Almost every father has heard that he is to lead his family spiritually, physically, and in every other way. However, many fathers will tell you that no one has ever told them how to effectively lead their children, especially in the area of spiritual development. Michael Smith presents encouraging and practical tips to fathers for becoming a helpful participant in the home education program and a leader in the home. He provides insight on the mental and emotional bene?ts to mothers and children fathers can provide through speci?c activities, and offers suggestions to men on being more effective as husbands. Mike candidly shares his many failures and a few suc- cesses. The session concludes with a list of the six things homeschooling mothers have identi?ed as the primary ways their husbands can be more effective in the family’s homeschool program. In one father’s words, “Inspiring and convicting—thanks for the straight talk!”

Exploring the practical elements of the Thomas Jefferson education model, Andrew will explain the seven keys as well as the five learning environments as developed by DeMille and his colleagues. (There’s even an unofficial “eighth key.”) With humorous stories from his own family’s experience, Andrew will delight homeschooling moms looking for tips on how to escape the “conveyor belt” approach to doing “school” at home.

Why aren’t your Christian neighbors homeschooling? What is the number one reason that parents do not homeschool? Their lack of con?dence 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 dif?cult situations.

Exceptional means extraordinary, or more simply “extra – ordinary,” beyond ordinary – not normal. The political and economic structures of America produced results never before seen in history, from Her prosperity to Her power, balanced by Her benevolence. Yet She is slipping away from the principles that produced Her success. In this presentation, Rick Green defines both National and personal exceptionalism and charts a course for nations and individuals to use proven principles to achieve extraordinary results personally, in their family, and in our Nation.

In this presentation, Rick zeroes in on that specific part of the Exceptionalism formula that deals with the role of faith in an exceptional society. Were the Founding Father’s of America men of faith? If so, did that faith influence our founding principles? Should faith be separated from public life and government policy?

Honoring the sacrifice of those who paid the price for our freedom is an essential part of preserving liberty for future generations. How do we best honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we could live in liberty? By LIVING the liberty they secured! In this presentation, Rick will challenge attendees to live their liberty with a renewed sense of purpose and passion, especially through the raising and preparing of the next generation.

Rick will take attendees through the entire Constitution in 50 minutes or less, leaving them with a clear understanding of where their essential freedoms are guaranteed throughout America’s Founding Document. We the People authorized only 17 specific powers for the Federal Government, yet today She engages in thousands of activities never approved by the American people or added to federal constitutional jurisdiction. Rick will quickly cover these specific powers and point out how simple the Constitutional jurisdictions are to understand for every citizen.

America is no longer governed by our Constitution, but rather by the whims of Supreme Court. Is it over for America? What can be done to right the ship and restore our Constitutional Republic? Rick lays out a clear, positive, peaceful path to restoring the republic and preserving liberty for the next generation.

Whether it’s in front of your family, a speech competition, a business meeting, or your local church, public speaking can either be an embarrassing disaster or an extremely effective tool for God to use you to bless others. Rick will share 7 secrets that will equip you to approach your speaking opportunities with confidence, poise, and skill.

Ever had someone get mad at you and you had no idea why? After asking what you said, they replied, “It’s not what you said, it’s HOW you said it?”  Maybe we should learn how to better say things!  Ever had trouble getting someone to understand your perspective or your instructions? Did you know there are four very different “languages” used by most people? Being aware of these different communication styles and learning to speak all four will greatly enhance your relationships, your leadership, and your effectiveness.

Our children live in the midst of a secular culture facing a host of issues and moral dilemmas that we never had to deal with at their age. Because many children are not prepared to counter our culture, startling percentages of those raised in evangelical homes abandon their faith and beliefs as they move into adulthood. For this reason, training our children to develop a strong biblical worldview is one of the most important things we can do for them. Teaching them to think biblically about all areas of life equips them to become powerful thinkers, leaders, and communicators. Most importantly, it also gives staying power to their faith as they face opposition. In this session, Zan Tyler provides practical answers to the following questions: • What is a biblical worldview and why is it crucial for my children? • How can I teach worldview—especially if I don’t understand it myself? • How can I teach worldview to my elementary-aged children? • How can studying the life of Daniel change my teenager’s life? Our goal as Christian homeschoolers must be bigger and broader than turning out kids with exceptional talent and high SAT scores. By incorporating worldview training, we can better equip them to use their gifts to impact the world for Christ, help others by solving real problems, and bring glory to God in the process.

