A sinister force is working in the homeschool community. It has hurt countless children, families, and churches. It’s caught the attention of mainstream media, and Satan is having a heyday. This force is not an organization, ideology, or teaching that’s “out there harming people.” It’s closer to home. It’s me, my pride, and my fear of man. It’s my desire for quick fixes and control. It’s my unwillingness to repent, believe the Gospel, and rely on the rescuing grace of Jesus Christ for every need in my life, in my wife’s life, and in my children’s lives. The problem is worse than you think...and only Jesus can save us. Welcome to impossible homeschooling, where our only hope is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

With so much cultural discord and upheaval, it can be easy to give into despair if we lose sight of our true source of HOPE. Like the Men of Issachar, we must understand the times and know what to do. In this promising session, Rick shares strategies for families to understand and navigate the current state of our country with a biblical, constitutional, & historical perspective full of JOY & HOPE! Together, we’ll train up a generation of leaders who are ready to fight for our freedom and spread HOPE throughout their communities.

In this most popular of Rick’s presentations, Rick shares a look at our founding fathers, our courts, and our founding documents to take a historical perspective on the current debate regarding whether or not our nation was founded on biblical principles and how that founding should affect current public policy, and whether our faith should be part of both our private and public lives.

Parents considering homeschooling often worry about whether their children will be “normal.” They wonder if their children will emerge from homeschooling prepared for success in life, or if they’ll emerge socially inept and uneducated. Daniel Craig, a second-generation homeschooler, will share why he’s glad he was homeschooled and why your children will be too. Based on personal experience and the unchanging truths of God’s Word, Daniel will help you understand what homeschool “success” really is, where it comes from, and the real reason it matters.

The Bible says to think on things which are noble, good, and true, to let the weak say they are strong, that as a man thinketh so is he, and so on… Neurological science is proving the Bible right again by revealing how God designed the brain to be renewed, literally re-wired, and re-trained. When we intentionally, purposefully, consistently wash our thoughts with His Word and program our computer with His promises, the brain is remade… old neurological connections are overridden with new ones, and we replace the old man with what Paul called the new man. Learn how to replace bad habits, restore a joyful attitude, and instill in your children one of the most important life skills… renewing the mind!

Many parents begin the Homeschool Journey desiring to nurture deep and enduring relationships with their children; over time, realizing winning and keeping their children’s hearts requires more than schooling them at home...especially during the teenage years. How do you keep your child’s heart without controlling it? How do you instill your deepest convictions while avoiding the traps of legalism and permissiveness? How do you foster healthy communication with your older children, maintaining the balance of love and respect? With stories that will make you laugh (and maybe cry), Daniel shares how God used two wonderful but imperfect parents to humbly, lovingly, and courageously train him in the way he should go and not depart from it.

So often, Satan tries to sabotage our effectiveness for the kingdom by placing boulders in our path stealing our God-given joy. Erika speaks truth and encouragement as she identifies how to choose joy along the journey while avoiding some of the major joy-killing sinkholes of our current culture. Homeschool moms will be empowered in their callings as wives, moms, and educators as they are pointed to their true identity in Christ.

Volcanoes are nasty things! Even though we are surrounded by them, we know so little about them. How did they originate? Do they show that the earth is older than the Bible? In this seminar, we will tackle these subjects and the fascinating world of volcanic rocks. I have samples to look at and will set off a fun volcanic eruption using some special chemicals!

No matter how long you’ve been homeschooling, creating a bright future for your young adult can be daunting. There’s much to learn and talk about: •Independent versus interdependent learning and why it matters •Calculating credits for High School graduation •Preparing a student for college learning and creating transcripts •Internships: why are they a game-changer for your student’s homeschool experience •Creating a positive homeschool experience filled with wonderful memories Join Beth Mora, veteran homeschool mom of eight children, for an interactive workshop that promises to help your student have a bright future.

An old earth is the non-negotiable core of evolution. This talk uses stories and demonstrations to explain how dating methods work and why they give erroneously ancient results.

