Your house is a disaster, your kids seem out of control, and you wonder how you’ll ever make it through another day of school. Your “get up and go” has “gotten up and went”. You used to think homeschooling was the best thing since sliced bread, but now you’re feeling like burnt toast. Take heart – you’re not alone! No one homeschools because it’s easy. You do it because you believe it is best. But there are times when you need to be reminded once again why it’s best.

Are you having trouble finding the time and energy to meet the needs of your husband after a hard day of homeschooling? Maybe you’ve forgotten what his needs are. Would you like your husband to take a more active role in homeschooling? Maybe your husband refuses to be involved in training your children. Join Todd you look at your role, not as a homeschooling mom, but as a homeschooling WIFE. Your husband will thank you for coming! The discussion will be led by a real husband of a homeschooling mom.

You may not crack open a book, work through a curriculum, or call it school, but it’s your job to train your children. Join me as we look at the trials, triumphs, and tribulations of training our children. Now don’t worry, I won’t make you feel guilty or give you a forty-six point outline, but I promise to tell it straight and to encourage you in the best job there is – fathering

X-Boxes, Game-Cubes, the INTERNET, Facebook, and iPhones have changed the way we live, have fun, and interact. Children quietly glued to game monitors for hours have replaced laughter and creativity. They beg to play, whine when they can’t, and even lie about the time they’ve spent on “the gadget”. Technology has become a powerful tool and ‘everyone is doing it’…but maybe you feel like you’ve lost control in your own home. Does the chill down your spine tell you that something is terribly wrong? Do you feel like a beast has invaded your home, but you don’t know how to handle it? If so, then join Todd as you talk together about the timely topic of taming the TECHNO-BEAST!

Do you have a child who doesn’t want to be homeschooled, in-laws who don’t understand your reasons for homeschooling, a spouse who isn’t sold on the idea, or a guilt complex reminding you that you have no business homeschooling your children? Those nagging, sometimes-silent disapprovals can crush a person under the weight of guilt and despair. Join Todd, as he goes face to face with the naysayers and shows you how to address their concerns, questions, and logic of why you shouldn’t homeschool your children.

Children like to do what they can do, they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do. If you want excited and enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. If it matters, children will learn it, and if it doesn’t, they won’t. This session will enlighten you with specific ways to find and create relevancy for children, even when they have no apparent interest.

Many see science as the final, authoritative word in understanding the past history of the earth. With the myriad of discoveries every year that overturn past “truths,” dare we replace God’s authority with a man-made one? It is critical that our children are able to differentiate between science and philosophy. This seminar will help you develop discernment in teaching your kids the difference between the two.

Discover, perhaps for the first time, the geology of your own state, using the book of Genesis as a framework.

Probably the least understood of subjects in earth history is the Ice Age and how it fits into a biblical worldview. We’ll examine the evidence for an Ice age caused by the Genesis Flood, how it could fit into the period between Noah and Abraham, and reinforce confidence in what the Bible says historically.

What do you do with those rocks your kids are bringing home? You identify them! This seminar will give you a short primer in basic rock identification, with encouragement to not be afraid of a dirty subject.

Compelling evidence that shows dinosaurs were on the Ark and the subsequent eye witness accounts.

There is more to building a solid worldview than having a right catechism of creation. Our culture is on the move to destroy Biblical faith. This is no more apparent than in the treatment of the book of Genesis. Part of the solution for our kids is in knowing what the Bible says and how it explains the physical earth around them. Learn about evidence for the Flood and the truth of the Bible with every step you take!

Do you struggle to complete schooling for multiple children along with other daily goals? Does instruction of different grade levels seem an overwhelming task to complete daily? Free your classroom of frustration by discovering and using the one room schoolhouse model. This workshop will help to explain what Classical Education is and why it works. We will demystify the concept of "classical" and explain its three learning stages. We will hone in on the “Grammar Stage”, and discover methods that energize your homeschool, no matter what curriculum you use.

