Have you just started your homeschooling journey? Come to this workshop to get information on legal requirements, what to expect in the first year or two, and how to navigate the various ages and stages of homeschooling. Whether you are starting with preschoolers or high schoolers, this session will help you start strong!

In this encouraging session, Nancy shares tips she’s learned along the way for making the home education adventure more effective and fruitful—and more enjoyable, too! Part of homeschool success is knowing what might undermine your efforts. We’ll touch on several obstacles to success and explore what success might look like for your family. You’ll also glean ideas to help you organize your time, your home, your schedule, and your life in ways that will foster a successful homeschool experience with your children.

One of the biggest blessings of homeschooling is the time we are given to teach our children to know and love the Lord. Find tips and ideas for weaving a God-centered approach into all aspects of your homeschool journey and family life!

This session is a brief introduction to both the concept of “worldview” and the basic contours of the Christian worldview. After a discussion of the definition of “worldview,” we will examine the essential aspects of the Christian worldview as it relates to the nature of basic presuppositions, knowledge, and the shape of reality. With this basic foundation, the session will end with an exploration of ways homeschooling parents can incorporate these understandings in their family curriculum.

This session will be a brief conceptual and thematic overview of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. This discussion will include some clues to the structure of the series, the prominent themes of each book, and significant passages in the books. This brief introduction will end with a general Q/A during which participants will be able to ask questions about how the Chronicles can be used in homeschooling.

Homeschooling in America is freer from restrictions and more accessible than ever. One major reason for this is the advocacy of HSLDA over the past 40 years. However, this year we’ve witnessed yet another wave of persecution. Christian homeschoolers have shown that we are uniquely equipped to serve and lead our culture. As a mature institution, we must do what only followers of Christ can do—draw our neighbors to the gospel that offers guidance and reconciliation. We need to champion homeschooling as an enduring institution—one that continues to shape the character of children by modeling virtue.

It’s so important to teach our kids God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Learn ways to prioritize these things in your family culture, your weekly homeschool schedule, and the daily challenges of parenting. You’ll come away with a refreshed vision for these precious years with your children and practical tools to help you focus on the Lord together!

We talk about what we think about, and we think about what we love. How can we look deep inside to see what we really are? All we need to do is listen! Why? Because our tongue is a tattle-tale of our hearts.

Are you wondering: How to get your child to focus on school? How to get them to stop jumping around and being distracted all day? Or maybe you’ve wondered why your child can play video games for hours but not focus in on school for even 5 minutes. Come and hear how to utilize the gifts of ADD/ADHD to dial in the focus of learning for your child and you.

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

Travel with Dr. Mark through Proverbs 1-9 and learn about six character types: mockers, foolish, simple, knowledgeable, wise, and discerning. Many children and adults find themselves most closely aligned with the Simple, Foolish, and Mockers. In this seminar you will learn the essential steps a child must take to become knowledgeable, wise, and discerning. Once these steps are learned, children and adults can gain Wisdom’s highest rewards, promising that “anything you can desire cannot be compared to it.” According to Dr. Mark, if there was just one thing he could impart to children and parents, it would be this lesson.

We can never underestimate the importance and necessity of reading. READ. Read. Examine. Apply. Do. The key to retention is unlocked in this session that encourages all students to read, examine, apply, and do what they read from the Word of God.

This session is centered upon an essay by C. S. Lewis entitled: Is Theology Poetry? This brief essay, (https://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/Theology=Poetry_CSL.pdf), provides an engaging encounter between Modern philosophy (18th to 20th Century) and historic, orthodox Christian thinking. The essay is accessible and insightful. The session will provide a context for the essay, a discussion of the argument Lewis employs, and application for our context.

Homeschooling jargon can be confusing even for seasoned homeschool parents. In this workshop, we’ll go through an overview of some of the most common curriculum approaches including traditional textbook, Classical, Charlotte Mason, literature-based, unit studies, and eclectic. Nancy will share examples of curriculum and resources for each approach and provide a helpful handout summarizing the pros and cons of each approach along with a list of resources.

Choices have consequences. Despite our best intentions, not every choice produces the desired results. Live and learn! I can’t change now the outcomes of my homeschooling experience. Instead, I can help parents "in the trenches". How I wish a wise and caring homeschool vet had shared these tips and encouragements with me years ago. You can learn it all yourself, or benefit from my decades of experience, both good and bad! I really believe these insights will be helpful to current homeschooling dads and moms - parents just like you!

