Is Education a neutral subject? Does God have a preference for how He wants children to be educated? What does the Bible teach about schooling? Is there one correct path for education? Are public schools a viable option for Christians? These questions and more will be discussed in this engaging presentation.

Most purity resources these days focus on girls, but purity tends to be a much larger problem for young men, and many seem hopelessly naive about the battles our sons are facing. Today’s young men grow up with challenges to their purity on every side. In a time when over 90% of teens have been exposed to Internet pornography, how can we teach our boys to keep their way pure? What can we do when temptation is lurking on friends’ phones and beckons just a click away? How can we give them a Biblical context for sexuality–from their toddler years to adulthood? Come hear the parents of six sons give you frank, practical advice on raising your son to be a virtuous knight.

There’s nothing more rewarding to a faithful father than getting together with his wife and children for the evening “family time.” But it’s not always easy to make good use of the time when Dad is tired after a hard day’s work. In this workshop Rick Boyer shares ideas he has used over the years with his fourteen children. Now you can have the tools to make the evening get-together a blessing for the whole family–without a lot of preparation!

Setting Them Free with Passion-Driven Learning: Scripture tells us to train up a child in the way “he” should go–not the way “they” should go. Every child is a unique creation of God, with his own fascinating blend of talents, interests and yes, weaknesses. To help them fulfill their life calling, we must develop a specific plan for the training of each one. Come and learn how to work “with” the uniqueness of your child. Escape the bondage of expectations and set your child free to pursue his passions and be the whole person God created him to be.

Homeschooling is more about discipling than academics. We are investing in eternity as we prepare our children to serve God. There is no higher calling. Many times we forget this and other truths, and get distracted from our purpose and goals of homeschooling. Kathie will give 10 key things every homeschooler should remember. You will be encouraged and inspired as she reminds you of these very important thoughts you need to regularly keep before you.

Are you a caregiver for an aging parent?  Are you facing care giving in the future?  Do you ever wonder if those little memory slips are old age or the sign of something worse? Even if you aren't actively caring for someone, most likely you know someone who is, since 34.2 million Americans reported caring for an elderly parent in 2015. Many of us are in the sandwich generation, caring for parents and young children at the same time.  Care giving, especially for those with dementia, takes a special kind of grace and fortitude.  Add in home schooling and young children, and you have the makings of a hairy mess.  Join Danielle Olander, home schooling mother of five, as she shares her family's on-going experiences caring for a parent with Alzheimer's.  Juggling schedules, locating resources, and finding time to recharge, caregivers need support, resources, and sometimes, just someone to listen.  This workshop is designed to bring encouragement to those who are caring for aging parents or for those who want to support those that are caregiving.

Many people have the idea the battle between Christianity and humanism (or creation and evolution) is a battle over who has more “facts.” However, the real battle is actually over the interpretation of the same facts. Until Christians understand that everyone has the same facts, but different interpretations of those facts (based upon different presuppositions or biases), they will not be successful in learning how to defend the Christian faith and think in a true biblical manner. It’s very possible you will never think the same way about this world after attending this workshop!

Regardless of the particular passion God has placed in your child, being successful in any profession depends greatly upon the ability to communicate effectively. As a leader, one must learn how to speak the language of your audience and present your message in a way that allows them to perceive and understand the exact purpose of your communication. In this workshop, Rick will give students and parents specific tools and skills to start them on a road to mastering effective communication skills.

The battle for our children’s life should be fought on our knees! Prayer is the most important part of rearing our children. Why? Because God can do what we cannot do. Kathie will share several practical prayer ideas, as well as suggestions for some the things we should pray for regarding our children. Being a praying parent makes a difference, and we need to commit to praying daily for our kids.

Do you feel out of place because all the other homeschooling families seem to be “normal”? You may be widowed, divorced, separated because of military deployment, or just flying solo because of marital discord in your home. Dena is a real, live single mom who traveled most of the home school journey alone through major family upheaval and eventual divorce. Although she often felt like she was going over Niagara Falls without a barrel, she has, in fact, lived to tell about it. Her kids survived, too! They both achieved National Merit Finalist standing and are pursuing their engineering passions. To all of you single parents wondering if you can make the journey – or convinced that you won’t make it to the finish line – take heart! Dena will share her successes and failures and help you develop a game plan for your own family. Come prepared to take a hard look at your own views about single parenting and consider a fresh perspective that may just breathe new life into your homeschool.

