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2010 MACHE Workshops

"Homeschool on the Range"

- Building a House of Wisdom -

"Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me:

for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day."

Psalm 25:5

Thursday Sessions

SPECIAL SESSION (Thursday, 12:30 p.m.)

Starting Right — Staying Right — Rick Boyer. The key to successful homeschooling is to have a true understanding of what it’s all about, from God’s frame of reference. Curriculum, values education, social learning, and priorities are all addressed in the Bible. In this practical and encouraging presentation by Rick Boyer, you will see that God has a dynamic plan for growing up. Here’s how you, as a parent, can cooperate with Him in making your home a launching pad for champions. (12:30 p.m.)

Getting Ready for the First Day of School — Vicki Bentley. Are you overwhelmed by homeschool options? Not sure where to begin? Good planning is the key to any successful road trip; so Vicki will walk you through a planning checklist to help you prepare for this homeschool journey! Topics include research, goal setting, supplies, schedules, and more...plus "Six Tips for Success". (1:30 p.m.)

Real Life + Real Books = Real Education — Shirley Solis. Can it be so simple? Time and again, homeschool families have given their children a great education through real life experiences and a love of reading. Find out what works and how you, too, can enjoy this journey. (3:00 p.m.)

Choosing Curriculum — Vicki Bentley. Mom of 17 homeschooled students and curriculum counselor for a statewide homeschool organization, Vicki shares the secrets to mapping out a successful course of study for your children. This workshop helps beginners to get a solid start in home education, and encourages veterans to re-examine goals and priorities. This workshop includes a basic overview of different teaching approaches. (4:00 p.m.)

Friday Sessions

SPECIAL SESSION (Friday, 9:00 a.m.)

Wearing the Mommy/Teacher Hat — Melodie Gillum and Mary James. Answering the call to home school means a shift in lifestyle that affects your job as a mother. Learn about shuffling responsibilities, scheduling your time, and taking care of yourself. Discover your teaching style and learn how that affects your child’s education. This workshop is the first in a series of special workshops which instruct homeschool parents of pre-schoolers how to build readiness skills in their young children.

SESSION I (Friday, 10:30 a.m.)

Finding Freedom in Fences — Dr. Lew Sterrett. The life purpose of all that is created is defined at its origin by its very boundaries and properties. Tensions and conflict arise over threatened or violated boundaries. Observe through the training of a horse how understanding and benefiting from healthy, clear fences gives security, direction, and power to one’s life.

Hands-on Dad — Rick Boyer. Some homeschool families look at Dad as a substitute teacher. If he can’t be in the "classroom", then he’s out of the loop. In other families, Dad is the school janitor, cleaning and doing laundry so Mom can have more time with the children. In this workshop, Rick shares seven Biblical functions of the father and shows how they apply in home education. These important and practical insights can set both mom and dad free to be their best for their children.

Holding Their Hearts — Marilyn Boyer. This workshop discusses how the key to raising children who love God is in the heart-to-heart relationship between parent and child, where children are not just trained, but discipled. Take the time to give your children the security of knowing they have your heart. In so doing, you are making it easier for them to freely give their hearts back to their Creator — and that is our mission. Catch a vision of how you can reach and hold the heart of your child and build fulfilling family relationships that will be passed on through generations.

Multi-level Teaching — Vicki Bentley. When you had one child, it seemed easy, but adding more children sometimes makes homeschooling feel like a zany plate-spinning act. Vicki, a mom of seventeen homeschooled students (seven school-age at a time), will share ideas for keeping the homeschooling "plates" from crashing to the floor. She will also share practical tips for teaching multiple ages.

Planning and Preserving: How to Plan Lessons and Keep Records for Your Homeschool — Dr. Donna Johnson. This workshop is for you if you have students and curricula but aren’t sure how to organize your daily school routine and how to keep track of what you should accomplish. This session will help you develop a plan that fits your family from the early years through high school and will touch on household chores, physical activity, service, and leisure...as well as academics.

