not dependent on, “The Nearness of God Is My Good.”) |
| Title: | Precision Parenting | | Speaker: | Scott Somerville | | Length: | 45 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Spiritual | | Audience: | Mothers, Parents | | Description: | The Bible tells us to admonish the unruly, help the weak, encourage the fainthearted, and be patient with them all (I Thessalonians 5:14). As parents, we sometimes fall into the trap of admonishing when we should be encouraging, and then we get frustrated because it doesn’t work. It is easier to be patient when we remember which is which! In this talk, Scott Somerville turns to the Gospel of Luke to show how Jesus patiently admonished, helped, and encouraged the people He met. Every parent can benefit from this practical, biblical talk. |
| Title: | CPS vs. Family | | Speaker: | Tom Sanders | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Legal | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | True stories and first—hand accounting of the current war being waged by CPS against families, with suggestions to help protect your children. |
| Title: | The Compelling Case for Home Education | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45 minutes | | Type: | General Session | | Topic: | Why Homeschool | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Are you curious about home education, but not sure if you’re ready to make the commitment? Do you have a friend or family member saying you’re crazy if you homeschool? Join HSLDA Staff Attorney and homeschooling father of seven Mike Donnelly for “The Compelling Case for Home Education” and see why homeschooling may be the right choice for you. Mike will help you understand the basics, show how homeschooled students often outshine their public school peers, and shed light on the myths surrounding homeschooling. |
| Title: | Juggling on a Tightrope | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Marriage, Motivational, Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Fathers, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Today’s father has precious few waking hours that are spent going in countless directions to address seemingly great causes—not least of which is family. Our children have only one earthly father and our wives but one husband. How can we best invest our most precious resource time? And where should we be investing it for eternal value? How can we properly lead our families and serve God in an increasingly demanding and busy world of sports, music, drama, church, school, support groups, homeschool co—ops, extended family responsibilities, and ministry programs? How do we know when to say yes, and more important, when to say no? Must we choose between competing priorities to be effective stewards? Come hear thoughts on answering these questions from Mike Donnelly as he shares insights gained from his experiences as a father of six and as an army officer, entrepreneur, company executive and attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association. |
| Title: | Organized (Well, Almost!)—Time Management for Busy Moms | | Speaker: | Vicki Bentley | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Motivational, Parenting | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | As a busy mom, do you sometimes struggle with lesson planning, keeping the house somewhat presentable, teaching, keeping up with the laundry, and getting dinner on the table the same day you homeschool? Come hear practical tips and encouragement from a fellow homeschool mom of many. Your husband and children will thank you, and you will have hope for another day of science and language arts! |
| Title: | Organizing Your Home—Creating a Lifestyle Learning Environment | | Speaker: | Vicki Bentley | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Motivational, Parenting | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Vicki will help you decide what is important to your family, where you need to begin, and will discuss organizational challenges unique to homeschoolers. Vicki Bentley, fellow busy homeschool mom, shares practical ideas that have helped her manage her household of ten.
Note to planners: There is some content overlap in the two organization talks, since some concepts are the same for “stuff” and “time.” If you anticipate having primarily the same audience for both, you can (1) select just one, (2) contact Vicki to present both in one workshop (with very abbreviated info), or (3) contact Vicki to adapt both so there is minimal overlap. |
| Title: | Getting Started | | Speaker: | Vicki Bentley | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Q & A, Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Are you overwhelmed by the options? Not sure where to begin? Good planning is the key to any successful road trip, so Vicki will walk you through a planning checklist to help you prepare for this homeschool journey! Topics include setting goals, choosing supplies and curriculum, lesson planning, and more—plus Six Tips for Success. Appropriate for any grade level. |
| Title: | The Mandate for Christian Citizenship in Homeschool Youth | | Speaker: | William A. Estrada | | Length: | 30–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Motivational, Political, Spiritual, Teens | | Audience: | All, Junior and Senior High Parents, Parents, Teens | | Description: | Will uses his background as a homeschool graduate and the director of Generation Joshua to describe how young people today can make a difference in their communities and nation, how HSLDA’s Generation Joshua program can help, and how the next generation is uniquely equipped to lead our nation in the years ahead. |
| Title: | Inspiring Devotion | | Speaker: | Darren Jones | | Length: | 30—45 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | All, Parents | | Description: | One of the most important things we can do with our children is to help them to meet God in daily devotional times. Come prepared to discuss ideas about family devotions and how to reach your children’s hearts with the love of God. |