Cullen Chong will take you through his story of growing up and of how he used fun and inspiration to overcome his difficulties with reading, writing, and math to discover who God designed him to be. You will understand how his difficulties long ago were the birthplace of FlashPoint STEM today. It is his hope that you, as homeschool parents, will take away some of these insights to use with your own kids, while also discovering what FlashPoint STEM has to offer as an alternative source in learning to apply Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Our own relationship with God will color and affect our relationship with our spouse and our children. Setting aside time to deepen our walk with God and revel in His grace will bear fruit in how we relate to those who are most important to us.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Homeschooling is hard, parenting is hard, and marriage…well, that’s way hard. And that’s OK and even normal. The trouble is we don’t like hard. We want easy, fast, and cheap, and at the same time we want successful results. During this hour, you’ll laugh with Todd as he shares how to embrace the hardness while keeping your eye on the joy and experience God’s best for you.

The second command is to love others as we want to be loved. But the ‘new commandment’ that Jesus calls us to implement is to love others as we have been loved by Him. This is a different perspective that focuses our attention on Jesus Himself and how He has loved us.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Young Adult Session (Be advised: This session is a discussion session and all audio is not captured on the recording) Using an easily-accessible classification system and identifying common cultural themes, this powerful introduction into the world of ideas lays the groundwork for developing a worldview big enough for the world.

Beginning with a history of education in the United States, Linda takes her audience through the effects and outcomes of following, or turning away from, God’s plan for schooling. The Scriptures are rich with wisdom and support for the duty of educating your children at home. Come and discover your real purpose for doing what you’re doing. Learn where your strength must come from and be reassured that you can stand on God’s promises for your children. God will never give you more than you can handle with His help!

Are you convinced that every homeschooling family except yours is great? Do you believe the lie that others are more organized, better prepared, have smarter kids, are wiser parents, and have a child in the national spelling bee? Well, let me set the record straight...that's not the way it is! The truth is most moms feel inadequate. Homeschooling moms fear that they're letting their kids down in their education and in example. They feel like their house is out of control, their children are beasts, and the sizzle has left their marriages. Join us as we unleash the power in being REAL. You’ll never be the same again.

Young homeschooling families are pulled in many directions as they consider all the activities, demands, and responsibilities that raising a family can bring. We’ll take a look at how husbands and wives can work as a team to navigate priorities, homeschooling, and daily life together, establishing a Christ-centered home as they raise their children for the Lord.

You had a wonderful plan at the beginning of the school year for a well-rounded education, envisioning academic excellence and character development in your smiling, well-adjusted offspring. But then . . . life happened. How do you find “normal” again? In this workshop, Vicki helps you focus on the essentials when you're on the frontlines, especially in a crisis situation.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Why do parents choose to homeschool? What is home education really about? Am I qualified to teach my own? What should I teach? What if I fail to teach something really important? The answer to these and many more “frequently asked questions” are drawn from Joyce's many years of homeschooling seven sons.

As a homeschool parent you wear lots of different hats and have a multitude of responsibilities. Is it possible to get everything accomplished that is set before you? Where does the strength come from to be a success in both educating and training your children? There is hope for both the highly disorganized and the over achiever in this journey of homeschooling. Anne will share ideas and encouragement for both new and seasoned homeschoolers.

As soon as you have your first child, you have been automatically enrolled in Family Relationships 101. In Deuteronomy 6, God’s simple and effective plan for the family begins with parents loving God with everything in them and having His word on their hearts. When parents have established their own relationship with God and His word, they are equipped to teach their children to love God and His word.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Are we unintentionally leading our children to believe they don’t need a Savior? Let’s look at some common parenting practices and how we can — without realizing it — actually drive or lure our children away from the Savior who loves them, died for them, and empowers them to lead lives of loving obedience and gratitude.

When Copper's parents charted an educational course for their children, they chose an unmarked path: homeschooling. Now, over three decades later, Copper shares her personal testimony as a homeschool graduate, and the difference an education at home has made in her life. No journey is straightforward, and Copper presents an honest look at the highs and lows of home education, and why she continues to walk this road with her own four children.