Parents’ Rights: A Crisis Is Coming — Mike Donnelly. In 1923, the United States Supreme Court ruled that parents have the fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children. So why are parental rights suddenly endangered? Come hear HSLDA attorney and homeschooling father Michael Donnelly discuss the next biggest threat to homeschool freedom and what you can do about it.

Building a Love of Learning — Melodie Gillum. The ABC’s of Charlotte Mason — Exploring the educational philosophies of this extraordinary 19th century educator will give you ideas to inspire your young children and build a love of learning that will last a lifetime. This workshop is second in a series of special workshops which instruct homeschool parents of pre-schoolers how to build readiness skills in their young children.

Teaching Writing (Excellence in Writing) — Jan Miller. Come and discover award-winning Excellence in Writing, a method of teaching composition that really works. Using this program, students of all ages will learn to write stories, reports and essays with style. Best of all, parents and students alike will find it easy to use and effective in all their writing endeavors. This workshop will give you an overview of the program and show you ow you can get started with even the most reluctant writing student so you can give it a try at home.

Journey into Africa — An Amazing Learning Experience (GeoDeo Educational Resources) — Ann Jansen. Fall in love with the African continent through this unique African study. We’ve done the shopping - you have the fun! The kit includes books, DVDs, CDs, games, art/science supplies and user-friendly lesson plans to teach geography, history, art, music, poetry, cooking, and science. It’s a 14+ lesson course for multiple ages that encourages creativity and appeals to busy home educators. You’ll wonder why you didn’t study Africa sooner.

MATH-U-SEE (Math without Tears) (Math-U-See) — Debbie Brown. Learn about a K-12th grade complete, award-winning program, which helps students finally understand Math! Great for the math-minded or math-handicapped student (and Mom and Dad as well)! It is a multi-sensory, hands-on program that requires little to no teacher prep time. During this workshop we will do an overview of this exciting way to teach math from Elementary Math through Algebra. After this workshop you will most likely say, "I see it, I get it, and finally I understand it!"

Great Spelling Made Easy (Phonics Road to Reading and Spelling) — Barbara Beers. Great spelling does not have to be a mystery when you know... the rest of the story. Public school methods of memorizing words using pictures, workbooks, and games will never give a student the tools to know how English is built and why it is built the way it is. Learn not only the foundations of great spelling, writing, and reading, but also how to coordinate grammar, composition, and Latin in a multi-sensory approach with music, art, and literature.

Level-headed Language Arts (Rainbow Resources) — Donna Krahn. Encompassing two of the three Rs, language arts can be a confusing labyrinth of curriculum products. Composition, grammar, handwriting, literature, reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, and dictionary skills — do you integrate them or handle each separately? Each homeschool approach has its own perspective on the topic as well. Rainbow’s Curriculum Specialist will sort through the maze and provide guidelines to help you choose the right curriculum products for your family.

SESSION II (Friday, 1:30 p.m.)

Getting to the Heart of the Matter — Dr. Lew Sterrett. While it is true that no one benefits from a condemning spirit, it is equally true that acute discernment is an essential for survival and achievement. Observe from a horse illustration how external pressures cause unseen things to surface. Learn how appropriate questions can affect growth, well-being, and healthy relationships.

Breaking the Shackles: Why Parents Should Trust Themselves — Rick Boyer. The hand of God is unmistakable in the story of America. Our Founders built a nation organized on the principles of Scripture. The result was that early America astounded the world with its freedom, genius, and productivity. But when the training of children shifted from the realm of the family and moved into the realm of government, it took only a few generations to bring about the social, spiritual, moral, and intellectual decay that permeates our society today. Now, home educating parents are taking back their children and raising up a generation of bright, Godly, competent Americans who understand their heritage and are determined to reclaim it for the glory of God.

