Most parents place a high value on education. It prepares children for life and gives hope for a happy future. In the old days, the three Rs of schooling included reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic. Is homeschooling succeeding because it is reclaiming the tried-and-true educational philosophy or is something else going on? This workshop presents a compelling case for you to believe in the power of homeschooling and seven new Rs to back it up.

Many homeschoolers struggle with self-doubt and/or criticism for their decision by well-meaning friends and family. Here we’ll tackle some of the top objections people raise about home education and will give statistics and fact-based answers to build confidence to defend your choice to home educate.

Are you ready to run the race set before you? As in any race or journey, the better informed you are, the better the experience. Whether you’ve already made the decision to homeschool, or are still sitting on the fence, come learn more about homeschooling and requirements here in Massachusetts. Susan addresses a few of the most frequently asked questions and address common concerns of parents just getting started. She hopes her practical advice will leave you informed and encouraged as you begin one of the most important adventures you’ll ever take – the journey of homeschooling your children.

In this fun and creative workshop, you will learn how to create an amazing preschool experience while keeping your child at home. From the latest in scientific research to the organization of supplies, this information packed workshop will help you prepare your child for lifelong learning and make wonderful memories along the way.

When you welcome a baby into your family, the journey called home education has begun. From the first breath to the first step to the first book read and all the way to the milestone of graduation, learning doesn’t end. Here we will look at when education begins and who is responsible for teaching. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling, true socialization, individualized instruction, rewards of obedience, and many Scriptures related to successful home education.

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

Their first five years are crucial times of development for young children. Foundations are set that give them a perspective of God, themselves, and others. During these years children gain an understanding of love, obedience, and responsibility. Their worldview will be shaped by the books you read to them (including the Bible) and the freedom they have to sing, play, and explore the great outdoors of God’s wonderful Creation. Is this parenting, homeschooling, or both? We’ll uncover ten lessons your young children should learn and experience that can make a big difference in their first five years.

Are you concerned that you might be missing something in your reading instruction? Is there more to reading than reading well orally and decoding? How does your phonics instruction affect your child's reading comprehension? What techniques can you use before, during, and after reading to help your child comprehend? How does the comprehension taught in reading instruction affect other subject areas?

Good readers are not necessarily early readers. Early readers don’t always grow to love reading. God designs each child differently as He deems fit for His purposes. Deborah Wuehler will talk about her own struggling readers and the practical things that helped them jump those hurdles. She’ll show you how to have victory over your own obstacles as you keep your children Home Where They Belong.

Math and Language arts are two of the most important building blocks in the early education of our children. In this research-based workshop, Parents will learn to approach these topics playfully with their children, while watching for readiness for next steps. Handouts will include useful developmental guidelines, resource suggestions, and book titles.

Whether you are a parent seeking to motivate your reluctant learner, or you desire to break through your own limitations, you will make more progress if you learn to listen better and ask the right questions (the right way!). Learn how you can help yourself and others recognize hidden assumptions and overcome obstacles through learning the art of asking questions.

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With daily stress and the physical and emotional demands of the job, it’s easy to forget why we are homeschooling. We may think, “Someone else could do this better!” or “What was I thinking?” So many things can weaken our courage to continue. Relatives, friend, strangers, and even our children may ask why we do this. Do we have answers? It is important to remember why we are homeschooling so that when tough times come, our home school will not collapse.

Wouldn’t it be nice if it were? Wouldn’t it be nice if all our problems could be solved with good family time and great curriculum, and if all we had to do was adopt a certain schedule, read certain books, and follow a certain educational philosophy? What if there were a simple, daily checklist to guarantee success? But, there’s not. There is, however, an answer to all that ails us; the sin and death, pain and misery. Come be reminded of the Answer and the hope it engenders.

In this workshop, Karen will discuss the characteristics of the four personality types: Popular Sanguine, Powerful Choleric, Perfect Melancholy, and Peaceful Phlegmatic. Then she will discuss how these different personality types learn and how to apply these characteristics in how you teach/train your children.