When you look at your children, do you see only little people making demands on your time? Or do you see what God sees—a landscape of amazing possibilities? Author and homeschool mother Zan Tyler wants to take you beyond the demands of everyday life to embrace a wondrous, life-giving vision for your children’s future. You will learn to recognize the signs of potential in your children’s lives—signs that are easy to miss yet ripe for cultivation. You will begin to see every facet of each child’s life through the eyes of faith and the lens of Scripture and create a vision of hope and beauty. You will also look to the Master Gardener as you learn to use the tools He has given you for cultivating that child’s potential.

Do you ever have those moments of panic when you wonder if you are giving your children everything they need to succeed in life? Do you worry that you are inadequate for all that homeschooling requires of you? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night plagued by the long list of important things that still need to be done—and know there will never be enough time in the day to accomplish them? In this session, we will discuss five areas that pose particular challenges to homeschool moms and be reminded that He always holds us in the palm of His hand. Join Zan and be encouraged by God’s promises of hope, strength, power, and help for those of us who are weary and imperfect

We want our children to be leaders, but what does that mean? How will they lead? How should they lead? How do leadership principles square with the Gospel and the clarion call in Scripture to love and serve our neighbors? Training your children to have a servant’s heart is foundational to teaching them to become leaders. As service becomes part of your children’s lives, teaching leadership principles and skills is the next step. In this workshop, we will also discuss how the flexibility of homeschooling allows you to build service/leadership projects into your school day.

Homeschooling is more like running a 26-mile marathon than a 100-yard dash. If you want to complete the race successfully, you must develop a training strategy that builds your strength, stamina, and vision and enables you to persevere until the end. We will discuss lofty topics like creating a powerful and sustaining vision. And we will look at down-to-earth topics like pacing yourself, choosing curriculum, and developing homeschool mentors and friends. Zan Tyler, who homeschooled her children for 21 years, provides training tips that will help you complete the God-given task of homeschooling and help you and your children “run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Homeschooling is more like running a 26-mile marathon than a 100-yard dash. If you want to complete the race successfully, you must develop a training strategy that builds your strength, stamina, and vision and enables you to persevere until the end. We will discuss lofty topics like creating a powerful and sustaining vision. And we will look at down-to-earth topics like pacing yourself, choosing curriculum, and developing homeschool mentors and friends. Zan Tyler, who homeschooled her children for 21 years, provides training tips that will help you complete the God-given task of homeschooling and help you and your children “run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Examine your husband’s role in the homeschooling from both a biblical perspective, and from our experience from homeschooling four children. A strong marriage will bring balance and joy to counter the often busy demands of homeschooling. Ultimately, this will give your children a powerful living example of trusting God in their calling to love others as you love as husband and wife. What a profound and secure foundation to allow God to build your family on! Explore three core reasons that we should homeschool our children and why it is so important to draw your husbands into the daily workings of your homeschooling day. We will also share practical tidbits of ways to include your husband in the homeschooling so that he is both honored and respected. Share the excitement of becoming a team to raise and teach your children.

Joe Tyler discusses the key issues dads face as we strive to instill a Christ-centered vision in our sons. Joe addresses the cultural pressures on our young men and shares practical advice to counter the culture and instill a vision of purity in our sons and daughters. Because of the frank and sensitive nature of this discussion, we request that only men attend.

A cell phone commercial features an NBA point guard trying to play basketball blindfolded. Because he can’t see the goal, he’s never sure if he’s scoring. Too often, men take on the tasks of husband, father, shepherd, principal, coach, and disciplinarian without the vision necessary to define and accomplish the goal. In this session, Joe Tyler helps define the goal and shares how to discover the divinely appointed means of achieving it. You may even learn the secret to making your wife deliriously happy, your home a quiet and peaceful kingdom, your children rich beyond measure, and your father-in-law in awe of your great accomplishments. Come join us in our discussion of what it really means to leave a legacy as a Christian husband and dad.

