Presented by: Israel Wayne Nathan Pierce John McGowan Angela Lasch
Two days of workshops, grouped by time. Tap any session to read the full description.
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Presented by: Israel Wayne Nathan Pierce John McGowan Angela Lasch
Presented by: Roger & Jan Smith Penny Ross
Presented by: Ricardo & Ana Maria Bagnuoli Monica Ybarra
Presented by: Ricardo & Ana Maria Bagnuoli Monica Ybarra
What if we’re getting childhood all wrong? What if the things children need most—and the right kind of preparation for their futures—aren’t what we’ve been told? In a culture consumed by busyness and achievement, something vital is slipping away. Days once filled with joy, imagination, and connection have been replaced by packed schedules and relentless pressure. Families are feeling the strain, and children are paying the price. The very essence of childhood—the foundation for creativity, resilience, and joy—is quietly vanishing. You will leave this session with fresh insights, actionable strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose to protect what matters most.
Many private home educators are often asked “What is your WHY?” That is, why would you turn down the popular charter option with its enticing bells and whistles or balk at embracing school choice? These are important questions that every homeschooling family should be able to answer. This talk will thoughtfully explore these two educational paths while addressing common misconceptions in truth and love.
Being in ministry is a privilege. Despite the privilege that it is, it does not come without sacrifices and hardships. Learning to balance and manage all aspects of ministry and homeschooling is possible with the help that comes from the Lord. It is a true blessing, when we remember, educating our children is a ministry in and of itself. The greatest ministry we can be a part of! Come and learn some practical ways to serve the Lord with an undivided heart.
Want to give your preschooler and kindergartner an edge? Though it may seem counter-intuitive, having a playful, relaxed, yet intentional attitude towards learning in the early years develops creativity, encourages curiosity, builds independence, expands attention span, enhances relationships, and has fun, too. And it is PROVEN to give them an academic edge! Join Heather as she share's the art of teaching young children through play.
The Bible is silent on most of Jesus’ childhood—except one moment: age 12 (Luke 2:41–52). That’s not accidental. God is spotlighting something about the “in-between” years when children begin to take ownership of faith, identity, and responsibility. This session draws out key lessons from Jesus’ example and delivers six practical takeaways—three for parents and three for preteens/teens—to help families navigate this transition with clarity and confidence.
It’s easy to recognize how valuable play is to our children. They love it! It is not so easy to convince ourselves that play has a variety of long-term benefits and that play is actually learning. It is arguably the purest form of learning we have. Dr. Dikkers will walk us through an overview of the physical, developmental, social, and academic benefits of non-directed outdoor play time.
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.
What do colleges really want from homeschoolers? Will homeschooling ruin your chances of getting into a good college? As a 25-year veteran of higher education, Dr. Lisa Dunne shares the behind-the-scenes conversations that college leaders have about homeschoolers. You’ll be surprised and encouraged to discover what colleges are really looking for in students and what you can do to prepare your homeschool scholar.
Homeschooling can feel exciting and a little intimidating, especially when you start wondering if you are really equipped for the job. If you have ever questioned whether you can do this, you are not alone. In this encouraging and energizing session, Kristi Clover shares how homeschooling is not about having it all figured out, but about taking the next faithful step. Through humor, real-life stories, and biblical encouragement, she will help you move past fear, release perfectionism, and step into the calling God has placed on your family with confidence and peace.
Carrie loves to cook and help homeschooling moms get organized, and in this session, she talks about the homeschool struggle no one tells you about when you start homeschooling: Your Job as the Cafeteria Lady! Homeschooling moms spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Cooking and KP duty is something every homeschool mom deals with on a daily basis. Carrie will share her secret to being a successful and stress-free "Cafeteria Lady." There will be tips on how to plan, delegate, & organize, so you don't have to live in the kitchen (unless you want to)!
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 in the midst of 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 more happy.
What is it that draws us to this crazy endeavor of private home education? As waves of attacks continue to come against homeschooling, what makes this unique method of education worth fighting for? More than ever our kids need to be firmly grounded on the bedrock of God’s Word. Nathan looks at the underlying battlegrounds of worldviews and the cultural war raging against God-ordained family and Biblical truth. Nathan will challenge you to engage in the battle for our freedoms as he lays out a roadmap for engagement that anyone can follow.
Do you have one of those kids who can’t seem to sit still? Come explore the scientific research behind the mind/body connection and how movement can be the key switch to turn your child ON to learning. But more importantly, you’ll put together a game plan with personalized ways you can incorporate more movement into your homeschooling days that will maximize your child’s learning potential. Understanding the need for and incorporating movement is helpful everyone, but vital for those with special needs.