Hands-on Character Building — Marilyn Boyer. Deuteronomy 6 tells us to teach the principles of Scripture to our children by talking of them when we lie down, rise up, sit in our houses, and walk by the way. Further, we are to write God’s Word as signs on our hands, our foreheads, the doorposts of our houses, and our gates. This workshop will show how to apply these same principles today and how to constantly remind your children of the truth of God during the four natural learning times of the day: bedtime, waking up, sitting at home, and traveling. Dozens of projects provide you with practical applications for training your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Creating a Lifestyle Learning Environment — Vicki Bentley. A disorganized home makes for a daunting home-atmosphere. Vicki will help you organize your "stuff" and make your home more conducive to learning, as she helps you decide what is important to your family, where you need to begin in getting it under control, and which organizational challenges are unique to homeschoolers. As a fellow busy homeschool mom, Vicki shares practical ideas that have helped her manage her large household.

Singled Out! — Mike Donnelly. Homeschooling can be challenging even when Mom and Dad are pulling together with a common vision. How is it possible for single parents to manage these demands of providing for, protecting, and educating a homeschooling family? Mike Donnelly was raised in a single-parent home and will share his research and thoughts on how hundreds of single moms, and even dads, are able to keep homeschooling on their own.

Learning Naturally: An Insight into Charlotte Mason Education — Shirley Solis. Inspire your children to learn naturally by introducing them to great classic literature, a love of nature, and an appreciation for music and art. This is a ‘how-to’ workshop based on the teachings of homeschooling pioneer, teacher, and philosopher, Charlotte Mason.

Growing with Literature — Mary James. Exposing your young child to excellent literature is KEY to your success as a homeschooler. Learn why to read aloud, what to read, and how to read so that you instill in your child a love of literature. This workshop is third in a series of special workshops for homeschool parents of pre-schoolers which teach how to build readiness skills in their young children.

Training young (and old!) Brains to Retain: Learning that Lasts (Classical Conversations) — Classical Conversations Director. Learn how to have more learning, in less overall time, with less stress, for less money. Throughout American history, how did sixteen year olds successfully teach multiple grades multiple subjects, with such impressive, lasting results, while we struggle at home with three students? Learn their secrets.

How to Teach Geography in a Way That Has Your Kids Asking for More (Geography Matters) — Cindy Wiggers. Are you encountering geography in your everyday life experiences? You can, and we’ll show you how! Knowing geography’s five themes will help you make this topic come alive in your daily learning activities. Discover creative ways to incorporate games, simple mapping assignments, and using atlases and almanacs. Kids love these kinds of hands-on projects and will want to learn more about the geography of our world.

The Right Start to Critical Thinking in Math (RightStart Mathematics by Activities for Learning, Inc.) — Dr Joan A. Cotter. We want our children to become critical thinkers. Teach mathematics so that you emphasize thinking, not just memorizing. Help your child’s brain develop real analytical, problem-solving skills. Understand the teacher’s role of asking questions, encouraging the child toward deeper thinking.

Grammar Works & Writing Works: Equipping Students with Language Survival Skills (The Works People) — Jay Patterson. Excellent writers understand function and logic of words. Student survival and success in our culture depend upon language proficiency. Future success and professional credibility depend upon language competency. Grammar Works and Writing Works foster personal ownership and craftsmanship of English while building solid literacy foundations by developing highly sharpened language skills incrementally and sequentially. This curriculum hits a home run every time it’s tried. Come and find out why.

An 18-Yr-Old Homeschooled Author’s Story (Victoria Kasten) — Victoria and Kathy Kasten. What began as a homeschool project, quickly blossomed into multiple books, radio and newspaper interviews, thousands of book sales, national trips and the opportunity to teach nearly 2000 school-age children about writing. Come and hear the story of God’s hand in Victoria’s amazing journey. We want to encourage you to let your own children soar in the gift of homeschooling.

SESSION III (Friday, 3:00 p.m.)

Seven Enemies That Everyone Must Defeat — Dr. Lew Sterrett. A reaction by mere definition includes the involuntary response to pressure or pain. Being a reactionary parent, spouse, or leader can prove fatal and unproductive, but how can one alter an established pattern? Learn how to cultivate seven wise responses and change your relationships and effectiveness. (No horse)

Finding the Balance of Love and Discipline — Melodie Sterrett. Most child-rearing books are balanced more heavily on one side or the other of the "Love/Discipline" scale. Since most of us have a pre-condition in our beliefs that is also imbalanced, it is easy to find support for "our side" of the argument that "the children need more love" versus "the children need more discipline". It is the proper balance of these two sides that turns children into whole and healthy adults, both emotionally and spiritually.