Have you just started your homeschooling journey? Receive information on legal requirements, what to expect in the first year or two, and how to navigate the various ages and stages of homeschooling. Whether you're starting with preschoolers or high schoolers, this session will help you start strong!

Getting Started Handout

Experience classical education in action! We will model and practice the three arts of the trivium: grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. Using triangles as a springboard, this interactive session will demonstrate how learning progresses throughout a student’s life.

An informational presentation about the benefits and opportunities of military service to homeschool families considering the next steps for medical care, college funding options, and career opportunities. This informational discussion comes from a homeschool father of 4 children who is also an Active Duty officer in the US Army.

Learn and teach your family how to research and apply the Biblical Worldview of Government: Christian Self-Government. Bible class. JudahBible.com

Join Kelley Deitemeyer at "Cultivating Global Christians:  Spanish Curriculum and More" for a unique and enriching experience. Whether you're interested in My Homeschool Spanish or seeking practical educational strategies for your homeschooling journey, this workshop is designed for you. Kelley, who is bilingual and has extensive international experience, holds a Doctorate in Education and brings a wealth of knowledge and innovative ideas to the table.

In state after state, the School Choice movement is being pushed as the answer educational freedom for families. The reality is that School Choice initiatives not only don’t deliver on their promises, but they are a threat to homeschool freedoms. You have probably heard statements like these:
“We need school choice!”
“The money should follow the student!”
“They’re my tax dollars!”
“If you don’t want regulations, just don’t take the money!”
OCEANetwork Board member Tauna Meyer addresses these statements and shares why School Choice initiatives and government funding of private education is NOT the answer. Learn about the blessings of true homeschool freedom for families and how, by the grace of God, we can protect those freedoms for generations to come. 

School Choice Resources

School Choice Session Notes

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.

So you kind of like this girl. Or you think he’s cute. WHAT NOW?! Marriage is a wonderful blessing from God, but the path to the altar often seems covered with broken glass—at least that’s what the bloody feet of many couples would indicate! Getting back to God’s foundational principles and offering balance to recent homeschool applications, Daniel shares insights and admonitions based on his attempts in getting to the marriage altar (the third try was the charm!) and having grown up in the homeschool/courtship movement.

As servant leaders of our family, how do we leverage our time, treasures, and talents to create a setting for our children to grow closer to the Lord, nurture their giftings, and prepare them for a life well-lived that honors their creator? Join Forrest Mora, dad of eight, as he unpacks the resources God has given each of us to invest in our family.

This workshop provides a fascinating look at how human nature has driven the search for and discovery of dinosaur fossils. We will look at some of the intriguing people who have been driven to find these creatures, and the strange directions they took because of their worldviews.

What’s your kiddo’s auto-pilot response to assigned writing projects? Is it, “I got this mom”? No? Then join Beth Mora, creator of the Here to Help Learning Writing Program, for a step-by-step plan to build great writing habits in your child, one habit at a time. Beth will present a prudent approach to forming ten great writing habits that will serve your children well and open opportunities for a successful future.

Join Bruce Malone for this presentation of an astounding model for the rapid formation of the earth’s rock layers from the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. This lecture has opened thousands of people’s eyes to the reality of a worldwide flood and destroys the myth that Noah’s flood was a small local event.

Preschool and kindergarten are fun and wonder-filled times! But how do you know what to teach them? How do you give them the best start and set up your homeschool for success? It's easy to get overwhelmed or think we must replicate what the public school is doing. But there is great freedom in homeschooling, even for these early ages! Tauna, a homeschool mom of 6, will help you navigate these precious early years with confidence and find joy in teaching your kids the things that matter most.

While it might be convenient to imagine Christian homeschoolers are impervious to the influences of pop culture, we cannot plead immunity to the lust and pride which saturates our culture. How should we respond? Should we resign ourselves to the status quo, or should we just pretend things are not as bad as they seem? Upholding the biblical alternative to these extremes, this session will equip parents to help their children define a godly relationship to culture by asking five critical questions: “Who is God?” “Who am I?” “What has God done?” “What does He require?” and “Why?” Or to put it another way, “What’s the difference between Taylor Swift, Jesus, and Me?”