"Am I doing this right?" It’s the question every homeschooler asks. Those well-meaning platitudes like "you can’t mess this up" might sound comforting, but deep down, we know the truth: both parenting and homeschooling are significant responsibilities—and yes, we can get it wrong. The self-doubt, the fear of failing our kids, and the constant pressure to "build the boat while sailing it" can feel paralyzing. But what if there was a way to silence the doubt? This workshop unveils a simple, proven framework to ensure your homeschool is not just on track but thriving.
When getting started, or when change is needed, it helps to know the options that may be a better fit for you and your child. This workshop will discuss several approaches (they all work) and review some of the curriculum providers in each category. Finding the one that is a best fit for you and your child will increase your success and reduce frustration. Information from this session will enable you to make more confident choices as you face decisions for education.
Everyone struggles with anger on some level, but when anger is a frequent occurrence with your children, over time, it will damage your relationships and hinder your effectiveness. Are you tired of being stressed-out, and ready to have a peaceful atmosphere in your home? Learn how in this important workshop.
When you are in the trenches of homeschooling your children and feel like giving up, what anchors you to your commitment? David and Shirley would love to share with you the multitude of reasons that homeschooling is the best choice for your family and for your children. They will share from their personal experiences of raising and educating their nine children.
Overwhelmed by the hundreds of different curriculum choices available? How do you begin to sort through the various options, price tags, styles, and methods? Confused by terms like unit study and multi-sensory teaching? And just who is Charlotte Mason? In this crash course, we’ll discuss tips and tools to help you find materials that best fit the needs of your family.
Today's digital world offers many opportunities and methods for participation. That participation comes at a cost. It exposes us to threats and risks from those who mean to do us harm through fraud, property & identity theft, deception, radicalization, and more. Yet simply participating also has an unseen transformative effect on us. The rise of AI has escalated many of these challenges while presenting us with new ones. In this workshop we will review the top threats, the harm they cause, and strategies to counter them to protect all that we are - defending our hearts, minds, body, soul, and yes, our property.
Many parents are confident managing decisions and educational choices through the middle school years, but shake with fear when looking ahead to the high school years. The issues do seem to have greater consequences, but the Smiths will show a mindset and approach that can energize you to make them the best years. Your emerging adults can become the ones who praise you, instead of being your greatest critic. Together, you can launch your teens to find their own purpose.
Some days it feels like we have to make a decision: Will we get everything done with our homeschool work today or will we get our house clean? There doesn’t always seem to be a middle ground. It feels like it’s one or the other. Balancing homeschooling and homemaking is hard work. Overwhelming work. It may have been easier to keep your house clean before you started homeschooling, but there is hope. Kristi shares a few simple tips and techniques that have helped her make her day a bit more efficient - and actually be able to get both homeschooling and housework done (most days).
Is your child anxious or resistant when it comes to math? Transform math tears into triumphs in this workshop with Christy-Faith, an expert in engaging reluctant learners. You'll discover secrets to turning stress into success with proven techniques and strategies. It is possible to create a positive, enriching math environment where your child thrives. While the focus is on math, the skills you gain will enhance all subjects, turning your family's educational journey into a joyful adventure.
No textbook? No problem! You don't need a formal curriculum to teach history. Actually, it’s more fun if you don't. One of the best ways to learn about history is through the eyes of those who experienced it. In this session, I share simple ways to not only read your way through history but simple (and inexpensive ways) to watch your way through history. I share how to use a literature-based approach and family movie nights to teach history. Reading (and watching) your way through history is simple, fun, and doable!
There has been a fundamental shift in our culture’s view of the role of parents versus government in the past two hundred and fifty years. Contrasting the statements of America’s Founding Fathers with ivy league professors and journalists today, you can better understand the battle over who should control the education and upbringing of children.
What if we’re getting childhood all wrong? What if the things children need most—and the right kind of preparation for their futures—aren’t what we’ve been told? In a culture consumed by busyness and achievement, something vital is slipping away. Days once filled with joy, imagination, and connection have been replaced by packed schedules and relentless pressure. Families are feeling the strain, and children are paying the price. The very essence of childhood—the foundation for creativity, resilience, and joy—is quietly vanishing. You will leave this session with fresh insights, actionable strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose to protect what matters most.
Most people think of schooling when they hear the word “education.” In reality, however, the two are not intrinsically linked in any way. Learn why most people are schooled, but never truly educated, and how you can ensure your children get a great education, even without schooling.
