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.

Is behaving like a gentleman an outdated and antiquated idea? Join 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!

Why have so many Christians departed from the literal reading of Genesis? Come learn the teachings of the Gap Theory, Day Age Theory, Theistic Evolution, and Progressive Creationism. Come take a look at the consequences of compromise and what is at stake in these issues.

This session offers a discussion of learners who experience some form of disability or learning challenge alongside an exceptional gift. You’ll come away with a broader understanding of how different exceptionalities can manifest themselves within learning styles and preview resources that match your child’s unique learning profile. Ultimately, this workshop will enable you to spend less time searching for resources and more time nurturing your child’s gifts.

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.

Second-mile leaders are those counter-intuitive servants of God who earn the right to be heard by developing a consistent love of virtue, a disciplined approach to gratification, and a submissive love for the authority of God’s Word. Male leadership is essential to the success of marriages, families, the church, and society. This session will teach men how to Earn the Right To Be Heard, Prefer Proactivity, Reject Reactivity, Learn To Elevate Virtues Above Feelings, Build Moral Muscle, Seek Forgiveness, and Develop A Finisher’s Attitude. Powerful teaching that produces proactive fruit in our homes.

Today we can continue to see increasing compromise even among the churches because of the lack of biblical authority. See how a strong foundation in Genesis is vital not only for our country but for our homes and schooling as well. How can we rebuild this foundation to keep our children from being led astray?

Women thrive on relationships! But are our relationships glorifying God or do they draw our hearts away from faithful obedience to the Lord and His Word? In this session, Megan will encourage women to use their relationships to encourage, edify, and exhort one another. As sisters in Christ and homeschooling mothers, we have the unique opportunity to build up and strengthen one another. Every homeschooling mom will benefit from giving and receiving encouragement from other women. This session will challenge women to examine their friendships and to structure Christ-centered, God-honoring, and faith-deepening relationships.

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.”

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!

Do your children have interest in computers? Do all the "teach your kids coding" materials out there make you dizzy? This workshop will help you cut through the noise and give you the real-world resources to help encourage your child(ren) further into the world of computing.

Come explore the evidence that man and dinosaurs did exist together just as the Bible proclaims. Study the Scripture’s description of the unicorn, behemoth, and leviathan to see what they actually are. God is not describing wild oxen, ponies, elephants, hippos, or crocodiles. Did dinosaurs go on the ark? If they did, how did Noah get those big beasts on board? Come and see!

Participants will be better prepared to implement effective reading instruction for their child who struggles with reading by gaining a deeper understanding of the five components of literacy instruction -- phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. They will learn how to use available screeners to accurately place children in a reading intervention, using phonics and word-reading screeners, spelling screeners, and phonemic awareness screeners.

Could you use some encouragement and strategies to help reignite your student’s love of learning? If so, this session is for you! There are many factors that impact a child’s motivation level—stress, executive function, nutritional needs, media usage, and more. With a little bit of theory and a whole lot of practical application, Rochelle equips parents with the tools they need to tap into their child’s God-given gift of curiosity.

Exhibitor Workshop

Exhibitor Workshop

Rick Boyer and his wife have been home schooling since 1980. Starting out young and green in a time when only a handful of families was home schooling, Rick and Marilyn found few resources to help them in their journey. They had to blaze their own trail, surviving such obstacles as skeptical grandparents, hostile school authorities, unhelpful curriculum publishers, blizzards, Indian attacks…(just kidding). The Boyers are still home schooling today and now share their experiences around the world through their books and their speaking ministry. Rick will share some of the most profound lessons learned along the way.

Character is a the key that opens the door to successful adult living. It is the first thing wise people examine when evaluating a prospective employee, spouse, or friend. That's why Christ-like character is the MOST important subject you will ever teach your children! Come hear Marilyn Boyer, mother of 14 homeschooled kids and learn as she shares how to intentionally teach this most important of all subjects!

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!