Courtship sounds so old-fashioned.  What exactly is courtship and how does it differ from dating?  Learn how to escape our culture’s practice of one relationship after another that is even prevalent in our churches.

Planting seeds of scripture in the hearts of our children begins at an early age.  At this session, we discuss a Bible-centered approach to home schooling. Can one book possibly cover all subjects?! Come and see how the Bible becomes the primary "curriculum" to educate your little ones.  Ages 4 and up.

What does it look like to live out your faith while still in high school? In this interactive session, students will explore how to effectively lead and serve like Christ as a teenager.

Can we produce good moral character in others by means of education? If so, how? And if not, why are we educating? What can parents do to raise children who have a heart for doing what is right in a world that seems bent on doing so much that is wrong?

"Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you" (Deuteronomy 32;7). Haven't Oregon families always had the freedom to homeschool? Isn't it a right of parents to choose how to educate their children? With the experience of serving Christian home educators for three decades and the wisdom of God's oversight and help through it all, the founder of the OCEANetwork will tell the stories of God's grace and "influence" in Salem as we speak of the ever-present threat to homeschool freedoms that can overtake us at any moment.

Many homeschoolers live with a disjointed and disconnected understanding of what homeschooling has to do with the bigger picture in the life of their child, the family, and the larger community. In this session Gregg will attempt to connect the dots to see how one thing relates to another in God’s purposes.

Homeschooling is a challenge at any time. Hal and Melanie have seen God's grace in stage IV cancer, a baby with a heart condition, job loss, relocations, and more! The good news is that God can enable you to teach and learn more through the hard times than you ever thought possible. Find out why it's so important to keep homeschooling in spite of the challenges.

Making the most of their time is the most important skill our children could ever learn. How can we help them begin to do so at an early age? In the process we may launch a new generation of business, church, and community leaders who can embrace their life purpose, set passionate goals, make well-informed plans, and take forceful actions for the glory of God and the good of others.

Physical Hunger, Boredom, Loneliness & Meaninglessness are all God-given appetites that hold forth the promise that each one can and should be fulfilled. Within God’s good and wise purposes, each form of hunger is actually our invitation to a feast.

In spite of what the culture is telling us, boys and girls are different. Have you ever had a war breakout in the middle of history, or had a single math lesson take three hours? Then you're probably raising boys! If the world seems intent on gender-bending and forcing our sons into a feminized mold, Hal and Melanie, parents of six boys, explain the biblical way out - and a better way to turn wild little dirt-lovers into strong Christian men!

This encouraging class will give dozens of scriptural reasons that will strengthen you and encourage you in your homeschool and life.

You’ll be encouraged, challenge, and equipped with ideas, as the Dunagans share from their local and global adventures. Mission-minded families focus on God’s Great Commission with a passion for the lost. There’s a spiritual depth and hunger that reaches beyond the maintenance mode of cultural Christianity. Learn to “raise the bar” in leadership and service, to “guard the gates” of your home, and to live with an attitude of self-sacrifice and submission to God, while radiating an unmistakable, contagious joy.

Fear can paralyze; it can grip your heart, torment your mind, and hinder you from parenting in God’s joy and purpose. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing.” Nothing means NO-thing. Not even ONE-thing. Do you fear your own inadequacies (or wonder if your homeschooling is going to mess up your kids for life)? Do you fear teenage rebellion, hormones, high school, or the future? Do you fear not pleasing others, not having finances, or not fulfilling God’s purpose? In this workshop, you’ll be encouraged by God’s faithfulness and love for you, concluding with a time of prayer.

Are you looking into educational options for your children? Just what is homeschooling? Is it really legal? Am I qualified to teach my own? What if I miss something? Come explore the answer to these and many more "Frequently Asked Questions" drawing from Joyce's many years of experience homeschooling.

Communication is often hard for people, but it is especially difficult for men and their teenagers. Some fathers lose the hearts of their kids, not because they are not doing the right parenting things, but often because they do not know how to communicate. The talk will cover learning the language of your teenager, girl and guy differences in communication, what things need to be communicated, and a survey of questions that dads can use to start conversations that go deeper into their heart.

