When you welcome a little baby into your family, you have begun the journey called home education. From their first breath to their first step to their first book read and all the way to that first milestone of graduation; learning doesn’t end. In this workshop, we look at when education begins and who is responsible for teaching. We also cover the history of homeschooling, true socialization, individualized instruction, rewards of obedience, and many Scriptures related to successful home education.

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 home school, 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.

What is wrong with our society today? How did we get here? We actually raised up these generations to be exactly where we are. We believe the Bible clearly states that God has given parents the responsibility to teach and train their own children. This workshop goes over many of the Scriptures related to this as well as showing the end result of not obeying these commands. It only takes one generation to lose our children and their children for generations to come. But the blessings abound when we obey God’s commands and keep His children Home Where They Belong.

Homeschooling is the fastest growing educational model in the country, with millions of students doing at-home learning. Yet, peer bullying, classroom chaos, outdated learning environments, and online opportunities make leadership and families reimagine the possibilities of homeschooling. Veteran homeschool mother of five and trusted leader addresses the long-term benefits of staying the course. Connie Albers offers encouragement wrapped in humor from her 35 years of parenting and uses real-life stories as she paints pictures of possibilities for your homeschool success.

Being a leader is more than being the loudest person in the room or having the smartest ideas. It's more than being the most admired or the most famous. Paul shares a mixture of humorous personal experiences, impactful testimonies, and Scripture that shed light on the meaning of leadership.

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.

In this session, Faith discusses the ultimate goal of reading instruction: comprehension. She also explores various types of thinking and processing skills required for proficient comprehension. Faith shares tips, techniques, and strategies for developing the vocabulary of very young, as well as good habits of mind in order to lay a solid foundation for comprehension with our wee ones (up to age 5).

Everyone is a leader. What kind are you? Paul shares seven practical steps to developing leadership. Teens will be entertained and inspired hearing Paul share lessons from his own leadership journey and will walk away with real-life applications drawn from Scripture.

If Godly children are the answer to the evils of the future, then Godly parents are the answer to who should teach them. What do Godly parent/teachers look like? God desires parents that will teach the next generation not only academically, but most importantly, biblically. The outcome is good for the society, the church, the student, and our future generations. The best teacher that cares about your children and their future as much as you do—is you! Deborah reminds homeschoolers that they are making the best educational choice possible as they keep their children Home Where They Belong.

Homeschooling science is one of the most daunting challenges of the high school years. It requires high-quality instruction, with the student not just ingesting great quantities of knowledge, but performing the right activities and receiving coaching on those activities. Diane offers concrete guidance on how to recognize instruction of sufficient quality for your student to succeed with science. It addresses, the importance of labs, research reports, and tests as well as the benefits and shortcomings of AP & honors science courses, community college courses, and other options for fulfilling science requirements.

The heart of leadership is influence and everyone influences someone. That means everyone needs some basic leadership skills, no matter who you are or what you do. You can spend a lifetime reading and studying leadership, and that’s not a bad pursuit, but this session will give you the basic leadership skills you need to understand so you can apply them immediately.

Are we pushing too hard or doing too little? Are we teaching the right things at the right time? Will there be gaps if we teach outside the box? This workshop is all about fostering a love of dreaming while still meeting the academic needs of your kids and keeping the important things in focus.

Who is going to build a house by starting with the walls? Without a solid foundation, those walls may hold up for a bit but eventually will come crashing down. Math is a lot like building a house. We need to start with a strong foundation and build up from there. It doesn’t have to be hard! Come and see how easy it is to teach math.

Do you have a child who just isn’t getting phonics—or is struggling with beginning reading instruction? Or perhaps you have a child who has sloppy speech or doesn’t seem to hear things correctly? Poor phonemic awareness could be partly to blame. Faith provides parent-teachers with an understanding of phonemic awareness skills and how these skills (or lack thereof) impact a child’s ability to become a proficient reader. Hear about a phonemic awareness assessment that you can use at home.

