By definition, you can't prod your child down the narrow path. They don't need to be prodded, they need to be inspired. Here are some tips for getting your children excited about learning.

You can simplify your life! A veteran home-educator will share practical tips on managing your daily schedule, chore chart, lesson plans and curriculum, Scripture memory, sports and music activities, and college decisions. This workshop will not give you any advice whatsoever on how to make a baby sleep through the night, how to can your own food, or how to teach Latin! However, this workshop will encourage you to sort through the unrealistic expectations and clutter in your life to find freedom in God’s unique plan for you and your family.

Learn from pediatrician, Dr. Roger Smith, how stress and trauma affects a child’s ability to learn and perform. Research on stress has yielded a better understanding of the biochemical and neurologic responses we see as “behavior.” Parents can tap into this research to better guide their child through life’s stresses. This session will review both the science and the social impact of emotions in the context of a Biblical worldview. Dr. Smith will transform scientific gobbledygook into layman’s language with tangible application.

Time must be budgeted just like money. We must determine the difference between the fixed - what we must do, and the discretionary - what we would like to do, and set our priorities. This workshop will be filled with practical tips and encouragement for everyday living as a homeschool family. Areas covered include understanding your calling, relationships, schooling, meals, household clutter and cleaning, and general household management.

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

In this session, Llora will give an introduction and explanation to homeschooling through high school. From creating a four-year plan, selecting courses, and figuring grade point average, to preparing for college.

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.

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.

This session will provide updates related to the $6,000 Academic, CTE, and North Dakota Scholarship programs. Highlights include the requirements for each scholarship, legislative updates, and the transition and timeline from the traditional Academic/CTE Scholarship to the new North Dakota Scholarship aligned with Choice Ready. Specific emphasis will also be given to the procedures for home educated students to apply for and receive the scholarship.

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.

This engaging workshop will review several different teaching approaches found in homeschooling, and then help attendees identify resources and curricula to fit their family’s particular style. Just getting started in homeschooling? Needing to refocus and redefine what homeschooling could look like for your family? Come benefit from Nancy’s over 30 years of experience and enjoy her dynamic style.

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!

Mrs. Deckert will cover the North Dakota requirements for homeschooling. She will also give practical hints including suggestions for lesson planning and record keeping. This is the place to start if you are just beginning the home education journey or are just “checking it out.”

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.

Before mass compulsory schooling,students learned to investigate, reason, and form independent attitudes. Today's home educating parents are discovering many exciting ways to get beyond packaged curriculum and experience real books, real experiences, real relationships-real learning.

Drowning in all the aspects of a high school transcript? Come and get foundational information, a basic frame work, and a plethora of examples to set your feet on solid ground.

The choices are overwhelming! The multiple approaches and options of curriculum makes our heads spin. Some decisions matter most that lead to homeschool success. This session will help you feel more confident in many of the decisions you face. You will gain insights about teaching multiple ages, schedules, co-ops, on-line learning, extra curricular activities and more.

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.

Sensory concerns are rising, and they can quickly cause stress on a homeschool day. During this session, Alysia will share her experience as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with various sensory needs. Learn about the sensory systems, therapy techniques to implement immediately in your homes, daily rhythms that support a sensory diverse learner, and ways to begin to understand your own sensory system and how that impacts how you teach and respond to your children.

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.

Note: This is Part 1 of 2, the original session (Traditions, Transitions & Transparency: Lasting Success for the Family) slated for this time slot was replaced with this 2-part session. Recognizing that a healthy marriage is the basis of a healthy home, this session is a fun and fruitful way to invest in your marriage and family. Steve and Megan teach from their book, “The Eight Rules Of Communication For Successful Marriages” and take a fun-loving look at marriage and friendship. They offer practical advice in a guilt free environment making the teaching real and applicable to all in attendance.

Recognizing that a healthy marriage is the basis of a healthy home, this session is a fun and fruitful way to invest in your marriage and family. Steve and Megan teach from their book, “The Eight Rules Of Communication For Successful Marriages” and take a fun-loving look at marriage and friendship. They offer practical advice in a guilt free environment making the teaching real and applicable to all in attendance.

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 the first things first, and character is always the first thing! In this session, Megan will challenge you to use every opportunity to teach your children to serve God by loving others and to love others by faithfully serving God.

Mrs. Deckert will cover the North Dakota requirements for home schooling. She will also give many practical hints including suggestions for lesson planning and record keeping. This is the place to start if you are just beginning the home education journey or are just “checking it out.”

Many grandparents, because of the influence of modern culture, have forfeited much of the amazing opportunity and responsibility God has given them. In this talk we share the Biblical vision of grandparenting and give practical instruction on how to impact grandchildren for the Kingdom of God.