Technology is inescapable, but it is not the enemy. Using these critical action steps, you can learn to manage technology so it does not manage you. It can be a great tool for ourselves and for our families.

Hear from the panel of veteran homeschooling moms as they discuss their struggles and triumphs of homeschooling. They will share how they scheduled their days, taught multiple levels, managed high school while also having toddlers, what hindsight has revealed, and much more! Receive encouragement from moms just like you! (Followed by Q&A.)

The common approach to teaching geology is to hit it once, probably in 8th grade. But Geology is the beginning point of understanding biology, astronomy, paleontology, anthropology, archaeology, and so much more. If we hope to win the battle for our children’s minds in the area of worldview, it is vitally important that we teach geology with the importance that it deserves. This seminar will equip you on how to teach geology effectively.

Beth Mora brings her background as a case manager and certified rehabilitation registered nurse (C.R.R.N.) to this session. She is a student of her patients and has learned much from the families she has served. In this workshop, Beth will introduce the S.O.A.P. method to help you develop an educational plan for your child with special needs and help you locate that missing puzzle piece. This workshop will strengthen and empower you to continue your special needs journey.

The very laws of science are designed so we will know we have a creator. So how can so many people be blind to the obvious?

It’s so important to teach our kids God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Learn ways to prioritize these things in your family culture, your weekly homeschool schedule, and the daily challenges of parenting. You’ll come away with a refreshed vision for these precious years with your children and practical tools to help you focus on the Lord together!

Cultivating Bible Habits Handout

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.

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” were the words spoken by the Father to the Son. “I delight to do Your will” were the words spoken by the Son to the Father. The ultimate Father-Son relationship was characterized by delighting and seeking to delight. Does this characterize your father-son relationship? Drawing from the Word and experiences as both a father and son, Daniel will paint a picture for both fathers and sons of how delighting and seeking to delight can help forge the strongest of father-son bonds.

Your marriage is a living curriculum that daily instructs your children. In this session, Forrest and Beth get real and practical as they look at the unique challenges of homeschool marriage. Take the time to invest in the one subject that will impact your child’s future even more than learning Latin or Algebra 2. You will walk away from this workshop just as excited about your marriage as you are about unwrapping that new curriculum you just purchased.

Probably the least understood of subjects in Earth history is the Ice Age and how it fits into a biblical worldview. We’ll examine the evidence for an Ice Age caused by the Genesis Flood, how it could fit into the period between Noah and Abraham, and reinforce confidence in what the Bible says historically.

Thelma provides thirty-one 90-minute video classes available free on YouTube. Classroom materials include a 445-page Syllabus, a list of books, weekly handouts, quizzes, exams, etc. Thelma provides these materials free of charge to parents in email format upon request. Learn how to use these materials to give your student an advanced, Christian perspective of American literature and history from William Bradford, the Constitution, Douglass, Twain, Stowe, and many others. Handouts: https://oceanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/01-American_Lit_Dover_Books.pdf, https://oceanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/01-American_Schedule_Student_Undated.pdf

Handout available at: https://oceanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/01-American_Lit_Dover_Books.pdf

A look at specific inventions that have changed human history as a direct result of observing creation. God is both the greatest artist and the ultimate engineer.

Explore how to tailor your homeschooling curriculum to match your child’s unique learning style. This session delves into understanding various learning modalities and practical strategies for selecting or adapting curriculum materials accordingly. Whether you're a novice or an experienced homeschooler, discover how to create a personalized learning experience that aligns with your child's strengths and interests.

Learning Styles Handout

This session will be a fun opportunity for children to demonstrate knowledge of their world and the Bible. There will also be a lesson from Scripture from the life of Christ and a reminder of the value and importance of growing in wisdom. It will end with an exhortation to obey God even as Christ did and to share the gospel with others.

Discover the tools that teach your children how to think well and develop an understanding of any subject, topic, or trade. We will model these tools allowing you to experience them yourself.