On Leaving the Nest: How and When to Release Your Arrows — Rick Boyer. Psalm 127 tells us that children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. Arrows cannot strike their chosen target until they are released by the archer. But how does a parent know when a son or daughter is ready to be released? How are they to be prepared to ‘hit the bull’s-eye’ according to God’s standards? How does the parent-child relationship change when a young person gets married or becomes legally an adult? These are among the trickiest questions a parent faces. Come and listen as veteran home school dad Rick Boyer shares from his experiences as father to eleven sons and daughters age eighteen and older.

An Offer You Can Refuse — Karen Bryant. Choice in education is healthy, but some choices grant much more liberty than others. What impact do the "standards" movement, technology, and online learning have upon the home education community? Set your own standards, optimize your freedom, protect your privacy, and know when to refuse an offer that will require them to be compromised. This workshop includes showing the DVD, Exposing a Trojan Horse.

Expanding Your Understanding of the World and Its Cultures — David Hazell. What is the significance of history anyway? Has it become merely the memorization of a boring list of people, places, events, and dates? Starting with geography and world cultures provides a foundation for chronological history that connects us to God’s heart for the peoples of the world and prepares us to observe God’s hand in history. Timelines, notebooks, and simple hands-on projects help children and adults enjoy and retain history. When history has a context and we have God’s heart for people, retention increases and our role in history becomes exciting!

Lesson Planning for Children with Special Needs — Peggy Ployhar and Dr. Donna Johnson. Preparing to homeschool a child with special needs requires more than just picking up a good curriculum and teaching the pre-set daily lesson plans. You need an individual education plan that fits your child, your homeschool, your curriculum choices, and your teaching style. In this session, Peggy and Donna bring together their combined backgrounds of teaching special children in a variety of settings to help you develop a useful and strategic plan.

Show and Tell — Mary James. The 2 R’s of teaching preschoolers — Relationship and Readiness. Hear practical ideas for strengthening your relationship with your child as well as building academic readiness in key subject areas — reading, math, and writing. This is last in a series of special workshops for homeschool parents of pre-schoolers which teach how to build readiness skills in their young children.

Language Arts in a Real World (Heppner’s Legacy Homeschool Resources) — Nancy Bjorkman. This workshop will explore the natural sequence of language learning through the early years of learning to speak, followed by the reading stage, and then on to writing. 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, creative and formal writing, and literature.

From Preschool to College: Learning How to Teach Pro-Life Values to Your Children (Human Life Alliance) — Marie Larson and Joe Langfeld. The sanctity of life and the importance of sexual purity are essential lessons that lay a strong foundation for future moral questions. How do we teach our children these critical concepts without waiting too long to tell them vital information or damaging their innocence? Attendees will receive samples of HLA’s free, easy-to-use resources. You will be equipped to educate young children, teens, and college students on life issues.

MnKnows: Online Resources for Minnesotans (MINITEX Library Information Network) — Minitex Reference Librarian. Via the MnKNOWS Portal (www.mnknows.org) you can access five information services including a place to search and get library materials via the MnLINK Gateway. The resources in the Electronic Library for Minnesota give you access to on-line articles on a vast array of topics. Search historic images and documents from Minnesota’s past via Minnesota Reflections. Get real-time answers from a librarian 24/7 at AskMN. Plan a research project with the Research Project Calculator.

Rosetta Stone Ltd. (Rosetta Stone Ltd.) — Sandy Minskoff. Experience firsthand the power of Rosetta Stone® Homeschool Version 3. Well explore how this program provides students with a rich, interactive, and engaging language-learning experience, while giving parents the tools and resources needed to track and manage student progress. Find out why Rosetta Stone is Homeschool’s #1 foreign language curriculum. Come join us for this interactive language learning experience!

