If you are just getting started on your homeschool adventure then this is a great workshop for you to attend! Come with questions and leave with answers. Homeschool Idaho Board Member Melissa Nash is a homeschool mom whose two sons have both graduated. She has a wealth of information to share, so join her for an interactive hour.

Panel of Tina Gould, Laura Millhouse, Shannon Splonskowski How to start, where to find curriculum, when to school, and what a typical day looks like are just a few of the areas discussed. Get an understanding of Rule 13, how to fill out your paperwork and gain valuable information for your homeschool journey. This workshop is a MUST for new homeschoolers

Thinking about or New to Homeschooling? Need a refresher on Missouri record keeping? Come learn about the Missouri laws relating to homeschooling such as compulsory attendance, record keeping requirements, withdrawing your child from public school, and more. We will discuss helpful suggestions for keeping your mandated records including lesson plans, journals, evaluations, portfolios, and logging hours. This will be an informative and encouraging session for new and seasoned homeschoolers. Be informed and confident in your homeschooling adventure!

Simplify your homeschool day by learning together as a family. Creating a morning time routine will not only save you time (and money), but it is fun and easy to do. In this session, Carrie shares how to create a simple morning time routine while using a looping schedule to easily get to that “When we have time, we will get to it” pile. She also shares tons of resources and recommendations to include in your morning time basket. In this session, Carrie answers the most FAQ about starting a morning time basket and about how to simplify your already existent morning time routine. Whether you are new to this idea of Morning Basket or you have been using Morning Time for years, you will love the simple explanations and practical suggestions given in this workshop. 

Having decided to homeschool a child, the parent's next job is to take some time to fully understand the homeschool laws. A family that does not do this runs the risk of a court intervening in their family's life. In this session, Attorney Scott Woodruff will fully explain first the Kansas homeschool law, then the Missouri homeschool laws. You can homeschool confidently once you are solid on understanding and following the homeschool laws!

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.”

¿Estás considerando educar a tus hijos en casa, pero no sabes por dónde empezar? Esta conferencia es para ti. Si eres nuevo en el mundo del homeschool y estás pensando iniciar esta aventura educativa el próximo año escolar, te invitamos a participar en esta charla especialmente diseñada para familias que están dando sus primeros pasos en esta modalidad. Durante la conferencia, abordaremos de manera clara y práctica el proceso legal y administrativo necesario para comenzar con la educación en el hogar en el estado de Pennsylvania. Hablaremos sobre los requisitos iniciales, los documentos que debes preparar, y los plazos que debes tener en cuenta. También discutiremos cómo elegir un evaluador al final del año escolar, un paso clave para cumplir con las regulaciones estatales. Además, exploraremos brevemente los distintos estilos de aprendizaje, lo que te permitirá identificar cuál se adapta mejor a las necesidades y personalidad de tus hijos. Por último, te compartiremos consejos útiles para seleccionar un plan de estudios adecuado y te ofreceremos herramientas que facilitarán tu inicio en este nuevo camino educativo. ¡Ven con tus preguntas y con la mente abierta para descubrir todo lo que el homeschooling puede ofrecer a tu familia! This session will be in Spanish. Are you considering homeschooling your children but don’t know where to start? This session is for you. If you're new to the world of homeschooling and are thinking about starting this educational journey in the upcoming school year, we invite you to join this talk designed specifically for families taking their first steps into home education. During the session, we will explain the legal process required to begin homeschooling in the state of Pennsylvania. We'll cover the initial requirements, the documents you need to prepare, and the important deadlines to keep in mind. We will also discuss how to choose an end-of-year evaluator—a key step to meet state regulations. In addition, we’ll briefly explore different learning styles to help you determine which one best fits your child’s needs and personality. Finally, we’ll share practical tips on how to select the right curriculum and provide tools that will help you start this new educational journey with confidence.

Discover simple, practical strategies for keeping your home organized while homeschooling, helping you avoid overwhelm and stay on track. From creating routines to managing household tasks, you’ll gain insights on balancing home life and homeschooling more effectively. We’ll keep it real and offer tips that fit into your busy day-to-day. By the end, you’ll have a game plan to make home and school life run a little smoother.

New to homeschooling, and/or new to filing and following the PA homeschool law, or thinking about homeschooling in the future? We will talk about filing for the first time, withdrawing from public school, how to find groups, mentors and evaluators. We will also discuss styles of homeschooling, a typical day, finding curriculum and other resources.

There is nothing like a baby or toddler to foil the best-laid plans of any homeschool parent. While our littlest ones can seem like a constant disruption, they are a part of God’s plan for our families and our homeschools. In this session, Kathryn will give you fresh inspiration for folding the cuddliest members of your family into your homeschool. She also shares practical tips she has gleaned from homeschool veterans and her own experiences.

Wondering how to make sure the most important things get done each day? In this workshop, we’ll dive into practical scheduling hacks to help homeschool moms manage their day more effectively. From long-term planning strategies like year-round schooling to block scheduling, we’ll explore approaches that work for busy homeschool moms. You’ll also get tips for handling those everyone needs you at once moments. By the end, you’ll walk away with a clear, realistic scheduling plan that helps you focus on your kids, not the chaos.

