The Conference program is subject to change.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Session 1
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Ballistic Homeschooling: How to not only live through homeschooling boys, but to love it. Modern day school culture is very boy-unfriendly and it’s easy to carry that over into our homeschooling because that’s all we know. Have you ever yelled, “Stop it!” to a boy tapping his pencil, wiggling in his seat and humming, only to have him say, “Stop doing my math?” Find out why Thomas Jefferson wrote at a standing desk, how a white board can turn on a light bulb, and why in the world your son does the things he does. Make school more enjoyable for everyone and equip your boy with the learning he needs for manhood.
Improve your Energy & Focus for your Homeschool Journey – Shaun Humphries: As homeschool parents there are definitely times when your personal energy is lacking. Personal energy flows from the dynamic interaction between the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental aspects of our lives. In this workshop, you will learn practical information and steps that you can take to improve your energy and focus to help you meet the challenges of your homeschool journey and to complete the MISSION that God has called you to.
Homeschooling 101 – Brenda Tuckett: This session will provide experienced advice and wisdom for the key challenges often faced by new homeschoolers, including: Can I do this? Where do I start? How do I notify the government? What curriculum should I use? How do I teach multiple grades? How do I keep records? And more.
Strategies for Teaching your Homeschooler Science – Chantelle Byrnes: In this session, Chantelle draws on her experiences as a former homeschooler, a science tutor and classroom teacher on how to supplement your science instruction to make it more interesting for children. Help your children fall in love with science
Session 2
2:15 - 3:15 pm
Three Simple Goals for Your First Year - Melanie Young: Over years of calls from brand new homeschoolers, Melanie learned that there were really three things that needed to be accomplished the first year in order for new families to succeed at homeschooling. They must foster or restore a love of learning in their children, develop discipline and respect in the family and get the basics done. Learn how to get through your first year without jerking anybody bald-headed, including yourself!
On Line Resources for Preschoolers through Early Years – Diane Kroeker: In this presentation Diane will discuss on line tools for teaching at home, with the focus being on preschool and early years. She will talk about various free sites that have games, activities, information, printables, craft ideas, curriculum, and other resources parents need.
Strategies for Teaching Your Homeschooler Math – Jackie Knight: In this session, Jackie will draw on her experiences as a homeschool mom and her detailed knowledge of math curriculum to provide you with practical ideas for teaching math concepts to your children.
Choosing Curriculum for Your Unique Family: Marion Hart: With hundreds of curriculum choices available to homeschoolers, how does one know what is best for one’s children? This workshop will help you determine your children’s learning styles and provide tips for choosing the best curriculum components to suit your family.
Session 3
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Who’s in Charge Here? Disciplining, discipling, and preparing sons for leadership. One of the most important truths that we can instill in our children is the importance of authority. We must teach them to honor God as the ultimate authority, to obey their earthly authorities (parents, elders, civil authorities, etc.), and also prepare them to one day become authorities in other’s lives.
Good leaders are not made by accident! In this workshop Hal and Melanie will discuss how we can instill these values in our children and pass them on to future generations.
Q&A for the Struggling Teacher– Dr. Ian Mogilevsky (Psychologist): Workshop will not be recorded. Come with the questions you might have about your teaching struggles. During his professional career, Dr. Ian has provided educational assessments and specific teaching strategies to hundreds of parents. In addition, Dr. Ian and his wife are homeschooling parents of seven children. While answering your questions, Dr. Ian will guide parents with ideas and strategies to effectively teach your children. Answers will attempt to address the unique needs of each child.
Evaluating and Assessing Your Child’s Learning - Marion Hart “For the brain to function fully, it is beneficial for the classroom to provide five elements: trust and belonging, meaningful content, enriched environment, intelligent choices, and adequate time”. This workshop will explain not only how the homeschool can provide this optimal learning environment, but also how you can develop and use different evaluation tools to assess what your child is learning.
Teaching Writing with Confidence – Bryan & Bev Rempel: Today’s emphasis on writing has left students without a plan or framework for great writing. Simple, practical and effective techniques for teaching writing with structure and style are presented in a step-by-step method. Your students will be motivated to tackle only a proven plan will give them.