How can you teach spelling, vocabulary, sentence structure, print and cursive handwriting, and even review content from other school subjects with one single exercise? Copy work! If you’ve never utilized copy work in your homeschool, it may sound too good to be true. Copy work is an old and very effective method of teaching and reviewing multiple facets of language arts. Come and learn how this works and how to apply it with any age.

Time must be budgeted just like money. We must determine the difference between the fixed – what we must do, and the discretionary – what we would like to do, and set our priorities. This workshop will be filled with practical tips and encouragement for everyday living as a homeschool family. Areas covered include understanding your calling, relationships, schooling, meals, household clutter and cleaning, and general household management. Attendees will leave with practical and applicable tips.

Dual credit is a unique opportunity to earn high school credit while successfully completing college level courses prior to graduation. This session will cover all you need to know about dual credit as well as the importance of ACT testing, mapping out a dual credit schedule, financial costs, and academic advising to a college degree. If you’re a family with a high school freshman, sophomore or junior, this session is for you.

Are you looking for a way to make your “basic” academics come alive? Unit studies take the “we have to know this” lessons of reading, writing, math, handwriting, and communication and put them into practice. Your children will be excited to dig deeply into the topics that delight their hearts as they read real books, complete hands-on projects, and learn how to passionately present their findings to the whole family. Unit studies don’t have to be intimidating and time consuming. Join Megan and discover how the Hub and Spoke system of unit study preparation will open up new avenues of learning for your whole family.

Is there a way to save money, reduce the stress of homeschooling, and still give your children a solid education at home? YES! Come learn the tips and tricks of teaching multiple children at home, saving money on curriculum, and having more fun

We all want our children to be effective communicators, but which curriculum is best? Let's take the pressure off! The secret to teaching writing isn't wrapped up in which curriculum you choose. We'll explore some down-to-earth, hands-on ideas that you can adapt to your own teaching style, your students' learning styles, and your family's daily schedule to help writing instruction work your way. We will work through age-appropriate strategies, time saving devices, solutions for writing meltdowns, pros and cons of different curriculum choices, and troubleshooting writing woes.

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

Homeschooling is accessible to everyone, including single parents, working parents, and families on a very tight budget. Nicki has homeschooled through all of these life circumstances and learned that it’s not about your money or your schedule; it’s about truly understanding education at home. Learn how to brainstorm, schedule, and budget so that you can educate your children at home no matter what your lifestyle looks like.

Come prepared with your questions on all things homeschool and family related! Our panel of veteran and expert homeschoolers will offer you encouragement and practical advice to assist you on your homeschooling journey.

From this session, you will understand what a transcript is, the importance of having one that is set up well, and how it can help you organize your student’s schooling. In addition, hear about everything in-between: What are credit hours? How do I label and organize unconventional classes? How do I calculate GPA?

This workshop will give you some peace of mind in knowing that you are fully capable of doing what needs to be done for high school. Rebecca will present options and ideas for you and your teens in choosing classes and areas of study to equip them with the life skills needed to help them follow their dreams.

This gives you a fresh perspective on this subject that frequently frustrates home school parents. Gain insight into the natural sequence of language learning and explore developmentally appropriate tips and tools to enhance growth. We’ll discuss the stages that are input or output, what’s essential, and how to set goals for different seasons. Topics covered will include phonics, reading, penmanship, grammar, spelling, creative and formal writing, and literature.

If your child is soon-to-be entering high school, you need to have an idea how to prepare a transcript? Learn the how-to’s, what-not’s, and wherefores of doing high school transcripts. What should be included in a good transcript? For what are colleges looking? Where and how long should I keep original transcripts? Find answers to these questions and more.

Understanding your child’s learning style and gearing curriculum and teaching to that style will help avoid much frustration in your home school. Through this workshop you will learn points to help you determine your child’s learning style as well as your own learning/teaching style. We’ll also discuss some of the common home school teaching methods.

Sit in on a panel discussion with home school graduates. Ask them what they think? Find out some helpful tips for your home school high schoolers. Join in as we learn more from those who have completed the home school process and are now “out in the real world.” Expert parent educator Theresa Deckert will moderate.

Are you teaching three or more children, managing preschoolers and/or a baby, trying to keep the house nice, cooking healthy meals, and desiring to be beautiful and romantic for your husband? Yes, it is possible. Listen to ideas and tips from a home school veteran mom of 14 children who has had a wonderful marriage of almost 45 years, written and published several books, and was/is a part of three home-school support group leadership committees.

In a world of snaps, texts, and tweets, many have forgot the most powerful form of human interaction..."face-to-face". Introduce your teens to the dynamic world of human interaction and its importance for fulfilling God's plan for them.

Do you have a student entering high school and feel you are downing in the muddy water of unanswered questions like how to plan classes, figure credits, prepare for college, grade courses, issue diplomas, use dual credits, etc.? This veteran home schooler will have you swimming in clear waters in no time.