It's a fact! The only thing tougher than being a homeschooling mom is...being married to a homeschooling mom! Dad, your wife needs your help. Come join me as we discuss how to support and assist our wives in the homeschooling journey. We'll also do a lot of laughing as I encourage men to be encouragers of their homeschooling wives.

Mr. Karman is the founder of the OCEANetwork. He has lived through many changes. None of these have more effect on your rights to homeschooling than those we are seeing today. In the world every man's way is right in his own eyes. (Prov 21) The climate of Christian home education has changed. The warming that we see is the heat of hostility towards God’s plan. How long will the truth be permitted to be taught in your home or your homeschool? Is the truth worth fighting for?

We like things nice and neat, orderly, and with a predictable outcome, but most of the time OUR plans don’t come together as we hoped. Instead, our plans often fall apart, disintegrate right before our eyes, and leave us dumbfounded and stunned. Join me as we take an honest and humorous look at plans, why they fall apart, and what to do when they have.

It’s here folks – full blown! Sure we have been “sliding toward Gomorrah” for some time, but now it is the pool (cesspool) we swim in. We will discuss some of the ramifications of teaching our children all subjects from a Biblical worldview in today’s society and the impact it will have on them as student/children and on us as teacher/parents.

This workshop is Steve’s testimony of the last twenty-five years as the father of a child with special needs. He shares what his family has learned as a result of Johnny’s disability, and the special, rewarding, and joyful role he has played in their lives. Even in the difficult experiences of life, God proved faithful. His grace sustained them and brought good out of their struggles and disappointments.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Where are you in your homeschool journey? Just beginning, in the middle, or near the end? The end does come, believe it or not, quicker than you expect. Anne will encourage those at every stage of the journey to look at the "big picture" and not get bogged down with the details. The lessons parents learn, as they teach their children, will go with them the rest of their lives.

Loving God and each other are relationships. Relationships are built on edifying communication. No one can build up, or tear down, more than those that we love the most. In this workshop we will examine how to hear and understand each other in a safe place.

The handout for this session is available at http://www.oceanetwork.org/2016handouts.pdf

Are you in the thick of childrearing? Are your days long and exhausting? Join Joyce as she reminds us that the love we pour out to our children is not lost in the moment of time. We are building within them an eternal heritage.

Let’s face it. Homeschooling is challenging. Sometimes it can feel like a major accomplishment just to take a shower and get the breakfast dishes cleaned up before dinner! Most homeschool moms feel the pressure of providing their children with a solid academic foundation ~ but there’s so much more to homeschooling than academics, isn’t there? The truth is that the greatest accomplishment of your homeschooling is to nurture your children in the ways of the One who made them. REAL LIFE Homeschooling is about getting real when it comes to the issues that are unique to homeschooling families, but more important than that, it’s about being reminded why we are homeschooling in the first place. It’s about keeping our eyes on the goal of discipling our children. If you have been or are on the edge of homeschool burnout, if you are wondering why God has called you on this homeschooling journey, or if you just need some honest, real encouragement, this is the one homeschool workshop you can’t afford to miss!

As soon as you have your first child, you have been automatically enrolled in Family Relationships 101. In Deuteronomy 6, God’s simple and effective plan for the family begins with parents loving God with everything in them and having His word on their hearts. When parents have established their own relationship with God and His word, they are equipped to teach their children to love God and His word.

God created marriage and the family. Before Abraham, Moses, or Israel, God instituted the sacred institution of the family. Healthy God honoring families are the foundation for our churches and our culture. Transformation of our institutions begins in the home where each individual is rooted, grounded, and connected to God through the good news of Jesus, who is the cornerstone of a family of faith.

These are tough times for mothers. Internet predators, ISIS, struggling economy, failing school systems—how can we raise our children to be strong in the face of such obstacles? Join Heidi for an hour that will encourage and equip you.

This workshop is Steve’s testimony of the last twenty-five years as the father of a child with special needs. He shares what his family has learned as a result of Johnny’s disability, and the special, rewarding, and joyful role he has played in their lives. Even in the difficult experiences of life, God proved faithful. His grace sustained them and brought good out of their struggles and disappointments.

