On Thursday evening, each of our featured speakers will be sharing a brief 5 to 10 minute introduction of themselves and the topics they are most passionate about, so that conference attendees will have a better idea of which sessions they might want to attend on Friday & Saturday. You won't want to miss this amazing lineup of INCH 2024 speakers! Meet Brant Hansen, Kevin Swanson, Phylicia Masonheimer, Andrew Pudewa, Kim Sorgius, Ginny Yurich, and more! -- ALL IN ONE FAST-PACED EVENING of "TED-Talk-like" Speaker Spotlights!

In a rapidly changing world, it can be both scary and confusing to shepherd our kids through their years of homeschooling. Learn tried and true methods that will give you confidence and wisdom when you feel stuck or lost.

Taking the conventional school paradigm and pressing it into the homeschool context doesn’t work. Saul’s armor didn’t fit David well. What makes homeschooling so much more powerful than conventional schooling? Kevin Swanson gets to the heart of effective homeschooling here. . .relationships. . . discipleship. . . faith. . . knowing God and rejoicing in His awesomeness!

Dr. Swain tells her story about growing up in abject poverty and going on to earn 5 degrees and teach at Princeton and Vanderbilt universities. She reveals her major life lessons learned and how that all fits together in today's divisive world.

Home education is a full time job in itself; add on top of that the normal tasks of tending a home and little hearts, and where have the hours gone?! Making space for spiritual growth is hard, but essential. Our kids need parents grounded in the Word of God, but we need the time to get there! This session teaches you how to create time for the Word in the margins, pray consistently and creatively, and model an ever-deepening faith in the busiest of seasons.

Many children have difficulty learning to spell, but the difficulty may not be with the student. Often parents and teachers feel ill-equipped to help students who are not natural spellers. Join Andrew Pudewa to learn how spelling information is most efficiently stored in the brain, to gain greater insight into the nature of spelling and neurological function, and to be better equipped to teach students how to spell.

So you’ve got a box full of unused planners and half-erased lesson plan books. Trust me, you’re not alone! From curriculum to the daily schedule, there is a simple way to plan your whole school year in just ONE week. Reclaim your Sunday nights and your sanity by joining veteran homeschool mom, Kim Sorgius, for this practical session.

Baking cookies creates a mixture; making ice cubes changes the state of matter, and feeding the dog is an opportunity for a biology lesson. Science, and the opportunities to teach it, are everywhere around us. Learn practical tips for keeping your eyes open to the many ways God has designed our lives and the science to back it up, whether you’re in the kitchen, bathroom, yard, or car. Join veteran homeschooling mom and the author of the Mystery of Science series, Karri Iverson, to learn tips and tricks for putting it all together.

Sibling rivalry and squabbling is something we all deal with every day. It can be very frustrating as well as discouraging! It’s important that we teach our children how to respond to conflict God’s way. Don’t let the arguing and strife disrupt your home. Find out what some of the most common causes are, and learn some practical Biblical solutions to the problem.

If you are struggling with postpartum depression or know someone who is, this is for you! Shanda personally experienced postpartum depression with three out of four of her pregnancies, and she shares practical insight and HOPE for those who are also walking this road. Her husband James will join her and offer a man's perspective on supporting and loving your spouse through the sometimes hard season following the birth of a baby. You will leave feeling encouraged and have a better understanding of what postpartum depression is, as well as how to move forward helping yourself or someone you love.

A timely presentation on the proper role of government through the lens of scripture.

As a parent homeschooling a teen (or thinking about it), you may have doubts about your ability . . . and your sanity. Come and be encouraged as you discover a long-range perspective for teaching your teen that is filled with hope, faith, and joy!

Charlotte Mason emphasized the importance of learning the history of our native country, neighboring countries, and the world. I’ll share helpful resources and tips on how to integrate geography, literature, art, music, movement, and nature study into your history lessons — resulting in a joyful education. “Our aim in education is to give a full life.” -Charlotte Mason

Kevin Swanson obtained his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, but he would be the first to tell you he didn’t like science very much (as taught in secular college). Here, he expresses his passion to making mathematics and science meaningful to our children by bringing it back into a God-centered view. This presentation will radically change your view of these subjects, and help you to understand the right worldview foundations for these subjects.

Male leadership has been and continues to be assaulted by the culture. A recent television series ‘Shiny Happy People,’ is just the most recent barrage against male headship in the home. Indeed, men have sinned against God and their families, but that doesn’t remove God’s mandate for men to lead their homes. Is this really God’s mandate? How can men spiritually lead their homes if God has commanded such? Let’s talk about it together.