Homeschooling multiple kids at different ages and stages can feel like a constant juggling act, especially when you are trying to meet everyone’s needs at the same time. From helping one child with math to managing toddlers and everything in between, the day can quickly feel chaotic. In this practical and encouraging session, Kristi Clover shares a better way to approach multi-age homeschooling so you can create more structure, maximize your time, and bring a sense of calm to your day. You will leave feeling encouraged, capable, and ready to manage your homeschool with greater confidence and clarity.
We learn parenting skills when our children are small, but those skills are useless, even detrimental in the teen years. Learn from Dr. Smith, and his wife, Jan, how understanding child development will affect the relationship with your child, and how it should guide your parenting. They will share practical ways to move from a control-mindset to one of influence that will foster closeness in your relationship.
Is homeschooling just 'school at home,' or is it something more profound? Most parents start out worrying about textbooks and subjects, but the real shift occurs when we realize that curriculum is a tool, not the goal. We’ll look at how homeschooling shapes your child’s academic world, their character, and their long-term future. We will specifically discuss how to 'de-school' your thinking—moving from a classroom mentality to a lifelong learning mindset. And how to choose wisely the best academic tools to propel your child’s potential each year.. Join us to learn how to create an education that goes beyond the page and changes generations!
Resistance in a child can take various forms— it can look like laziness, lack of motivation, or outright refusal. This workshop is your guide to investigation, revealing the intricate layers behind why kids don't work to their potential. Together, we'll decipher this red flag, explore its implications and, more importantly, learn how to pinpoint the specific support your child needs. Gain valuable insights into securing the buy-in you crave. Join Christy and delve into the complexities of understanding and addressing resistance. Learn to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration, paving the way for a more hopeful, connected relationship while resolving the problem for good.
At the checkout line, after church, or just hanging out with friends, people talk every day. When we speak, we offer up more about ourselves than many realize. Speaking well equips students for college and job interviews, relational success, and navigating the adult world. However, with a homeschool schedule that is already bursting at the seams, speech seems like one of those subjects that can be put on the back burner. This workshop focuses on the importance of speech, provides instruction for including speech as part of your family lifestyle instead of merely another lesson plan, and equips parents with public speaking skills games.
Learning to embrace a natural, holistic way of education can make homeschooling doable and successful academically, spiritually, and socially for both the students and the parents. It’s important to let go of our pre-conceived notions of what “school” should look like and instead major on the strengths of homeschooling – flexibility, real life learning, real books (living books), dialogue rather than formal tests, etc. Discover how to emphasize the benefits of homeschooling and avoid the burn out that happens when parents try to replicate a traditional school in their homes.
Fresh from the battlefront, Nathan will update you on major current legislative battles threatening our private home education and parental rights! You will learn how vigilance is maintained and hear how God has been working “behind the lines” through FPM this year at the State Capitol. As time permits, this perspective will broaden to an even larger battlefront of the underlying worldviews and trends of our culture’s war against the God ordained family.
Word problems and fractions are two of the biggest struggles for kids—and often the greatest source of frustration for parents. In this practical and encouraging workshop, you’ll learn simple strategies to help your child confidently solve word problems and truly understand fractions through visual, hands-on methods that work. Explore problem-solving steps, a linear fraction chart, and an engaging game that reduce frustration and strengthen understanding, and bring confidence—and even joy—back to math learning.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just business or just making money - it’s agency, accountability, and value creation - it’s life. Entrepreneurship is living by faith and becoming the best you can be. There are five areas every entrepreneur learns to master and manage well, and Daniel will lead you through them in this workshop.
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.
This workshop is a sanctuary for mothers who feel the weight of effective teaching, while juggling numerous responsibilities and the unrelenting demands of life, all without succumbing to burnout. Join Christy and explore practical strategies to craft an enriching education for your children, foster a peaceful home, and provide rich childhoods without sacrificing academic preparedness. Unveil the secrets of efficient time management and find solutions to streamline your homeschooling path. This session isn't just guidance; it's your field-guide in navigating challenges, ensuring your children receive what they need while maintaining your own sense of balance and well-being.
Benjamin Franklin forgot paperwork when he declared death and taxes to be the only certainties in life. But you don't need to be afraid of drowning in a documents. Betsy has kept her school records for thirteen years and will walk you through the mandated records we are required to maintain as private homeschoolers and briefly touch on a few popular methods for lesson planning and keeping track of your child's learning.
High school is about more than academics. It is a key season for preparing your teen for real life. Many parents find themselves still managing everything instead of helping their teen take ownership. In this practical and encouraging session, Kristi Clover shares how to shift from teacher to mentor so your teen can grow in responsibility, independence, and confidence. You will walk away with a fresh perspective and simple ways to help your teen step up while creating a more peaceful and functional home.