Raising Kids who Love to Learn with Guidance, Great Books and Good Times (Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.) — Jennifer Scheler. Education can and should be enjoyable...for both students and teachers. In this workshop you’ll learn from a 13-year homeschool veteran how the award-winning Sonlight Curriculum inspires the love to learn, builds family bonds, equips students to think, and shares a strong missions focus. See how Sonlight’s comprehensive packages are flexible enough to teach one student or a house-full with the best books and complete lesson plans. The adventure is yours to enjoy!

Friday Evening Keynote Session (Friday, 6:30 p.m.)

Capturing the Heart — Dr. Lew Sterrett. The success of a trainer is in his ability to coach a horse, or an individual, to reach his or her potential. The key to this success depends upon the trainer’s ability to capture the "want to", or heart-passion, of the one being trained. The core issue is trust, which can be won or lost. The ability to develop and grow one’s trust is dependent upon six progressions. During this program, learn how a horse being trained to ride for the first time parallels the training of a child, athlete, or employee.

Saturday Workshops

SESSION IV (Saturday, 9:00 a.m.)

Stud Talk for Men: Turning Macho into Manhood — Dr. Lew Sterrett. (For granddads, dads and teen sons only) The stallion is one of the most majestic and capable creatures alive and is recognized worldwide for its strength and passion. Using this picture, Lew will work with his three stallions to teach on the topic of male responsibility, potential, and influence. This message, illustrated by Lew’s stallions and other horses, will bring a message that is alive with action and practical teaching.

Four Seasons of Fruitful Parenting — Melodie Sterrett. As children grow, parents also must change their parenting style. Through the analogies of successful gardening, Dr. Melodie Sterrett will explain the four focuses parents need to develop to see infants blossom into dynamic adults with fruitful lives.

Rekindling the Fire of Our Founders — Marilyn Boyer. Their lives. Their fortunes. Their sacred honor. Our founding fathers pledged all they had to birth the miracle of America. Come hear the exciting stories of the price paid by such giants as George Washington, John Adams, John Hancock, John Hart, Abraham Clark, and many others. Let God challenge and inspire your heart to raise up a generation who will play a part in turning America back to her Godly roots!

Organized (...well, almost!): Time Management for Busy Moms — Vicki Bentley. As a busy mom, do you sometimes struggle with lesson planning, keeping the house somewhat presentable, teaching, keeping up with the laundry, and getting dinner on the table the same day you homeschool? Come hear practical tips and encouragement from a fellow homeschool mom of many. Your husband and children will thank you; and you will have hope for another day of science and language arts!

Equipping Our Children to Be Self-Motivated Christian Thinkers — David Hazell. What is the ultimate goal for our families? We all desire to give our children a Christian education that prepares them for the rest of their lives. One important aspect is teaching our children to become successful, independent, thoughtful Christians. We need to wean them from being spoon-fed and lead them to being internally motivated to learn for themselves. We must establish a foundation for self-motivated learning based on moral values. This workshop is designed to give you a path for guiding your children in their life-long process of education and discipleship.

Shedding Light on Depression — Peggy Ployhar. Current studies show almost 10% of the American population is affected by depression each year and depression among children is increasing at a rate of 23% per year. Neither Christians nor the homeschool community are immune to these statistics. Peggy knows first hand how dark and limiting depression can be. She shares from the point of view of someone who has personally struggled with depression, as a parent of a child who struggled with depression, and as a Christian counselor who has helped many women walk through and eventually overcome their depression. This workshop Biblically dissects the clinical reasoning behind depression and the current methods of treatment, while revealing how Jesus, the true Light, can dispel even the most cavernous darkness.

Why Art is Essential to your Child’s Education (Atelier by Arts Attack) — Christy Peddicord. This presentation will review the important role art plays in developing right brain skills (creativity, synthesis, spatial awareness, intuition, imagination, visualization, etc.) and in enabling children to develop their full potential as students. It will also review the Atelier art program; and discuss the essential elements of a successful program while viewing slides of children’s artwork.