Parenting style MUST SHIFT as your child grows. Developing influence with your child is essential to reducing the struggle for control as he matures. Having raised 4 children to lead productive lives as adults, the Smiths bring real-life stories from their past to illustrate both good and bad approaches to controlling kids in the family. Effectively handling each stage of growth, from toddler to teen, will set the stage for more influence. You will be encouraged, and you will be inspired.

Few things create more tension for parents than hearing their children fight with each other. But it's nothing new, as the Bible clearly shows. Scripture also shows several causes of sibling rivalry AND teaches us how to deal with it effectively. Peace in your home really is possible! Come and hear how you can help your children learn to live at peace with each other, laying foundations for successful relationships all throughout life.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with the demands of parenting? Life is certainly a challenge for parents, and especially those who accept the added responsibility of home education. But there are ways to make life easier and more productive, and this workshop discusses some of those. Marilyn Boyer, mother of fourteen children and a veteran home educator of more than forty years' experience, shares her techniques for accomplishing a mammoth amount of housework while giving her children a superior education at the same time.

What’s a dad to do? In a busy home, dads often find themselves being dragged along in all the activity involving the children. But can it be another way? The influence of the father can be the thing that helps all the activity stay on course. Dr. Smith will share ways he and others have made significant contributions to the home amid a busy career. This session will not be an attempt to produce guilt about failures but will offer solutions and hope for increasing the influence of dad in the home, resulting in everyone being happier.

One confusing aspect of the life of a believer is the war between their spirit and their flesh. This war and its consequences are personal and will determine a person's effectiveness as a believer. Understanding the biblical basis for this battle is paramount for living a victorious, joyful and faith-filled life. You will discover the power of the Spirit that lives within and cause the Enemy and his minions to tremble. This is also an excellent topic for parents hoping to prepare their teens for this challenge aspect of faith.

One of the biggest mistakes new homeschoolers make is trying to recreate the traditional classroom setting in their homeschool. This workshop will help you start to think outside the box & hopefully encourage you towards freedom and joy in your homeschooling journey.

Discover how you can help your child acquire the essential habits to learn anything. This talk will model these "core habits," allowing you to experience them yourself!

With fascinating illustrations, this session contrasts the evolution model with the creation model from a historic standpoint through a look at what many ancient cultures were able to accomplish. These accomplishments baffle us even today! How did ancient man do these things? This session contrasts some of these civilizations to our own and has a personal application.

Conflict with our children can cause a great gulf between us. Discipline in the home is a must, but it need not create tension between us and our children. The Smiths will share how Biblical discipline is often misapplied, but more importantly, how we can pattern our family discipline after that of our Heavenly Father. Stories of parents doing it well will empower you to make needed adjustments in your approach to discipline.

Every person has a dozen or so defining moments in their life that have the ability to change their future. Many people don’t recognize them or at the very least, don’t allow them to significantly impact their lives like God has intended them to. Chuck shares life examples, biblical lessons, and encouragement on how to recognize and respond to your next defining moment so that you are blessed, the kingdom is advanced, and your future is filled with purpose. God loves using average people to do amazing things because then the glory all goes to Him. Learn how to let your next defining moment propel you into the amazing promises of God.

Marilyn Boyer is no stranger to the joys and challenges of raising teenagers. With fourteen sons and daughters now having graduated from high school at home, Marilyn shares why she taught them herself from kindergarten through the high school years and why she wouldn't consider doing it any other way.

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 person 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.

The earth is wearing out just like the Bible said it would. The earth is undergoing changes that can be seen everywhere. Why do volcanoes erupt? Why are there earthquakes? Why do rocks fall from the sky? What are comets? Why are there unique weather patterns? Is the earth warming? If so, why? Why are all continents shifting toward the Pacific? What produces El Niños? What does the mid-Atlantic Ridge have to do with the west Pacific? Etc. The answers are all related, & might surprise you!

Communication patterns open, or close, the door to connectedness. Conflict is a normal part of every relationship, yet healthy conflict resolution is not common. Simple principles help us develop this skill that can be learned. This session will review some of the basic communication principles that are foundational to successful conflict resolution.