When do you get started and what do you do first? We've had precocious readers and late bloomers, but every one of them has benefited from being homeschooled from the beginning. Learn to relax and introduce your little ones to the joy of learning in a gentle and realistic way that will prepare them to succeed academically.

Is that word “freedom” for just ol’ graying hippies and revolutionary wannabes? No. It is a biblical concept and at the core of what it means to be an American and, especially, a homeschooler. Dr. Ray will answer: How’d we get our homeschool freedoms? Why should you care? Are we really free? How might we lose this liberty? What are the enemies? Risks? Is Common Core related? What about compulsory attendance laws? Parental rights? Whether your youngest child is pre-born, 7, or 18, you need to know the core principles of educational freedom and why we must strive to keep or expand that liberty. Dr. Ray has been in this practical and theoretical battle for over 30 years.

As a pilot for American Airlines, Steve was very close to the events of 9/11. Steve was originally scheduled to be the co-pilot on AA Flight 11, the first flight to be hijacked on Sept. 11th, 2001. Through a extraordinary set of divine circumstances Steve was bumped from that flight the night before by a more senior pilot. Now, he tells his deeply moving story of God's providence on that terrible day in our history. Come discover why God gave Steve a second chance and now uses him to teach parents all around the world to parent with purpose and urgency as he introduces you to The Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent. Intensely practical and Bible based, the Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent is designed to give parents both the tools they need and the hope necessary to build a Christ-centered character-driven home environment. The Nine Practices are a great way to revitalize parents in the all important task of parenting. This session will take highlights from the 10- week Parenting Matters small group study. Steve will unwrap the Three Pillars of Parenting, The Motivation Model, The Growth Continuum, The Proactive vs. Reactive Parent, and more. You don't want to miss this once in a lifetime event.

Dads and moms, in all the busyness of life and swell of expert advice, we've forgotten the fundamental truths of homeschooling and family. In short, we've forgotten why we do what we do. We have plenty of "how tos" but have forgotten the "why tos" and it evidences itself in our lack of joy of homeschooling, family, and parenting. Join funny guy and familyman, Todd Wilson, as he sets the stage for a great homeschool convention and the best year ever as he brings us back to the basics of what we believe about family and homeschooling. You're not going to want to miss this for the world.

Anger gets in the way of many relationships. Children often need training to deal with the emotion of anger and God has several helpful strategies in the Bible. In this session parents learn practical ideas that help children change their behavior, adjust their hearts, and even go a step further to become peacemakers as well. In this session parents will discover how to become counselors or coaches instead of a policemen when helping children deal with anger.

If we homeschool simply to achieve high academic marks, we are squandering the opportunity to influence our children for Christ. Character healthy leaders are those children who have learned to elevate virtues above feelings. If we spend our homeschooling hours simply on academics and activities, we may win the praise of man, but we risk losing the hearts of our children. In our few short years with our children we must focus on the first things first and character is always the first thing! In this session, Megan, a homeschooling mother of eight, will challenge you to use every opportunity to teach your children to serve God by loving others and to love others by faithfully serving God.

Are you convinced that every homeschooling family except yours is great? Do you believe the lie that others are more organized, better prepared, have smarter kids, are wiser parents, and have a child in the national spelling bee? Well, let me set the record straight...that's not the way it is! The truth is most moms feel inadequate. Homeschooling moms fear that they're letting their kids down in their education and in example. They feel like their house is out of control, their children are beasts, and the sizzle has left their marriages. Join us as we unleash the power in being REAL. You'll never be the same again.

Parents who have challenging children need specific tools for working with these kids. This session offers hope and encouragement to parents who desperately need it. In this session parents will understand how raising the character threshold can help kids do the right thing. Attendees will learn to use an Action Plan Worksheet to develop a unique plan for their child. Parents gain hope and encourage by learning a biblical plan to work with a challenging child.