| Title: | Important Pit Stops during High School | | Speaker: | Becky Cooke | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | College, Education, Teens | | Audience: | Junior and Senior High Parents, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | For preventative maintenance during the high school years, learn what important “to—dos” and deadlines to keep in mind. Major pit stops will include information about various tests, benefits and sources of outside classes, college search and application tips, alternatives to traditional college, and career and post high school paths. |
| Title: | Important Pit Stops during High School | | Speaker: | Diane Kummer | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | College, Education, Encouragement, Teens | | Audience: | Junior and Senior High Parents, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | For preventative maintenance during the high school years, learn what important “to—dos” and deadlines to keep in mind. Major pit stops will include information about various tests, benefits and sources of outside classes, college search and application tips, alternatives to traditional college, and career and post high school paths. |
| Title: | Preparing Your Teen for Life | | Speaker: | Becky Cooke | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Parenting, Spiritual, Teens | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | The high school years present an opportune time to develop skills young adults will utilize the rest of their lives. Learn about the importance of teaching finance, health care, car ownership, job preparation, spiritual principles, and more. All of these areas will benefit your teens when they take that giant step into independence and adulthood. A list of suggested resources will be provided. |
| Title: | Preparing Your Teen for Life | | Speaker: | Diane Kummer | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Parenting, Spiritual, Teens | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | The high school years present an opportune time to develop skills young adults will utilize the rest of their lives. Learn about the importance of teaching finance, health care, car ownership, job preparation, spiritual principles, and more. All of these areas will benefit your teens when they take that giant step into independence and adulthood. A list of suggested resources will be provided. |
| Title: | The Scoop on Tests for Teens | | Speaker: | Becky Cooke | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | College, Education | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Are you in a quandary as to what tests your teens need to take during high school? Do you know the array of possible tests—from college admissions tests; to tests for college credit, placement, or military enlistment; to tests necessary for certain scholarships; to even career tests? When should they be taken? Where? How can your teen prepare for them? Come with your questions and receive answers and new confidence. |
| Title: | The Scoop on Tests for Teens | | Speaker: | Diane Kummer | | Length: | 1 hour | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | College, Education | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Are you in a quandary as to what tests your teens need to take during high school? Do you know the array of possible tests—from college admissions tests; to tests for college credit, placement, or military enlistment; to tests necessary for certain scholarships; to even career tests? When should they be taken? Where? How can your teen prepare for them? Come with your questions and receive answers and new confidence. |
| Title: | Gaining a Vision for High School | | Speaker: | Marcia Somerville | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Education | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | Marcia Somerville explores the issues of homeschooling high school. She addresses common hesitations shared by both veteran homeschoolers and newcomers, and takes a biblical approach to sorting out the conflicting messages and emotions that many parents feel in making this monumental decision. The session is uplifting, non—threatening, and envisioning. |
| Title: | Why Teens Need the Parental Rights Amendment | | Speaker: | Joel D. Grewe | | Length: | 45 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | History, Legal | | Audience: | Parents, Teens | | Description: | Joel explains the constitutional basis for parental rights, the current threat posed by court decisions and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the need for adoption of the Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. |
| Title: | What is Easy and What is Right: A Call to Greater Responsibility in the Youth of the Nation | | Speaker: | Joel D. Grewe | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | History, Motivational, Political | | Audience: | All, Parents, Teens | | Description: | The iPod—wielding, social—networking youth of today are often irresponsible. They lack motivation to do what is right, in favor of doing what is easy. Drawing from personal experience as someone who has had to choose between what is right and what is easy, Joel calls on the generation of today to stand up and do what is right, because it is right, rather than what is easy. |
| Title: | How Do We Measure Success in Homeschooling? | | Speaker: | J. Michael Smith | | Length: | 45—60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Keynote, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Motivational, Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Why aren’t your Christian neighbors homeschooling? What is the number one reason that parents do not homeschool? Their lack of confidence to believe that they can actually do the job, or, put another way—fear of failure. Many homeschoolers in the midst of homeschooling are wondering how they will be able to determine whether they are successful or not with their children. Mike will explain in very clear and decisive terms how you can know whether or not you have been successful when you get to the end of your homeschool experience where it says “The End.” One way to answer the question is whether or not our work homeschooling with our children has been in vain. The Bible gives clear and decisive direction in this area which should be very encouraging to all of us, and hopefully give us encouragement in even the most difficult situations. |