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 provides a comprehensive overview of teaching methods specifically geared to 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.”

The struggles and demands of life and, often, our own feelings of inadequacy can sometimes weigh us down and take the joy out of what should be a blessing on this homeschool journey. We often feel that we don’t measure up and that we’re failing our children. Rebecca offers encouragement to those who are weary and shares techniques for parents and children to actually enjoy teaching and learning all subjects.

Dual credit is a unique opportunity to earn high school credit while successfully completing college level courses prior to graduation. This session will cover all you need to know about dual credit as well as hints about when to align placements tests such as the ACT. If you are a family with a high school freshman, sophomore, and/or junior, this session is for you.

“Mom, Johnny’s drinking from the dog dish again!” Homeschooling with little ones under foot can feel a bit like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos...a bit counter-intuitive.But, the fact is, the foundation of homeschool is HOME and everyone in it...even the toddler who’s currently feeding Cheerios to the goldfish. Discover how you can engage your little ones CONstructively during the harried homeschool day.

Mrs. Deckert will cover the North Dakota requirements for home schooling. She will also give many practical hints including suggestions for lesson planning and record keeping. This is the place to start if you are just beginning the home education journey or are just “checking it out.”

We all have at least one of these children. They take extra time to complete every lesson, if they complete them at all. We may fall into the trap of sitting by them to “help” them finish, only to become an educational security blanket. We need to encourage these children to take up their own responsibilities. Their desire should be to work diligently for the Lord. Join us as we go over helpful suggestions to encourage those less-than-enthusiastic children.

Krista will share her tips and tricks on setting your homeschool on autopilot. She'll walk through simple and cheap hacks to keep mom well-planned and sane as well as cultivating children who take initiative for their own daily work. She will share her family's chore, discipline and character development charts, because homeschooling isn't only about growing smart kids, but kids who love the Lord! Organization comes easy to some and is "Greek" to others. You are welcome to come and learn a little "Greek" and hopefully leave with lighter shoulders and some new tools in your toolbelt!

Home schooling with High School students always brings with it questions. This session was a Question and Answer time. Llora and Theresa are on the board of directors of the North Dakota Home School Association and spend time coordinating and supporting the support groups across the state. There are very few questions that they haven't answered about home education. Listen to very personal and very straightforward answers to questions about homeschool high school.

If you’re anything like Jamie, you love homeschooling, but sometimes you only like it for 10 seconds, especially when you’re having a bad day or a string of bad days. Pair homeschooling with long-term illness, the death of a loved one, a job loss, or just an over-committed schedule and you have the makings of a perfect forfeit. But you don’t have to quit during a season of crisis. You just have to learn to homeschool differently. Be encouraged and learn practical tips for teaching from a place of delight, not defeat, during difficult days.

As the teen years approach, the impending need to teach science often creates fear for students and parents alike. This workshop will take the fear out of teaching science and will create excitement and enthusiasm for everyone. If you enjoy learning, then you can definitely get excited to learn along with your students. Get ready to meet your inner science geek and help prepare your teens for their future.

Mr. Black will share encouragement along with biblical and historical support for choosing to home educate your children. His wife, Andrea, will join him as they list their top-ten lessons learned from living for twenty-four years in the trenches of home education. From the obvious to the original, Andrea and Chuck share from their hearts ideas to incorporate into your home to help you be successful in the journey.

Based on Ginger’s 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 equips parents to reach past the outward behavior of their children and address the issues of the heart. Move beyond the frustra-tions of not knowing how to handle issues of disobedience and into a confident approach to raising your children.

This session dives into the hows and whys of teaching history from a Biblical worldview. What does history from a Biblical worldview look like and why is it important? How do I make history interesting to my kids? When should I start teaching histo-ry? Do I have to teach history in chronological order? Having worked for more than a decade to produce history curriculum that reaches into the heart of the student, Angela shares her heart and passion for teaching history in a fresh and relevant way.

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 guides parents in how to give a biblical reproof. This presentation richly inspires and equips parents to let faithful instruction flow from their lips.

This workshop is a must for all new homeschoolers…or for those wishing they could call a do-over! In this fun, encouraging, and upbeat workshop, Angela covers what to expect your first year of homeschooling, tips for choosing curriculum for your unique family, and keeping your sanity – short term and long term. Come get the skinny on making your first year (or your re-start year) the best homeschool year ever.

Our enemy is the great deceiver. By definition, when we are deceived, we don’t realize it. In this session, we expose seven pitfalls that are common and, yet, not often recognized by homeschool families.

Come and learn how to launch your teen from high school into a successful career. Phonics and lapbooks may be over, but high school is the beginning of one of the most life-altering, MAJOR impacts you can have in the life of your child! YOUR ROLE as a career guidance counselor can make or break decades of your child’s life, and YOU can do it better than anyone with a profes-sional credential. You'll learn how to help your teen explore career paths that fit their values, goals and personality. Kathy will show you how to craft a high school experience that launches them into success earlier, faster, and with little to no debt. *BONUS: info on scholarships!

