Bummer, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be nice if homeschooling was the answer? I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if all of the problems in our families could be solved with good family time and top of the line curriculum? Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do was adopt a certain daily schedule, read aloud certain books, and follow a certain educational philosophy? Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were just a simple checklist of “To-do’s” each day that would guarantee success? Yes, it would, but alas, there’s not. However, there is an answer to all that ails us: the sin and death, the pain and misery. Come be reminded of the Answer and the hope it engenders.

There are 10 Essentials needed for a joyful homeschooling journey. You might be surprised to find out they aren’t using a perfect curriculum, reading a particular book, or following a specific methodology. The 10 Essentials to homeschooling are far more foundational than that (and they are super easy to apply this week)! In this session, Carrie shares the 10 essentials and how to incorporate them into your homeschooling today whether you are new to homeschooling or you have been homeschooling for years.

As you consider how to go forward in your homeschooling journey, where are you standing? Are you on the field, in the stands, or in the blimp? It matters. What is obstructing your view? Who’s on your team? Where is the finish line? How can you best proceed? Why are you where you are? It’s difficult to answer any of these questions in the heat of the battle. It’s important to take inventory, to step back, to step away. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, to go down to go up, to go left to go right. What if there’s a place to stand so that you can really see?

Most of us know that homeschooling has great academic benefits and is good for families, but did you know that the benefits go beyond reading, writing and arithmetic? In this session you will learn how you can use your homeschool to grow strong, healthy kids: physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

The first thing you must know is that you’re not alone if you have one. And the second thing you need to know is that they’re sent to you as a blessing. If those two things seem unimaginable, if you’re thinking, “If you only knew.,” well, I do. I’ve got one too. So, what face comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘That” child? Do you smile or scowl when you see that face? Do you see yourself in that face? Do you struggle to like that child? Does it seem difficult? Impossible? I want you to know: That child is a world changer. God has a plan for that child. All of that energy, all those questions, all that strength, all THAT, is God-given for His glory. Come learn strategies for learning to love that child, to embrace that child, to train that child. They are worth it and He is worthy!

You can do this and you can do it well. If I can do it, you can, too! I will give you some Rock-solid foundational principles and practices that, when put in place, will confidently and successfully usher your teen across the highschool finish line.

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

There are many existential threats to fundamental liberties and the very fabric of Christian civilization building on the horizon, but homeschool families are uniquely positioned to help hold the line. From rekindling an awareness of the biblical principles at the foundation, to re-imagining education, to getting involved in the cultural, political, and spiritual battles raging all around us, we have an obligation to be a part of the solution. In this talk, Alex will offer concrete ideas for action.

The world has a vision of education and its purpose. Christians must as well. In this talk, Alex Newman will explore what the Bible teaches on education and discipleship, and how this differs radically with what the present education system offers. He also provides an in-depth look at the history of Christian education — the very education that built Western civilization and the United States of America. Finally, he will equip parents to rethink education in light of Scripture, with practical tools to honor God in this critical realm of life.

We’ve all heard the adage, “Nothing is easy,” and it’s true. So why then do we use ‘ease’ as the determining factor in our life choices? As a culture, we want dinner-making to be easy. We want house projects to be easy. We want relationships to be easy. We want our jobs to be easy. Look around, ‘easy’ seems to be a pretty high-value today. But what about the Christian life? What about marriage? What about parenting? Are any of those easy? Could it be that our longing for easy is what keeps us from becoming the people, spouses, and parents that God has intended for us to be? God is calling, He’s inviting us to be a part of His plan to change the world. It won’t be easy, but it will be for His glory and our good. Let’s get to work together.

Every day we are bombarded with messages that try to convince us that we are individually important. The basic theme is that we should seek self. It’s all a big lie, from the king of lies. We must shift our focus away from ourselves and on to our awesome and mighty God. The world is relentlessly pursuing peace and contentment that can only come from a life that is totally surrendered to Christ and His will. Come learn how this realization radically changed Rachael’s life, direction, and purpose. It can change yours too!

Just like mothers, fathers are critical for homeschooling, and not just for paying the bills. In this fun talk, Alex — who homeschools his 5 children alongside his wife — will share insights into the role of dads in the education, upbringing, and discipleship of their children. He will also offer practical tips for fathers and families that can make home education even better!

The Bible teaches more about government than it does about heaven. But for several generations, pastors and churches have remained largely silent on the issue, partly due to concerns about their tax exemption. This is inexcusable. The Bible calls on leaders to teach the full counsel of God. America’s founders understood the biblical view of government, and that is why Americans have been blessed for centuries with security, peace, prosperity, and liberty. In this talk, Alex will go into great detail on what the Scriptures teach.

We all want to raise children to be responsible and diligent individuals. Teaching them to become independent learners is also helpful for our sanity and the efficiency of our homeschool. It’s an important life skill for our kids to develop! Come hear practical tips for how to teach our children these habits, from preschool to high school, through your homeschooling and family life.