Session 4
7:00 - 9:00 pm
HSLDA Update: Gerald Huebner
Homeschooling Is Not Enough - Hal & Melanie Young Because none of it will matter if they don’t follow Christ. Many homeschoolers hope and pray that because they’ve homeschooled their children will turn out all right, but unfortunately, we are seeing a number of homeschooled children turning away from God in rebellion. We can’t make our children serve Christ, but we can make sure we aren’t standing in the way! Find out about the power of delighting in your children and loving them as Christ loves us. Hear how to point them to the Savior and teach them to serve Him!
Saturday March 24, 2012
Session 5
9:00 - 10:00 am
Homeschooling through Hard Times Homeschooling is a challenge at any time. Sickness, job loss, learning disabilities, business travel, and relocation are just a few of the extra stresses that can derail our best efforts to teach at home. Hal and Melanie Young have seen God’s grace in all of these situations and more. The good news is that God can enable you to teach and learn more through the hard times than you ever thought possible. Come for a frank and encouraging look at what God can do through difficulties, and why it’s so important to keep homeschooling in spite of the challenges.
Session 6
10:15 - 11:15 am
What Is the Role of Grandparents in Home Education? – Gerald and Bev Huebner: This workshop is specifically designed for grandparents of homeschooled children. Gerald and Bev will answer questions such as: What is this homeschooling all about? Can my kids do this? What does the research say? Can they homeschool without the microscopes and test tubes? What is the role of grandparents in home education? How can we help our children raise Godly children in this mixed up world? What does scripture say? Eph.6:4 “… do not exasperate your children”(even adult children). How can I be an encouragement to parents and students vs. a backseat driver or critic?
Homeschooling 101 – Kathleen Alder: This session will provide experienced advice and wisdom for the key challenges often faced by new homeschoolers, including: Can I do this? Where do I start? How do I notify the government? What curriculum should I use? How do I teach multiple grades? How do I keep records? And more.
Organizing Gym Times – Chuck Lawrenson: The Dream: Dads, Moms, boys and girls all having fun together, getting exercise, gaining skills, and growing in character and sportsmanship. Explore the possibility of your family joining others in your area to enjoy gym sports and games. Discussion will include; identifying available facilities, organizing gym time family groups, teaching sports and games, tips on equipment use, and ideas for co-ed multi-age gym time.
How to Homeschool a Child with Autism – Caroline Winship: Caroline is a homeschooling Christian mother of 5, including 2 children on the autism spectrum and step daughter who has dyslexia. She is a U of M student working towards a BA in Cognitive Psychology. She is a member of Manitobans For Effective Autism Treatment (MFEAT), and a Participant with the Autism Spectrum Disorders—Canadian American Research Consortium (ASDCARC). In this workshop, she will explain what autism looks like (symptoms, red flags, misperceptions) discuss treatments and home education options.
Session 7
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Homeschooling A Houseful - Melanie For Mothers: Sometimes homeschooling feels like one of those plate-spinning acts and you wonder how in the world you’re going to meet everyone’s needs. The baby needs to be changed, the toddler is playing in the toilet, your highschooler is impatiently waiting for you to help with his biology experiment, and two other children say, ―I can’t do anything else without you, Mom. Melanie Young, mother of eight, shares encouragement and ideas for how to keep all of those plates spinning at once without your life spinning out of control. Learn how to raise independent learners, keep the household moving, and make sure the little ones get enough attention.
The World, The Flesh, and The Young’uns: Protecting Your Wife in the Homeschooling Life - Hal For Fathers: Studies show that nearly all of the active homeschooling task is done by the mother – which makes sense, because most fathers spend the majority of their days earning the family’s living. While the teaching may be delegated to Mom, Dad needs to be aware of her critical need for more than financial and moral support. She needs protection from things that may not have occurred to either one of them. Hal Young points out where some of the hidden land mines lie, and offers suggestions for how husbands can protect their wives.