Gone are the days when people would choose a career and stick with it for life. Many careers these days last less than three years and the majority of 20-year-olds will have four career changes within that decade. In fact, it is likely that the careers they will have, haven’t even been invented yet. How are we supposed to prepare our homeschooled children for a world that we can’t predict? Learn research-backed ways to ensure your homeschooler is prepared for an uncertain future.

This session will be presented by Great Lakes Justice Center Attorneys Dave & Steve Kallman. In the 1990's, Dave Kallman represented the families who fought bravely to win our homeschool freedom here in Michigan. He will be giving us a thorough outline on how to currently homeschool in Michigan legally. His son, Steve Kallman, will also be presenting with him. Steve currently serves on the MICHN board as legal counsel.

Are we teaching the right things at the right time? Will there be gaps if we teach outside the box? This session is all about fostering a love of learning and creating a flexible, interest-driven curriculum all while meeting the academic needs of your kids and keeping the important things in focus.

Can you overcome self-doubt and lack of experience to teach the harder subjects like pre-algebra, chemistry, or English literature? Instead of putting it off, find out what your options are! Karri Iverson, veteran homeschooling mom and author of The Mystery of Science series, will share how she’s used resources available to teach her kids through high school.

The most important thing we can do as we raise our kids is strive to win and keep their hearts! When we have their hearts, we are able to influence them and their values. That is one of the main reasons many parents feel led to home school their children - so THEY can be the ones influencing their children's values. When we fail to win their hearts, or that heart connection becomes weak, our kids will often begin to look to their friends for relationship, and no longer be open to our teaching. Kathie will share some things to avoid that often lead to losing their hearts, and then give 6 key things to help you win & keep their hearts.

Join homeschool mom and business leader, Gena Suarez, as we delve into the dynamic world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Discover how AI can enhance the homeschooling experience and ignite business ideas for both teens and parents. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the origins and fundamental applications of AI, showcasing exciting tools for crafting custom educational projects and initiating teen-led business ventures, giving several examples. We'll also discuss the ethical aspects of AI,ensuring responsible use, and explore what the future holds for AI in our daily lives. Whether you're just starting to explore AI or are keen to integrate it into your homeschool and business practices, this session will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to harness AI's full potential. Come prepared to be inspired and leave with actionable insights that could spark your next business endeavor!

An inspiring Biblical and historical perspective of God’s faithfulness in the past, present, and future, and a compelling look at the scriptural charge to be salt and light in our society. James will be joined by Joe Cecil, current president of Student Statesmanship Institute, for this powerful presentation.

What plan would suit your high school student? What subjects do you teach and when? This seminar will help you 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 recordkeeping—transcripts, extracurriculars, and diplomas.

This workshop offers practical resources, lists of materials, and curricula to equip you as you homeschool a struggling learner. Come gather ideas for designing a unique home instruction program tailored to your child’s specific challenges.

Will Christian curriculum look any different from public school curriculum when it comes to subjects like history, science, and literature? As the author of most of the Christian Family Discipleship Curriculum provided by Generations, Kevin Swanson discusses the fundamental and radical differences a Christian worldview provides in these subjects.

How can we faithfully obey God’s command to raise children in the way they should go? Will it work? God’s command means God expects us to do our part as faithfully and diligently as possible with His help by the power of the Holy Spirit. What can we do and should we do to provide the best probable outcome for producing children who love God, love others, and are good citizens of our nation?

As schools have made reading their new god, they believe that producing good readers will solve all their academic problems. As a result, many children—the dyslexic, the easily distracted, the auditorily challenged—are left behind in the rush to improve test scores. What schools do not know (but what many parents and teachers discover) is that reading is not simply being able to rapidly decode symbols with the eyes. With humor and insight, Andrew Pudewa shares stories and strategies for helping students who need to engage the cognitive processes of reading but who are more likely to excel through a wider variety of practical, creative, and imaginative approaches.

Theology, for Christian homeschoolers, isn't just another school subject. It's a lifestyle! Theology affects every subject, and every subject reflects an aspect of Christian theology. Learn how to integrate theology into your homeschool without becoming preachy, legalistic, or burdening your kids with long theological tomes.

Calling all pastors, fathers, and homeschool advocates! Join Paul Suarez with The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine as he unveils The Pastor Plan Initiative (PPI), a groundbreaking nonprofit aimed at guiding evangelical churches and Fathers worldwide to prioritize Christian education. Backed by alarming statistics, Paul will shed light on the staggering 87% of Christian youth abandoning their faith post-public school education. With homeschooling emerging as the fastest-growing form of education, Paul offers a beacon of hope and a tangible solution for churches and families alike.

Discover insider tips on the most important tactics to homeschool your children successfully as a single parent. Learn how to quiet the skeptics and thrive with the unique opportunities homeschooling presents. Sarah, a ten-year homeschooling mother (who homeschooled as a single mother) will show you practical applications of prioritizing, simplifying and collaborating. You too can step away from fear and step into the boldness and authority Christ gives to homeschool your children.