Your house is a disaster, your kids seem out of control, and you wonder how you'll ever make it through another day of school. Your "get up and go" has "gotten up and went". You used to think homeschooling was the best thing since sliced bread, but now you're feeling like burnt toast. Take heart - you're not alone! No one homeschools because it's easy. You do it because you believe it is best. But there are times when you need to be reminded once again why it's best. Join me as we do just that. You'll laugh and be encouraged in the toughest job you'll ever...love.

In the sometimes bleak and harsh world of homeschooling, we need each other to make it through. So, if you've homeschooled for over 10 years, are new to the game, or are about to toss in the towel, you need to join us. And in case you are a dad and think you're off the hook, you're not! You're needed most of all. We promise that you'll laugh, be encouraged, and be challenged in YOUR distinct role on the Homeschool TEAM.

One of the most discouraging challenges parents face has to do with the bickering and fighting between their children. In this session parents will learn three roadblocks to sibling harmony and the three honor-based solutions from God's Word. Parents will gain greater confidence for dealing with sibling conflict, understand how to deal with common concerns like tattling and competition, and learn more about honor and how it can change the dynamic in their family.

Recognizing that a healthy marriage is the basis of a healthy home, this Marriage session is a fun and fruitful way to invest in your folks. Steve and Megan teach from their book The Eight Rules Of Communication For Successful Marriages and finish the session with a fun loving look at marriage and F-R-I-E-N-D-S-H-I-P Practical advice in a guilt free environment make the teaching real and applicable to all those in attendance.

Many children don't know how to respond properly to correction. After all, correction is one of God's tools for learning. Unfortunately many children blame, defend, rationalize and justify their behavior. Furthermore, many parents view correction as an interruption to their days, not realizing the teaching opportunities present. When parents have a heart-based plan for correction they can help children develop good patterns for the rest of their lives.

Do you have a child who doesn't want to be homeschooled, in-laws who don't understand your reasons for homeschooling, a spouse who isn't sold on the idea, or a guilt complex reminding you that you have no business homeschooling your children? Those nagging, sometimes-silent disapprovals can crush a person under the weight of guilt and despair.

How was the time Saint Patrick lived similar to today? The Roman Empire was falling: Illegal immigrants were overrunning boarders; Latin Language was displaced: Sexual immorality; Exposure of unwanted infants; Violent gladiatorial entertainment; Outsourcing to North Africa; Enormous debt & government; Explosion of welfare & government jobs; Taxes unbearable; the Church was discouraged to have political involvement; Military was over stretched; and Atilla the Hun committed terrorist attacks.

Welcome to the digital age. What does the future of education look like, and how can the homeschool community take advantage of this? Here's a look at free tools and free content sites online that can make your homeschool more efficient, more economical, and more powerful. Harness the educational advantage of online learning and give your kids a jumpstart on their future. We will look at how Web 2.0 applications are changing the definition of education - blogs, wikis, Google applications, Skype, VoiceThreads, open courseware, YouTube, Facebook and even Twitter, when used appropriately can really help kids learn.

Overlooked! That's what often happens to foreign language instruction. And yet, the "language window" is open and waiting in our children for only a short period of time. Sara Rask, Rainbow consultant and former, High School French teacher, encourages homeschooling moms to introduce a foreign language to young children. She walks through the transition to formal language learning in middle school and addresses the high school credit dilemma. Throw open the window and let foreign languages carry your child to fluency!

Are the "Terrrible Twos" eating your lunch? Need help managing your homeschool day with toddlers in the house? In this workshop Megan draws on her many years of homeschooling experience with 8 toddlers in tow to help you craft a plan for success. This workshop is intensely practical and will help you transform the terrible twos into the terrific twos!

Being a Mom is about so much more than feeding, dressing, and driving our kids to play-dates. With only a few short years to impart important spiritual truths to our children, every day becomes an important opportunity for teaching, training, and modeling Christlikeness. A Discipling Mom conference will give mothers the tools they need to disciple their children in the important areas of prayer, service, Bible study, Scripture memorization, and true fellowship. Moms will walk away encouraged and strengthened, knowing that although discipling their children seems a huge task, God is on their side.

