2023 Homeschool Convention

Convention Schedule

Thursday, March 16

New to Homeschooling Night with Nancy Bjorkman – "Where Do I Begin?" – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

This special FREE event is for new and first year homeschoolers. Considering homeschooling? Not sure where to begin? Nancy will define realistic and foundational goals for homeschooling that will get new families off to a solid start. We’ll cover some common roadblocks and misconceptions about “what school should look like”, state law, and many practical tips for success. There will be a time for interaction and questions.

Vendor Hall Shopping – 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

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Friday, March 17

Registration – 8:30 a.m.

Keynote: Kirk Smith – Raising Contenders! – 9 to 10:15 a.m.

We do not want our children to watch indifferently from the sidelines as the culture slides into the abyss of Godlessness. Instead we want them to contend for the faith! While God must grace the hearers to embrace the truth, there are things parents can do to create Biblical perspectives that will till the soil of the hearts.

• Diane Wier – CPR & First Aid (ages 12+) – All Day Class (9 to 11:30 a.m. & 1 to 4 p.m.) $60 per student | 12 student max

Vendor Hall Opens – 10 a.m.

Session 1: Friday – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Rebecca Spooner – Teaching the Child You Have, Not the Child You Want Them to Be – Practical tips of how to understand the child you have and tweak your expectations to line up with the gift that God gave you
• Sonya Shafer – The Early Years: Homeschooling Your Preschooler – Give your child what is most important
• Nancy Bjorkman – Time & Home Management: Managing Life & Home While Homeschooling – Practical tips and encouragement for everyday living as a homeschool family
• Carla Estell – Dash through the Bible – Part 1 of 2 (ages 5-12) – Kids will see how God carried out his plan from creation to redemption while providing for his people
• Israel Wayne – The History of the Homeschooling Movement – Learn about the origins of the rebirth of home-based learning, and discover God’s purposes and plans for the future of the homeschooling movement
• Kristin Lackie – Homeschooling through High School with Confidence – Take the guess work out of what academics you should build into your 7-12th grade plan and explore electives and activities
• Brock Eastman – Finding Your Inspiration – Writing workshop: Explore your imagination and identify the things that inspire us – Bring a pen & paper!
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Monet’s Water Lilies – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Lunch – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Session 2: Friday – 1 to 2 p.m.

• Rebecca Spooner – Getting Over Your Fear of the Teenage Years – High school and breaking the narrative that finding something accredited or rigorous is the only way
• Sonya Shafer – Laying Down the Rails: The Power of Good Habits in Your Homeschool – Discover the secret to smooth and easy days: habit training
• Carla Estell – Dash through the Bible – Part 2 of 2 (ages 5-12) – Kids will see how God carried out his plan from creation to redemption while providing for his people
• Israel Wayne – Transform Learning through the Art of Questions – Learn how you can help yourself (and others) recognize hidden assumptions, and overcome obstacles, through learning the art of asking questions
• Kristin Lackie – Jumpstart College with CLEP – How to accelerate the first two years of college by earning credit for subjects your student may already be studying in high school
• Allen Brokken – Did Jesus Play Lego? – Helping your technology oriented child see themselves in God’s word
• Brock Eastman – Creating Characters – Writing workshop: How to create dynamic and engaging characters in your writing – Bring a pen & paper!
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Monet’s Water Lilies (repeat) – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Session 3: Friday – 3 to 4 p.m.

• Kirk Smith – The Dangers of Social Constructs – Teaching children how to avoid this trap
• Sonya Shafer – Keep it Simple: How to Teach Your Whole Family Together – Save time and money by teaching most school subjects to all of your students together
• Israel Wayne – Influence vs. Control: How to Best Motivate Your Child – Learn the proper balance in being your child's authority figure and being their life coach
• Rachel Anderson – Math: Does It Matter How You Teach? – Explore some teaching strategies and techniques to help children learn, reduce math anxiety, and show them the beauty and joy in math
• Kristin Lackie – Simple Transcripts & Record Keeping – Understand the essentials of record keeping, the important records to keep, how to grade, evaluate credits, and prepare a professional looking high school transcript
• Brock Eastman – The Importance of Storytime with Kids – A critical step in each child's reading and writing growth is having an adult read to them
• Callie Rafferty – Navigating the College Journey with GCU – Applying to college can be very rewarding for homeschool families if you start early and do it right
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Monet’s Water Lilies (repeat) – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Vendor Hall Closes – 5 p.m.

Pizza Dinner – 5 to 6 p.m.

