"Whatever is the meaning of life?" "Whatever happens when one dies?" "Whatever is your highest value?"—questions that demand more than a "Whatever!" answer. The "Whatever!" answer of Secular thinking dampens and even squelches serious thought and attempts at engaged conversation in our culture. The "Whatever!" of Secularism even invades the church. Rather than be discouraged, take heart in God's command in Deuteronomy 12:32.

Fear-based parenting drives us to make bad decisions despite the best of intentions. We choose curricula based on what our friends are doing, not what our kids need, because we're scared they'll miss something. We micromanage our teens because we're afraid they'll make mistakes. We stress and worry and can't sleep at night. Why do we fall so easily into the what-ifs? God has not given us a spirit of fear. This eye-opening session will point you to the real source of security and hope and free you to do what is best for your children no matter what anyone else is doing. Step up and take courage!

Does your marriage affect your kids? You bet. It affects them profoundly. It impacts their security, their identity, and their sense of worth. Beyond that, our marriage toolkit will be the one our kids reach for in their marriages. Come, take a look at your own marriage toolbox, pick up a few new tools, and learn five ways to tune up your marriage to make it even better for you and your children. Give them a legacy that will help them build a good marriage, too!

Often falling on the heels of making a bold decision in your family, a little voice in your head cries out, "What was I thinking?!! I can't do that!" Even when we are obedient to clear direction, we can become insecure and fearful. Humorous stories will lighten your load if you are feeling the press to make changes and will help you to stop listening to the accusations from within.

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're starting with preschoolers or high schoolers, this session will help you start strong!

Twenty-two years ago, Marcia began using the Structure of Intellect (SOI) assessment to help each student and adult discover how they can do their best. She helps with visual, auditory, and sensory-balance enrichment; dyslexia intervention; screening for Irlen light sensitivity overload that may be causing problems with focusing, visual fatigue, headaches, reading delays; or a number of other possible challenges that can interfere with learning and behavior.

What plan would suit your high school student? What subjects do you teach and when? Do you follow a basic high school plan, a general college prep plan, or a rigorous college prep plan? This seminar will help organize your thoughts and lay the groundwork for a viable four-year plan. You'll learn about high school credits, simplifying grading, and the fundamentals of record keeping—transcripts, extracurriculars, and diplomas.

The wizards are everywhere in our culture today. They promise that if we follow their yellow brick road, we can have it all—a brain, a heart, and courage. However—"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) The wiseman knows the right path to follow and to whom he should listen. Christians are to learn how to walk as wise men, "making the most of our time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). From this you will learn how to distinguish between the ways of the wizards and the way of the wiseman. You will learn how to destroy secular arguments "raised up against the knowledge of God" and learn how to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5).

Life is Sacred is an interactive faith-based presentation for high school-aged groups covering fetal development, abortion procedures, and pro-life apologetics.

HELP for the fabulous but forgetful and frustrated student- Does your child ever forget the basic information you just went over? Do they reverse letters, skip lines in reading, or fail to see the connection between 7 + 4 and 4 + 7? Is it challenging for them to know how to start a big project or break it down into manageable bites? Is physical coordination a bit hard? If any of these sound familiar, we have a class for you!

Ever wondered how NOT to organize your day? Veteran homeschool mom of 10 (7 still in home school) and creator of My Student Logbooks takes a fun look at what organization is and isn't, why sometimes trying other people's organizational systems is a disaster, and how to discover organizational tools that work for YOU.

Hear about how you can help your child acquire the essential habits to learn anything. This session will model these "core habits," allowing you to experience them yourself!

Many parents are confident managing decisions and educational choices through the middle school years but shake with fear when looking ahead to the high school years. The issues seem to have greater consequences, but Dr. Smith will show a mindset and approach that can energize you to make them the best years. Your emerging adults can become the ones who praise you instead of being your greatest critics. Together, you can not only save money, but you can launch your teens to find their own purpose in life.

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. Find out how to know when each child is ready for formal academics, how to get started, and what homeschooling looks like for young children. 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.