As your child grows older, you may be considering high school at home — but you've got your doubts! Why is homeschooling high school a crucial decision for your teen? How is it possible? What help is available? We'll answer your questions; but more importantly, we'll encourage and challenge you to explore the steps you should take as you weigh the possibility of teaching high school at home.

Does the idea of homeschooling a high school student strike fear deep into your heart? Or are you 'in the trenches' of homeschooling high school and looking for direction. Join us in this practical workshop designed to provide you with a road map for navigating high school. High school record keeping, graduation requirements, Transcripts, Apprenticeships, and PSAT/SAT and ACT testing will be explored. We will also journey across the myriad of college and military opportunities available to our young adults as they reach their final destination in the homeschool expedition. Q & A time will be specifically set aside to get your questions answered!

Dr. Eagleson draws on his 30 years of homeschooling and twenty years on the CHAP board to introduce the topic of getting started in homeschooling. A summary of the research into home education is provided. Curriculum, schedules and record keeping will be covered. Dr. Eagleson takes questions from the floor both during and after the presentation. Many homeschoolers comment that they heard this talk when they were just starting.

Have you wondered, "How can I afford to homeschool" or "Am I capable of teaching my children?" You and thousands of parents these past 30 years have wondered the same exact things and have homeschooled their children successfully. There are so many options today, so where do I start? You can homeschool on one income and do it very well! Homeschooling is a journey for the whole family, one in which you will all grow individually and together. Come and glean from the 30 plus years of experience as Renee Miller shares hundreds of ideas to save you money as you teach your children and raise them to love the Lord with all their hearts.

There are unique things that are learned from Dad. When Dad is not in the game, the family suffers. Gain some insight on why Dad is so important in the life of any kid. Delve more deeply into the connection between many issues facing our culture today and the failure of dads to fulfill their mission. These points originated from discussions during the MMR Father/Son Retreat which Donnie has hosted for nine years.

Are you new to homeschooling or new to Pennsylvania? Are you thinking about homeschooling at some point in the future? Do you have questions about what homeschooling might look like and how to get started? This session is designed to encourage and equip you to homeschool your children. Topics include: Why homeschool?, how to get started in PA, a typical day, curriculum, record keeping, testing, portfolios, and evaluations. There will also be time for questions.

Our culture is changing at a terrific speed and today's youth are not always getting the Biblical principles they need in time to help them make wise decisions. In this session Dr. Martin will share a Biblical approach to social networking, blogging, YouTube, Smartphones, texting, iPods, Kindles, etc. which are a huge part of everyday life now. While these technology innovations are not bad in and of themselves, they can have a negative influence on our lives if our use of them is not guided by Biblical principles. This session will present specific Scriptures to help guide Christian teens and young adults in their use of technology-based systems so that they will glorify the Lord - not feed the flesh.

Dr. Martin shares five key Scriptures to combat problems within the family. He challenges fathers and husbands to be loving, spiritual leaders in their families. He gives examples of ways that family members can practice right responses to each other. A theme verse for this talk is Col. 1:10.

Do you feel like life is rolling over you in waves? Do you wish you had a pause button so you could catch up on everything? Do you feel tired and discouraged? You might be burned out. In this talk, Sarah Mae encourages you in choosing your life by faith so you can move forward with the hope and energy you need to persevere with joy in your Kingdom work.

Picking curriculum can be an overwhelming, confusing, and a surprisingly expensive venture. If you are starting out on the homeschool journey, or if you are a curriculum junkie who has struggled with completing curriculum, this talk might be for you. Sarah Mae gives you the confidence that you can give your child a wonderful education without spending hundreds of dollars.

Whether or not becoming a "special needs" parent was something for which you planned, finding yourself in this "club" can cause a sense of being overwhelmed yet also uniquely blessed. In a round-table discussion, Karen & Colton Weber will lead in discovering how to experience God's grace and joy in the midst of the difficulties of parenting and homeschooling children with special needs. You are invited to share your successes and challenges and network with other parents in this "special" session!