Mindy Brouse is a homeschooling mom of six in her umpteenth year of homeschooling. Her engaging style is one of humor coupled with practicality. She uses a classical eclectic model in her homeschool, which usually involves chocolate and chai latte. During this entertaining session, you will learn about BiblioPlan curriculum and tips and tricks for teaching across multi-age levels. Learn how to organize and utilize history, Bible, and geography for the entire family.

Many students love math when they understand the concepts. But when there is a learning gap, that student can suddenly begin to hate math. Sue Wachter will share tips and tools to help fill some of those learning gaps to help your struggling student learn to love math again.

Forrest and Beth Mora MP3#24-415 Holiday Inn Banquet Room??We all know it. We all must face it and embrace it. The new homeschool family is an online family shaped by budget constraints and cyberculture. In this session, we’ll explore new ways of meeting the needs of the next generation of homeschool families. We live in an exciting time filled with more opportunities to serve than ever!

Children are bombarded daily with media of every possible variety. In today's ever-changing economic and social climate, parents must find balance to positively raise their children. Rick Green’s mentor, Zig Ziglar, devoted much of his career to providing golden nuggets and guidelines still needed today to face parenting challenges. The Greens credit Zig's biblically based, scientifically-sound strategies with helping them raise children who remained teachable through the “teenage” years, and they want to share Zig's wisdom with YOU! While there is no magic formula for raising kids, these strategies will positively improve the relationships in your home.

How do a skid steer loader, backhoe, front tine tiller, small tractor, and diesel pick-up truck relate to being a husband, father, and servant leader of your family? In this unique talk, Forrest Mora, a landscape contractor and equipment operator, speaks to men using language men can relate to. Forrest shares real-life stories from his experiences over the last 30 years, sometimes laughing at himself and other times challenging everyone in the room. His nuts-and-bolts communication style provides a welcomed outlet for men to gather and discover they are not alone in life’s challenges.

Throughout our public education, university, media, and museum system, your children will hear only naturalistic explanations of origins and Earth history. This lecture draws upon 30 years of speaking at schools and churches to explain WHY our schools only allow “naturalism,” HOW we reached this point where American education has become indoctrination, what is being left out of the classroom, and how parents can prepare their children for what they are up against.

What do you do with those rocks your kids are bringing home? You identify them! This seminar will give you a short primer in basic rock identification, with encouragement to not be afraid of a dirty subject.

Thelma provides thirty-one 90-minute video classes available free on YouTube. Classroom materials include a 400+ page Syllabus, a list of books, weekly handouts, quizzes, exams, etc. Thelma provides these materials free of charge to parents in email format upon request. Learn how to use these materials to give your student an advanced, Christian perspective of English literature from Beowulf, Bunyan, à Kempis, Shakespeare, Donne, Tolstoy, Milton, and many others.

No matter where we turn, we face an epidemic of visionless, clueless, fantasy-driven young people. Stuck in an education system that fosters this disconnect from reality, few Millennials, even Christians, can successfully bridge the gap into real life. From a millennial’s perspective, Daniel calls students and parents to adopt a new paradigm for his generation in light of God’s Word. Don’t attend this session unless you are ready to be challenged with a new vision for life and an awakened understanding of the responsibilities God calls every young person to fulfill.

Teach babies, toddlers, pre-school, elementary school, tweens, and teens all at once? Yes, it’s God’s design. Multi-level teaching is where one lesson is taught to your entire family while still meeting each child’s individual needs. Multi-level teaching is a practical and effective approach to instruction and requires less time than separate instruction. Younger students benefit from being exposed to more advanced skills, and older students benefit from demonstrating their skills to younger students. It’s a win-win! Learn how to implement this teaching style into your family’s educational plan and create lasting memories.