Teaching the Jr. and Sr. High Sciences at Home (Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.) — Davis Carman. This seminar explains how any parent can help his or her children learn science at the upper levels. By the time a homeschooled student reaches high school, both the student and the parent should be able to learn by reading. Thus, we admonish the parent to learn the subject right along with the student. With both the parent and the student helping each other learn, an upper level science experience can be equally rewarding for both!

One Mom, Many Kids...How to Keep your Balance (Heppner’s Legacy Homeschool Resources) — Miriam Heppner. Not enough time? This homeschooling mom of 17 shares encouragement and tools to help you plan efficient instruction for each of your children and tips to put it all together.

Moti-Venture: Motivating Kids through Adventure (Moti-Venture) — Rob Snavely. Parents, are you looking for ways to motivate your children to do their schoolwork, have positive attitudes and good behavior? Then Moti-Venture may be for you! Discover an innovative way to motivate your kids through creative adventures while strengthening family bonds in a fun and exciting way!

The Logic of English (Spell to Write and Read) — Denise Eid. In this workshop we will learn five reasons for a silent final E, and a few of the 70 phonograms and spelling rules which explain 99% of English words. This workshop is for anyone who is teaching reading, struggles with spelling, or has students who struggle with either. Many logical engineers find this workshop amazing. You will learn how to lay a strong foundation in language arts and prevent or aid dyslexia. If you have always believed English is illogical, this workshop is for you.

Breathing Life into Language Arts (Total Language Plus, Inc.) — Kris Cournoyer. Language Arts is a critical part of any student’s education and yet working through spelling, vocabulary, grammar, writing, reading comprehension, critical thinking and character development can consume mountains of time and energy. In this workshop, Kris will discuss how these subjects can be combined and brought to life through the study of great literature, developing students who can think, reason and communicate with a biblical world view. Grades 3-12.

Saturday Morning Keynote Session (Saturday, 10:30 a.m.)

Captivating the Heart of the Next Generation — Dr. Lew Sterrett. It will become evident during this session how Lew’s investment and training in Spark is the foundation upon which he can build another horse’s success. Spark’s effectiveness with a young horse clearly illustrates how our personal choices have a profound impact on others.

SESSION V (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.)

Six Concerns on the Heart of Every Parent — Dr. Lew Sterrett. Around the world, parents of every nation share the same concern for their children. These God-given concerns are the very issues expressed by the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples before His crucifixion. Understanding these issues is critical to the success of the parent/child relationship. Effective application of these truths yields more power and freedom for every authority/subordinate relationship.

The Socialization Trap — Rick Boyer. Many home educators are intimidated by the common myth that children who are taught at home are at a disadvantage in social development. Rick Boyer draws on Scripture, scientific research, and the experience of thousands of home-teaching families to show that the opposite is true. To prepare children for the real world, they need to be in the real world of family, church, and community, not locked away from society in age-segregated schools. This session will help you respond to the constant challenge when answering the question, "What about socialization?"

Frugal Homemaking — Vicki Bentley. The current economy is helping us all to be more creative in how we choose to use our resources, financial and otherwise. In this workshop, Vicki will share tips on how to maintain a homeschool household on limited funds and will hopefully spark that wave of creativity in your mind that will help you to see the joy of living more simply.

Hot Topics for Support Group Leaders — panel discussion. This workshop will include a presentation on issues and solutions for support group leaders. Several veteran leaders will be present for question and answer time. There will also be time to meet and discuss issues with other leaders and to encourage each other.

The ABCs of Following Minnesota’s Homeschool Law — Mike Donnelly and John Tuma. Understanding Minnesota law as it applies to you as a home educator can be intimidating, especially if you are just beginning to home educate or taking your children from a conventional school setting. Mike and John will discuss the most frequent issues that homeschoolers face: Nonpublic Compulsory Reporting Forms, report cards, annual tests and scores, virtual and charter schools, issues with your school district, required subject areas, and more.