More than ever before, raising teenagers that care about their faith is hard, especially in a culture that is quickly becoming increasingly hostile toward Christians. Chuck and his wife raised six children in this age of technology, learning to fight back against teen apathy and help their chidren's faith not only survive, but thrive. Chuck shares insight and techniques to equip parents for the challenging teen years.

What will really matter 10 or 50 years from now? Not how well you taught mathematics or sentence diagramming, or whether your laundry was always caught up. Sometimes we forget--or don't even knowhow to delight in our children and make time to enjoy being with them. Come hear Marilyn and catch a vision of how you can reach and hold the heart of your child and build family relationships that will be passed on through generations.

While most people’s negative reaction to spiders is understandable, those willing to suspend their disgust long enough for a closer look will discover a hidden world of incredible design! Not only do spiders benefit us by consuming massive quantities of insect pests, they do so using ingenious tactics. Some hunt and pounce, others build traps and wait. Many are cleverly disguised or camouflaged. They can spin up to six different kinds of silk for various purposes, each a marvel of engineering!

Does your home schooling lack inspiration? Are you and your children just going through the motions of a curriculum, rather than striving for excellence? For countless generations, kids have been inspired by hero stories. Come and hear how you can revolutionize your child's education by giving him a legacy of greatness.

Come hear Marilyn Boyer, who over a span of 37 years homeschooled all 14 of her kids. She started out pretty traditionally, but as time went on, many powerful lessons were learned and she is excited to share those things with you.

Fear can paralyze us in the pursuit of something good. Even avoiding fear does not eliminate it, so we must attack it a different way. In this session, Jan will share practical ways that we can manage the fear that arises and the chaos that accompanies it. A bit of humor will shed light on the fact that some of our fears are imagined, while other real issues escape our notice. Some time-tested tips offered here may help with the fear, even if the chaos remains.

In this talk Andrew Pudewa shares many humorous experiences (and painful lessons) he has learned over thirty years of teaching and homeschooling. You will be challenged, reassured, and sure to leave with an expanded vision of your calling as a home educator.

A life-long student of motivation, Andrew Pudewa has organized fundamental ideas of motivation into categories: four forms of relevancy, three laws of motivation, and two secret weapons. This expansion of Andrew's previous talk Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Be Making Forts All Day includes new and updated stories, tips, and information.

Today, many of us have an intuitive sense that major changes are coming. When this happens, our lives may become very different in ways not necessarily convenient or comfortable. At the same time, we must live each day as though things will continue pretty much as they are. Resolving this cognitive dissonance requires that we carefully contemplate our circumstances because we are in a cultural war, fighting the "non-gospel" of aesthetic and moral relativism on three fronts: personal, familial, and social. What should our priorities be? How can we prepare children to be culture warriors?

In Jeremiah 29, God's people have experienced judgment and find themselves living in the midst of a hostile culture. God promises to deliver them in His time and directs them to establish homes, build families, and seek the welfare of the city in which they are living. God has a plan for restoring a godly culture. And your family has a part in it.

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. Listen to funny guy and Familyman Todd Wilson as he sets the stage for 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.

Like you, when we began our homeschooling journey, we asked ourselves, "Will we be able to teach them all they need to know for success?" There were so many options and subjects to teach them. They were loaned to us knowing almost NOTHING, and we were expected to fill up their noggins and prepare them for adulthood. Little did we know then that homeschooling turned out to be not only what we taught them...but what THEY taught US. Never would we have believed how God would use homeschooling to teach us what He needed us to know as parents, homeschoolers, and as His children. So join Todd for an intimate time of sharing and laughing at the lessons my children taught me. My hope is that you'll start to view your homeschool day less as a time to teach and muscle through but as a gift. During our time together, we will look at the smile stealers and makers in your homeschooling world and get you smiling again. Because you have a lot to smile about!!!

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 again why it's best. Join Todd as he does just that. You'll laugh and be encouraged in the toughest job you'll ever...love.