Technology has fundamentally changed education and almost every educational institution on the planet hasn’t caught up yet. There is a foundational shift from an answers-based paradigm that has dominated education since universities were invented to a questions-based paradigm. Simply stated, if you are still teaching in an answers-based paradigm you are missing a key opportunity to prepare your student for the world that they will live and work in. This session is all about teaching you what a questions-based paradigm is, why it’s important, and how to teach it.

This workshop offers practical direction and encouragement for families who are considering home education or for those who have already plunged into the scary waters of special education at home and are seeking assistance to navigate this realm. Faith shares resources for homeschooling special needs, diagnostic checklists for struggling learners, addresses common concerns homeschooling parents face (and how to navigate around them), and shares strategies for charting a course for success with your children who learn differently.

We all know essay writing is important for our children to master, but is it important for them to know how to write fiction? Well-written stories capture people’s attention and can move their hearts to experience lessons needed for life. As we teach our children to write, we should move them toward a love of story and teach them to write stories that others love. In this session, Carol Robb shares with parents some tips on what they should look for in writing programs and how to teach their children to write stories that capture the readers’ hearts.

Is your child facing learning challenges? Does your child have math anxiety? And what myths are we talking about?? Children with learning challenges must truly understand in order to remember. The traditional approach of teaching mathematics does not work for them. In this workshop, you will learn some teaching strategies and techniques that will help children with learning challenges, reduce math anxiety, and debunk the myths that make your task harder than it needs to be.

Parents are often surprised when their homeschooled teen becomes unmotivated, angry, or uncooperative. — Up to that point, homeschooling had been a magical learning adventure marked by self-directed learning and effortless discovery. Parents wonder What happened? — What did I do wrong? This workshop will address common challenges when homeschooling high school: motivation, attitude, puberty, achieving high school requirements, and more. It will also provide solutions and insights that produce real results and homeschool success.

Despite a popular belief to the contrary, the world and culture does not work on facts; it runs on story. Stories are what drive cultural and social change, inspire action, give meaning, and educate the next generation. Western Civilization in particular is driven by the stories in the Bible. Understanding story, and especially the Biblical story, is essential to understand the world you live in, and your part in the grand story that is our reality. The session will help you understand story, Biblical story, and how that understanding will have an immediate practical impact on your life.

Hey kids, bring your parents and learn how to LOVE your siblings. We will take a look at what the Bible says about siblings and learn easy ways you can love your siblings even when it’s hard. (Parents are welcome without kids, too!)

Do you feel like you just don’t have what you need to fulfill God’s purpose for your life as a home educator? Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to be a Godly parent? Do you feel like you lack patience, understanding, kindness, or joy? Where we lack, God’s divine power provides. In this workshop, we see God’s power and grace given in order to do all that He asks of us and reflect Him to our children and to the world. His grace gives us all that we need to abound in every good work—even homeschooling!

Adolescents today are starving: they’re aesthetically and culturally undernourished. Among the many culprits: Our poor use of literature throughout secondary education. Great works on high school reading lists are treated as mere boxes to checked off, and do students really learn to love Dickens in AP lit? — Our STEM students, moreover, will have few electives in college; the high school years may represent their real taste of literature. This homeschooling dad shows how we can use literature to nourish our teens, expand their emotional intelligence, and sharpen their insight into human relationships.

Shortly after the birth of his first son, Paul lost the use of both of his arms and hands. For months he was forced to stop working and finally listened to the message that God was trying to share with him… ...that work had become an obsession and his family an afterthought. What Paul learned has transformed his perspective on parenting and what being a strong father means.

In a bygone time, plans were paramount, caution was king, and deciding was marked by deliberation. In that old world knowledge trumped experience. We don’t live in that world anymore. In our world iteration is better than planning, action holds the throne, and deciding is marked by doing. In our world knowledge is still necessary, but knowledge without experience holds little value. This session will teach you how to adapt to this new world and use project-based education to train students to take action for the real world.

Your teen is changing, and they need you to stay the course through the most critical years of your homeschooling journey? While they struggle to figure out life, your steadiness helps them navigate the adulting process with less stress and great confidence. When you understand how to navigate the high school years, they can be the most rewarding years of your parenting journey.