This seminar promises to be a great awakening for creative imaginations. Based on the principles of Ecclesiastes 3, 12, Romans 4, 5 and 2 Peter 1, parents will discover the importance of stories with relatable characters who are challenged, who struggle, and who change and grow. According to Charles T. Jones, “You will be the same five years from now as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” This calls for a rebirth of inspiring literature that builds godly character from the ground up! In this dramatized lecture, be prepared to laugh and cry as Dr. Hamby demonstrates the power of literature and exposes the foolishness of Folly’s seduction prevalent in today’s “Christian” literature. All attendees will receive a catalog of Christian literature written from the 17 th through 19th centuries and an annotated bibliography that Mark believes is among the most powerful, life-changing literature in the world.

Faith is blind, hope is wishful thinking, love is love, the Gospel is to love people. You may have heard these phrases or similar ones used outside (or even inside the church). However, an important overlooked question is, "What is the biblical understanding and definition of these terms?" In this session we will use interactive role plays to wrestle through a biblical understanding of each term and ideas of how to communicate the truth of these terms in an increasingly anti- Christian and biblically illiterate world.

What is the long-term goal of your home school? Is it getting your child into college? That doesn't mean they will be functioning adults. Do you have a plan to help launch your child as a functioning adult? When does one start, and how? It's not as hard as you might think, but it does need intentionality. How does one cultivate a long-term picture resulting in a student ready to launch? Come away with two new tools for evaluating time and energy to make big changes in long-term outcome. We'll share real life examples.

This workshop helps the homeschooling parent think outside the box of how to best develop their children’s God-given potential. Sometimes a child has been given a diagnosis that simply does not settle in your heart of hearts. In this workshop, Staci will detail what other influencing factors could be hindering your child’s ability to learn and how to overcome these barriers.

Homeschooling freedom stands on two essential pillars of freedom: the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children, and the free exercise of religion. Yet only one of these freedoms – religious liberty – is explicitly guaranteed in the United States Constitution, and both freedoms are under attack. Jim recently became president of ParentalRights.org after its founder (and Jim’s mentor) Michael Farris moved to Alliance Defending Freedom in order to focus more exclusively on religious freedom. Jim has taken up the challenge of explicitly including parental rights in the Constitution. HSDLA and ParentalRights.org believe children are best served when parents are empowered to act in their children’s best interests without undue interference from the state. Come and hear about what it takes to change the Constitution and how you can help.

Technology is everywhere, and it seems to be very opinionated! The algorithms that power search engines, social media, and advertising determine what we see and how often. While computers are serving the content, they’re simply following instructions given by the people coding and tweaking these algorithms. Their viewpoints and perspectives sometimes (maybe even often) influence the results. As a Christian homeschooler, you’re part of two groups whose views are not always fairly or equally represented in our information-driven society.  This session will focus on the importance of raising a new generation prepared to shape the messaging provided by tomorrow’s technology.

Preschool and kindergarten are fun and wonder-filled times! But how do you know what to teach them? How do you give them the best start and set your homeschool up for success? It's easy to get overwhelmed or think we have to replicate what the public school is doing. But there is great freedom in homeschooling, even for these early ages! In this session, a homeschool mom of 6 will help you navigate these precious early years with confidence and enjoy your time teaching your kids the things that matter most.

Feeling weary? Worried that you’re failing your children? Need a boost of confidence to keep plugging along? Join Nancy as she reminds us that God has placed our children in our unique families and that He has equipped us as to raise, disciple, and educate them. She’ll share encouragement from God’s Word that will refresh you and revitalize you in your mission as a homeschooling mom. In Christ, you are indeed enough!

Homeschooling a Special Learner can be challenging and isolating. In this workshop, Staci will discuss ways to find your tribe and build your village so that not only your child will be well supported, but you will be too.

Children need to hear the beating of our hearts rather than the beating of our voices. Listen to their words and you will discover their heart. Rules can change behavior, but not their heart. Discipline is necessary for purposeful disobedience, but irritating character flaws are transformed by truth and loving correction. As each day begins with new compassions, only then will children feel safe to admit their faults and seek help from those they love. It is love, not fear, and grace, not law, that opens their hearts. Join Mark as he shares his experience as a shepherd and the unforgettable lesson that you don’t become a shepherd just because you own sheep.

Are you a homeschooling dad like I am? Do you need an occasional booster shot like I do? Coome let us reason together, encourage one another, bear each other’s burdens, and leave refreshed to carry out or vital role.

The ultimate need of every student is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You know Christ—but do you have the courage, compassion, and confidence to clearly present His plan of redemption with your students? Knowing that God has not given us the spirit of fear, what does He give us instead?