Maybe you are praying about fostering or adopting as you read this title. Adoption is a joyous calling, but can come with plenty of heartache. In this presentation, I share my very honest journey of adoption and it includes plenty of both. You will walk away with some practical ways to help your family on this adoption journey.

When we lead and interact with others (both family members and others), conflict can rise and feelings can get hurt.  How do you work through that in a positive way?  How can you tell them in love how they are doing? How do you respond when they tell you what you are doing wrong?  Come to this workshop, and learn how to tactfully and effectively give and receive feedback.

Sometimes, the opportunity to homeschool is squelched by real financial barriers. The temptation is for both parents to work outside the home and place their children in public school. Beth Mora, mom of eight kids and wife of one hardworking man is no stranger to managing a large family. Learn how she whittled their family food budget down to $500.00/month while her family (One husband, who burns a lot of calories as a contractor, six VERY hungry teenage boys, and two girls) still ate like kings and queens! Her frugal ways saved over $1000/month! Yes, it was work but embracing a fabulous and frugal lifestyle enabled the Mora’s to keep on homeschooling! Are you ready to carve out a part-time job in your home by becoming a top-notch home economist? Your employment application is waiting for you at this workshop! All who are willing will be hired!

The education of a child should be a work of great beauty, like the building of a magnificent cathedral. Years of planning, though, and hard work are poured into both endeavors. In this workshop, we will explore the ideas of cultivating beauty in our homeschools; in ritual, the five senses, and in ourselves as teachers and parents. Packed with both big ideas, and practical advice, parents will leave energized and inspired for the years ahead.

Have you ever felt lost amid all the “stuff” marketed to home schoolers? Confused by the many voices telling you to do it this way or that way? There’s no need to panic. The wisest man in history has some advice to offer. Come and hear powerful, practical solutions that will help you get your priorities straight. God wrote the Proverbs for parents just like YOU.

We all have at least one of these children. They take extra time to complete every lesson, if they complete them at all. And we can fall into the trap of sitting by them to “help” them finish, only to become an educational security blanket. Of course we don’t have time for that, and it is time for us to encourage these children to take up their own responsibilities. But the desire to be driven or to do hard work shouldn’t be for the end goal of becoming a millionaire; it is to work diligently for the Lord, using the gifts He has generously given us for His good! Come be encouraged that our occupation, whether it is student, mother, mail carrier, or king is one that is appointed to us. We’ll go over helpful suggestions to encourage those less-than-enthusiastic children and gain a better perspective of what is really going on.

As a parent homeschooling a teen (or thinking about homeschooling high school in the future), you may have your doubts about your ability…and your sanity. Are you weighed down by the seriousness of high school? Do you question your competence to teach your teen? Come and be encouraged as you discover a new, long range perspective for teaching your teen that is filled with much hope, faith, help…and joy.

In this world filled with technology and devices, intentional parenting is a MUST. Children get one shot at childhood and it is our job to make it count. In this presentation I will give you practical tips on how to engage and connect with your child. We will take a trip down memory lane that will make you laugh and possibly shed a few tears. Either way, you will be challenged and hopefully changed to take on parenting with a newfound passion.

New clean copy uploaded July 7 - It’s such a temptation to stress over teaching predicate nominatives or the steps of division that we forget to delight in our children and make time to enjoy being with them. In this session, Marilyn shares how she has found this to actually be the key to instilling values that stick and building in them a heart for things of the Lord. Take the time to give your children the security of knowing they have your heart. In so doing you are making it easier for them to freely give their heart back to their Creator, and that is our mission. Catch a vision of how you can reach and hold the heart of your child and build fulfilling family relationships that will be passed on through generations.

The teacher called him “addled.” His mother called him Tommy. The school couldn’t do anything with him. His mother made him a genius. What was the secret behind the success of Thomas Edison, America’s greatest inventor? His mother made learning fun. And you can do the same for your kids!