Homeschooling in America is freer from restrictions and more accessible than ever. With so many successes, you’d think that homeschooling would have convinced critics of its place as a proven educational option. However, this year we’ve witnessed yet another wave of persecution aimed at home education. Christian homeschoolers have shown that we are uniquely equipped to serve and lead our culture. As individuals and as a mature institution, we must do what only followers of Christ can do: draw our neighbors to the gospel that offers forgiveness, sustenance, guidance, and reconciliation. We need to champion homeschooling as an enduring institution that continues to shape children’s characters by encouraging and modeling virtue.

As parents, we desire to disciple our kids and help them grow the authentic faith they need to live #NotConsumed by the hard things in life. Join Kim as she shares her journey, as well as ideas and resources for reaching the hearts of our kids as we help them develop a real-life faith that impacts their todays and shapes their tomorrows.

This session covers everything you need to know about Iowa’s homeschool law so you can homeschool with confidence. It includes a thorough presentation of the basics with plenty of time for questions.

Every family has a culture, a way of living, and every family is defined by it. Are your family’s mission and culture breathing life into your days? Being intentional and purposeful is the best way to make sure your mission aligns with your worldview. You’ll leave this session armed with a list of practical ideas and an encouraged heart!

Ginger will share wisdom from her best-selling book, Don’t Make Me Count to Three! There is far more to parenting than getting children to “act” right. We have to get them to “think” right and to be motivated out of a love of virtue rather than a fear of punishment. Ginger quips parents to reach past the outward behavior of their children and address the issues of the heart. Move beyond the frustrations of not knowing how to handle issues of disobedience and into a confident approach to raising your children.

Gain a fresh perspective on how your children’s actions and attitudes help you discover their natural bent, so you can plan strategies that will help them grow into the persons they were created to be. We’ll peel back the layers to reveal pieces of the puzzle that go beyond the usual “auditory, kinesthetic, and visual” discussions. This workshop will provide you with insight into your children on a new level to help you reach and teach them more effectively.

Speaking towards the scripture, “Train up a child in the way he should go…,” Peggy digs into the Bible to show parents how to live up to this standard without losing their focus, or their minds. From the experience of being a parent and a foster-parent of multiple special needs children, Peggy Ployhar has first-hand knowledge of the rigorous demands put on parents who are raising, training, and homeschooling children with special needs. Woven with personal stories, biblical truth, and lots of encouragement, this talk will truly speak to the hearts of parents who want to raise their special needs children as God has called them to do.

Kerry Beck Most homeschoolers continue to offer their children the same type of education they received; they just do it at home. There’s a better way! Kerry reveals how she homeschooled her three kids to give them a love of learning, as well as the tools of learning. Her goal was to train her kids to become leaders of tomorrow. Godly leaders who can think critically and biblically! Godly leaders who will change the world!

– Mark Davis So many teens struggle with "What's Next?" after high school. It's encouraging to know God's will isn't lost. It’s been clearly revealed in His Word. This workshop walks through the New Testament, applying Biblical principles for the next steps in life.

Are you ever embarrassed or shocked by what comes out of your child’s mouth? Based on her newest book, I Can’t Believe You Just Said That, Ginger provides a practical three-step plan to reach beyond the behaviors of tongue-related struggles (such as lying, defying, and manipulating) to address your child’s heart. After all, as Matthew 12:34 tells us, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Do your kids “forget” to do their chores? Is their schoolwork just a box that gets sloppily checked off? Do you feel like they’ll never take initiative? If you’re looking for the magic pill to help your kids get off the couch and work hard, this isn’t the session for you. But if you want practical ways to kick laziness to the curb, be sure to join us as we learn how to encourage and nurture our kids to be disciplined and responsible workers.

Homeschooling High School Part 1: – Diana Plorins This workshop will consider opportunities that support your high school student’s interests and abilities. We will also look at options for outsourcing coursework. You will be equipped with the tools you need to develop a four-year plan that is practical and purposeful.

Doubt is the number one enemy of all homeschoolers. So it stands to reason that overcoming doubt is the key to homeschool success. Peggy Ployhar, the CEO of SPED Homeschool, has 18 years’ experience battling doubt in her own homeschooling endeavors. But, instead of letting those doubts creep in and destroy her homeschool, she learned with each battle just how much God’s grace and truth provided strategies for conquering her doubts. This talk is filled with biblical fighting strategies to equip every homeschooling parent to do battle head-on with their own doubts so they can overcome them and homeschool victoriously.