| Title: | The Angry Child: What Ticks Johnny Off? | | Speaker: | J. Michael Smith | | Length: | 45—60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual | | Audience: | Parents | | Description: | Have any of your children demonstrated a tendency toward anger or a bad temper? If so, this session is absolutely essential for you. Anger is a God—given emotion and did not come about as a result of the Fall. However, the Bible says, “Be angry, and sin not.” This talk addresses anger from a biblical perspective, focusing on the positive and negative aspects of anger. Michael Smith also delineates the five steps that lead to rebellion. |
| Title: | Elites to Homeschoolers: “You’re Next!” | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Legal, Legislative, Political | | Audience: | Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Increasing numbers of intellectual elites are calling for dramatic regulation and even eradication of private and home education. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized parents’ rights to direct the education and upbringing of their children, American homeschoolers need to prepare to confront growing resistance to freedom in education—especially homeschooling. Come hear Mike Donnelly, HSLDA attorney, director of international relations and homeschooling father, as he examines this growing threat and what American homeschoolers need to do to meet it. |
| Title: | Is Today’s Military Right for my Child? | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting, Spiritual, Teens | | Audience: | Fathers, Mothers, Parents, Teens | | Description: | Serving in the United States Military is generally considered patriotic and an honorable profession. Is it still? Changes in society are reflected in the military. How can this impact a parents view of service in the military today? What is involved in serving in the military and how should parents mentor their children in viewing service in today’s military? Michael Donnelly is an HSLDA attorney and homeschooling father of seven who served as a platoon leader in combat during Desert Storm with the U.S. Army’s Third Armored Cavalry Regiment. He will discuss practical and philosophical issues about serving in today’s military. Come with questions and be prepared to be challenged in your thinking. |
| Title: | The Spiritual Impact of Educational Choices | | Speaker: | Michael P. Farris | | Length: | 30–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session | | Topic: | Parenting, Political, Spiritual | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, Parents | | Description: | The best and most effective opportunity to win large numbers of Americans to Christ is found in our children. Based on the research of George Barna, Michael Farris presents homeschooling as the very best method to accomplish this. Church leaders are challenged to wake up to the spiritual damage occurring in their church’s children via public education. Parents are encouraged to make sure that the spiritual opportunity presented by homeschooling is not squandered. |
| Title: | How to Lead Teens | | Speaker: | Scott Woodruff | | Length: | 50 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | Parenting | | Audience: | Fathers, Parents | | Description: | The word “teenager” is not in the Bible, so where do Christian parents get the wisdom (and patience!) they need to raise their teenaged sons and daughters? In this encouraging workshop, Scott brings biblical truth and his own experience to bear on the task of raising teens. |
| Title: | International Homeschooling—Why Should American Homeschoolers Care what Happens over There? | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Keynote, Q & A, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, History, Motivational, Political | | Audience: | All, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Homeschooling is a growing global movement, but homeschooling parents overseas face the mounting pressure and challenges similar to those American homeschoolers experienced 30 years ago: social services investigations, fines, and criminal prosecution. In a world where ideas travel at the speed of light, should American homeschoolers be concerned about the plight of homeschoolers in other countries? Should we, and how can we help? Can what happens “over there” really affect homeschooling “over here”? HSLDA Staff Attorney, Director for International Affairs and homeschooling father of seven Michael Donnelly has traveled the world supporting homeschooling freedom. He will tell you why American homeschoolers should care what happens “over there” and what can be done to help. |
| Title: | Go Home and Love your Family! | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, History, Parenting | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Someone asked Mother Theresa what society could do to promote world peace, and she responded: “Go home and love your family!” Homeschooling is really about putting love in action, but does homeschooling really promote world peace? Parents who homeschool their children produce outstanding citizens, leaders and future parents. Isn’t this the essence of laying a foundation for world peace? HSLDA attorney and homeschooling father of seven Michael Donnelly shares why loving your family through homeschooling really does promote world peace, but more importantly, allows parents to fulfill their most fundamental and sacred duty. |