Do you want to make your homeschool journey memorable in the lives of your children? Do you want them to look back with fondness on their growing up years and their educational experience? Jackie learned early on in her homeschool journey that she needed to keep homeschooling fun not only for her rambunctious children but also for her own sanity. She shares her continuing experiences and adventures with her children. Jackie will talk about different ways to get the most out of the few precious years we have to educate our children from preschool to graduation. Get ideas on how to take the drudgery out of homeschooling for both you and your children.

It can be intimidating to think about educating a kid who’s blowing the curve, racing ahead, and seems to want more. Can you really meet his needs, or would he be better off with professionals? How can you help him fit in socially? Should he graduate early or on time? Hal and Melanie were involved in gifted programs in school, and had several precocious children themselves. You can meet the needs of your bright child and enjoy doing it!

Creating a high school transcript is a vital part of your teen's high school records. In this interactive, practical seminar, you'll create a transcript that can be used as a pattern when designing your own. The session will guide you through the essentials of transcripts, how to evaluate credit, steps to simplify grading, and how to calculate grade point averages (GPAs).

The Nazis used language to redefine Jews out of the human race. Once that was accomplished, atrocities and death camps followed. Language is important because it lays the tracks that are the ideas that carry the consequences—boxcars filled with people's lives. Christians are on a search and destroy mission; we are destroying ideas but not people. Learn 4 Killer Questions that will empower you to derail faulty thinking and challenge others to think God's thoughts after Him

The turmoil of the tween/preteen years between nine and thirteen usually catches parents by surprise. Diligent students become addled and distracted. Kids raised in church start questioning the existence of God. Sweet children seem to climb on an emotional roller-coaster—and then invite you to join them. Don't get a ticket for that ride! Instead, learn to resist the temptation to lose it yourself and to shepherd our children through this challenging age with this funny and all-too-real workshop—and lay a foundation to make the teen years great!

Learn from pediatrician Dr. Roger Smith how stress and trauma affect a child's ability to learn and perform. Research on stress has yielded a better understanding of the biochemical and neurologic responses we see as "behavior." Parents can tap into this research to better guide their children through life's stresses. This session will review both the science and the social impact of emotions in the context of a biblical worldview. Dr. Smith will transform scientific gobbledygook into layman's language with tangible applications.

Do you want encouragement and strategies to help re-ignite your student's love of learning? Many factors impact a child's motivation level—stress, executive function, nutritional needs, media usage, and more. With a little bit of theory and a whole lot of practical application, Dr. Somerville equips parents with the tools they need to tap into their child's God-given gift of curiosity.

Oregon is blessed to have private homeschool options for families with special needs students. The Privately Developed Plan (PDP) is an evaluation option provided in Oregon for home school students with qualified disabilities. This session will explain how the PDP is cooperatively written by an academic advisor and the parents, and how the plan identifies, addresses, and measures student progress.

A college education can be a valuable enterprise that promotes spiritual maturation and intellectual depth in a student. However, identifying the right college can be a difficult task. There are many important aspects to consider beyond one's major, tuition costs, geographical location, and reputation. Vice President of Gutenberg College, Dr. Eliot Grasso, explains the inner workings of higher education and offers families essential tools for researching and identifying colleges that will align with their moral commitments and educational goals.

The wizards are everywhere in our culture today. They promise that if we follow their yellow brick road, we can have it all—a brain, a heart, and courage. The wizards even promise us a way home. However—"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) Christians are to learn how to walk as wise men, "making the most of our time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). Come join us as we take a walk on the "wise" side. You will learn how to distinguish between the ways of the wizards and the way of the wiseman. You will learn how to destroy secular arguments "raised up against the knowledge of God" and learn how to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5). This is the third in the series

When you get to the end of your homeschooling, and your child leaves home, things get real. At that point, the only thing you'll have is relationship: their relationship with God and their relationship with you. Learn about encouraging research that highlights the critical importance of relationships in the spiritual life of our children, find out how to rebuild strained relationships, and get practical help to build the kind of relationship that will last through adulthood. Hal & Melanie's six oldest children have grown up and left home, and are their best friends.