Maybe you struggled with math, so how do you choose a curriculum to avoid the same fate for your child? Maybe you are really good in math but are unsure how to teach it now? Should you include manipulatives or not? What DOES it take to be the best teacher for your child? Find out the science and the art of teaching math. It is a science because much research has been done on how children learn, especially in math. It is an art because each child is different and lessons need to be tweaked. Come learn and be encouraged to become a great math teacher.

Discover practical strategies for teaching your child HOW to learn. 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 you can decrease burnout, develop successful students, and bring peace into your home once again. Listen and experience a renewed vision for your homeschool.

Do you have a student who is having reading difficulties? This session introduces the 5 Pillars of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics (decoding and word recognition), fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Faith offers guidance for identifying the area and the level of your child’s reading difficulty, and she also shares practical teaching tools, strategies, and techniques for remediating your child’s reading struggles. Part 1 addresses decoding and fluency problems.

You are a human being, not a human doing. Culture and society will tell you that changing the world and making a difference with your life will require you to become rich, famous, and/or powerful. Unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to become rich, famous, and powerful. Fortunately, that’s not the way you change the world and make a difference. Christianity has a different plan for world changers, a plan that anyone can follow, that requires community, and that you can start today. This session will teach you how you really change the world and find meaning. Caution: If you attend this session you will have to start today!

What does it mean to be a godly father who leads his family faithfully? Hear these true stories about homeschool dads who have grappled with this question: • An NFL Super Bowl Champion who came to Christ after realizing the world's definition of success was hollow. • An Orthodox Jew who found Christ after reading the Book of Matthew, even at the price of being shunned by everyone he knew. • An Army Lieutenant Colonel who was at the Pentagon on 9/11 when a Boeing 757 crashed yards away from him, engulfing his body in flames, sending him on an unforgettable journey of faith and hope.

Currently 1 in 44 eight-year-olds in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism every year. You are NOT alone! But this journey can be daunting. This workshop will help you learn the benefits of homeschooling your autistic child and how to determine the curriculum (level and subjects). It will provide some practical teaching tips for more effective learning and suggest additional supports which may be helpful.

High school is jammed with requirements for the college-bound high school student – 3 to 4 years of a lab science, 4 years of English, plus higher-level math, foreign language – not to mention standardized tests! But there are three skills that maximize all students’ chances of success at college. Each of these skills hinges on higher-level thinking, maturity, and organization. This workshop will discuss what parents can do to help their students develop these essential skills.

So, you’ve got a box full of unused planners and half-erased lesson plan books. Trust me, you’re not alone! 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 session.

Have you made a list of rules only to get discouraged when your teen doesn't follow them? Do you feel your attempts to create close relationships feel one-sided? Rest assured, mom, you aren't alone. While every family needs rules, limits, and boundaries to help protect your child and keep order, they cannot come at the expense of your relationship. It's not the rules that cause our children to rebel. Often something is missing. Connie Albers, the mother of five adult children, shares how to create rules, build relationships, and reduce rebellion.

Death, illness, finances, marriage struggles, catastrophes, struggling teens, rebellious and difficult children, discouragement, or that feeling you are failing at life. Hard things happen to homeschool families, but there is great hope in the midst of hard things. Deborah talks about ten years of hardships in her journey and shares the hope in the midst of the hard things, as well as tips on practical, simple homeschooling through them. Deborah loves to encourage homeschool families that God has given them all that they need as they keep their children Home Where They Belong.

Do you have a student who is having reading difficulties? This session introduces the 5 Pillars of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics (decoding and word recognition), fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Faith offers guidance for identifying the area and the level of your child’s reading difficulty, and she also shares practical teaching tools, strategies, and techniques for remediating your child’s reading struggles. Part 2 will cover addressing and remediating reading comprehension difficulties.

Think you might be an entrepreneur at heart? Come and learn the top five questions you need to ask yourself before taking the plunge. Then learn how to find the right market, avoid the biggest mistakes, and take the practical steps today to set yourself up for future success.