Comprehension and Composition: Building on the Basics — Dr. Donna Johnson. Once your child can read and spell at a basic level, you will want to implement strategies that foster reading comprehension and promote writing proficiency. This workshop will teach you how. Based on the teaching of Charlotte Mason, these strategies (primarily narration and copywork) are child-friendly, uncomplicated, and effective. Dr. Johnson has successfully implemented these methods with children of all ability levels in a variety of settings.

Teaching Writing (Excellence in Writing) — Jan Miller. Come and discover award-winning Excellence in Writing, a method of teaching composition that really works. Using this program, students of all ages will learn to write stories, reports and essays with style. Best of all, parents and students alike will find it easy to use and effective in all their writing endeavors. This workshop will give you an overview of the program and show you how you can get started with even the most reluctant writing student so you can give it a try at home.

From Preschool to College: Learning How to Teach Pro-Life Values to your Children (Human Life Alliance) — Marie Larson and Joe Langfeld. The sanctity of life and the importance of sexual purity are essential lessons that lay a strong foundation for future moral questions. How do we teach our children these critical concepts without waiting too long to tell them vital information or damaging their innocence? Attendees will receive samples of HLA’s free, easy-to-use resources. You will be equipped to educate young children, teens, and college students on life issues.

Latin, the Key to English (Latin Road to English Grammar) — Barbara Beers. No other language affects English as much as Latin and reveals the secrets of many of our English spellings and meanings. It is the mother language of our most common spoken foreign languages and provides the key to the vocabulary of the sciences, medicine, law, literature, and history. Now you can learn this important language along with your 5th-12th grade students and teach them their advanced English grammar at the same time along the LATIN Road to English Grammar.

The Amazing Brain: Understanding and Unlocking Learning Potential (LearningRx) — Baird Johnson. Cognitive skills are the foundation of learning; strengths and weaknesses here define a child’s ability to learn and can cause severe learning challenges. But cognitive skills are not set in stone; they can be enhanced to unlock a child’s full potential! Come learn about current cognitive research, how our brains process information, and how to strengthen the tools your child’s mind uses to learn. The session includes information and practical techniques to improve your students learning.

Reading Works: Making Writing Road to Reading Truly User-Friendly (The Works People) — Jay Patterson. Do you need the assurance that there are no gaps in your handwriting, reading, spelling and grammar programs? Do you want a language arts program that is based upon neurological research and addresses all learning styles? Do you need a complete, integrated, research-based approach that is still adaptable to your student’s unique learning rates and needs? In this workshop you will get an overview of how to make the neurological, research-based WRTR truly user-friendly and cover all the bases.

Teaching Math Without a Plan? You’ve got to be Kidding! (VideoText Interactive Homeschool Math) — Tom Clark. This workshop is designed to help parents understand the scope, sequence, and logic of mathematics instruction from pre-school to adult. Tom Clark, founder of VideoText Interactive, and author of "Algebra: A Complete Course" and "Geometry: A Complete Course", takes you on an often humorous journey, describing all levels of arithmetic and mathematics in high school and college. Also, attention will be given to identifying the "why" of mathematics with emphasis on the development of concepts.

SESSION VI (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)

Lessons from a Cattle Drive — Dr. Lew Sterrett. For years, Lew Sterrett has fascinated audiences with his open-air Sermon on the Mount presentations. In this workshop, Lew isn’t on a horse; he’s standing in front of an audience giving them another unforgettable story, only this time about his experience on a cattle drive and the life lessons God taught him through it.

Raising Cain without Killing Abel — Rick Boyer. Scripture records the stories of several cases of strife between siblings. In almost every case, there is a principle involved which the parents have violated, sowing destruction in their families. This series of case studies gives valuable insight into the causes — and, therefore, the cures — of sibling rivalry.

Homeschooling on a Shoestring Budget — Vicki Bentley. Homeschooling doesn’t have to cost hundreds of dollars per child. Vicki homeschooled seven at a time while their family was without a full-time income for four years, sometimes spending less than $100 per year. This workshop is loaded with practical tips.