Eighty percent of the children labeled "Learning Disabled" in school are boys. That's why wise parents understand that the confinement, boredom, and regimentation of school should be avoided if boys are to thrive. The key to understanding and cooperating with the drives God has built into boys is recognizing that boyhood is preparation for the roles of family protector, provider, and leader that naturally and biblically fall upon men. We must understand that we are not raising boys but training future men if we are to make boyhood the exciting and profitable season of life that God intended it to be.

Have you ever felt lost amid all the "stuff" that is marketed to homeschoolers, 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. Hear powerful, practical solutions that will help you get your priorities straight. God wrote the Proverbs for parents just like YOU.

After diagnosing her youngest daughter with autism, Sonya found herself in a spiritual valley. Though your valley may look different, the giants she encountered there may seem eerily similar to your own. Learn what Scriptures the Lord used to help her overcome five giants in the valley: the giants named Fear, Faltering Faith, Uncertainty, Guilt, and Self-Pity.

One of the perks of homeschooling is the opportunity families have to build relationships. Learning to live and learn together, 24-7, provides a wonderful environment where relationships are cultivated. It isn't always easy, but the benefits are well worth the effort! Heather and Colene provide an honest look at how to thrive in the beautiful but sometimes messy world of living and learning together.

X-Boxes, Game-Cubes, the INTERNET, Facebook, and iPhones have changed how we live, have fun, and interact. Children quietly glued to game monitors for hours have replaced laughter and creativity. They beg to play, whine when they can't, and even lie about the time they've spent on "the gadget." Teens and pre-teens spend most of their waking hours texting, chatting on Facebook, or 'tweeting' on Twitter. Today's latest-breaking technology becomes tomorrow's obsession, demanding more time, attention, and sacrifices. Technology has become a powerful tool, and everyone is doing it...but maybe you feel like you've lost control in your home. Does the chill down your spine tell you that something is terribly wrong? Do you feel like a beast has invaded your home, but you don't know how to handle it? If so, listen to Todd talk about the timely topic of taming the TECHNO-BEAST!

It's quiet but deadly. It can poison a whole family when no one knows it's there. It dampens affection, kills communication, and leaves hearts wounded and hurting. It is the number one reason marriages break up, and parents lose their children's hearts. The Bible describes it as a "root" that springs up and defiles many. In this talk, Rick Boyer explains how the poison of bitterness damages relationships and how the grace of God can put them back together again. Peace and love in your home are not just a dream.

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 make sure 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.

Have any of you ever felt paralyzed by the idea of your children having huge glaring gaps in their education? It's time to face your fear and conquer it! Fear is a joy-thief, but it doesn't have to hold you hostage. Discover four tips that will set the stage for a life-long pursuit of learning and help you forever conquer that fear of the gaps!

"How long, O LORD? Wilt Thou forget me forever?" This was the cry of David's heart in Psalm 13. Most of us have been there. As a parent, you will probably encounter seasons when life is just too much, and you despair of ever feeling that you're up to the challenge of raising godly children in a hostile world. But God had a solution for David, and He has the same grace available to you. Hear how disappointment and tragedy were turned into victory in a homeschooling parent's life.

Life can get so crazy! Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of why you're spending so much of your time homeschooling. Wouldn't it be easier to send them off to school like most people do? In this session, Marilyn Boyer will help you renew your vision (or develop it), sharing why she's so glad she spent 37 years of her life doing just that.

Handout available at: https://www.oceanetwork.org/2023-speaker-handouts/

Discover how we can reach the heart of our boys and inspire them to embrace this training phase of their lives as they pursue living a life of purpose that, like the knights of old, courageously puts the needs of others before their own. The world needs more kind, courageous, and bold men who will lead their families well and make an impact in their world both now and for the rest of their lives. It starts with igniting the imagination, honoring their love for adventure, and casting a vision for the training process.

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.