Typically, when we are reading a book of fiction, we focus on the plot, character, and theme of the story. What do you mean by “reading between the lines?” Good question. It is trying to figure out and understand what the author didn’t say by what he did say. It is searching for clues to understand the author’s basic beliefs regarding the most significant questions in life, such as: What is God like? How did the world begin? What is the basic nature of man? Furthermore, what is Truth? This is reading at the highest and most important level.
Have you ever wanted to dive deeper into a passage of Scripture, better understand the meaning of a word or verse, or feel more confident teaching the Bible to your children? In this workshop, Pastor Seann will introduce parents to the Inductive Bible Study method—a practical approach to studying God’s Word that helps both parents and students learn to carefully observe the text, understand its meaning, and faithfully apply God’s Word to everyday life. Parents will not only learn how to study the Bible more deeply for themselves, but also how to guide their children in developing these same lifelong skills.
What does the Bible say about the duties and responsibilities of a Christian husband / father? Israel will look at what the Scriptures teach on this important topic.
Do you habitually lose precious minutes of school time trying to get your student’s head out of the clouds? We are living in a world characterized by distraction, and no one is above the disordering effect this can have on our lives. Now more than ever we need a recovery of what Charlotte Mason called “the habit of attention”. In this session, we will look to great voices from the classical tradition to learn about the nature of attention, the path to recovering yourself from distraction, and the tools needed to teach this valuable habit to your children.
Homeschooling is not a solo sport. Part of ensuring a successful homeschooling journey is finding the right community that supports your vision, goals, and personality. The good news is that there are many such groups to choose from. Come hear about the various homeschooling communities that exist and learn how to create a useful tool for your family to help narrow down your options.
Gentle parenting. Co-sleeping versus cribs. Proximal versus distal attachment. Baby carriers versus baby strollers. The internet is swarming with advice on how to raise a child. But often, the advice is misguided at best and disastrous at worst. The “boss babe” culture has trained up an army of workplace leaders who struggle to connect emotionally with their families. Join Dr. Lisa Dunne for an engaging workshop addressing the biblical worldview on raising our kids.
Ever find yourself asking: "Can I really do this?" or "What if I'm failing my child?" Join Christy for a raw and illuminating discussion on the silent struggle of self-doubt in homeschooling. Delve into the questions that haunt homeschooling moms in the dead of night and uncover strategies to silence your inner critic. In this workshop you will gain valuable insight to navigate the doubts that threaten to overwhelm and emerge with renewed confidence that you and only you are the best possible teacher for your child.
Is middle school just a different campus for school students? Or do the dramatic physical, mental, and emotional challenges of puberty necessitate some changes in your homeschooling? What academic skills need to be covered now as you bridge between the academic foundations of elementary school and the more advanced coursework of high school?
If the children are the glue holding your marriage together, you are on the path to divorce. A healthy marriage has characteristics that lead to a thriving home. Bringing 43 years of experience in marriage to bear on the subject, the Smiths recognize that some stages are harder than others, while it is never too late to improve the health of the relationship. The Smiths will share several tools that can help to restore or invigorate a marriage in a busy home where no one seems to have any extra time. Leave this session with one or more ideas to make an immediate difference.
What is AI exactly? Should it be part of your homeschool? Can your teens use it safely? Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can help you teach subjects you may not feel fully prepared for. This workshop walks through simple ways to create practice work, check answers, and spot where your child is getting stuck. It also covers how to build your teenager’s professional skills with AI while limiting the rabbit holes they can get sucked into.
Daniel will help you equip your students to recognize incentives, propaganda, and corruption without cynicism. Help your young people to distinguish authority from truth, detect manipulation, and build the moral courage and practical wisdom for everyday courage and resilience.
Unlock the door to feeling successful in your homeschooling journey. Often times we try extremely hard, but sense no progress. The 3 keys can help you move forward to achieve a sense of accomplishment. Don’t worry! These simple truths will help you open the doors to less fear and more victory for both you and your children
Most people think of schooling when they hear the word “education.” In reality, however, the two are not intrinsically linked in any way. Learn why most people are schooled, but never truly educated, and how you can ensure your children get a great education, even without schooling.
Unlock the door to feeling successful in your homeschooling journey. Often times we try extremely hard, but sense no progress. The 3 keys can help you move forward to achieve a sense of accomplishment. Don’t worry! These simple truths will help you open the doors to less fear and more victory for both you and your children
Want one presenter's full lineup? Each speaker on the Speakers page links to every workshop they're leading.
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