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.

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.

Many feel wickedness and cultural antagonism are closing in upon them from every side. Social media bans people and cultural pressure is applied to believers socially on an increasing basis. So many do not know what to do: how to exist, minister, and do what they feel God wants them to do in this degenerating environment. Fortunately, there are heroes who have gone before us who give us clues, encouragement,and inspiration for just such a time as we see unfolding before us. Be a part of this powerful workshop that will help you and your family begin to charge hard once again instead of walking on eggshells

When Zan Tyler was threatened with jail in 1984 for teaching her son at home, she was forced to count the costs ofhomeschooling and decide if it was really worth it. Zan learned powerful lessons about fighting for freedom, family, and faith that remain pertinent today. Our nation is at a crossroads where the liberties we often take for granted are at stake. We are one lawsuit, law, or treaty away from watching our freedom erode. We must all work to preserve our homeschool freedoms, while intentionally raising up a new generation of freedom fighters. This session will encourage and equip you with powerful principles to share with your children and teens.

What is the true definition of socialization? Who should be socializing our children? Will your children be looked at as “different” or criticized for being unsocialized? Deborah Wuehler, Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine will answer these questions and reveal the negative socialization in the present education culture, as well as the points of positive socialization that homeschooling affords when you keep your children Home Where They Belong.

Do you have a child who doesn’t want to be homeschooled, in-laws who don’t understand your reasons for homeschooling, a spouse who isn’t sold on the idea, or a guilt complex reminding you that you have no business homeschooling your children? Those nagging, sometimes-silent disapprovals can crush a person under the weight of guilt and despair. You sometimes feel like a wave tossed to and fro because in your heart of hearts you feel God would have you homeschool…but then again, the arguments against it are almost drowning you. Join Todd, as he goes face to face with the naysayers and shows you how to address their concerns, questions, and logic of why you shouldn’t homeschool your children.

Newsflash: homeschooling is growing. Millions of new students are benefiting from a customized education at home, which has placed homeschooling in the national spotlight. With a decade of experience advocating for homeschool freedom at HSLDA, Dan will bring to life the latest policy debates surrounding homeschooling and conclude with encouragement for 2022’s homeschool graduates.

What the Bible calls “a good conscience” is vital for our children to form in their youth. Parents can strengthen the conscience, so a child grows into an adult of strong convictions and is compelled from within away from sinful living and towards righteous choices, even when parents are not present. Let’s make one of the goals of our instruction “a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:5). A practical plan for achieving this is the focus of this workshop.

Learn where freedom comes from, how homeschool freedom came about in Nebraska, and how to maintain our freedom. This presentation highlights the various concepts and newspaper clippings from the battle for homeschool freedom in the early 1980s.

The pressure to conform is all around us, but we are called to “quit the herd.” In this workshop, we’ll take a look at what it means to quit the herd, why we should quit the herd, examples of biblical and historical herd quitters, and how your choice to be a herd quitter can impact your homeschool, your family, and your legacy.

Is there a link between the Bible and what our Founders crafted in the Constitution of these United States? Is it as some people claim a godless Constitution? Come discover for yourself the truth about our Founding Document. Walk away with clear, concise arguments to refute the godless Constitution myth being spread in our land.

What is a heritage and why is it important? Just as Christ made disciples and intentionally trained them to pass His salvation message to future generations, families have this same privilege. As we pass on our vision and passion for sharing the love of Christ with others to our children, future generations will have the possibility of knowing and loving God! We have an incredible and joyous opportunity to build a heritage of faith to last for generations upon generations. Join Carol as she imparts a passion for equipping our children to share the message of Christ into the next generation with a vision for the generations to come. Our children will make their own choices, but we as parents are called to help them build a sturdy foundation to make those choices with God’s will in mind. Learn from practical ideas and examples that will encourage you in your quest to build godly heritage to benefit future generations.

How does Common Core impact home education? This presentation will describe how the Common Core Standards were adopted by the states and provide six reasons to avoid Common Core. Learn to differentiate between exemplary Type #1 education and poor Type #2 Common Core education.

Graduate Recognition Keynote speech

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

Revisit the challenges, burdens and bene?ts of home schooling with a veteran homeschool father and leader. Addressing the potential, new, and veteran homeschooler and all homeschoolers in between, Michael Smith outlines the success of homeschooling in academics and social- ization, describes legal and legislative advances, and concludes that homeschoolers have earned the right to be left alone. For homeschoolers who are losing the vision, he reminds them of the bene?ts of homeschooling and offers some practical suggestions for relieving the pressure on the homeschooling family, especially Mom. “Thank you for con?rming the experience of my public education,” writes one parent, “and for convicting us even more of our commitment to bettering the lives of our children