Tick Tock. Have you ever experienced a series of days, weeks or even months when you felt like you just could NOT get on top of all that you had to do? Have you just decided that it’s either school or dinner? Or maybe you just gave up school and now everyone has matching socks again! Most moms struggle with finding a balance when it comes to homeschooling and staying on top of the rest of your day. Have you ever read 2 Corinthians 12:9? You probably have… it says, “My strength is made perfect in weakness”. Homeschooling reveals weakness … it’s true! And that’s a good thing, because it means you get to give even more glory to the Lord when you graduate your kids and see that they are walking with the Lord. Homeschool mom, if you’re struggling with trying to do it all, you will enjoy hearing some of Heidi’s favorite tips for managing homeschooling and homemaking…and still finding time to fit in “other things” (like alone time with your husband!) This is an opportunity to GET SET FREE from the expectations of others, laugh out loud learn how two words: BE INTENTIONAL can make a huge difference in your ability to manage your home and your homeschool well. Heidi really loves to use acrostics and this is one of her favorites! Bring a friend and leave your preconceived ideas at the door because real moms sometimes serve Cheerios for dinner!

Will uses humor and his personal testimony as a homeschool graduate to encourage parents and children in their homeschooling. He encourages attendees to live a life of service to each other and to God through their commitment to continue homeschooling, and closes with a vision for homeschoolers to excel in all that they do.

For many of us homeschooling our children is one of our greatest blessings. But it is also a lot of work! And what if you as the homeschooling parent also need to earn an income? There are so many of us facing this situation. If you find yourself trying to balance these responsibilities, please join us for this discussion group.

“No Drama, Mama!” Come away and learn to blunt the strife and struggle that can bring unwanted drama into your relationships. The Lord wants you to find peace in the most important relationships that surround you. Using examples from her own life, Heidi will show you some things you *might* be overlooking in your relationships with others, including when to speak up, and when to be quiet.

Sometimes the most important lessons our children learn are not acquired from a textbook or class but from how we relate to them in our daily interactions and what we teach them about God’s character. Let’s take steps to insure that the message we convey to our children is biblical, gospel oriented, and imbued with grace.

For The Good Ship Home Education, it can be smooth sailing through the seas of life with a crew of happy, contented children. But the seas soon grow choppy when one of your crew declares a mutiny. And the seas turn absolutely turbulent when one of your young sailors abandons ship altogether. It is heart breaking to watch your son or daughter embark and set sail on a course you know to be less than desirable. What’s a parent (or grandparent) to do? We will expose some myths about perfect parenting, identify some do’s and don’t’s, and offer some hope and encouragement for heavy-hearted homeschoolers.

Steve relates insights he has gleaned from scripture on how God has designed our wives and ways that we can lay down our lives and apply biblical principles to build them up and encourage them in the Lord. When we lose our life we find it.

Arguably the most profound change in America in the past 50 years has been the deconstruction of the family unit. The foundational building block of 4000 years of world culture and 250 years of American society has been undermined, underappreciated and under attack since the 1960’s. Learn how to put down the kind of strong roots that will help you become an “intentional arborist” as you nurture the strong family that you desire-and that your children need. Learn how you can nurture nurture what’s important and learn to ignore the flurry of cultural foolishness that we all-too-often mistake for what’s really important.

The basis for building relationships in your marriage and family is healthy communication. In this workshop we will learn six techniques for speaking with clarity, listening with understanding, and how to operate in an atmosphere where parents and children feel safe and valued.

When do you get started and what do you do first? We’ve had precocious readers and late bloomers, but every one of them has benefited from being homeschooled from the beginning. Learn to relax and introduce your little ones to the joy of learning in a gentle and realistic way that will prepare them to succeed academically.

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

In spite of what the culture is telling us, boys and girls are different. Have you ever had a war break out in the middle of History, or had a single math lesson take three hours? Then you’re probably raising boys! If the world seems intent on gender-bending and forcing our sons into a feminized mold, Hal and Melanie, parents of six boys, explain the Biblical way out – and a better way to turn wild little dirt-lovers into strong Christian men!