Session 8
1:45 - 2:45 pm
Shining Armor – Your Son’s Battle for Purity: Making it through the battle for purity to courting his bride. Most purity resources these days focus on girls, but purity tends to be a much bigger problem for young men. Those that are available often seem hopelessly naïve about the battles our sons are facing. How can you teach your boys to protect the girls in their lives, even from themselves? How can you help them to fight temptation in a world full of inappropriate images? How can you help them make the transition from ―It’s not time to think about that… to finding a wife? Come hear the parents of six sons give you frank, practical advice on raising your son to be a virtuous knight.
Choosing Curriculum for Your Unique Family: Maureen Toews: With hundreds of curriculum choices available to homeschoolers, how does one know what is best for one’s children? This workshop will help you determine your children’s learning styles and provide tips for choosing the best curriculum components to suit your family.
Planning for the High School Years and Beyond - Marion Hart: The high school years are the most impacting and exciting in our youth’s lives. Why send them to school now? Keep them home. This workshop will discuss: how to plan a high school curriculum for Manitobans, record keeping, transcripts, and preparation for postsecondary entrance requirements or the workplace.
Session 9
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Graduation 2012 Recognition
Don’t Lose Heart—The Critical Importance of Finishing What You’ve Started - Hal & Melanie Young: It’s easy to get burned out, tired and overwhelmed homeschooling and as the years pass, challenges often come, too, such as job loss, illness, difficult family times, and learning challenges that make surviving even harder. How can we press on through these things and do what we know is right? In this hopeful, funny, and encouraging session the Youngs look at the importance to your family, your children and our world of finishing what you’ve started and making it all the way to graduation.
Teen Track – Chuck Black, Keynote Speaker for Teens
Chuck is the author of twelve novels which comprise The Kingdom Series and The Knights of Arrethtraeseries. Kingdom’s Dawn of The Kingdom Series received Homeschool.com’s “Voted #1” award and was on CBA’s top ten best sellers list twice in 2008. Chuck’s passion is to inspire young people to follow the Lord with zeal and to equip parents, pastors, and youth leaders to accomplish the same.
Session 1
1:00-2:00 pm (Friday)
Dealing with Doubt: Bullet-Proofing Your Amour: At 14 years old I faced an episode of doubt. For the next 14 years I lived with a weak, flimsy faith. God remained faithful. Learning how to face doubt enabled me to overcome one of our enemy’s most disarming tactics. Be equipped and prepared to live as a bold fully armoured soldier.
Session 2
2:15-3:15 pm
The Plan for Victory - Living Confidently in Ambivalent Times: The Bible is an incredible manual for living an incredible life. Have you ever considered why it is the most popular and precious book throughout the world today? What do you believe about this amazing book? How does it affect your daily life?
Session 3
3:30-4:30 pm
The Raging War Between Spirit and Flesh: Our spirit and our flesh represent different kingdoms. The battles are personal and determine who ultimately rules our life. The discovery of The Holy Spirit’s power living within each one of us leads to a victorious, joyful life.
Session 4
7:00-9:00 pm
How did we get here and where are we going. This will be a video presentation followed by an interactive discussion on creation and life purpose. What do you believe? And why? What are you hoping for in your life?
Session 5
9:00 - 10:00 am (Saturday)
Getting to know one another with food, fun and fellowship. What it means to be a part of a Body. How should we relate to one another.
Session 6
10:15-11:15 am
Escapism: How to Avoid the Enemy’s Snare: Today’s technology can entice us to escape into an artificial world. As the line between reality and simulation blurs our discernment must be very sharp in order to keep from getting caught in apathy and ultimately escapism.
Session 7
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Alumni Wisdom-Home educated graduates relating their Insights & Encouragement: What home education was like –the happy memories, thankfulness, regrets, helpful tips and their present situation.
Session 8
1:45 - 2:45 pm
The Signs of the Times – Understanding the Days to Come. Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled in the world today. Jesus encouraged people to understand what God is doing in their generation. Each of us has a role to play as the day of Christ’s return approaches.