You’ve made the decision to homeschool or perhaps you’re exploring homeschooling as an option for your family. What’s next? Nancy will provide some direction as you embark upon this journey of teaching your children at home. We’ll cover ideas for lesson planning, basic supplies to have on hand, creating a schedule that works for your family, the benefits of joining a local homeschool group, how to balance enrichment activities and family life, and more.

Truth is under assault in our culture. How can we think about truth? What are the models for truth utilized in our culture today? How can Christian thinking help us understand truth? How can we help our children understand what truth is? The discussion of this topic will lead us into the Biblical understanding of truth and a Trinitarian understanding of how we can think about truth. The Q/A section of the session will highlight ways in which this discussion can inform how we shape our children’s learning in light of the Biblical understanding of truth.

Homeschool moms are incredibly dedicated and hardworking. With all the aspects of homeschool and family life to juggle, it’s no wonder that we are sometimes stretched thin! But our marriages are worth the energy and effort to prioritize, even (especially) in the midst of busy family life. Learn some common pitfalls to avoid and how to help your marriage thrive now and into the future!

Two years from now, we will do what we love! When we are consumed with the "Shema" by loving God and others, we do well. When we get tired and distracted and start loving self, more than others, we struggle. What is the key to "increasing in our love for God"?

As our children approach high school, the question of “can I really homeschool my child through high school and equip them with all they need?” rears its ugly head. In the workshop Homeschooling Through High School every parent of any child will receive the encouragement to recognize this season as a time of harvest where they will see the fruits of their labor be produced. Additionally, how to build a course of study according to your child’s abilities and futures will be explained.

"Five years from now you'll be the same person you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read"- Charlie Jones. A good book has the amazing power to inspire, excite, and challenge the way you view life. Filling your home with such treasures can not only change you and your children's character, but also shape the way you learn, write and grow! Listen in to learn more about influential storytelling, powerful literature in the home, and what Scripture has to say about it all.

Family conflict is inevitable. You can cover it up and try to look good before others, or you can come face-to-face with it and accept the changes that need to be made. In this hard-hitting seminar, Dr. Mark exposes how the dysfunctional family of Jacob and Rebekah serve as a microcosm of conflict for all families. From marital dysfunction to sibling rivalry, Dr. Mark exposes how children react in direct relation to their parents’ marital relationship. Once the root cause of conflict has been identified, then each family member can give what is needed and receive that which they long for – unconditional acceptance. For when we are valued, we are able to experience what God describes as being “blessed”.

Struggling to teach all the kids all the things? Finding it difficult to plan your days or keep from falling behind? Learn from a homeschool mom of 6! You’ll come away with practical ways to organize your days, maximize your teaching time, and still make time for the joys of homeschooling.

TEACH-CT, Connecticut's Christian homeschool state organization, and HSLDA attorney, Peter Kamakawiwoole (representing CT, MA, RI, and VT), present an update on homeschool freedoms and legislative challenges from around the country.  From registration lists to education savings accounts, attacks and dangers abound and are spreading rapidly as a potential threat to homeschooling in every state. Some come from the enemies of homeschooling, others come in the guise of friendly offers of help from the government. Be informed about national trends and join the conversation about how we can speak in a unified voice to protect our freedoms. We are stronger together.

We homeschooling parents invest a lot of ourselves in our children. When one of them strays, it is a painful, prayerful time. As one who has wandered himself, and one who has shepherded seven children through sometimes challenging times, Jim has a word of encouragement, reconciliation, and hope for walking through troubled times.

Whether towering mountains, a giant canyon, a tropical reef, or your local park, there is a profound beauty in nature. There is also a brokenness in the created world. Whether disease, disaster, or man-made destruction, we know that the world should not be this way. Critics of Christianity miss the implications of the beauty in the world and use elements of the brokenness to reject God. However, our intuitions about both beauty and brokenness point to the reality of God. In this session we will discuss the evidence for God and the Gospel from the beauty and brokenness of the world.

The homeschool reality sometimes involves struggles that can leave a parent feeling overwhelmed and inadequate with children who are equally frustrated. The truth is that while the nitty gritty of teaching our children at home is sometimes messy and emotional with a variety of highs and lows, homeschooling is a great privilege and, yes, even a joy! Join Nancy as she shares encouragement to bolster you on those challenging days and refresh you as you endeavor to create an atmosphere of joy in this learning adventure with your children.

How do Homeschooling parents help their children make good decisions about college? Is Christian higher education an option? What about private secular education? Is the state system a viable option? What about STEM education? What are the possibilities for authentic Christian discipleship continuing for your homeschooler during their college years? Is college even a good option? These are only a few of the questions that homeschooling parents face as they think about the future. This session is an exploration of the issues and concerns that must be addressed before a wise decision can be made.