– Jeremy Vos is the Homeschool Iowa Lobbyist - Many states across the nation have opened Educational Savings Account funding to homeschooling families. While Iowa currently limits ESAs to parents using private accredited schools, the possibility of expansion is real. What are the potential effects and possible concerns?

This talk provides an overview of the family economy as the basis for productive households and generational discipleship. We cover the practical steps of involving our spouses and children in work, worship, and wisdom, and how your family can begin creating a new future together today.

What should “school” look like for early learners? What things are developmentally appropriate for the younger ages? How do we keep our “littles” appropriately occupied while homeschooling their siblings? This fun and informative session will provide a plethora of ideas specifically geared to engage your pre- and elementary-age children. Nancy will share resources, fun games, toddler tips, and easy activities, all designed to help parents think outside the box when it comes to “doing school.”

How do you show that your student is prepared for college-level coursework? How do you create a transcript that reflects your student’s aptitude and ability? We will demystify the steps, so you can confidently homeschool through high school.

Discover how to use reading and writing to teach your kids how to think for themselves. Starting with young students, Kerry takes you through from littles to teens, showing how you can develop critical and biblical thinking skills. By the time she addresses the high school ages, you’ll know how to use great, living books and writing to prepare your kids to think for themselves and make wise decisions instead of following the crowd. Plus, you’ll love her ideas on how to incorporate your read-alouds in this process.

Do you find yourself threatening, repeating your instructions, or raising your voice in an attempt to get your children to obey? Do you feel guilty because you know you should be faithfully training and instructing your children in righteousness, but you aren’t sure how? Through personal experience and practical application of Scripture, Ginger encourages and equips parents in the why, when, and how of biblical discipline.

You’ve tried all the things that seem to work for other people yet still can’t find the right homeschool schedule for you. Trust me,-you’re not alone. Figuring out how to teach multiple ages, fold the laundry, and keep the toddlers from writing on the walls with markers can feel overwhelming. Join homeschool veteran of over 20 years and work-at-home mom, as she shares practical ways to wrangle your homeschool schedule for good.

With over 30,000 occupations currently in existence, students face a bewildering array of careers upon which to center their lives. But there is more at stake than just a paycheck. This talk will discuss what makes for meaningful work, self-reliance, and careers that reinforce, rather than undermine, family life and a vibrant home economy.

Maybe it seems like there just isn’t enough time in the day to take care of the house, teach the kids, and even attempt to juggle a full or part-time job. But it is possible if you know how to work self-care into your everyday living. In this talk, Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder and CEO and recent cancer survivor, will share her own story of near burnout and how that experience led her to many realizations about how and why it was so important to prioritize her own care to keep everything balanced in her home, and how she creatively plans to ensure self-care in her busy working and homeschooling schedule. You will come away with new resolve as well as creative ideas for strategically building self-care into your own busy parenting and homeschooling life.

You can’t do everything, but did you know that you shouldn’t even try? In this message, you’ll learn how independent learning decreases burn out, helps students excel, and equips them for life. This workshop will give you the tools to guide your child as they gradually transition to learning independently, whether you have preschoolers or high schoolers!

When I ask homeschoolers their biggest challenge in homeschooling, I often hear stress, anxiety, burnout, overwhelmed with it all, consistency, procrastination, too busy, too many activities. Can you relate to these? It’s tough to homeschool and, take your pick: keep up with the laundry, serve three meals a day, find time for your husband, make life fun for everyone, and stay focused on Jesus. Let’s take a step back and see how principles from Charlotte Mason can help you simplify your homeschool and reduce your overwhelm. These practical strategies from can be used in anyone’s homeschool.

In every generation, except the last two or three, parents have taught their children how to grow their own food, keep animals, and provide for their basic needs. With wit and wisdom, this talk presents some ways parents can teach their children homesteading skills and mend the chain that has been broken from the generations before ours.