Scripture tells us to train up a child in the way “he” should go–not the way “they” should go. Every child is a unique creation of God, with his own fascinating blend of talents, interests and yes, weaknesses. To help them fulfill their life calling, we must develop a specific plan for the training of each one. Come and learn how to work “with” the uniqueness of your child. Escape the bondage of expectations and set your child free to pursue his passions and be the whole person God created him to be.

With the average age of first marriage approaching thirty, how can we make sure Christian young people are really prepared for marriage and parenting? It doesn’t happen overnight. How can we navigate the confusing years of singleness and honor God and each other? Should young men and young women be friends? Will I ever get married? Will my children ever marry? Hear Hal and Melanie’s own courtship story and get practical encouragement.

Your marriage is a living curriculum that daily instructs your children on the subject of marriage. Ladies, join Beth Mora, a homeschool mom for a look at the unique challenges of a homeschool marriage. Beth and her husband Forrest are the founders and past directors of their church’s marriage ministry that is still thriving ten years later. In this workshop, Beth gets real and practical. Take the time to invest in the one subject that will impact your child’s future even more than learning Latin or Algebra 2. You’re going to walk away from this workshop just as excited about your marriage as you are unwrapping that new curriculum you just purchased!

Do you ever have those moments of panic when you wonder if you are giving your children everything they need to succeed in life? Do you worry that you are inadequate for all that homeschooling requires of you? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night plagued by the long list of important things that still need to be done—and know there will never be enough time in the day to accomplish them? In this session, we will discuss five areas that pose particular challenges to homeschool moms and be reminded that He always holds us in the palm of His hand. This workshop contains many practical tips for solving problems and overcoming obstacles. It also encourages a biblical vision for what you are ultimately trying to accomplish in your children’s lives through homeschooling—a vision that will sustain you through the hard times and difficult days that are sure to come.

When parents display humility, their children are attracted not only to them, but to Christ. You’ll be encouraged as you see the power of humility in the lives of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. You’ll learn how you can grow in humility and add tremendous value to your relationship with your children.

Do you know what the most powerful words are that you can say to your children? God said them to all of the Hebrew fathers. Then He said them repeatedly through His Son to His disciples. These words will encourage your hearts and fill you with faith as you homeschool and disciple your children. (By the way, it’s not, “I love you.”)

You had a wonderful plan at the beginning of the school year for a well-rounded education, envisioning academic excellence and character development in your smiling, well-adjusted offspring. But then . . . life happened. How do you find “normal” again? In this workshop, Vicki helps you focus on the essentials when you’re on the frontlines, especially in a crisis situation.

A recurring theme among homeschoolers is: Help! I’m committed to homeschooling, but I’m feeling overwhelmed just by everyday life! For many of us, standard organizing suggestions don’t “stick,” and we wonder what’s wrong with us. In this workshop, Vicki shares some tools that have helped her (and other busy moms) to homeschool and get dinner on the table. . . on the same day. (If you were “born organized,” you may find yourself in this workshop anyway, to possibly pick up one more idea!)

When you had one child, it seemed easy, but adding more children sometimes makes homeschooling feel like a zany plate-spinning act. Vicki shares ideas for keeping the homeschooling “plates” from crashing to the floor! Practical tips for teaching multiple ages—from a mom of 17 homeschooled students (seven school-age at a time).

One of the absolute greatest gifts we can give our children is a schedule. Studies show that keeping our children on a schedule & creating routines produces stability, calm, trust, discipline and most importantly, happiness. Yes, we’re busy. Yes, we don’t want to be burdened down with trying to stay on a schedule, but wait…you’ve got to come and see and hear why scheduling gives us the freedom to have fun and to accomplish great things. You will walk away from this workshop with wonderful ideas to implement in your home that will be a gift to the whole family.

Learn how to create an atmosphere of service instead of one that is dominated by selfish desires and division. This presentation will help any group, church, business or family develop a spirit of unity. Great for large families.