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 six practical ways to organize your days, maximize your teaching time, and still make time for the joys of homeschooling.

What's a dad to do? In a busy home, dads often find themselves being dragged along in all the activities involving the children. But can it be another way? The influence of the father can be the thing that helps all the activities stay on course. Dads can make a significant contributions to the home even in the midst of a busy career. This will offer solutions and hope for increasing the influence of dad in the home, resulting in everyone being happier.

This session focuses on the use of evidence-based instruction methods that address the core issues of autism spectrum disorders: communication and social skills. It integrates developmental perspectives and strategies to provide practical, functional intervention approaches that you can easily implement within your daily homeschool routine.

Corey will walk families through some of the current issues in the broader culture and discusses them in comparison with a Biblical Sexual Ethic. We'll also address how to lead your families through these confusing conversations: What is being said in our culture – and how to respond; What does God's Word say; and How do we live yet remain true to a biblical worldview

This is the second in a series by Bill Jack The wizards are everywhere in our culture today. They promise that if we follow their yellow brick road, we can have it all—a brain, a heart, and courage. The wizards even promise us a way home. These wizards include evolutionists, new agers, atheists, and sincere followers of false religions. The wiseman, on the other hand, knows the right path to follow and to whom he should listen. Christians are to learn how to walk as wise men, "making the most of our time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). Come join us as we take a walk on the "wise" side. You will learn how to distinguish between the ways of the wizards and the way of the wiseman. You will learn how to destroy secular arguments "raised up against the knowledge of God" and learn how to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5).

Conflict with our children can cause a great gulf between us. Discipline in the home is a must, but it need not create tension between our children and us. The Smiths will share how biblical discipline is often misapplied, but more importantly, how we can pattern our family discipline after that of our Heavenly Father. Stories of parents doing it well will empower you to make needed adjustments in your approach to discipline.

So many parents ask, "Why doesn't my son enjoy reading? I want him to love it!" In this session, we'll look at ways to help your boys read better, enjoy reading more, and find joy in stories and in research. What's more, we'll talk about ways to help your son over his hurdles with writing assignments. Melanie homeschooled all six of her boys from the beginning, and all of them eventually loved to read and won awards for their writing, too.

So maybe you're considering homeschooling, or maybe you're new at it - but you've still got questions, concerns, even uneasiness. Will they get into college? Can they find a job? Will they have any friends? What about sports? What if they have special needs? Will we be weird? Hal and Melanie have homeschooled their eight children from the beginning; hear their first-hand experience with all of these issues!

Unpack the frequently asked questions of how to homeschool struggling learners and those who learn differently. Be encouraged and equipped with diagnostic checklists for struggling learners and discussing common roadblocks homeschooling parents face (and how to navigate around them). Receive strategies for achieving success with your children who learn differently.

This workshop will help students think through the beauty and purpose of marriage as God designed it. Discuss the challenges of dating in the 21st Century as well as tips and tools to help you figure out if someone you're interested in dating would be a good match for you. Prepare them well—and from a biblical worldview; Strengthen boundaries and intentionality; Empower them to use wisdom and discernment

The wizards are everywhere in our culture today. They promise that if we follow their yellow brick road, we can have it all—a brain, a heart, and courage. The wizards even promise us a way home. However—"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) These wizards include evolutionists, new agers, atheists, and sincere followers of false religions. The wiseman, on the other hand, knows the right path to follow and to whom he should listen. Christians are to learn how to walk as wise men, "making the most of our time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). Learn how to distinguish between the ways of the wizards and the way of the wiseman. You will learn how to destroy secular arguments "raised up against the knowledge of God" and learn how to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5).

In this session, join us as we discuss why a revival of Civics and Constitutional education for our children is key to a bright future for America. You will come away with tools to immediately implement strategies and learning opportunities for your students.