Every parent wants grace to be the biggest part of how they interact with a child who has done wrong. But a parent looking back often sees regretfully that in the heat of the moment, they fell short of the way they wish they had acted toward the child. Anger, fear, and judging are the three main suspects that can overwhelm the deep desire to act graciously. This presentation will lay down a solid Biblical foundation for dealing with those so they can no longer hijack our heart’s desire to transmit grace to a child.

This workshop is a condensed version of ScreenStrong’s Kids’ Brains & Screens Course, that offers a basic overview of the science behind healthy brain development, the effects of screens on the developing brain, symptoms of screen overuse, and solutions to prevent and reverse the effects of addictive screen habits.

Are you a homeschooling dad like I am? Do you need an occasional booster shot like I do? Come, let us reason together, encourage one another, bear each other’s burdens, and leave refreshed to carry out our vital role

Is your laundry all over the kitchen table? Are Legos© strewn across the living room floor? Can you find the kids’ history book? Do you feel like you’re drowning in chaos and clutter? Be encouraged to know that you are not alone. Kerry may be an empty nester, but she vividly remembers those days of homeschooling in the trenches. She relives those days with her grandkids. Kerry shares 3 three tips you can start using immediately to control the chaos and clutter of homeschooling.

So many young adults are walking away from the faith. How can parents help the young people under their roof develop that personal relationship with God--to make it theirs and not just something they read about or hear about in the lives of others? In this workshop, tools will be presented to help them become aware and remember the individual works of God in their own lives.

Does your child (or do you) display primarily reflexive/impulsive problem solving or deliberate/meticulous problem solving? Do either of you struggle getting out of the box, or taking time that is needed to think something through? Developing understanding of these two default modes of thinking can create better decision making and problem solving in school and all of life. In this session, we’ll explore the principles of neuroscience that lead to brain activity, connectivity, and function We’ll ask questions to make the jump from principles of science to applications for learning. Learn how cognitive tasks work, how the brain problem solves, and how to improve focus (both more and less). Lessons will be shared from both clinical and learning environments, and homework will be given to parents to help apply these general ideas into your home. Dr. Joe has an engaging way of making the complex simple, and while his two sessions aren't connected, it will be helpful to attend both as you will learn two sides of a coin (how information is processed and how an individual relates to the surrounding world). Dr. Joe’s second workshop is in Session IX. This session is more focused on internal processes than external interpretation.

Just as a house in shambles needs to be flipped to renew its purpose and extend its use, the typical methods for teaching special needs students in the homeschooling environment need to be flipped if parents want to see better educational results than the typical model provides. Peggy Ployhar, the Founder & CEO of SPED Homeschool, will dive into the history of the special education system and where many of the current practices of teaching students with special needs stem from and how they have affected our preconceived notions on how to best teach a student with special needs. Then, with a twist of hope, she will share how parents can take advantage of their homeschooling freedoms to flip these practices and homeschool their special needs students with renewed purpose to pursue their student’s God-given gifts and talents

– Jenny Conner Many of us learned how to do math but may still lack the understanding of the why behind the procedures. How do we teach our children to reason mathematically? How do we move beyond rote memorized processes and encourage true mathematical thinking in our students? Join us for this very practical workshop where Jenny will demonstrate how to guide students toward discovery of the rationale underlying key mathematical concepts. We will learn the art of questioning as well as how to use a handful of simple yet powerful illustrations applicable across curriculum. Laying a foundation of mathematical reasoning will fill us with awe at the truth, beauty, and goodness of math... and the God who created it!

Come and discover, or encounter anew, a bigger vision of what homeschooling can be for your family. Find encouragement as you reconsider your goals and put into perspective the pieces of the puzzle. We’ll talk about both academic and non-academic objectives, and practical ways to fit it all together to help you and your children find out who they were created to be and what the changing seasons might hold for you.

Most students today are graduating from college completely unprepared for the working world, and employers are growing increasingly concerned. Give your young person an advantage in life by teaching them a work ethic before it’s too late.