If you have ever wondered how to design a high school course of study, evaluate the results, develop a transcript, or award a diploma, then this is the workshop for you! Linda will cover all of these subjects and more in one quick paced hour.

So here we are. Most of us would have chosen something different than what we’ve recently had to face. I mean really, who would have signed up for the crazy chaos that has characterized the last few years? Not me. But, if I believe in a sovereign God, and if I believe that He has a plan, and if I believe that He has a role for me to play, and I do, then how do I lean into that and His plan? And what is my role in this cultural moment? Let’s take a look at some other similarly chaotic cultural moments in Scripture and see what we can learn from those who’ve gone before us. This is our moment. Let’s dare to live it for Him.

We’ve all heard the adage, “nothing is easy”, and it’s true. So why then do we use ‘ease’ as the determining factor in our life choices? As a culture we want dinner-making to be easy. We want house projects to be easy. We want relationships to be easy. We want our jobs to be easy. Look around, ‘easy’ seems to be a pretty high value today. But what about the Christian life? What about marriage? What about parenting? Are any of those easy? Could it be that our longing for easy is what keeps us from becoming the people, spouses, and parents that God has intended for us to be? God is calling, He’s inviting us to be a part of His plan to change the world. It won’t be easy, but it will be for His glory and our good. Let’s get to work together.

Every day we are bombarded with messages that try to convince us that we are individually important. The basic theme is that we should seek self. It’s all a big lie, from the king of lies. We must shift our focus away from ourselves and on to our awesome and mighty God. The world is relentlessly pursuing peace and contentment that can only come from a life that is totally surrendered to Christ and His will. Come learn how this realization radically changed Rachael’s life, direction, and purpose. It can change yours too!

Most of us know that homeschooling has great academic benefits and is good for families, but did you know that the benefits of homeschooling go beyond reading, writing and arithmetic? In this session, you will learn how you can use your homeschool to grow strong, healthy kids: physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

In this talk I share stories from my own homeschool upbringing and the indelible lessons I unknowingly learned through the experience. In a profound way they informed my own journey as a homeschool parent. I hope these lessons from the perspective of a homeschool graduate will encourage homeschoolers from all backgrounds and remind them that they are uniquely positioned and equipped by God to teach their children in ways that reach deeper than the pages of any textbook, lesson plan, routine, or test.

Are the “Terrible 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 eight toddlers in tow to help you craft a plan for success. Find out how to use “self-control practice” to help your toddler become an integral part of the family team. Intensely practical, this session will help you transform the terrible twos into the terrific twos!

There are ten things I’d like to share with you that I learned along the way in almost two decades of homeschooling. Some may surprise you! You will focus on the most important things needed to get you through this journey.

Why do you homeschool? A customized education? A more flexible schedule? The ability to teach to your children’s unique gifts and talents? Are these blessings enough to withstand the hard times? What if your plan starts to unravel? What if these things don’t pan out? Having a why is important, but having the right why is crucial to staying the course. Come and join Aby as she discusses the heart of homeschool and the greatest ‘why’ of all. This session is for all homeschool parents; the new homeschool mom that is just now discovering her why as well as the mom that has been doing it so long she may have lost her ‘why’ along the way. You will be inspired, encouraged and have your passion for His calling lit on fire!

Is behaving like a gentleman an outdated and antiquated idea? Join Dr. Steve in a lively discussion of how to teach our young men to be masculine in a society that seeks to squeeze them into a feminine mold. Becoming a gentleman starts at home. Discover ways to cultivate a culture of masculinity without raising men who are brutes!

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 first things first and character is always the first thing! In this session, Megan, a homeschooling mother of eight, will challenge parents to use every opportunity to teach their children to serve God by loving others and to love others by faithfully serving God.

Karen has graduated three out of four of her children. They did not all follow the typical post high school path, but have been successful as adults- not necessarily worldly success, but as disciples of Christ. Come hear their unique story of running away from homeschooling in kindergarten, to raising adults that are living for Jesus!

Join veteran homeschooler and mother of eight, Megan Scheibner, as she discusses the importance of thoughtfully traveling the road of change and maturity with your children. Discover the significance of traditions in building security, the necessity of relational transitions for building trust, and the power of transparency to break down communication barriers. Homeschooling isn’t just about preparing our children for success. Successfully homeschooling is a ministry training ground for parents and students alike. Come be encouraged as you see how God can use your faithfulness in homeschooling to reach your world for Him.

Our social media doesn’t dictate how our homeschool should look. God does. Learn to take your eyes off internet ideals and onto what God says. Let His Word saturate your mind rather than getting caught up in the false expectations of social media. Find freedom for your family to walk this journey with God leading you!

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 marriage relationship. 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 makes the teaching real and applicable to all those in attendance.