Maybe you haven’t always homeschooled. . . you’re starting a few years in, or even mid-year. Can you really start mid-stream? What does homeschooling look like? Where do you begin? What should you expect? How can you ease the transition for all of you? We’ll cover these topics and more. Q&A time included, so bring your questions.

In a traditional classroom environment, students have an average of eight to ten individual interactions with their teacher each day. In your homeschool, these verbal interactions can number in the hundreds and greatly enhance the education your children receive at home. Zan Tyler shares how the simple and free tool of conversation can help your children replace boredom during lessons with a motivation to learn. Discover why parents make the best teachers and capitalize on these strengths. Explore strategies to minimize conflict in your home and promote camaraderie, enthusiasm, and learning with stimulating academics instead. Conversation is the key! Conversation IS core curriculum.

Are you new to homeschooling or new to Pennsylvania? Are you thinking about homeschooling at some point in the future? Do you have questions about what homeschooling might look like and how to get started? This session is designed to encourage and equip you to homeschool your children. Topics include: Why homeschool?, how to get started in PA, a typical day, curriculum, record keeping, testing, portfolios, and evaluations. There will also be time for questions.

After some desperate moments of crisis and crying out to the Lord I learned that many of my problems were a direct result of my thought life. Learn to get your thought life out of the dumpster and onto the Most High. Based on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 I will share with you an acrostic that has helped me live in freedom and truth. This tool can also be used to teach our children who they are in Christ and how they too can walk in the truth.

Are you or your teens looking for some extra cash? Want to get some great experience with work and finances? Then entrepreneurship may be for you! Come learn the ins and outs of home business formation, growth, and management from the ground up. Whether you’re looking to build your product, service, ministry, or web-based enterprise, you will find great ideas, resources, and scriptural principles to help you on your way.

Loving God and each other are relationships. Relationships are built on edifying communication. No one can build up, or tear down, more than those that we love the most. In this workshop we will examine how to hear and understand each other in a safe place.

Dr. Eagleson draws on 30 years of homeschooling to share the how and why of homeschooling. What are the two ways to learn. What matters the most when teaching.

Although in many homeschooling families, Mom is the day-to-day teacher with input and support from Dad, it doesn’t have to be that way—and often isn’t. What happens when Dad is the primary educator–and not just for the seriously cool science experiments? Navigating play dates, setting schedules, maintaining the routine—all bring their own special challenges. Darren Jones gives advice and encouragement for Dads Who Homeschool.

As a teen in high school and then a college-aged person, Hope struggled with finding God’s plan for her life. She wants to provide help and encouragement to those who are trying to figure out careers and a life purpose while still homeschooling and living at home, and ultimately point them to Christ so that they discover His plan for their lives

Based on the assumption that someone will train your children, we believe that it is the calling of the parents to do so. Our workshop will describe how we carried this out. Jenny will share our family history and who we are as people. She will tell how she carried our vision to train up warriors for the kingdom of God. We hope that our story will inspire you to have a vision to raise up champions in your family.

This workshop is for those of you who are working to juggle homeschooling life with toddler life. We will look at the importance of prioritizing, planning our work, and working our plan to ensure balance between working with our older children and meeting the needs of even the littlest. Table Talk discussions will center around creative ways to engage our little ones in the power of play while still being accessible to the rest of our children. You will leave with a list of resources and recipes, but more than that, my prayer is that you leave feeling encouraged, knowing that you can do this and you are not alone.

Competition can be a tool to further educational academic pursuits which includes, but is not limited to, scholarships. We will discuss opportunities that are available and the benefits of participating in competitions, both in life skills and academic growth. Come think outside the box with us.

In light of the providence of God, we’ll spend some time discussing some practical ideas that may give your children opportunities to explore the creative side of life. In rural Alabama, we raised three children who were involved in music and drama in high school and college. One of them is actually making a career out of music and acting. Another one is a talented artist whose career is in the medical profession. The third one uses his musical gifts in church worship while serving in the military. It’s likely that at least one of your children has a creative gift that needs the opportunity to develop. Help them find an open door.