Whether you have toddlers or teens, we all have a desire to see our kids walk with the Lord and grow in faith. In this session, we will explore fun and simple ways to teach your kids to have regular devotional study, a meaningful prayer life, and engaging family discussions.

The world is filled with all kinds of sensory input that we use and enjoy. Many children can filter out the distracting or non-applicable input so that they can focus on schoolwork. However, some children are aware of much of the sensory input around them at all times OR they are not aware of any input. This impacts their ability to attend to school work and apply what is learned. This workshop will help you to better understand what it is like to live in a world where you cannot process sensory input effectively and provide practical suggestions to regulate sensory input to help your child to attend and succeed in learning.

Fractions are often misunderstood and feared by children and parents. Come to this presentation and find a better and clearer way of teaching fractions. Fractions are, dare I say, fun when they are taught the right way. What’s the right way to teach them? Come and uncover the beauty and simplicity of fractions.

Most students today are asked to write essays before they’ve actually read any. Worse, they’re taught writing in highly artificial forms, like the five-paragraph essay — a kind of writing no one in the real world ever has to produce. This homeschooling dad has worked for thirty years as a writing consultant, and here he shares his practical perspective both on our students’ real needs and on the classroom methods traditionally used to teach writing. He also shows parents five writing practices that our students need to master but are seldom taught.

What if homeschooling and the homeschool movement was about more than education, but was the training corps for the special forces whose mission is to take and hold the cultural anchors of our civilization? What if your local church was more than a building to worship in once a week, but was the headquarters for an army whose mission was to rebuild a civilization? What if we understood that this army doesn’t build walls and fortifications to keep the barbarians out, but builds homes and communities that lower the bridge, open the gates, and invites those outside in, to a better world? This session will challenge you to think big, think long, and join the mission.

If you are like most parents, you are concerned about what your kids might post online. Unfortunately, social media is a powerful platform that isn't going away. While more and more kids seek relationships online, you can teach them how to create a positive profile that helps influence the next generation. Connie Albers educates teens and parents on using technology as a tool for the Kingdom by creating a positive social profile that promotes causes they are passionate about. This presentation is for you if you want to learn from a mother who has successfully navigated her five children through the social media maze.

“I won’t do it!” my child screamed after being asked to sit down and start the day’s math assignment. “You will too!” I resolutely stated back. “I will not!” And there ensued an all-out fight of wills. The strong-willed mother determined to win over the strong-willed child. This workshop is designed to give you helpful tips in dealing with a strong-willed child, how to homeschool this child, how to stay sane in the midst of anguish, and to give you hope for the future. Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.

This workshop addresses some of the challenges associated with teaching struggling and atypical learners at home in the high school years. Do you have questions such as “How do I award my child with special needs a diploma?” or “What do I do since my child with dyslexia can’t read typical high school level material?” Faith 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. She also offers tips for navigating the process of applying for testing accommodations for College Board tests.

Dads and moms, in all the busyness of life and swell of expert advice, we’ve forgotten the fundamental truths of homeschooling and family. In short, we’ve forgotten why we do what we do. We have plenty of “how-tos” but have forgotten the “why-tos” and it evidences itself in our lack of joy of homeschooling, family, and parenting. Join funny guy and family man, Todd Wilson, as he sets the stage for a great homeschool convention and the best year ever as he brings us back to the basics of what we believe about family and homeschooling. You’re not going to want to miss this for the world.

In 1984, the State Superintendent of Education told Zan Tyler that he could have her put in jail for homeschooling her son. Zan knew this was no idle threat. The shock and fear that riveted her and the imminent threat of being jailed forced her to count the costs of homeschooling and decide if it was really worth it. Zan learned some powerful lessons about fighting for freedom, family, and faith that remain pertinent today. Our nation is once again at a crossroads where the liberties we often take for granted are at stake. We must all continue to work to preserve our homeschool freedoms, while intentionally raising up a new generation of freedom fighters. But how do we do that? Come to this session to be encouraged and equipped with powerful principles to share with your children and teens. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tyler_Zan_1.pdf

This message is an introduction to the facts that never fail, the Word that never returns void, and the Truth that truly does make the Christian free. Because in such a showdown, the Cross of Christ always proves victorious. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ludy_Eric_1.pdf

Bearing responsibility for the education of a child is a high calling, one that brings with it great challenge and the potential for great anxiety. In this talk, Brian Phillips looks to Scripture, Church history, and classic literature, drawing practical lessons to encourage the hearts of educators in the trenches. The struggle will continue, but there is strength available to face it.