Forging Ahead: Apprenticeships in the 21st Century — Mike Donnelly. College? Homeschoolers may be better prepared for it than many other college-bound teens; but that doesn’t mean they should automatically get sucked into the "college conveyor belt." But if not college, what do we do with our bright, well-educated, well-socialized, homeschooled students? And where do we find resources and apprenticeships to help guide homeschoolers through this process of vocational preparation and calling? Get practical tips and insightful advice in this talk by HSLDA attorney and homeschooling father, Michael Donnelly.
Testing and Evaluation: Understanding Standardized Achievement Tests — Sandy Norlin. You ask, "Why do we need to take those annual tests?" It's a homeschooling mandate, so we do it; but can there actually be a benefit to the testing process? What constitutes a good score? A bad score? What do the scores mean? If we're not following the standard "Scope and Sequence", how can we study toward these tests? Or can we study for them? How do you purchase a test? Or find a tester? All of these issues and more will be discussed in this session.

Preparing Your Special Needs Child for Life Beyond Homeschool — Peggy Ployhar. "Transitioning" has become the big push for special educators in formalizing the process of moving special needs children from a formal school setting to an adult living and working situation. For each child, the transition process is unique in relation to his/her needs, abilities, and Godly purpose. Peggy will guide you through the transition maze and help you gain a greater understanding of topics like guardianship, Individual Service Plans (ISP's), alternative post-secondary education options, life and study skill acquisition/planning, post-secondary accommodations, college entrance exams, and much more. No matter what age your child is or the level of his/her special need, you will gain valuable information from this talk on how to be prepared and "contentious" about the future decisions through which you will need to navigate, regarding your child's education and transition into adult life.

Is "Playing Games" Considered Schooling? ABSOLUTELY! (GeoDeo Educational Resources) — Ann Jansen. No time to read the explanation of "good games"? Hear a quick run down of 40+ games that stimulate the brain, challenge the mind, and bring back the family game night. See what games are new as well as the favorites. Ready to play? Participate in a lively game with Crystal Stix, a tossing and flipping activity (Phy Ed!) that attracts the young and not so young. Receive a discount for attending.

Seven Secrets to Help Kids Think for Themselves (Geography Matters) — Cindy Wiggers. Do you have trouble keeping your students interested in learning? Perhaps it’s time you begin to think outside the box. Discover techniques that will improve critical thinking and creativity, inspiring your students to want to gain knowledge. Included also in this workshop are ideas from the teachings of Ruth Beechick to develop thinking skills which help create a delight for learning and improve your children’s ability to excel in any area they choose to pursue.

MATH-U-SEE (Math Without Tears) (Math-U-See) — Debbie Brown. Learn about a K-12th grade complete, award-winning program, which helps students finally understand Math. Great for the math-minded or math-handicapped student (and Mom and Dad as well)! It is a multi-sensory, hands-on program that requires little to no teacher prep time. During this workshop we will do an overview of this exciting way to teach math from Elementary Math through Algebra. After this workshop you will most likely say, "I see it, I get it, and I finally understand it!"

How to Teach Children to Follow Instructions (National Center for Biblical Parenting) — Lori Kemper. All parents want cooperation but many find it difficult to teach. Most parents give instructions over a hundred times a day. In this session you will examine the Instruction Routine in your home. Replace whining, arguing, and yelling routines with a five-step approach that teaches cooperation and responsibility to children for the long-term. Giving instruction will never be the same.

Terrific Teaching Tools (Rainbow Resources) — Donna Krahn. Out of all that Rainbow offers, what are the most versatile, creative, cost-effective tools to add pizzazz to your homeschool day? Rainbow’s Curriculum Specialist will introduce you to a plethora of teaching techniques using a handful of inexpensive items.

Creative Writing with your Kids (Victoria Kasten) — Victoria and Kathy Kasten. Writing can be fun! Join 18-yr-old, homeschooled author Victoria Kasten (author of seven books) and her mother Kathy as they discuss many creative writing ideas that will excite your kids: music, photography, parent/child exercises, classic literature, and more. Victoria has taught nearly 2,000 children and adults through writing workshops and school visits in Minnesota. She recently received a large journalism scholarship to Bethany Lutheran College. Come and be inspired!

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