Come explore the most popular homeschooling styles—Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, and Eclectic—and discover which one feels like the best fit for your family. We’ll walk through 9 key questions that will help you assess your family’s needs, goals, and lifestyle. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your approach, you’ll leave with a better idea of how to create the perfect homeschool experience for you and your kids.

All homeschool parents can understand the law. We will break down the PA homeschool law into smaller chunks and talk about compulsory age, filing with affidavits/unsworn declarations, objectives, evaluations, medical records, portfolios, logs, testing, attendance, evaluations and graduating.

Navigating homeschooling with children who have unique learning needs can be challenging, but deeply rewarding. With two of her four children diagnosed with ADHD, one also facing multiple learning challenges, Jeannie discovered invaluable strategies for creating a seamless, creative, joy-filled, and tailored learning environment for the whole family. Her children not only thrived academically—earning scholarships to college, making the Dean’s List, and graduating with honors—they all developed a lifelong love for learning. In this inspiring talk, Jeannie shares scientifically proven techniques for successfully homeschooling all learners, offering insights on nurturing each child's individual gifts, building confidence, and setting the stage for future accomplishment and achievement.

Have you pulled your child out of public school where he or she used to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan)? In this workshop, you’ll learn the purposes and benefits of an SEP, the homeschool version of an IEP. You’ll receive guidance on drafting your own SEP, explore sample plans, obtain your own template, and leave with a resource list of books to set you and your student up for success.

In the past twenty years, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the homeschool community. There is much more pressure being put on homeschoolers to excel academically. We’ve gone from a few brave moms who, without access to mainstream “curriculum”, managed to give their children an excellent education—but we’ve forgotten what made it excellent. It was excellent because these moms had a vision for homeschooling—they weren’t trying to re-create school at home. They were simply being obedient to the One who had called them to be different. They knew that if He had called them, He would equip them. And they were right. If you’re struggling to find joy in your calling as a homeschooling parent, if you’re looking for more LIFE in your homeschool, this is one keynote you won’t want to miss. join Heidi as she talks about her journey away from curriculum-driven, workbook based homeschooling and into delight-directed learning. What she learned will bless and inspire you.

To embrace the best approaches for a truly superior education, we must first deprogram ourselves from the beliefs about education that we have long accepted as truth, along with the models that claim to be the standard by which education should be measured. Our society has been immersed in a system designed not to educate minds but to produce obedient, unquestioning, uncurious, and unoriginal workers. In this highly acclaimed talk, Jeannie explores the research and impact of this educational model, which not only stifles a child’s natural self-motivation and creativity but also suppresses divine curiosity, transforming an innate love for learning into mere drudgery. Discover how to choose methods and practices that genuinely educate the whole child—spirit, soul, and body—nurturing a lifelong passion for knowledge and growth.

If homeschooling up till now feels more like drudgery than delight, or if the thought of homeschooling makes your knees shake and your palms sweat, this is the workshop for you! Perhaps you've been hearing from "experts" that view homeschooling as just another form of education, like any other. Public schools think that way, but homeschooling is nothing like the school system. It's just the opposite. Learning at home is an adventure, a journey, a new lifestyle. Join veteran homeschool mom of seven (including one homeschool graduate!) Heidi St.John as she talks about the three things you've got to know as a new homeschooler that will set you on a track for success and enjoyment with your children. Because, although you're nervous now, it'll all be okay. Homeschooling is worth it. So sit back, relax. You'll soon discover that homeschooling is a journey like no other. Take it in stride that you will bumble and stumble, stick your foot in it, take wrong turns, backtrack, start again, and again . . . . and your child will be just fine. Come and bring a friend for a dose of information and encouragement. You can do it!

What will your kids think about homeschooling when they’re adults? Kathryn was homeschooled and is now homeschooling her own three kids. Looking back, she reflects on her experiences and those of her siblings. In this tell-all session, Kathryn shares six things she’s grateful for and four that she would go back and change.

Have you just started your homeschooling journey? Come to this workshop to get 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!

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

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 experienced homeschooler, discover how to create a personalized learning experience that aligns with your child’s strengths and interests.

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 your homeschool up for success? It’s easy to get overwhelmed or think we have to replicate what the public school is doing. But there is great freedom in homeschooling, even for these early ages! In this session, a homeschool mom of 6 will help you navigate these precious early years with confidence and enjoy your time teaching your kids the things that matter most.

Where Do I Begin? A Workshop for New and Prospective Homeschoolers – Nancy Bjorkman Considering homeschooling? Not sure where to begin? This workshop will define realistic and foundational goals for homeschooling that will get new families off to a solid start. We’ll cover some common roadblocks and misconceptions about “what school should look like”, state law, and many practical tips for success. There will be a time for interaction and questions.

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.

Do you want to start building the foundation of educational readiness for your littlest learner? If so, this is the perfect workshop for you! Cheri Kay will teach you about the stages of development, the importance of learning through play, and the foundations for lifelong learning. She will share tips and tricks for making learning fun and engaging for you and your child, while sparking their curiosity about the world around them.