You love homeschooling your children, and you get so excited for planning your child's education. But then, you sit down with all your joy, and you freeze. All of a sudden you start to sweat. Lesson planning involves so many details and suddenly you're hiding in a closet wondering if you will be able to do this homeschooling thing after all! Plus crafts. You are terrible at crafts! How do all the other homeschool moms make homeschooling look so...perfect? You, my friend are not alone. Sarah Mae is a fellow Type-B mom and she wants to encourage you that you can homeschool your children well and with confidence. No crafting skills required.

It gets better! You will not always be sleep-deprived or brain-depleted! If you are a mom of little ones, Sarah Mae will offer you some clarity and perspective on the often exhausting years of baby and toddlerhood.

In spite of what the culture is telling us, boys and girls are different. Have you ever had a war break out in the middle of history, or had a single math lesson take three hours? Then you’re probably raising boys! If the world seems intent on gender-bending and forcing our sons into a feminized mold, Hal and Melanie, parents of six boys, explain the Biblical way out – and a better way to turn wild little dirt lovers into strong Christian men. This session will make you appreciate your boys as never before!

Psalms 16:11 " You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." If you are ever tormented or your faith is ever weak, or if you've just had enough; hold on, hold on. God finds pleasure in you. This session invites women to experience pleasurable moments with God...joy, peace, happiness and righteousness. Joyce invites you to join her in a delightful conversation as we experience the pleasure of His presence.

Because none of it will matter if they don’t follow Christ. Many homeschoolers hope and pray that because they’ve homeschooled, their children will turn out all right. But unfortunately, we are seeing a number of homeschooled children turning away from God in rebellion. We can’t make our children serve Christ, but we can make sure we aren’t standing in the way! Find out about the power of delighting in your children and loving them as Christ loves us. Hear how to point them to the Savior and teach them to serve Him!

Exactly what is homeschooling and how do I start? Is it legal? Do I have to have a degree? Where do I find my curriculum? Is a virtual academy the same as homeschool? These and many other questions plague most families just starting on the homeschool journey. This workshop is designed to answer the basic questions and help you on your way to a successful homeschool journey.

Our culture believes that the key to every kind of success in life is a college degree. A degree is a powerful tool for success, but some of the most important strategies needed to be successful and live out God’s purpose in your life aren’t taught in college. In this presentation you will learn what those three strategies for success are, and how following them can help students be better prepared for life, success, and college.

As moms, we are so used to putting others first - our spouse, our children, our aging parents, our church, our hairdresser's third cousin's next-door neighbor - you get the point! While we are called to serve, if we don't care for our physical health, we won't be able to serve for long. Come learn the 4 pillars of good health and how to harness the power of habits to get and stay healthy. We'll discuss what's essential, and determine what's "nice but not necessary." We'll also troubleshoot those crazy seasons of life like having a newborn, a family crisis, the holiday season, and more.

From scheduling to home organization, this workshop gives parents the confidence that they can provide a rich early education for their little ones. Lesli provides an overview of what every child from 3-7 needs to cover over the course of one year, and how to fit it all in. Lesli provides solutions for the many challenges parents with young learners face, such as time management and schooling multiple ages at the same time.

The homeschool mom usually has her plate so full that she often finds herself neglecting the important for the sake of the urgent. Trying to balance your time between homeschool, your kids, your spouse, the church, extra-curricular activities, and everything else in between is a difficult task. Unfortunately, the spouse is most often the one that is put on the back burner. This workshop will help you put life back in the proper perspective, deal with the urgent, and put the important one back in his proper place.

Conflicts arise when parents least expect it, but it is part of normal family life. Discipline in the home is essential for healthy relationships and creating an atmosphere for learning, but accomplishing that from toddler to teen is difficult. In this fast-paced, how-to workshop, Roger and Jan offer practical ways of dealing with common areas of conflict from a Biblical mindset.

Leading a home-centered education isn't easy. Learn the basic principles that guide us as we find purpose and priority in our homeschool.

In this refreshing workshop, participants will learn how to nurture their preschooler’s mind and soul through play in order to prepare a firm foundation for the delights and demands of a classical education. Wonder is the fuel for a lifetime of learning, and parents will learn how to cultivate this in their children and win it back for themselves!