Explores the natural sequence of language learning beginning with the early years of learning to speak, followed by the reading stage, and then on to writing. Discusses the stages that are input or output, what’s essential, and how to set goals for different seasons. Topics covered include phonics, reading, penmanship, grammar, spelling, creative and formal writing, and literature. Get a fresh perspective on this subject that frequently frustrates or confuses homeschool parents.

Hear from a veteran homeschool father about successful homeschooling for dads. Bryan believes all dads should be involved in their kid’s education. Each family, though, is different. Today, more dads are taking an active part in home educating their children. Ideas covered: 1) why home school, 2) switching of traditional roles in today’s families, 3) adapting homeschooling to fit your life-style, 4) keeping your eyes on the big picture, and 4) you can never “fall behind”.

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.

How does Dad meet the challenge of homeschooling when he is working one or more jobs and still trying to maintain his influence and leadership in the home? Jake MacAulay will give practical advice and encouragement from his personal experience.

Nancy shares tips she’s learned along the way for making the home education adventure more effective and fruitful...and more enjoyable, too! We’ll talk about what success looks like and share 12 obstacles to success. Glean ideas to help you organize your time, your home, your schedule, and your life in ways that will foster a successful homeschool experience with your children

Homeschooling doesn’t have to cost hundreds of dollars each year. With some extra time and energy, you can teach on a budget. Dara and Tracy Halydier started homeschooling while Tracy was in seminary and without a job. They continued on a minister’s salary while home-schooling five children through high school. Dara will share ideas from beginning to graduation on bargain buying and teaching without the textbooks

Have you ever wondered how people could live to be 900 years old? Where did Cain get his wife? Are dinosaurs in the Bible? What about the Ice-Age? Did dinosaurs go on Noah’s Ark? How old is the earth? Did dinosaurs live with man? All these and many more questions will be answered as we examine the world before Noah’s Flood

Breaking out of the box of traditional schooling brought flexibility, creativity and substance to the Leedahl family. Cam will share how real life experiences can teach character, valuable life skills, and augment academic subjects. She’ll cover how to use your child’s strengths and passions in forming their homeschool plan, give practical tips for success, and show how to document learning that does not come from a book.

Homeschooling jargon can be confusing even for seasoned homeschool parents. Nancy will give an overview of the most common curriculum approaches including textbook, unit studies, classical, Charlotte Mason/living books, eclectic, and relaxed/ delight-directed learning. We will also go over examples of curriculum and resources that tend to work best with each approach

Romance, passion and negligees...for too many home-schoolers these are things of past. Dad goes to work, Mom is busy from sun up to sun down with the house and kids, and there are still obligations outside of the home. Everyone falls into bed exhausted! But marriage is still the bedrock of the home and must be nurtured! Dara will give you some creative ideas on keeping your marriage a priority and maybe even a little bit steamy.

Readers are leaders...and writers have the opportunity to help forge the future through the books those leaders read. Whether you are eight or forty-eight, there are key fundamentals to excellent fiction writing that readers and publishers alike are looking for. Chuck shares his insights on how to write fiction that captures the hearts and minds of all ages

It is a rich experience where learning is a hands-on, multi-sensory, interactive adventure. Nancy will share easy-to-implement, inexpensive, rewarding ideas for incorporating hands-on learning for children of all ages. You can make learning a joy for your child without a huge investment of time, energy, or resources

What does a godly child look like compared to a perfect child? Trying to raise a perfect child will lead to rebellion, low self-esteem and other problems, while raising a godly child will lead to grace, joy and freedom. We will walk through aspects of God’s law that can be incorporated into our families and then give ideas of moving the child to grace as they mature and grow.

A growing trend in the homeschooling world is the number of families that include both parents working while homeschooling. This will be a practical workshop designed to help you get a clear plan for juggling work, school, chores, self-care, and more!

You've schooled and fed them, wiped their tears, and showed them the way. You’ve introduced them to Jesus and encouraged them to have a relationship with Him. Now, how do you let them go? Dara will address concerns of teens and parents as they enter this next phase of life. There is a way to prepare your teen for what is to come and to prepare your heart as well

Are you just starting to homeschool and want to make sure your child actually enjoys math? Seeing math frustration in your older child and want to change course? We’ll help you dodge mistakes when teaching math and put you on the path to true math understanding and success with easy-to-implement techniques.

This hands-on workshop is a helpful source of practical advice, information, and application for correct vocal technique. Emily will discuss the fundamentals of vocal technique, including the basics of posture and breathing as well as offering insight into the more nuanced aspects of performance, including stage presence, expression, and performance etiquette