Mary calls Lansing, Michigan, home, but has a desire to travel across America, exploring natural wonders in our national parks. She has been in all fifty states, stopping to visit sixty national parks. Experiences while traveling prompted Mary to write the National Park Mystery Books, with ten titles in the series. Now that she has two grandchildren, taking them on mystery trips to a national park is the perfect vacation.

Looking for ways to teach communication in the midst of a busy life? In this talk, Given Hoffman shares practical steps for training your child in communication, no matter what age they are. Be empowered to enjoy your child while growing their ability to communicate.

“All knowledge is rooted in wonder.” - Sharon Lovejoy. Add wonder to your school year by gardening with kids. Learn how gardening will help your kids learn and will add joy and excitement to your school year. You’ll come away with lots of project ideas and inspiration.

Unpack the frequently asked questions of how to homeschool struggling learners and those who learn differently. Be encouraged and equipped as this workshop shares diagnostic checklists for struggling learners, discusses common roadblocks homeschooling parents face (and how to navigate them), and gives strategies for achieving success with your children who learn differently.

This is a fascinating look at how human nature has driven the search and discovery of dinosaur fossils. We will look at some of the intriguing people who have been driven to find these creatures, and the strange directions they took because of their worldviews.

Michigan has not always enjoyed the freedom to homeschool like we have today. Join attorneys Dave and Steve Kallman as they give a thorough review of the hard fought legal battle that has given us freedom to school and disciple our children at home.

Internet safety is a serious issue, but most parents feel overwhelmed, unqualified, and out of control when it comes to navigating the digital world with their kids--unsure of where to begin or how to effectively protect their family online. But it doesn't need to be this way. Despite the seeming complexity of the issue, there are plenty of simple, practical steps that any parent can take to drastically improve their children's online safety. In this session, we will cover numerous, specific techniques you can start implementing today--most of which require essentially zero technical expertise. We'll also cover common mistakes most parents make, and how to fix or prevent them. You'll come away with a sobering perspective on the seriousness of your role in protecting the hearts of your children as well as a new sense of empowerment that even you can take control of your family's digital safety.

How do you know if your children have been with Jesus? It was clear that those men who had been discipled by Jesus had been with Him. But how would you know? The discipleship program of Jesus is quite different than that provided by the world. Jesus trains in faith, prayer, and the Word. Are your children in Jesus’ discipleship program?

Recent years have seen an enormous increase in the use of technology in education for even the youngest students. But is technology really the cure-all that many believe it to be? While traditional skills such as cursive penmanship are seen as unnecessary in the modern world, the actual research tells a different story. Join Andrew Pudewa to learn the compelling reasons to read paper books instead of electronic devices, handwrite instead of type, teach cursive instead of printing, and grab a pen instead of a pencil. Discover how to unleash creativity that goes beyond technology.

Evangelism is a scary word for many of us. We imagine door to door visits, handing out tracts, or street preachers with a megaphone. But what if evangelism was something you did naturally, in your own home, every week? Hospitality is a biblical command, but many of us forget it's also one of the best ways to love people well and show them who Christ is. Modeling a lifestyle of hospitality to our kids sets them up for a habit of diverse social experience and selflessness. Learn how to cultivate the habit of hospitality and how it equips us for evangelism in this session.

Do you feel like joy is missing from your home and homeschool day? Do you find yourself frazzled and running on fumes? We are going to discuss practical things we can do to infuse joy into your day through habits, systems and intentionality. Planning peace into your day will reap abundant joy! As Proverbs 12:20 says, "Those who plan peace have joy."

Do you have a child that needs to have the last word or grumbles under their breath? In this workshop Sarah will share approaches that have worked with her children from ages 1-18 that gave a super fast turnaround in the sass department. They are easy and work in most any situations. Keep your sanity and peace in tact while teaching your child to be respectful and obedient.

Literacy in early America was at its highest until the responsibility for education was stolen from parents by the government. When nineteenth-century Massachusetts parents resisted new mandates to hand their children over to government schools, they were met swiftly with threats of violence. The long arm of the law won the battle by physically enforcing attendance, and literacy rates dropped like a rock after that. Where did education begin in the first place, and how did it end up on its downward trajectory of today?

Do you feel like productivity ends after your morning lessons? Are you discouraged with the afternoon slump that hits before dinner? Learn how efficient, intentional scheduling can make all the difference for your family. Be inspired to integrate a simple 15-minute activity into your schedule to defeat the afternoon slump and revive your children's love for learning! "Brisk work and ample leisure and freedom should be the rule of the Home School. The work not done in its own time must be left undone." -Charlotte Mason

You can’t do everything, but did you know that you shouldn’t even try? In this session, you’ll learn how independent learning decreases burn out, helps students excel, and equips them for life. This workshop will give you the tools to guide your child as they gradually transition to learning independently, whether you have preschoolers or high schoolers!