Do you find yourself hoping for more purpose in your everyday life as a parent or home school educator? Are you weary or exhausted? Are you trying to find the fun and laughter in your home while the task list grows longer and the laundry piles higher? Jeni offers hope, humor, and real-life stories to illuminate the great ministry of investing in your family and children. She desires her audience to listen to God's Word, laugh together, and leave with tangible ways to equip families to live out the best in their amazing gifts, talents, and abilities. You will leave this presentation with a heart full of laughter and fresh air to breathe LIFE into your family, children, and home. (NOTE: Past attendees have shared that their faces hurt after this talk – from laughing so hard!)

Greatness has been pursued through the ages, and we want our children to pursue it. But the standards and perspective Jesus gave to his followers should mold our pursuit. This workshop delves into the parent-child relationship and the modeling Jesus gives for this all-important work.

Sam is going to share our family’s vision of what we saw that scripture taught concerning the Christian family. Our highest calling as fathers is to “train up a child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4 [ESV]. This training was based on our family philosophy, and it was used to form these four points: 1. Start early 2. Teach fundamentals 3. Protect their environment 4. Practice, practice, practice We patterned our training from a sports perspective.

Share your fears and ask your questions of this 20 year homeschool veteran. Get advice on curriculum types, homeschool models, how to homeschool with a wide range of ages, what to do with a toddler underfoot, where to go for legal counsel, and more.

How do you give what you were not given? How do you change the course of your family legacy? In this session, Jenny shares how though she came from an alcoholic, chaotic upbringing, she and her husband created a safe, peaceful, God-seeking home life for their children, and began a new course for this next generation. Come hear how you can transform your family legacy to reflect Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Does your marriage need a little tuning up? Do you desire excitement and fun in your relationship with your spouse? Well, this presentation is an energized time of ideas and real-life stories to help you develop some creative ways to fill your marriage with laughter, healing, and restoration. Your heart and spirit will be encouraged by God's Word, and your body will and soul will feel recharged after the laughter fills the room. Jeni has the ability to find the humor in everyday marriage – as a counselor and wife of 23 years. Come and be refreshed in your marriage relationship. Raising

In this workshop, we will use Ecclesiastes 3 as a springboard to explore the seasons in a woman's life. We will be looking at God's purpose for ourselves, as well as for our children in each phase of life. Join us as we learn how God works to provide a rewarding harvest for those who are willing to yield themselves His plan.

Conflict arises when parents least expect it, but it is a normal part of family life. Christian Discipline (child training…not punishment) in the home is essential for healthy relationships and creating an atmosphere where God is honored and learning begins. Unfortunately, accomplishing that goal from the toddler years to the teenage years is difficult and confusing. In this fast-paced, how-to workshop, Roger and Jan will share practical ways of dealing with common areas of conflict from a Biblical perspective.

A homeschool dad can sometimes feel like an outsider – going to work and then coming home to hear about his family’s activities. In this candid session, 25 year homeschool veterans Steve & Annette Economides share the 5 things Steve did to unintentionally undermine his wife and children, and 5 things God taught him to restore and build-up his family. Steve will lead dads to discover how to become an integral part of family life and create a powerful foundation of peace and hope in their homes.

As a woman, do you every wish there was a “spa” for your heart? The human heart matters more than anything else in all of God’s creation. In this “heart-to-heart” talk, Jeni shares numerous stories from women who have discovered the FREEDOM of living in the truth of God’s rescuing love and pursuit of their hearts. Hold on, Ladies, this presentation usually quenches a thirst only Jesus can bring from His heroic nature.

On every winning team, there is that player that gives his all and draws out the best of his fellow teammates. He knows his position and how to set up the whole team for the Win! This is the Man, the Father, the Lover, the Nurturer, the Influencer, and the Pastor, the one who is watered and disperses it to the team (Family). Men, come be challenged, enlightened and encouraged as you see the game changer that God has made You to be.

This session will focus on the mother's role in instilling godly character into the lives of her children through discipleship. Some of the topics we will cover are: - What exactly is discipleship? - How important is a Bible curriculum? - What are some practical ways to disciple my children? - What are some of the struggles in discipleship? And what are the rewards?