Getting Started on your homeschool journey can be overwhelming! In this message find encouragement that you CAN homeschool and hear about the nuts & bolts methods of how to begin.

You made the hard decision to pull your kids from school, and now you are feeling like you don't have any idea what to do next. Maybe last year didn't go the way you think, and you don't know what to do next. Sometimes the co-op filled your time but left you with gaps in your child's overall education. In this empowering and practical session, Andi Elliott will guide you through the process of homeschooling successfully and confidently without relying on boxed curricula or rigid co-ops. Whether you're new to homeschooling or feel like you're drowning and need some help forward, this class will provide you with the tools and insights needed to create a successful learning environment for your children. Let this year be your best year yet!

Having decided to homeschool a child, the parent's next job is to take some time to fully understand the homeschool laws. A family that does not do this runs the risk of a court intervening in their family's life. In this session, Attorney Scott Woodruff will fully explain first the Kansas homeschool law, then the Missouri homeschool laws. You can homeschool confidently once you are solid on understanding and following the homeschool laws!

Uncover the secrets of seamlessly managing a diverse homeschooling environment, which includes toddlers exploring their world and teens focusing on advanced subjects. Come for ideas and activities to engage those young learners as well as your older students. We will delve into time management techniques, resource organization, and practical tips for orchestrating a harmonious educational experience for all.

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.”

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

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.

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.)

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 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.

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.

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.”

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.

Ready to homeschool, but not sure how to get started? Need help with paperwork? Need some guidance on just what homeschooling is? This talk will help you leap off the fence and hit the ground running on your homeschool journey.

Unsure of how to support your wife’s new interest in homeschooling? Concerned about your kids? Unsure of what to do as a homeschool husband and dad? In this session we will discuss how to support your wife and kids as the head of a homeschooling family.

If you find yourself constantly comparing your homeschool to others or looking outward for answers, you might be an insecure homeschooler. Join a second-generation homeschooler who lives to tell the story that this is possible and that your kids are going to be okay. Learn some tools and key points to help you trust your own discernment and listen to what God is saying to you about your homeschool so you can follow His lead. Give yourself some grace for the journey and then rise up and stand firm—not easily swayed or moved with your feet planted on your path. You are not doing this by accident, and you, my friend, are not alone.

How do grades work in homeschooling? Do you grade your kids from kindergarten on? Can my child skip a grade? What exactly is the supervisor's role? In this helpful chat, Ginger shares new thoughts about grades, grading, and the process of learning. There may just be a few thoughts about 'Things I Wish I Knew', too!

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

Are the “Terrible Twos” eating your lunch? Need help managing your homeschool day with toddlers in the house? In this workshop, Megan draws on her many years of homeschooling experience with eight toddlers in tow to help you craft a plan for success. Find out how to use “self-control practice” to help your toddler become an integral part of the family team. Intensely practical, this session will help you transform the terrible twos into the terrific twos!

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

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, for this practical session.

Are we teaching the right things at the right time? Will there be gaps if we teach outside the box? This session is all about fostering a love of learning and creating a flexible, interest-driven curriculum all while meeting the academic needs of your kids and keeping the important things in focus.

Can you overcome self-doubt and lack of experience to teach the harder subjects like pre-algebra, chemistry, or English literature? Instead of putting it off, find out what your options are! Karri Iverson, veteran homeschooling mom and author of The Mystery of Science series, will share how she’s used resources available to teach her kids through high school.

The most important thing we can do as we raise our kids is strive to win and keep their hearts! When we have their hearts, we are able to influence them and their values. That is one of the main reasons many parents feel led to home school their children - so THEY can be the ones influencing their children's values. When we fail to win their hearts, or that heart connection becomes weak, our kids will often begin to look to their friends for relationship, and no longer be open to our teaching. Kathie will share some things to avoid that often lead to losing their hearts, and then give 6 key things to help you win & keep their hearts.

How to start, where to find curriculum, when to school, and what a typical day looks like are some of the areas discussed. Get an understanding of Rule 13 and gain valuable information for your homeschool journey. This workshop is a MUST for new homeschoolers.

Have you pulled your child out of public school where he or she used to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan)? In this workshop, you’ll learn the purposes and benefits of an SEP, the homeschool version of an IEP. You’ll receive guidance on drafting your own SEP, explore sample plans, obtain your own template, and leave with a resource list of books to set you and your student up for success.

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!

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

You might feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, but it can all be explained! This session will give you a brief overview of educational styles and curricula choices to help you navigate which way to go. Different styles are for different people, and we will give you an honest evaluation of the various choices with the pros and cons of each type. Tips to discern who you are, who your children are, and what will work for you will help you to hone in on appropriate choices for your year.

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.

Have you just started your homeschooling journey? This workshop provides 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!

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.

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.

Our Homeschool Iowa Regional Representatives, seasoned homeschooling moms with lots of experience, will give the “real-life” version of how to home educate. Insider tips and helpful resources will be included.