Our God is a God of order. Look at creation, the church, and the family, and you see it. Having a bit of organization in our life helps our days to run a bit more smoothly. Being organized in homeschooling is essential to help us stay on track to accomplish our daily, monthly, and yearly goals. Organization for each family looks different, just like each family's homeschool looks different. However, we all need a place to start. Learn some organizational tips and ideas for your school year, your school day, your books and material, and much more that you can modify and personalize to help you have a successful homeschool year.

One in six people has a little-known condition called Irlen Syndrome that interferes with reading and learning. The fix is accommodations that use specific colors of plastic overlays, colored paper, adjusting screens, and precision-tinted lenses if there are extra environmental issues that trigger headaches or other health concerns. If you or your child lose your place reading, need to re-read, get visual fatigue, or possibly become anxious, concentrate poorly, or get headaches/migraines in bright light (or other symptoms), you will want to attend this workshop presented by Robin Firth, RN and fully certified Irlen Diagnostician. Presented by Positive Learning Solutions, LLC

The practice of respectful, articulate discourse in our society seems all but lost. It's easy to be disheartened and frustrated, but as Christians, we are called to be salt and light in a dark and dying world! The effective communication skills needed to cut through the noise and confusion don't come naturally to everyone. Come hear some practical tips to help your children be better listeners, thinkers, and speakers at every stage of their educational journey. Effective communication can be taught and used to help fulfill our role as ambassadors for Christ wherever the Lord calls us! Presented by NCFCA

There's a huge demand for good MTs. As a result, there's more variety and volume of work than ever before. Learn about the reports we transcribe, earning potential, equipment, working for The Medical Transcription Service, and much more. Your instructor has been a medical transcriptionist for more than 35 years, operates a large MT business, and has taught for many other programs. You'll enjoy her warmth, humor, and practical advice. Presented by the Medical Transcription Service

If the children are the glue holding your marriage together, you are on the path to divorce. A healthy marriage has characteristics that lead to a thriving home. Bringing 40 years of experience in marriage to bear on the subject, the Smiths recognize that some stages are harder than others, while it is never too late to improve the health of the relationship. The Smiths will share several tools that can help to restore or invigorate a marriage in a busy home where no one seems to have any extra time. Leave this session with ideas to make an immediate difference.

Homeschool veterans toss around terms like unit studies, classical education, Charlotte Mason, and more, never dreaming how confusing it can be for someone new. Understand the different approaches available and get practical help in making this next year of homeschooling enjoyable and effective!

How do you teach a young man to keep his way pure when the red-light district is riding around in his shirt pocket – or his friend's? How can you help a boy think about the future when all he wants to do is game all day? Media addiction and porn are derailing young men at a rate that is hard to even believe. Learn how to teach your sons a healthy, biblical attitude toward entertainment and sexuality. Prepare them to make it a matter of honor to practice self-control, do what's right, and have healthy relationships with girls. Get them in the fight because there are no bystanders in this battle, and we don't want our sons to lose. The stakes are too high.

This session offers an overview of learners who are gifted and who also have some form of disability or learning challenge. You'll be equipped with a broader understanding of how different exceptionalities can manifest themselves within learning styles and preview resources that match your child's unique learning profile. Ultimately the goal of this workshop is to provide you with support so you can spend less time searching for information and resources and more quality family time with your child.

This workshop will provide parents with ways to talk about sex and sexuality with their children so that they will be prepared to make choices that reflect a Biblical Sexual Ethic. -Learn how to "go there." - Gain strength knowing you are not alone in wondering and stressing over this "age-appropriate" question - Discover creative ways to be intentional without a lot of stress - See the grave importance of being early versus too late to these conversations—the world wants to be first — I want you to be.

During this session, students will have the opportunity to study living sea stars and dissect a preserved sea star! Previous knowledge is not necessary. At least one parent must be present for the activity. Children as young as 5-years-old can be successful in this activity with direct parent support. All students must take directions and safety seriously, or they will be asked to sit out. Together we will answer questions which could include: How does a sea star feed? Where do sea stars live? Why did God make sea stars? What are the parts of a sea star? What types of sea stars live in the Pacific Northwest? Are sea stars and starfish the same thing?