How do you know that you are doing enough? The pressure to do it right, not mess up your kids, and fill in all the gaps is coming from all sides-- often to the detriment of our children. This session is all about permission: permission to make homeschooling what it needs to be for you, to raise out-of-the-box thinkers, to skip that lesson, and to refuse to settle. If this question has been plaguing you, then this session will remind you that you don't have to aim for the national average... you can choose extraordinary!! Raise world changers!

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. Join Rick for this promising session as he 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.

All children need to know they’re smart. This empowers them to have hope and believe in their future. When all 8 smarts are awakened and strengthened, children will know they can learn and will successfully study when something isn’t easy. When parents teach to all 8 and use them for review, motivation and learning improve.

“I won’t do it!” my child screamed after being asked to sit down and start the day’s math assignment. “You will too!” I resolutely stated back. “I will not!” And thereupon ensued an all-out fight of wills. The strong-willed mother determined to win over the strong-willed child. This workshop is designed to give you helpful tips in dealing with a strong-willed child, how to nurture as well as homeschool this child, how to stay sane in the midst of anguish, and give you hope for the future. Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine whose goal is to glorify God and strengthen homeschoolers in their commitment to keep their children Home Where They Belong.

You are not alone. The Principles of Liberty still work when we work them. And YOU have a role to play in a proven plan for restoring freedom. Let’s be honest…America took a major turn towards government control of the people in the past couple of years. But precisely because of all the government overreach, we now have before us a once in a century opportunity to convert an entire generation into liberty lovers raising patriotic families. If you want to see a revival of freedom in America, then you do not want to miss this presentation by Rick Green as he lays out a path forward for restoring Biblical Values and Constitutional Principles in our communities.

How to make learning fun, memorable, and enjoyable. After many years in the classroom, and as a youth leader, followed by many more years as a homeschool dad, Steve shares strategies and tips that he has practiced and developed in his lifetime to help kids learn.

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.

Deborah will share how the Bible has made an impact on her homeschooling and how it can change yours. Do your children know the Biblical reasons they are homeschooling? Do they know why they don’t participate in things other kids participate in? Do they have the tools they need for life to battle sin, defeat the enemy, and answer their peers and culture? Find out the importance of the Bible in the homeschool. It’s as important as life and death! Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine whose goal is to glorify God and strengthen homeschoolers in their commitment to keep their children Home Where They Belong.

It can be easy to forget why we are homeschooling due to the daily stress and the emotional and physical demands of the job. We hear voices that say, “Someone else could do this better!” or, “What was I thinking?” There are so many things that bring lack of courage to continue on. Besides questions from relatives and strangers, sometimes even our own children will ask why we are homeschooling. Do we have the answers? It is good to remember why we are homeschooling so that when the tough times come, our homeschool will not collapse. Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine whose goal is to glorify God and strengthen homeschoolers in their commitment to keep their children Home Where They Belong

Do you feel like you just don’t have what you need to fulfill God’s purpose for your life as a home educator? Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to be a Godly parent? Do you feel like you lack patience, understanding, kindness, or joy? Where we lack, God’s divine power provides. In this workshop, we see God’s power and grace given in order to do all that He asks of us and reflect Him to our children and to the world. His grace gives us all that we need to abound in every good work—even homeschooling!

Sometimes the most difficult journey is just keeping everyone alive on a homeschool day. Join Gretchen Roe as she reflects on 21 years of homeschooling 6 kids and shares a variety of practical, humorous suggestions for keeping your head together when they are losing theirs. (This is more discussion than presentation, but MAN, it is FUN!)

From teaching phonics to graduating teens, from refereeing fights to nurturing faith, our lives as homeschooling parents run the gamut from the very mundane to the very meaningful. In the midst of the mind-boggling demands of homeschooling and everyday life, we constantly need to remind ourselves that our work as homeschooling moms and dads has tremendous significance in building God’s kingdom. Using the lessons of Scripture and history, this workshop will expand your vision of how God is using the homeschool movement, as well as your specific work as a homeschooling parent, to usher in spiritual, educational, and family revival—and to preserve our American heritage.