A message for the graduates and their families. (abbreviated version)

God gives us all certain skills and abilities that we can use to honor and glorify Him. Not everybody will be great at everything, but most of us can be better at something than we are. And, we can be better at a younger age than most of us believe. Join Jason Lindsay, owner of Young Entrepreneurs of North America, as he explores the amazing things that youth are capable of when following Biblical principles - from starting their own business, to preparing for marriage, and more! People of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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 a playdate 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!

There are plenty of misconceptions about the role of the father in a home schooling family. Some people think that if he can’t be at home during “school time” he can’t be involved. Others think his job is to take over some of Mom’s chores in order to free her to spend more time with the children. But Scripture gives seven functions of a father in a godly home, and each of these can be applied very practically and powerfully in home education. Enjoy the wisdom and humor of this presentation as Rick answers the question of “What’s A Dad to Do?”

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems your children are constantly misbehaving, yet they really don’t seem to be rebellious? How do we discern the difference between irritating childish behavior and real disobedience? Here’s a sane, practical and proven method (Marilyn has 14 kids!) to turn irritations into solutions!

One of the most important things we can do as homeschooling parents is have set goals and priorities for our home school. It is equally important to have a way to measure how we are doing with those goals — questions we can ask ourselves at the end of the home school day to see if we are keeping those priorities in place and accomplishing the goals that we set out with. Kathie will give you 10 things to ask yourself to see if you are staying on track with your priorities.

How can we be confident that our children are going to be well-educated? This informative and entertaining session with Tom Clark, is based on, and adapted from, the respected work of John Milton Gregory, and will focus on effective strategies of instruction which are understandably simple, educationally sound, and ethically founded.

Homeschooling parents are well aware of the shocking statistics of how many of our kids walk away from the faith and values upon which they were raised. The world around them has embraced moral relativism. If the Biblical values that built western civilization are to be restored, the next generation must be equipped to be counter-culture revolutionaries for truth, justice, and the old American way.

Luke and Trisha take on some of the most common mistakes Christian parents make when it comes to sex education…and how to make changes today.

The high school years are a prime opportunity to equip your teens with skills they will need for future success. If your teen is headed to college, the workforce, or the military, they will benefit from study and time management skills. This session provides parents with ideas to incorporate these skills into high school coursework and lists resources to help teens cultivate these essential skills.

The most important part of an education is the teaching of worthy character. Otherwise, we are only training more competent rebels! Character is the key that opens the door to successful adult living. It is the first thing that wise people examine when evaluating a prospective employee, spouse or friend. That’s why character is the most important subject you will ever teach your children! Marilyn Boyer is mother of 14 homeschooled kids. She'll share how to intentionally teach this most important of all subjects!

Homeschool pioneer Dr. Sandi Queen has been homeschooling her own six children since 1986, and is still homeschooling today. What worked for one child did not necessarily work for another. Are you struggling to “figure out” the best way to teach your child? Come and learn how you can end the struggle!

None of us want our children to turn out to be rebellious, but how can we stop it? Is it normal and necessary? Often, as parents we are unconsciously instilling a rebellious attitude in our little ones that is revealed in their teen years. Biblical answers will be given as to how to deal with rebellion, as well as things to avoid that may cause rebellion.

For kids and parents who simply love words…puns, alliterations, rhymes, tongue-twisters, coining new phrases, etc. This is a workshop for those who might want to spruce up their writing by stretching their minds to create playful, descriptive, and memorable original expressions.

What are we to do when faced with a world telling us it is a certainty that all organisms evolved from primordial ooze? How can our students give an answer when these ideas come up in discussions as they begin to move out from under our teaching and into the world? Amazingly, the more we learn about the creatures on Earth, the more we begin to see the intricacies that do not fit with the idea of evolution, and we are beginning to see clear scientific evidence that points to a Creator. This fast-moving, high-energy workshop will cover several organisms whose features defy evolution. From dolphins and sharks to glow-in-the-dark bacteria, we’ll see how science is discovering that all creatures are far from simple.