How do you plan a program for your homeschooled 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? How do you evaluate credits? Determine grades for a course? What about a transcript and diploma? If you are just beginning to think about homeschooling during the high school years, this seminar will help you organize your thoughts and begin laying the groundwork for a viable four-year plan. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Frommack_Heather_1.pdf

Who is going to build a house by starting with the walls? Without a solid foundation, those walls may hold up for a bit but eventually will come crashing down. Math is a lot like building a house. We need to start with a strong foundation and build up from there. It doesn’t have to be hard! Come and see how easy it is to teach math.

Joe Tyler discusses the key issues we face as dads striving to instill a Christ-centered vision of purity in our sons. He addresses the cultural pressures on our young men and shares practical advice to counter the culture. Because of the frank and sensitive nature of this discussion, we request that only men attend.

This workshop will help you know what to think about, what to do, and what decisions to make as you begin your homeschooling journey. With practical advice and real-life illustrations, you will be encouraged and informed. Whether you’ve already made the decision to teach your children at home, or are still considering, this workshop will answer the questions you’re asking. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MuraJessica_1.pdf

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. Join me as we do just that. You’ll laugh and be encouraged in the toughest job you’ll ever…love.

You thought genealogies were boring? Well, not after this message, you won’t! Throughout world history, the Hebrews have stood unmatched in their maintenance of genealogies, lineage, and descent. God promised them that from their bloodline would come One who would rescue the world from sin. This “Deliverer” would be of the seed of the woman, born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, and would be from everlasting. Well, this “Deliverer” has come. And just as promised, He was born of a virgin girl in Bethlehem, and He was no mere man. He was God born in the body of a man. Buckle your seat belt for this one! Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ludy_Eric_2.pdf

Motivation is often an area of struggle in family life. Children tend to either be unmotivated, creating stress for parents or “over-motivated” earning the label of “strong-willed.” Come learn about the internal motivation system in your child’s heart and gain tools for guiding that motivation in the right direction. If you’re frustrated or discouraged with the typical reward and punishment strategies, you’ll find this heart- based, practical session to be inspiring and hopeful. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Turansky-Miller_1.pdf

Faith discusses the ultimate goal of reading instruction: comprehension. She also explores various types of thinking and processing skills required for proficient comprehension. Faith shares tips, techniques, and strategies for developing the vocabulary of the very young, as well as good habits of mind in order to lay a solid foundation for comprehension with our wee ones (up to age 5). Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Berens_Faith_1.pdf

This homeschooling dad has been teaching Shakespeare to homeschooled students for more than a decade; his online Shakespeare courses have transformed reluctant students all over the country into ardent Shakespeare fans. In this workshop, he will show you six things no one ever told you about our greatest writer. In the process, you will discover why no other writer in English is in the same league as Shakespeare—and why knowing and understanding Shakespeare is indispensable for all our students.

Kathy Dunfee acquired a deep reverence for the beauty and wonder of nature from spending her childhood in her backyard. She invites you to re-awaken your sense of childlike wonder by simply stepping outside your back door. Based on Charlotte Mason’s approach to nature study, Kathy offers simple and practical “no-to-low-prep” ideas on how to engage children of all ages in nature through the language of poetry, literature, picture books, art, music, and adventures that enrich daily life. Nature Study is not a curriculum. It’s a way of life. A way of seeing the wonder all around us. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DunfeeKathy_2.pdf

Maybe the canon should have been closed after the first five books were written. What about after the Old Testament was finished? The New Testament? Should the Apocrypha be added? Is the Bible really the Word of God, or could it be that there are other sacred writings that we should follow? This talk will reinforce why we don’t have a blind faith. The Scripture is the reliable, trustworthy, completed Word of God.