Everyone says homeschooling is a lifestyle, not just an educational choice. If so, then why are we surprised when it affects our marriage? Come to this funny and practical session to find out how wives can have something left for their husbands by the end of the day, and how husbands can understand the burdens their wives face. Let’s make sure homeschooling makes our marriages stronger - and more fun, too!

It makes no sense to pour our lives into homeschooling only to stumble at the finish line. We’ve got to pass the baton of Christian adulthood to our children, and it can’t happen overnight. Hal and Melanie talk about this critical time in our children’s lives, and how to transition from the benevolent dictator our eleven year-olds need to the trusted advisor of our adult children. Let’s all finish well and prepare our sons and daughters to be responsible adults and servants of the Most High, even when we can’t make them anymore!

“Whatever is the meaning of life?” “Whatever happens when one dies?” “Whatever is your highest value?”--questions that demand more than a “Whatever!” answer. The “Whatever!” answer of Secular thinking dampens and even squelches serious thought and attempts at engaged conversation in our culture. The “Whatever!” of Secularism even invades the church. Rather than be discouraged, take heart in God’s command in Deuteronomy 12:32

“Would you agree the Bible teaches…that men are superior to women…that God helps those who help themselves…that Jesus’ main message was to love one another…?” Listen and watch in amazement at the responses from college students and people on the streets give when Bill Jack asks about their knowledge of Scripture. See how people love to display their ignorance. Learn how conversationally to destroy “arguments raised up against the knowledge of God.”—II Corinthians 10:5

Train your students to discern world views and to understand their impact on every aspect of our culture. We will analyze the impact of world views on our culture through interviews with those who hold opposing world views. Great opportunity to learn practical tools to learn how to reach non-Christians and to confront the culture with the Truth.

Non-Christians seem to have the advantage in our culture. We, as Christians, are sometimes intimidated by or even afraid to talk with many atheists, new-agers, evolutionists and other Wizards. Too often, we fear we won’t have answers to their tough questions.

“Who cares whether it was 6 days or 6 million years!?!?!? Isn’t this discussion unnecessarily divisive to the Christian community? Are we not losing credibility with the scientific community and hurting the cause of Christ among non-Christians by insisting on a literal interpretation of Genesis 1-3?” Learn to respond biblically to such charges so that “no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception.” Old-earthers, progressive creationists and other Wizards come try and stump the wild-eyed, fanatical, six-day creationist.

Be encouraged. Learn four killer questions that will help to destroy the Wizards’ secular thinking that is encasing the minds of friends, relatives and others. Learn to destroy the Wizards’sloppy, secular arguments without destroying the person.

The biggest and most enduring Counterfeit Reality of all time is most cleverly foisted upon people through film. See how moviemakers convey a secular worldview to the public…in the blink of an eye! Keep in mind Colossians 2:8, and keep focused on Bill Jack’s media examples and use of technological illusions. Otherwise, you may lose sight of True Reality.

What can evangelical Christians, evolutionists and atheists have in common? The Pharisees wanted people to observe the law, but they forgot the purpose of the law and ended up honoring God with their lips but having hearts far away from Him. Learn how to recognize the masquerade of artificial authority when it parades in culture and even marches into church.

God is working redemptively through homeschooling. Here is the hope we have for our failures, weaknesses and frustrations. God is at work to make Himself known to you more deeply and fully.

Welcome to the digital age. What does the future of education look like, and how can the homeschool community take advantage of this? Here's a look at free tools and free content sites online that can make your homeschool more efficient, more economical and more powerful. Harness the educational advantage of online learning and give your kids a jumpstart on their future. We will look at how Web 2.0 applications are changing the definition of education - blogs, wikis, Google applications, Skype, VoiceThreads, open courseware, YouTube, Facebook and even Twitter, when used appropriately can really help kids learn.

The 20 Power Tools of Learning and the brain science behind them. For teens and their parents. Cut your study time in half, remember what you learn, recall it when you need it.

A love for learning is a blessing God has for His children-- one that is meant to enrich our lives, give us purpose and draw us into a quest to know the Creator. This workshop will give you a biblical foundation for safeguarding a child’s natural curiosity and joy of discovery; and suggest ways to approach homeschooling that keeps this important element alive and growing in your child.