As a mother of ten, I am often called a supermom. Fact is; I am a fake! I have yelled, forgotten children, and even fed them cereal for dinner. If I am being REAL, even some of my social media posts are FAKE. In this presentation, I talk honestly about my failures as a mother and the beauty of overcoming those failures with love and forgiveness. You will leave encouraged and inspired to take on motherhood with fierce authenticity!

Marilyn Boyer has taught all fourteen of her children at home, so she has plenty of experience with any age group you can name. But her very favorite age to teach is those eager, curious, exciting, challenging munchkins we call preschoolers. This, Marilyn says is the time when we lay the foundation for greatness by pouring love and acceptance all over them – instead of treating them like a nuisance. Preschoolers aren’t just little interruptions to be kept “occupied” while older siblings study. This season in a child’s life is the time to tap into his huge potential by maximizing his natural love for learning and helping him to see that God is preparing him for a lifetime of important service. Come and learn from Marilyn how to make your little ones a valuable part of the team!

Government, history, economics…these topics usually put students AND parents to sleep, yet they are some of the most important things we’ll teach if we expect the next generation to be good citizens and preserve the republic. In this presentation, Rick shares tips and methods for bringing history and civics to life, keeping it fun, engaging the students, seeking truth, and making the lessons count for generations to come.

Academics are important, but they are not the key to a successful life. When your children grow up and leave your home, you want to be sure that they have learned the life lessons that will serve them well for time and eternity. This workshop discusses the issues that matter most in life and how you can pass them on to your children in the brief time you have with them.

Homeschooling in Michigan: Past, Present, & Future: Michigan has gone from being one of the most restrictive homeschooling states to being one of the most free! Review the unique story of the history of the modern-day homeschooling movement in Michigan, how God has providentially led us to the freedoms we enjoy today, and what we can do to help maintain that freedom.

God has hard-wired us to learn, and the science behind His masterful plan will strengthen your resolve to help your child blaze new neural pathways. Come and get the inside scoop of how the lightbulb of learning goes on, and more importantly, how you can increase “ah ha” moments on Monday. Join Beth Mora, author, blogger, and former Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse in discovering that the new revelations in science are rooted in God’s words of wisdom. This information is perfect for all types of learners including gifted and those with special needs.

The years from 9 to 12 can be some of the most challenging of all. Long before peach fuzz or body changes, you have to cope with distractedness, tears, outbursts of anger and the “Nobody loves me” blues, but somebody’s got to be the adult around here. Learn how to survive, and make the teen years great!

How, when, and why should you teach your kids about sex? This practical presentation is anchored in the Scripture where parents can learn how to use the Bible as a starting point for sex-ed in the home.

The Internet has opened up so many avenues for homeschool moms, giving us access to curricula, educational information and helps, and lots of virtual support. Although this is helpful, whenever we visit a fellow homeschooler online, we often see her at her best: kids working diligently on the couch, elaborate dioramas of epic battles, etc. And we often hear the same thing when we engage with local moms, too. All of this “perfection” can make us feel like we don’t measure up. Comparing hinders us from engaging, so it is crucial for us to get past those paralyzing feelings and begin to support and encourage each other, especially in person. Because the enemy works to divide us, as sisters in Christ, we must come alongside one another for mutual support. It may not take a village to educate your children, but moms need that village of support as the body of Christ.

Why can my academically gifted student calculate geometric ratios but he can’t find his shoes? If can be baffling, can’t it? One moment you’re conversing with your gifted student about the latest research on genetics and the next moment he’s arguing with you that his superman cape can sustain flight because it has super powers. Gifted children often experience what’s called “asynchronous development,” or out of sync development. How do you meet the developmental and academic needs of a gifted learner? Not an easy answer but one that Beth Mora will address in detail from experience with her two academically gifted kids.  

In this session, Dr. Sandi Queen shares how, during her youngest son’s 3 1/2 year battle with cancer, and her own diagnosis two years into her son’s struggle, the Lord allowed her to continue to not only persevere through daily life in a busy household and care for her ailing son, but also write 40 books during this time. No matter what your struggle is – caring for an aging parent, loss of your own health, going through a divorce or other difficult family time, this session discusses practical ways to get through your days, and will be a blessing and a help.