The frenzied push for education begins earlier and earlier in today’s society. In our world of preschool-mania, some parents pay hefty amounts to consultants who can help get their youngsters into just the right preschool. Other concerned parents are putting their preschoolers on waiting lists years in advance—sometimes even while the child is still in the womb! So what constitutes a meaningful preschool education that prepares a child for a life of learning and significance? In this workshop, we will discuss learning theories as well as practical skills you can teach your children. We will also cover how to develop a love for books in even your most active little ones. Join Zan Tyler as she addresses four vital components of a superb preschool education—and be encouraged that home is indeed the ultimate preschool!

Creating a high school transcript is a vital part of your teen’s high school records—but it doesn’t have to be hard! 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 transcript essentials, evaluation of credit, grading guidelines and scales, and calculation of grade point averages (GPAs). In addition, you’ll receive sample transcripts showing other formats for you to consider. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Frommack_Heather_2.pdf

This workshop offers practical resources, lists of materials, and curricula to equip you as you work with a struggling learner in your homeschool. Krisa presents ideas for designing a unique home instruction program tailored to your child’s specific challenges. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WinnKrisa_4-1.pdf Resource: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WinnKrisa_4-1Res.pdf

How many times have you heard your child say, “I will never use this in real life?” Why are we teaching math that way? To teach with a biblical worldview means we are teaching subject matter to equip our children with skills they need to serve God and show love to their neighbors. Let’s talk about teaching math that matters!

Have you ever wondered what the value is in art? Art magnifies the handiwork of our God and His merciful blessings in allowing and equipping human beings to create and imagine beautiful things! Art is a motivator that inspires, uplifts, and develops “artistic confidence” that encourages all ages to have trust in their creativity and to be able to express their imagination. The Bible is full of artists with the most prominent being Bezalel in the Old Testament. Art is found in everything around you- from the classes you take in school to the beauty in the world God created. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PappasMonique_1.pdf

We like things nice and neat, orderly, with predictable outcomes. Often OUR plans don’t ‘come together’ as hoped. Instead, they fall apart and leave us dumbfounded and stunned. I’ve talked to plenty of homeschooling parents who were sold a plan. They followed it and later stood before me with tears in their eyes because the plan “didn’t come together.” “We did everything THEY said to do.” “We didn’t have TV…we homeschooled…we ate organic…we only wore dresses…we sheltered and protected….we did courtship…they played the violin…we emphasized the classics…we never missed family devotions…we emphasized purity…we birthed our children at home…we had a home business” and on and on the list goes. They feel betrayed, angry, and lost….and their children are starting ‘tell all’ websites!! Years ago when I heard their sob stories I wondered what they had done wrong. I believed they must have gotten the WRONG plan…or didn’t carry the plan out according to instructions. While some of that may be true, I know NOW that sometimes our plans don’t come together because God has a DIFFERENT PLAN. Join me as we take an honest and humorous look at plans, why they fall apart and what to do when they have.

How do we earn salvation? How do we keep it once earned? What must I do for God to be proud of me and approve of my works? What do I do about the shame and guilt I feel, even as a believer? This talk includes a hermeneutical study of Romans 8:31-39 and encourages followers of Christ in the total propitiation process.

The Church father Tertullian famously asked, What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? Many conclude that the answer is nothing; an answer which poses problems for classical educators who teach pagan literature from nearly every historical period. So, what are Christians to do with pagan stories? Should Christian students read such books? If so, how should Christian educators engage with such writings? This talk examines Tertullian’s important question in light of Scripture and several classic writings, drawing principles for how Christian educators and their students can better interact with classic literature and ideas.