Family Night with Brock Eastman – Follow His Plan & Experience Amazing Adventures! – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Author Brock Eastman, also known as Dr. Fizzlebop will share his journey from wanting to be a Paleontologist as a kid, to becoming an author, a producer for Adventures in Odyssey, and now Dr. Fizzlebop. Kids will be encouraged to follow God's plan for them, even when they're not sure where it is leading. Attendees will hear a preview of Brock's next book Edge of the Galaxy, experience a Super Simple experiment from Dr. Fizzlebop, and have the opportunity to get their books signed.

 

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Saturday, March 18

Registration – 8:30 a.m.

Keynote: Rebecca Spooner – Is It Enough? – 9 to 10:15 a.m.

How do you know that you are doing enough? The pressure to do it right, not mess up your kids, and fill in all the gaps is coming from all sides—often to the detriment of our children. This session is all about permission: permission to make homeschooling what it needs to be for you, to raise out-of-the-box thinkers, to skip that lesson, and to refuse to settle. If this question has been plaguing you, then you need to sit in this session to remind yourself that you don’t have to aim for the national average... you can choose extraordinary. Raise world changers with me.

• Diane Wier – CPR & First Aid (ages 12+) – All Day Class (9 to 11:30 a.m. & 1 to 4 p.m.) $60 per student | 12 student max

Vendor Hall Opens – 10 a.m.

Session 4: Saturday – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Rebecca Spooner – What is Gather 'Round Homeschool? – No more bouncing around from one subject to the next or one child to the next... do school with all your kids together
• Sonya Shafer – Choosing the Soundtracks of Your Life – How you can choose powerful soundtracks and build biblical playlists through Scripture memory
• Carla Estell – Our Greatest Earthly Treasure (for moms) – Encourage your heart and renew your commitment to God and your family as you learn to live life in God’s strength
• Israel Wayne – Pitchin’ a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed-Out Parenting – Learn how to overcome anger and have a peaceful atmosphere in your home
• Rachel Anderson – Bridge over Troubled Multiplication & Division Waters – Learn strategies to help your child bridge their skills to competent and confident multiplication and division facts
• Kristin Lackie – Exploring Careers with Teens – Helps students identify how to find their best-fit career options and equips parents with the steps and resources to walk alongside and be their students’ very best career coach
• Brock Eastman – Dr. Fizzlebop: How to Make a Fizz Inflator – Explore the science of fizz and chemical reactions
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Van Gogh’s Starry Night – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Lunch – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Session 5: Saturday – 1 to 2 p.m.

• Rebecca Spooner – Connection in a Disconnected World – This session is about intimacy and how to cultivate a culture of peace and intentionality in the midst of our fast food society
• Sonya Shafer – Language Arts: It’s a Natural Progression – Discover what exactly is included in language arts and learning to use language well
• Brian Estell – The Reliability of the Bible: Trust It, Heed It, Read It (for dads) – Learn how to incorporate the Bible into your family’s daily routine and to lead by example
• Israel Wayne – Answers for Homeschooling: Top Questions Critics Ask – Learn statistics and fact-based answers to help give you confidence to defend your choice to home educate
• Kristin Lackie – From Tools to Multi-Tools – How to enhance the impact of any curriculum through differentiated instruction
• Molly Hogeboom – Easterseals 101 – A comprehensive overview of Easterseals and info about the population they serve
• Dr. Sheena Joseph – All Roads Lead to Rome – How an unhealthy gut destroys your gut
• Brock Eastman – Dr. Fizzlebop: Marvelous Melted Crayon Rainbow – Explore reversible physical changes
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Van Gogh’s Starry Night (repeat) – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Session 6: Saturday – 3 to 4 p.m.

• Kirk Smith – The Unchanging Truth in Changing Times – Why truth is absolutely vital to the next generation
• Sonya Shafer – Looking Past the Fear – An encouraging look at God’s response to five fears that homeschooling moms face
• Israel Wayne – The Biblical Basis for Parental Rights – Who owns your children? What are your rights as a homeschooling parent? Learn how to equip yourself to stand against opposition
• Kristin Lackie – But Mom, HOW Do I Study? – Practical info on developing effective study habits like setting goals, managing time, organizing spaces, improving reading comprehension, taking notes, taking tests, and finding balance
• Allen Brokken – How Will We Socialize Them? – Building and maintaining homeschool activities
• Dr. Sheena Joseph – Jump Off the RollerCoaster – How blood sugar levels create massive stress
• Brock Eastman – Dr. Fizzlebop: Magnificently Cool Comet Model – Explore space and learn the makeup of comets
• Terri Gambetti – Mimic the Masters: Van Gogh’s Starry Night (repeat) – $20 per student | 20 student max – Learn about the artist, giggle, and take home a completed 11x14 canvas

Vendor Hall Closes & Convention Ends – 5 p.m.