| Title: | Grades and Graduation—Do These Belong in a Homeschool? | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Keynote, Q & A, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Motivational, Parenting, Why Homeschool | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Grades and graduation may be part of school, but should they be part of your school? Are we limiting ourselves by thinking in these terms? Should we really care about grades in a classroom of one? Or is there another way to think about academic, spiritual, and emotional progress? HSLDA Staff Attorney and homeschooling father of seven explores the freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers you and your children. |
| Title: | If It’s Broke, Fix it! | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Keynote, Q & A, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Child Protective Services, Encouragement, Motivational, Parenting | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | Homeschooling families face many challenges. Financial, emotional, and physical demands put significant strain on our relationships and our families. The homeschooling community is not immune to the problems facing our society, including broken marriages and broken children. But, it’s never too late to try to fix something that’s broken. It may be easier to try to hide the pain than to confront essential elements required for “fixing” these complex and serious issues. HSLDA Staff Attorney and homeschooling father of seven Michael Donnelly was raised in a broken home and will explore the necessary ingredients to helping homeschooling families stay connected and whole amidst the pressures and stresses of life. |
| Title: | Creature of the State? | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Keynote, Q & A, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, History, Legal, Motivational | | Audience: | All, Fathers, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents | | Description: | In 1925 the U.S. Supreme Court said children are not mere creatures of the state. The 1945 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that parents have the “prior right” to decide what kind of education their children will have. Is homeschooling a “human right” of the first order? HSLDA Staff Attorney, homeschooling father of seven, and Director of International Affairs Michael Donnelly explores this question and shares a presentation he delivered at the world’s largest human rights conference on the philosophy of law and social philosophy. In this talk, Donnelly examines philosophies on the relationship between the family and the state and looks at how human rights doctrine is applied globally towards homeschooling. |
| Title: | The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child—It Takes a Village to Raise Your Child | | Speaker: | William A. Estrada | | Length: | 30–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | History, Legal, Legislative, Lobbying, Political | | Audience: | All, Parents | | Description: | Will goes into detail about the history, content, and effects of the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. He discusses the dangers it would pose to homeschool freedom, parental rights, and the sovereignty of the United States. Will discusses the shifting political support for the treaty, and what freedom-loving citizens can do to fight against this dangerous international treaty. He closes with a discussion of the Parental Rights Amendment, and how it would protect American families from the dangers of this U.N. treaty. |
| Title: | Constitutional Liberty, Social Services, and Your Front Door | | Speaker: | William A. Estrada | | Length: | 30–45 minutes | | Type: | Workshop | | Topic: | History, Legal, Legislative, Political | | Audience: | All, Parents | | Description: | Will gives a historical review of the Founders’ intentions when they drafted the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. He then discusses how many of the provisions in the U.S. Constitution directly protect homeschooling families. Will concludes with an informative and practical discussion that includes real-life examples of how parents can protect their Constitutional freedom even when an irate social worker is demanding entrance into their home. |
| Title: | Generation Joshua: Civics Education with an Impact! | | Speaker: | Jeremiah Lorrig | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Education, Political, Teens | | Audience: | Parents, Teens | | Description: | How do you make a difference while learning about government hands on? Jeremiah talks about how hands-on learning in programs like Generation Joshua not only teaches students about how the government works but also does it in a way that allows them to see that even though they do not have a vote, they can make a difference. We have to be intentional with how we teach our children about government taking into account the fact that not everyone will grow up to be president. However, every one of our kids will grow up to be citizens, and Jeremiah talks about how to equip them for that privilege. |
| Title: | Effective Communication Inside and Outside the Circle | | Speaker: | Jeremiah Lorrig | | Length: | 45–60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, Motivational, Spiritual | | Audience: | Parents, Teens | | Description: | Homeschoolers need to be able to speak the language of those they are talking to. If that is a friend at church they need to be ready and able to speak and understand “Christian” words like “grace” and “sanctification.” But if we are talking with people outside of that setting we need to understand that “grace” might just be what is said before a meal. Effective communication means knowing your audience and making sure that the words you use communicate the message you are bringing, not falling into a stereotype. |
| Title: | You Can Home School Your Struggling Learner and We Can Help! | | Speaker: | Faith Berens | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | This workshop will provide an overview of HSLDA’s Struggling Learner/Special Needs Department and the many resources we provide to both members and non-members. Faith will share diagnostic checklists for struggling learners, common roadblocks homeschooling parents face, and help you navigate around those, as well as share strategies for success with your children who learn differently. |