Want to transition your young adults from simple obedience to mature responsibility? In this session, Dr. Steve shares the important phases teens need to learn to take responsibility for their lives. Watch your kids move from childish irresponsibility to becoming young adults who embrace ownership and initiative as they move up the “Responsibility Tree."

Wait what? That’s right. This journey is about so much more than school. We are raising up our children to be capable human beings in a world that is often chaotic and confusing. Don’t get so caught up in school that you aren’t living life and training for life!

Although it’s easy to get caught up in our role as “MOM,” the greatest gift we can give our families is to show them how much we love fulfilling our primary role as “WIFE.” The Wise Wife session is jam-packed with practical ways to focus on becoming a wife who brings glory to God, delights the heart of her husband, and models a Christian marriage for her children. Being a godly wife is serious business, but you’ll get plenty of time to laugh as Megan shares some “What the Heck!” differences between men and women. Come be challenged and refreshed in your most important role!

Ever feel like homeschooling is for those ‘blessed enough’ to afford it? Ever feel like you don’t have the financial resources to give your kids all the opportunities everyone else is giving their kids? Ever feel like if you just had a little more, your homeschool would be so much better? Come and learn tips and tricks to homeschool affordably and be reminded of the heart behind the Great Provider that has called us to this gig in the first place!

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

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

As Christians we face a spiritual battle every day of our lives. And homeschooling is no different. Expect battles. Be equipped for them. And know that as you fight them, you are becoming stronger in the Lord each day.

Why do military families choose to homeschool? The last survey completed by Blue Star Families estimates that at least 6% of military families homeschool. This number is continuing to rise post-COVID as more military families choose to homeschool. This session will give an overview of these reasons and examine some of the challenges—and solutions—to homeschooling military-style.

As a pilot for American Airlines, Steve was very close to the events of 9/11. Although initially scheduled to be the First Officer on Flight 11, the first flight to be hijacked on September 11, 2001, Steve was bumped from that flight the night before through an extraordinary set of circumstances. In this session, he tells his deeply moving story of God's providence on that terrible day in our history. Discover why God gave Steve a second chance, and how He now uses Steve to teach parents 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 the tools they need and the necessary hope, to build a Christ-centered and character-driven home environment. We’ll never be better as homeschoolers than we are as parents! The Nine Practices are a great way to revitalize parents in their all-important task of parenting. This session will take highlights from the 10- week Parenting Matters small group study. Join Steve as he unwraps the Three Pillars of Parenting, The Motivation Model, The Growth Continuum, The Proactive vs. Reactive Parent, and more.

We often downplay the impact of small actions by thinking they aren’t enough. But what if Connie Albers told you those small actions could lead to a big change? Connie explores the power of small actions and how they contribute to positive changes to your mental well-being and a child’s mindset. We’ll look at real-life examples of ordinary individuals and organizations that have achieved remarkable results through small, incremental steps, and offer practical tips and advice for parents who want to help their child make a difference, no matter how small of an action. If you’ve ever felt like your efforts were too insignificant to matter, or if you’re looking for inspiration on how to make a positive impact in your child’s education, this talk is for you.

How do we maintain high standards in the classroom while also encouraging and supporting our students? CenterForLit director Adam Andrews addresses this question with an inspiring explanation of Grace: the most powerful engine of achievement ever invented. With a mix of demonstrations and discussion, Adam offers step-by-step instructions for unlocking the power of this world-changing principle.

The world, friends, and celebrities will define your journey if you don’t know God’s plans for your family. When children come along, parents are given the unique opportunity to help them understand who they are in Christ and discover their God-given strengths. You may know your child has exceptional skills and talents but understanding how to help them identify these to fulfill their purpose is the key. You will learn from a mother with 35 years of experience who has learned how to help children hit their targets.

If you had only one hour in which to give your student a complete education, could you do it? If you accepted the challenge, what lesson would you teach? Adam Andrews argues that a complete and profound education can be acquired in one lesson – and then sets out to prove this audacious claim in an eye-opening, inspiring presentation. Adam first demonstrates the lesson using an example from his own subject, Literature. He then shows you how to teach it in your own area of interest. Adam gives examples of the lesson from every subject in the curriculum and invites the audience to contribute their own ideas. The power of this lesson may revolutionize the way you teach on a daily basis – and it only takes an hour!

You know what they are because you get them too: Questions from within our own hearts, often leading to doubt and fear, and questions from others, thinking they know what is best for our family. Aby shines truth on the common questions that creep into our hearts and threaten to derail our homeschool, as well as build solid answers to common questions homeschoolers get from outsiders.

Homeschooling parents of a child with special needs often ask themselves questions like “Am I qualified to do this?” or “What can I possibly offer?” and “Shouldn’t I leave this to the experts?” As a mom of four dyslexic learners and a daughter with Down Syndrome, Beverly has a unique insight into the doubts and concerns of parents wondering whether they can adequately educate their special needs child. Find encouragement for this challenging task.