Faith addresses the importance of spelling and presents the developmental stages of spelling. She also shares various strategies, techniques, and fun, hands-on, multisensory methods for spelling practice, as well as specialized spelling programs and strategies to help you transform “I am a terrible speller” to “I am a good speller!” Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Berens_Faith_2.pdf

Most students are taught writing in highly artificial forms, like the five-paragraph essay — a kind of writing no one in the real world ever produces. Roy Speed is a homeschooling dad who for nearly thirty years has taught writing to professionals in corporations. In the homeschooling world, his online writing courses and innovative methods have met with acclaim from students and parents alike. In this workshop, he shares a fresh perspective both on our students’ needs and on traditional methods for teaching writing. He shows parents five critical writing tools most students never learn, but that are nonetheless vital.

Today’s kids are being exposed to pornography early (think 8 to 11 years old) — and our pop culture tells them it’s a healthy outlet for sexuality. Families will learn how to create a safe online space and encourage ongoing conversations that empower kids to not only look away from sexualized media, but also to confront our sex-obsessed culture. You can teach your kids to train their hearts and minds to be skillful, daring, and brave.

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. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tyler_Zan_3.pdf

Taken directly from Psalm 32, this presentation reminds us of the unique relationship we have with Christ and how to follow Him on a daily basis to gain security and confidence in whatever we may face. We don’t have to, but we get to cultivate our relationship with Christ. Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.

Many families have a strong emphasis on obedience, but God instructs children to learn to obey and honor. Come take a closer look at the biblical concept of honor. Honor is a relationship term that can change the culture in a home, teaching kids to consider the needs of others and take initiative to go beyond what’s expected. Learn how honor changes a person and how to help your child rise to new levels of maturity. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Turansky-Miller_5.pdf

The high school years are a prime opportunity to equip your teens with skills they will need for future success. If your teen is headed to college, the workforce, or the military, they will benefit from study and time management skills. This session provides parents with ideas to incorporate these skills into high school coursework and lists resources to help teens cultivate these essential skills. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Frommack_Heather_3.pdf

In this second half of “Nuts and Bolts for Success,” Krisa addresses homeschooling and working, teaching multi-ages, scheduling the day, and practical teaching strategies you can use regardless of your curriculum program. Krisa explains multi-sensory teaching methods, direct instruction, and modeled teaching. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WinnKrisa_4-2.pdf Resource: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WinnKrisa_4-2Res.pdf

Can your child read between the lines or is she just decoding? How does your phonics instruction affect your child’s reading comprehension? What techniques can you use before, during, and after reading to help your child comprehend? How does the comprehension taught in reading instruction affect other subject areas? Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Sharon_Fisher_2.pdf

Often our aim for our children’s development is to see them “above-average” or “better than most.” But, when the Truth of our super-conquering Jesus Christ is infused into the training of our children, nothing short of “children that change the world” will do. In this session, Eric Ludy will pass along both a vision and a practical platform for beginning to think and parent with even greater boldness and purpose. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ludy_Eric_3.pdf

From teaching phonics to graduating teens, from refereeing fights to nurturing faith, our lives as homeschooling parents run the gamut from the very mundane to the very meaningful. In the midst of the mind-boggling demands of homeschooling and everyday life, we constantly need to remind ourselves that our work as homeschooling moms and dads has tremendous Kingdom significance. Using the lessons of Scripture and history, this workshop will expand your vision of how God is using the homeschool movement, as well as your specific work as a homeschooling parent, to usher in spiritual and educational revival. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tyler_Zan_4.pdf

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.

Scripture is under attack, and countless individuals, even within the Church, doubt the authenticity and supernatural construction of God’s Word. This message examines ten simple proofs of the construction, preservation, and accuracy of the Word of God. It will supercharge your faith, give you greater confidence in the Word of God, and cause you to fall in love with Scripture all over again. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ludy_Eric_4-1.pdf

Grumbling, sarcasm, huffing, sighing, slouching, rolling eyes,… yes we all see that stuff all too often but what’s the best way to address these subtle (or not so subtle) forms of resistance? Children can have bad attitudes about instructions, authority, schoolwork, and even about the family life itself. We know that treating the symptoms is not enough. Come join us for a heart-based look at attitudes and some practical tools for helping kids change from the inside out. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Turansky-Miller_2.pdf

Creating a high school transcript is a vital part of your teen’s high school records—but it doesn’t have to be hard! 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 transcript essentials, evaluation of credit, grading guidelines and scales, and calculation of grade point averages (GPAs). In addition, you’ll receive sample transcripts showing other formats for you to consider. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Frommack_Heather_4.pdf

A history teacher gives a reasoned and entertaining explanation of the Founders theological and philosophical world. In an age where the mood of the moment threatens founding principles, Andy gives a solid basis for understanding how the American Constitution is generally based on solid, transcendent ideas that correlate with a biblical worldview.