| Title: | Tackling Tricky High School Issues: Practical Help and Guidance for Homeschooling High School Students with Special Needs | | Speaker: | Faith Berens | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Teens, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | This workshop addresses some of the challenges associated with homeschooling struggling or atypical learners in the high school years. Do you have questions such as, “How do I award my child with special needs a diploma?” or “What do I do since my child with dyslexia can’t read typical high school level material?” Faith discusses alternative course work, specialized curricula and learning materials, assistive technology, transcript options, possible graduation guidelines/high school programs for special learners, post-high school options, as well as offer tips for navigating the process of applying for testing accommodations for the college boards. |
| Title: | Teaching Struggling Learners At Home: Nuts and Bolts for Success | | Speaker: | Faith Berens | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | This workshop offers practical resources, lists of materials, and curricula in order to help equip you as you work with a struggling learner in your home school. Multi-sensory teaching methods, direct instruction, modeled teaching, and “scaffolding” instruction are shared, as well as ideas for designing a unique home instruction program tailored to your child’s specific challenges. |
| Title: | Developing and Drafting SEP’s (Student Education Plans) | | Speaker: | Faith Berens | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Does your child have a learning disability or perhaps severe special needs? Have you pulled your child out of public school where he used to have an IEP (individual education plan)? Participants will learn the purposes and benefits of writing an SEP, student education plan, the homeschool version of an IEP. This workshop also provides guidance in how to draft an SEP. Participants will look at sample student education plans, receive a template of a Student Education Plan, and a resource list of books that will assist them in drafting their own homeschool student education plan. |
| Title: | The Keys to the Kids | | Speaker: | Michael Donnelly | | Length: | 45-60 minutes | | Type: | General Session, Support Group Leaders, Workshop | | Topic: | Encouragement, History, Motivational, Parenting, Political | | Audience: | All, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Who really has the best interests of children at heart, parents or the state?
There is a growing chorus of voices insisting that children don’t belong to parents. Children, they say, belong to the “community.” In order for democracy to survive, these voices claim, the government must require that children be taught approved values such as “tolerance.” Some of these voices say that children should only learn in government-approved schools or from government-approved standards and curriculums. Lawmakers are being prompted by these voices and misguided groups both in states and at the federal government level to hand over the keys to the kids. These forces want to dictate what children eat, what kinds of doctors they can and can’t see, and what they are taught! Skirmishes are being fought over this issue now—are you prepared?. HSLDA Director of International Affairs Michael Donnelly and homeschooling father of seven will address these serious issues and tie together events both current and historic, providing perspective needed to fully comprehend currents and trends in a timeless struggle for control. |
| Title: | You Can Home School Your Struggling Learner and We Can Help! | | Speaker: | Krisa Winn | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | This workshop will provide an overview of HSLDA’s Struggling Learner/Special Needs Department and the many resources we provide to both members and non-members. Krisa will share common roadblocks homeschooling parents face, and help you navigate around those, as well as share strategies for success with your children who learn differently. |
| Title: | Keeping Perspective on Progress | | Speaker: | Krisa Winn | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Do you ever wonder. “Are we really on the right track?” Most likely, the answer to that question is, “Yes!” It is very possible that progress is being made, but not the way in which you are hoping or expecting. In this workshop, Krisa points out the sometimes forgotten areas of progress, and also provides some teaching strategies, assessment ideas, and other resources that will help you “keep up the good fight” when it seems your efforts are in vain. |
| Title: | Developing and Drafting SEP’s (Student Education Plans) | | Speaker: | Krisa Winn | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | Does your child have a learning disability or perhaps severe special needs? Have you pulled your child out of public school where he used to have an IEP (individual education plan)? Participants will learn the purposes and benefits of writing an SEP, student education plan, the homeschool version of an IEP. This workshop also provides guidance in how to draft an SEP. Participants will look at sample student education plans, receive a template of a Student Education Plan, and a resource list of books that will assist them in drafting their own homeschool student education plan. |
| Title: | Once More | | Speaker: | Krisa Winn | | Length: | 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes with Q and A | | Type: | | | Topic: | Education, Encouragement, Special Needs | | Audience: | Fathers, Junior and Senior High Parents, Mothers, New Homeschoolers, Parents, Support Group Leaders, Veteran Homeschoolers | | Description: | In this workshop, Krisa shares her personal testimony of God’s faithfulness in the midst of challenging circumstances. If you’ve ever experienced an answer to prayer, but find yourself in need of God’s provision, once more– this session will encourage and strengthen your faith. |
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