South Florida Homeschool Convention
Speakers & Workshops 2008
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Steve Demme
"The Family that Stays Together Stays Together" - In this encouraging workshop, Steve relates the positive experiences that he and his wife have experienced raising their four sons. With plenty of humorous illustrations, Steve shares tried and proven suggestions that have enhanced their family life. With God's help they are convinced there is hope for the family in the 21st century. Steve is a former Math teacher hand has taught all levels of Math in public, private, and Christian schools. Steve is the author and founder of Math-U-See. He has served in full and part time pastoral ministry for many years after graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
"Being a Disciple and Training Disciples in the Home" - God calls us to teach and disciple our children while we are still being disciples ourselves. This unique dynamic was designed by God to develop teacher and student alike. Steve shares his successes and failures of 20+ years training his 4 sons from young boys to grown men. He also shares insights about the father as the pastor of the homes.
FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER: Debbie Strayer
"Understanding Teaching and Learning Styles" - Our goal as homeschoolers is to teach as effectively as possible, so it can be stressful when the lessons we teach aren’t understood, or our children seem frustrated. Come to this workshop to learn how to overcome obstacles that may limit your ability to teach, and your children’s ability to understand. Shared with humor and honesty, Debbie will provide tips that can help your children achieve their greatest learning success.
"Reviving Your Teaching...and Your Students" - Homeschooling can seem like an overwhelming and exhausting task, with one of the first casualties being creativity and the joy of learning. Come hear practical ways to encourage your children and enhance their learning at the same time. These ideas are useful with any curriculum or approach, so come hear how to bring greater enjoyment and success to your homeschooling.
Debbie Strayer is the former editor and co-founder of Homeschooling Today magazine, the author of Gaining Confidence to Teach, co-author of the Learning Language Arts Through Literature series and editor of The Homeschool Answer Book by Dr. Ruth Beechick. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education from Florida State University and is an experienced public school teacher and mentor of younger teachers. She has been a homeschooling parent for 16 years. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Debbie when she comes to South Florida on April 12th!
LIST OF SPEAKERS AND TOPICS
"The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling" - Rachel Gathercole
In this seminar, Rachel presents research, interview data from homeschoolers across North America, and personal experience to demonstrate conclusively that socialization is a benefit of homeschooling. By re-examining our culture's assumptions about what homeschooling is, what socialization is, and even what childhood is, Rachel uncovers and brings to light the true nature of homeschoolers' socialization, and the many social benefits it offers to children. You will leave this seminar feeling reassured, confident, and informed about the valuable and positive socialization experience you are making available to your children by homeschooling them. Gathercole is the author of the groundbreaking book by the same name!
"Rachel Gathercole has provided the most complete answer to the socialization question that I have ever seen. Homeschoolers, you need this book!" —Mike Smith, President, Home School Legal Defense Association
"Classical Education Made Doable" - Jackie Bartlett (Classical Conversations) Throughout American History, why did sixteen year olds successfully teach multiple grades multiple subjects while we struggle at home with 3 students? Learn their secrets in this overview of classical education—including the grammar, the dialectic and rhetoric stages.
"Combining Classical Education, Charlotte Mason, and Unit Studies with a Christian Perspective" - Susan Reynolds (My Father's World) - The myriad of homeschool choices can be overwhelming like interstates, highways, back roads and scenic routes. There are so many ways and opinions, how can one navigate through it all and still homeschool effectively? Why not blend the best of each method? Instill Christian values while integrating great literature, chronological history, geography, hands-on activities, notebooks and timelines, narration, study of Greek and Latin roots, nature studies, and more. Enjoy short, well-planned lessons in the morning with time to pursue individual interests in the afternoon.
"Getting a Jump Start on College" - Cindy Prechtel (Homeschooling from the Heart) Is college in your child's future? This workshop casts a vision of incorporating credit by examination using methods such as the CLEP Test to get a head start on college. Did you know it is possible to complete certain degrees almost entirely through testing and a few distance learning classes? Whether you already have a vision for homeschooling through college or would just like to explore the possibility of earning college credits while still in high school, this workshop is for you! Cindy will discuss the pros and cons of utilizing the credit by examination method, the options available how to work together with your child to lay out a strategy for success, and more!
"Occupying Toddlers and Preschoolers while Teaching Others" - Susan Reynolds (My Father's World) Our children are precious gifts from the Lord but sometimes they can interfere with our human plans. These little ones seem to seek attention at the wrong time. What can we do at these times to creatively involve them in the learning process? Many suggestions will be presented on how to educate and occupy little ones.
"Making Science Exciting" - Tom DeRosa (Creation Studies Institute) Tom DeRosa is the Director and Founder of Creation Studies Institute. He is an author and sought out creation speaker. Tom has been recognized as an award winning Science teacher who has taught all grade levels including college. He is certified in many areas of Science including Chemistry, Biology and General Science. He is noted for his enthusiasm and his passion for teaching. Come hear how you can make Science exciting for your student, whether teaching from home or on a field trip. Our God is an exciting Creator. This excitement becomes contagious to children, no matter the grade level.
"Take the Groan out of Writing" - Karen Franklin (Institute for Excellence in Writing) Faced with a writing assignment, many students groan, “I can’t write this; I don’t know what to write!” At the same moment, parents are silently sighing and thinking, “Me neither!” Come discover a checklist method of teaching writing that gives students a clear model of what the finished product should contain and gives you an objective method of evaluating their work. You’ll leave this workshop knowing how to teach your child not only to write, but maybe even enjoy it!
"Teaching Boys" - Joan Exely - Joan & her husband Dave homeschooled all three sons (now college graduates) through high school. As a curriculum counselor for fifteen years, Joan came to realize that many mothers of sons were frustrated more by the males they were teaching than the females, & realized the issues so often had nothing to do with curricula as much as it did about attitudes re: males and females. This was before Sommer’s War Against Boys hit the stands. Joan became the point man whenever her support group had moms of boys needing help. What does she have to offer us today? Story time and encouragement! Bring a "cuppu" and pretend you are on her back porch…
"Teaching Foreign Languages" - Dale Gamache (La Clase Divertida) While most parents are familiar with and feel confident teaching the "3-R's" to their children, very few feel that same confidence with foreign language instruction. In this workshop Dale will use his 24 years experience in teaching Spanish and his 15 years of homeschooling to answer such questions as - What is the best age to start teaching a foreign language? What language should I teach? What about Greek or Latin? How can I teach when I don't know the language? What should I look for in a language program? How can I get my children fluent in a language? Do my children need a foreign language to graduate from High School? Do my children need 2 years of a foreign language to be accepted at a Community College or University?
"Teaching a literature-based Language Arts program" - Ruth Rouchard (Total Language Plus) Language Arts encompasses many subjects, reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary critical thinking and more. Most homeschooling families select different curricula to cover all these major components. What if there were one curriculum that could effectively cover all these subjects in a way that achieves academic excellence promotes family togetherness, encourages a love for literature, and saves more time for other subjects. Well there is, it's Total Language Plus! In this workshop Ruth will explain how to use Total Language Plus to cover all these subject areas, turn your kids on to reading whole books, and stimulate all the language mechanics in a natural and effective way.