Parents have tough questions. “What apps are safe? How can I know if my kids see bad stuff on Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media? Can I be notified if someone e-mails or texts my teen a sexual picture or video? Help me protect the whole device!” If you’re looking for answers to solve today’s tech dilemmas, this session is for you

This workshop will help you know what to think about, what to do, and what decisions to make as you begin your homeschooling journey. With practical advice and real-life illustrations, you will be encouraged and informed. Whether you’ve already made the decision to teach your children at home, or are still considering, this workshop will answer the questions you’re asking. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MuraJessica_1.pdf

Our children live in the midst of a secular culture facing a host of issues and moral dilemmas that we never had to deal with at their age. Because many children are not prepared to counter this culture, startling percentages of those raised in evangelical homes abandon their faith and beliefs as they move into adulthood. For this reason, training our children to develop a strong biblical worldview is one of the most important things we can do for them. Teaching them to think biblically about all areas of life equips them to become powerful thinkers, leaders, and communicators. Most importantly, it also gives staying power to their faith as they face opposition. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tyler_Zan_5.pdf

The constant declaration of the Christian life should be “I can’t, but God can!” Our lives were made to be inhabited by the living God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to be used as a “glove” upon His hand. This enabling power of His life, called grace, supplies all we need for life and godliness. Grace is far more than a mere hug of God. In this life-changing message, Eric Ludy equips you with the spiritual tools to stop trying to manufacture the Christian life and instead let God do it in and through you. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ludy_Eric_5-1.pdf

Parents and teachers trying to provide a classical education to their students are in the difficult position of providing what they did not receive themselves. That is, the overwhelming majority of classical educators were not classically educated themselves. So what do we do? This talk explores how classical teachers and homeschooling parents can better prepare themselves to model and provide a classical education for their students by developing habits of lifelong learning.

Do you have a student who is having reading difficulties? This session introduces the 5 Pillars of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics (decoding and word recognition), fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Faith offers guidance for identifying the area and the level of your child’s reading difficulty, and she also shares practical teaching tools, strategies, and techniques for remediating your child’s reading struggles. Session 1 will address decoding and fluency problems. Handout: ttps://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Berens_Faith_3.pdf

Traditional approaches to English grammar have neglected and obscured the subject’s greatest benefit: effective writing. For nearly thirty years Roy Speed has been teaching grammar to writers of all stripes — from professional researchers to corporate managers and, most recently, homeschooling parents and students. He is the author of the forthcoming Writer’s Guide to Grammar, and in this session, he gives an eye-opening look at grammar principles that lead directly to important writing tools. In the process, he shows parents how grammar should be taught but seldom is.

Kathy began homeschooling armed with how-to books and award-winning curriculum thinking she would do all the teaching and her children all the learning. Charlotte Mason’s writings completely transformed her approach. Kathy offers simple and practical ways to engage your children and yourself in a Charlotte Mason education by preparing a feast, laying down tracks (habits) for life to run more smoothly upon, and fostering an atmosphere of grace, truth, and beauty. God meets us in our weaknesses and failures, and we are changed. Charlotte Mason’s profound yet practical methods light a fire in the hearts of both teacher and student. Handout: https://masshope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DunfeeKathy_1.pdf

Maybe you struggled with math, so how do you choose a curriculum to avoid the same fate for your child? Maybe you are really good in math but are unsure how to teach it now? Should you include manipulatives or not? What DOES it take to be the best teacher for your child? Find out the science and the art of teaching math. It is a science because much research has been done on how children learn, especially in math. It is an art because each child is different and lessons need to be tweaked. Come learn and be encouraged to become a great math teacher.