When was the last time you laughed? Do you remember when you laughed so hard that it made your stomach hurt? Children laugh way more than adults. What would happen if we laughed just a little bit more each day? What if we chose laughter instead of raised voices or tears? Family should be a safe place where we can giggle, laugh, and sing together. With a combination of her experience as a professional counselor and her natural ability to bring out lots of laughter in her audiences, Jeni's presentation will leave you with a lighter heart and tangible ways to keep things in perspective with all the "togetherness" in real-life family.

As your child grows older, you may be considering high school at home — but you’ve got your doubts! Why is homeschooling high school a crucial decision for your teen? How is it possible? What help is available? We’ll answer your questions; but more importantly, we’ll encourage and challenge you to explore the steps you should take as you weigh the possibility of teaching high school at home.

Children like to do what they can do, they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do. If you want excited and enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. If it matters, children will learn it, and if it doesn’t, they won’t. This session will enlighten you with speci?c ways to ?nd and create relevancy for children, even when they have no apparent interest.

Help! I can't seem to get anything done! Have you ever asked yourself how those families on the covers of homeschool magazines and catalogs actually get schooling or anything else done? Do you always feel frazzled and behind? How can you teach your older kids when you have busy preschoolers and toddlers interrupting all day long? This workshop provides ideas to engage, educate, integrate and when needed, occupy young ones. Learn how to create a family learning lifestyle that meets the needs of everyone in your home.

Evaluating a student’s writing can be very dif?cult for anyone, but especially for the parent who may feel less than perfectly con?dent in her own English or grammar skills. Learn how to provide speci?c models and stylistic goals for each composition, giving speci?c assignments to your students for both ?ction and non?ction. Solve the “How long does it have to be?” problem. Never again hear yourself say, “Don’t you want to add a little more detail?” With con?dence and precision, you can design and communicate to your students goal- and model-based writing assignments, and can have a concrete tool to objectively evaluate their efforts.

Are you tired, drained, and feeling like you want to throw in the towel? Homeschooling is a priceless endeavor that can be both invigorating and exhausting. At times it can be hard to see the fruit of your labors when you're in the midst of planting the seeds. Join Carol for a time of encouragement as she shares what God has taught her through nineteen years of homeschooling her ?ve children, each with radically different gifts and abilities.

Almost every father has heard that he is to lead his family spiritually, physically, and in every other way. However, many fathers will tell you that no one has ever told them how to effectively lead their children, especially in the area of spiritual development. Michael Smith presents encouraging and practical tips to fathers for becoming a helpful participant in the home education program and a leader in the home. He provides insight on the mental and emotional bene?ts to mothers and children fathers can provide through speci?c activities, and offers suggestions to men on being more effective as husbands. Mike candidly shares his many failures and a few suc- cesses. The session concludes with a list of the six things homeschooling mothers have identi?ed as the primary ways their husbands can be more effective in the family’s homeschool program. In one father’s words, “Inspiring and convicting—thanks for the straight talk!”

Exploring the practical elements of the Thomas Jefferson education model, Andrew will explain the seven keys as well as the five learning environments as developed by DeMille and his colleagues. (There’s even an unofficial “eighth key.”) With humorous stories from his own family’s experience, Andrew will delight homeschooling moms looking for tips on how to escape the “conveyor belt” approach to doing “school” at home.

Why aren’t your Christian neighbors homeschooling? What is the number one reason that parents do not homeschool? Their lack of con?dence to believe that they can actually do the job, or, put another way—fear of failure. Many homeschoolers in the midst of homeschooling are wondering how they will be able to determine whether they are successful or not with their children. Mike will explain in very clear and decisive terms how you can know whether or not you have been successful when you get to the end of your homeschool experience where it says “The End.” One way to answer the question is whether or not our work homeschooling with our children has been in vain. The Bible gives clear and decisive direction in this area which should be very encouraging to all of us, and hopefully give us encouragement in even the most dif?cult situations.