Are you feeling inadequate about starting the homeschooling journey with struggling student or one who has a 504 plan or IEP? Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, says that, when she started homeschooling, she would have probably been voted as the parent least likely to succeed in homeschooling. Yet, 18 years later, she’s not only graduated two children from her homeschool but has also spent the last 15 years coaching other special education families towards homeschooling success. In this session families will be equipped with the top five keys to homeschooling a struggling learner with confidence as well as practical ways to put aside the things that may hinder applying these solid educational principles.

Does your high schooler dread the question, “So, what are you doing after you graduate?” In this workshop, homeschool parents and students will learn about the Discover Your WIN “What is Next” model, which will provide practical ideas on how to identify and pursue potential career paths. Regardless of whether your homeschooler is interested in college, learning a trade, or entering the workforce, the Discover Your “WIN” model can help with developing a plan for next steps after homeschool life.

This workshop is based on the ScreenStrong Student Course. Students will learn the facts about basic brain science and how addictive technology like social media and video games affect a healthy brain. They will feel encouraged and excited to live life off the screen.

Join Nick as he helps you explore practical ways to integrate AI into your homeschool routine. He will show you how to create a future-ready homeschooling environment with virtual tutors, AI-driven content recommendations, and live examples. You’ll learn how AI works, what tools are available, and how it can enhance your teaching and your child's learning.

So you’ve got a box full of unused planners and half-erased lesson plan books. Trust me, you’re not alone! From curriculum to the daily schedule, there is a simple way to plan your whole school year in just ONE week. Reclaim your Sunday nights and your sanity by joining veteran homeschool mom, Kim Sorgius Jones, for this practical session.

Many parents slowly progress away from hands-on learning as their student nears high school level classes. But, for students who have difficulty with understanding abstract concepts through traditional instruction, the removal of multi-sensory and discovery-style instruction makes the leap to high school not only challenging but also often very discouraging. In this talk, Peggy Ployhar, the CEO of SPED Homeschool, covers practical ways to build high school credit courses for a homeschool student using unit studies and encourages her audience to do the same in this interactive workshop. You will leave this talk encouraged and equipped to start, or continue, your homeschooling high school journey using unit studies.

Weeds find the tiniest cracks to take root. The same is true for marriage. Financial stress, communication breakdowns, and unresolved conflicts constantly apply pressure to your marriage. This workshop marriage adventure will help couples develop fun and healthy ways to connect with their spouse. Participants will experience how knowing who they are can produce a joyful style of communication. They will learn new habits and practices as they speak from their heart.

This is a demonstration workshop, walking you through the start-to-finish process of making sourdough bread while being fed an encouraging word. As homeschool moms, our daily work can begin to feel quite monotonous. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner come around at lightning speed, the cleanliness of the house falls short in a picture-perfect world, and the work of character training is constant. This session will be a conversation in how the rhythms of daily work and daily obedience can actually transfigure ordinary work into something very holy.

Hear from our Homeschool Iowa Lobbyist, Jeremy Voss, about our efforts to keep homeschooling rights secure. Find out about proposed legislation and learn how you can be a partner.

Does your child have a comeback for everything you tell him to do or always try and get the last word, even if it’s mumbled under his breath? Does he become mad and lose control when you discipline him rather than repenting? Or does he seem indifferent, giving the impression that discipline doesn’t faze him in the least? Through biblical insights and powerful drama, learn how to avoid the snares of parent-provoked anger and raise emotionally healthy children.

Traditionally, fathers were revered as the “Paterfamilias”— the Head of the House. In modern times, the father’s role has been diminished, usurped, and mocked. But there can be no substitute: Father is the pattern for the family, and vision for its future begins with him.

Most homeschoolers have more than one child at home, but how do they balance it all? If you need help homeschooling multiple kids, you’re in the right place. Kerry shares three tips that worked for her during her 10 years of homeschooling all three of her kids. Get rid of the overwhelm from all those lesson plans and use these tips to simplify your homeschool.