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

In Part 2 of “Nuts and Bolts for Success,” Krisa addresses homeschooling and working, teaching multi-ages, scheduling the day, and practical teaching strategies you can use regardless of your curriculum program. Krisa explains multi-sensory teaching methods, direct instruction, and modeled teaching Part 1 is Friday session 207

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.

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.

I don’t know why what you expect is typically what you get, I just know that it’s true. Since that’s the case it makes sense to understand this powerful reality at work in our world. Understanding the power of expectations changes your relationships, your parenting, your professional life, and ultimately the course of your life. This session will talk about God’s expectations, what that means for you, and how your expectations will change you and those around you.

Are you having trouble finding the time and energy to meet the needs of your husband after a hard day of homeschooling? Maybe you've forgotten what his needs are. Would you like your husband to take a more active role in homeschooling? Maybe your husband refuses to be involved in training your children. Join me as we look at your role, not as a homeschooling mom, but as a homeschooling WIFE. Your husband will thank you for coming! The discussion will be led by a real husband of a homeschooling mom.

Despite many stereotypes, homeschooling programs are unique and vary widely based on the student. Dan, a homeschool graduate himself, shares from his experience the benefits and challenges of homeschooling as well as the reasons why he is homeschooling his children.

Do you know where the theory of peer group socialization originated? Learn what really drives the question: “What About Socialization?” Israel will go back in History and reveal the engineers behind modern social education theory. You may be surprised to learn what is truly behind this infamous question.

The homeschool movement coined and promoted the idea of fostering a LOVE of learning…and yet most homeschooling moms have fostered a “hate” of learning. Instead of inspiring their children to love exploration, discovery, and learning, all of which homeschool SHOULD foster, moms find their children fighting them tooth and nail to “do school.”

Have your questions answered by a panel of homeschool veterans.

Why do you homeschool? When your children are grown, what will define success for you? What is the difference between a Biblical view of education, and the way most Christian parents (even homeschoolers) educate their children? This workshop will help you to focus on what is really important.

Homeschooling is hard, parenting is hard, and marriage…well, that’s way hard. And that’s OK and even normal. Trouble is we don’t like hard. We want easy, fast, and cheap, and at the same time we want successful results. But the truth is that good things are hard and hard things are good, and they go hand in hand. Sadly, most people don’t ever experience the good because they can’t handle the hard. They put the hard thing off, hoping it will get easier, or they avoid it all together, and all they end up with is a pile of regrets. Here’s the good news: you can handle the hard. In fact, if you’re faced with two choices, pick ‘HARD.’ During this hour, you’ll laugh with Todd as he shares how to embrace the hardness while keeping your eye on the joy and experience God’s best for you.

We like things nice and neat, orderly, and with a predictable outcome, but most of the time OUR plans don’t ‘come together’ as we hoped. Instead, our plans often fall apart, disintegrate right before our eyes, and leave us dumbfounded and stunned. I’ve talked to plenty of homeschooling parents who were sold a plan. They followed the plan and then later stood before me with tears in their eyes because the plan “didn’t come together.” “We did everything THEY said to do,” they say. “We didn’t have TV…we homeschooled…we ate organic…we only wore dresses…we sheltered and protected….we practiced courtship…they played the violin…we emphasized the classics…we never missed family devotions…we emphasized purity…we birthed our children at home…we had a home business” and on and on the list goes. They feel betrayed, angry, and lost….and their children are starting ‘tell all’ websites!!! I have to admit that several years ago when I heard their sob stories, I inwardly wondered what they had done wrong. I believed that they must have gotten the WRONG plan…or didn’t carry the plan out according to the instructions. And while some of that may be true, I know NOW that sometimes our plans don’t come together because God has a DIFFERENT PLAN. Join me as we take an honest and humorous look at plans, why they fall apart and what to do when they have.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling has exploded. Millions of new homeschool students are experiencing the benefits of a customized education at home. But the growth of homeschooling has also caught the eye of policymakers who want to help—and those who don’t. Dan will bring you up to date on homeschooling trends and equip you to advance homeschooling freedom into the future.