This workshop addresses some of the challenges associated with teaching struggling or atypical learners at home in the high school years. Do you have questions such as “How do I award my teen with special needs a diploma?” or “What do I do when my teen with dyslexia can’t read high school-level material?” This workshop discusses alternative coursework, specialized curricula and learning materials, assistive technology, transcript options, possible graduation guidelines, high school programs for special learners, and post-high school options. It will also offer tips for navigating the process of applying for testing accommodations for College Board tests.

This is a hands-on class! You will leave with a few projects in hand. Handcrafts are great for hand-eye coordination as well as for synaptic growth. Learn about the benefits of handcrafts and actually try some! Kids and adults welcome!

Through a Biblical worldview lens, Professor Wagner looks at the unalienable right of parents to direct and control the upbringing of their children- especially in regards to their education.

In this session, we'll take a guided tour of the current landscape of tech that homeschool parents need to know about in order to keep their kids safe in an increasingly internet-connected world. We'll cover iPhones, Androids, tablets, computers, online classes, internet filters, parental control apps, screen time, social media, home networks and more. You'll get both a high-level overview of the dangers, tools, and decisions you'll need to grapple with, as well as some opinionated advice and recommendations from a computer programmer homeschool dad. We'll also cover how to test your family’s current internet safety, common mistakes most parents make, and how to evolve and adapt your family's tech security as your kids age and technology continues to change.

In this session we delve into the concerns about losing ourselves when we dive into the homeschool life. We cover the misconceptions about the personal drawbacks homeschooling would appear to have in regards to our own personal growth and well-being. Learn how you can be a homeschool mom and thrive beyond your imagination, all at the same time!

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

What relevance do Jesus' teachings have for contemporary life? Find clarity on tough questions in the Bible regarding life, marriage, race, gender, materialism and education.

Faith, family, and freedoms have faded in Europe and the Americas. But God has given us a tremendous opportunity now — islands of freedom and culture unlike anything we’ve seen. He appears to be using homeschooling as a catalyst for good things. How can your family plant fruitful, beautiful gardens at such a time as this? How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ break through in our homes?

Learn the steps needed to venture into entrepreneurship in your homeschool and also what the long-term benefits are of trying new things and even of failing! This session will be helpful for student or adult entrepreneurs.

Prolife apologetics; how to defend the prolife position.

A 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 template when designing your own. The session will guide you through the how-to of transcripts, evaluating credit, and calculating grade point averages (GPAs).

Have you pulled your child out of public school where he or she used to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan)? In this workshop, you’ll learn the purposes and benefits of an SEP, the homeschool version of an IEP. You’ll receive guidance on drafting your own SEP, explore sample plans, obtain your own template, and leave with a resource list of books to set you and your student up for success.

Do your kids “forget” to do their chores? Is their schoolwork just a box that gets sloppily checked off? Do you feel like they’ll never take initiative? If you’re looking for the magic pill to help your kids get off the couch and work hard, this isn’t the session for you. But if you want practical ways to kick laziness to the curb, be sure to join us as we learn how to encourage and nurture our kids to be disciplined and responsible workers.

Under the new covenant, Christ is our Sabbath rest. But we still need physical rest, all the more in an ever-hustling culture. Add to this the demands of homeschooling and parenting, and we're left wondering where rest fits in! This session teaches you that rest never "fits in"; you plan your life around it. Learn how to observe a day of rest as a Christian, homeschooling family without becoming legalistic; what activities to integrate into a restful day; how to observe sabbath with shift work; and more.

There are four words that if understood correctly will help you to navigate the debate that rages around Genesis, our origins, and the Flood. These four words will help your children be better apologists for the Faith.

Listening and reading well, speaking and writing clearly, and thinking and debating effectively are abilities that most parents hope to cultivate in their children. With that goal in mind, Andrew Pudewa explores various environments and activities that accelerate the development of these language skills, beginning with the youngest students and continuing into the high school years.

As a homeschool dad responsible for my family's internet safety, I've got a major advantage over most parents: I've been a professional computer programmer for nearly 20 years. And I literally wrote my own parental controls app because I wasn't satisfied with the available options. Not everyone can (or will want to) replicate all the steps I've taken, but sometimes just hearing a detailed breakdown and retrospective can help parents gain valuable insights and inspiration to tailor their own approach to internet safety for their families. Join me as I delve into a case study of the specific measures I've tried (and rejected) over the years, and get a detailed description of how one homeschool family has navigated internet safety with kids ranging in age from 7 to 18. We'll cover parenting issues, home network, parental controls, phones, and more.