Speakers and workshops

Speakers & Workshops 2009

Check back soon for the 2010 speakers!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Andrew Pudewa

Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing

(and homeschooling father of seven)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Conquering Corrupt Culture by Raising Christian Communicators - In a time when “conveyor-belt” education and the madness of the multiple-choice mentality dominate schooling, both public and private, what must families do differently to raise up a generation of wise and thoughtful Christians, competent in communicating Truth in a world of lies. Do we choose “school-at-home” and imitate the very system that brought us the culture we have, or is there a different way? Focusing on the pedagogical, practical, and curricular strategies that will help raise up the culture warriors of the next generation, this message will likely challenge your concepts and help you rethink your priorities in homeschooling.

Andrew Pudewa, who was recently given the "Best Homeschool Speaker 2007" award from The Old Schoolhouse magazine, is the director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a homeschooling father of seven. He speaks with clarity and insight, practical experience and humor on the subjects of writing, thinking, spelling, and music. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER: STEVE MOITOZO

Steve Moitozo has been a speaker at homeschool conferences in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, Vermont, West Virgina, and Washington. Steve has shared the speaking platform with Martin Luther King III,Gov. Joe Brennan (Maine), Congressman Jim Longley (Maine); and with homeschooling icons Dr. Raymond Moore, Chris Klicka, David & Mikki Colfax, John Taylor Gatto, John Saxon, Greg Harris, Pat Montgomery, Pat Farenga, Amanda Bennet, and numerous others. Steve has worked with over 10,000 homeschooling families.

17 Secrets for Homeschoolers - by Steve Moitozo Yes, there are secrets we’ve learned since we began homeschooling in 1984. And yes, there are more than 17. In this workshop Steve has picked 17 BIGGIES to share in a humorous fashion. This workshop is not just inspiring, but offers practical, real ways to make your homeschool days go smoother than ours did in the early years !

“CAN DO” College by Sue Puchferran past president of the Boca Home Schoolers (BHS). Sue is a co founder and vice-president of the Home Education Enrichment Day, Inc (HEED) & the Home Education Connection (HEC), and a board member of the Home Education Foundation (HEF) with Brenda Dickinson. You can be ready for college.   This talk will discuss the ways home educated students can not only be prepared for college, but be pursued by colleges.   Topics discussed will include: earning college credits in high school, academic acceleration, test prep and the SAT, transcript preparation, college applications, sports, scholarships, financial aid, and web sites galore to assist you. You will be encouraged and won’t want to miss out on this information concerning the incredible opportunities in college for our graduating Florida home schoolers.

Classical Conversations by Ann Marie Fagot - Classical Conversations, an education services company, that supports home schooling families, invites you to learn more about how Laura Ingalls Wilder and other one-room schoolhouse teachers used the classical method of learning to teach children of all different ages from the same material at the same time. We have three flagship programs: our Foundations Program for k-6th grade which focuses on the grammar stage method of learning; the Essentials Program, which is a language arts program geared towards 3rd through 6th graders who are moving into the dialectic stage; and our Challenge level programs, which are Christian, classical, college-prep programs, for junior and high school aged children utilizing dialectic and rhetorical skills.

For Fathers Only - by Steve Moitozo. Some dads are in the homeschooling arena eagerly. Some willingly. Some passively. Some scratching and clawing all the way -- seemingly against their will. Steve offers 21 years of insight as a homeschooling dad who’s “been there, done that!” Today his children are married, accomplished adults. He has some “Dad Things” to share. “Am I Doing Enough?” This silent, reflective question gnaws away at most homeschooling

“HOW TO” High School, - This presentation by Sue Puchferran on the “How To’s” for home education in high school will both encourage and inform parents and teens in their journey in home education.   Topics discussed will include academic choices and requirements,   portfolios, transcripts, diplomas, sports, social community, and more.   This talk is for every high school, middle school and elementary school parent considering home education for high school. The opportunities and options available for high schoolers are exciting and rewarding in Florida.   You won’t want to miss this information. Sue and her husband, Rick have home schooled their four children ages 15-21 for over 13 years. Two of their sons are now in college and a son and daughter are still at home in high school.

Introduction to Teaching Your Child How to Play the Piano, Recorder and Xylophone - by Nancy Poffenberger I do musical workshops teaching a hands-on program with the portable keyboard, recorder and xylophone. I discuss my method, which is used all over the country nd is now becoming even international. The books start with ABD lettering and go on to note reading in the keyboard books. We now have students who started with this method now at Julliard. It is also perfect for the Special Education child or adult. (Vendor Workshop)

Introduction to Florida Homeschool Law

Introduction to Unit Studies - by Valerie Bendt - As she reviews the basics of teaching by the unit study method, Valerie gives instruction on how to develop unit studies based on your own family's needs and desires. Valerie offers anecdotes and samples from unit studies she has done with her family. Rekindle a love for learning in your family. Encourage creativity, expression, and individuality. Put away tedious textbooks and get on with real learning and real life!
55 minutes

Learning Styles - by Cindy Prechtel (Homeschooling from the Heart) - What are learning styles? Does my child have more than one learning style? Often the struggles we encounter in our homeschool stem from our failure to recognize (and appreciate) each child’s unique temperament and preferred learning style. Gleaning from published research and her own experience, Cindy will help you discover your student’s learning style, as well as provide tips on how to find the right curriculum “fit” for each child.

Math Manipulatives for All Ages: Forrest Hobbs from Math-U-See will present a workshop on their hands on math curriculum that emphasizes "understanding" - for all levels (vendor workshop) Forrest speaks on Math Manipulatives for all ages, demonstrating the value of using manipulatives from kindergarten through Algebra 1. His enthusiasm for math, combined with a tutor's understanding of a question put to him, helps parents and children relax and realize they really can do math because, perhaps for the first time, they SEE and therefore really understand it.

Occupying Toddlers and Preschoolers While Teaching Others - 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? Susan Reynolds from My Father’s World shares many suggestions on how to educate and occupy little ones.

Reaching the Reluctant Writer - by Andrew Pudewa (see Keynote Speaker bio) - Many children really do not like to write. Why? This workshop will answer that basic question and teach a specific and successful method of separating the complex process of writing into the smallest possible steps, making it possible for even the most reluctant writer to produce short but complete compositions. He will be proud and motivated to write again. If you remove the problem of what to write, you will be free to help your child learn how to write, using source texts, key word outlines and “dress-up” checklists. Results guaranteed!

Reading Made Easy - Valerie Bendt offers key information to help demystify reading instruction. She covers simple steps that can be immediately put into practice to help you effectively teach your child to read. Valerie takes instruction one step further as she offers ideas to help your child not only learn to read - but learn to love to read. For it's when our children learn to love to read that they become lifelong learners! The ideas presented in this workshop are based on Valerie's new phonics instruction book, Reading Made Easy, but can be used to enhance any reading program. (Vendor Workshop)

Secret Code Time: How to Create an Unbreakable Bond Between Parent and Child - Is communication with your children easy, like riding the Euro rail or difficult, like trudging up Mt Kilimanjaro? Do you feel like your words of wisdom are going in one ear and out the other? Are you concerned that your child would be more comfortable confiding in a friend with a serious problem rather than their own parents? If you are brokenhearted over the relationship or lack of relationship with your child or children, then come listen to this riveting seminar by Paula Stevenson and her daughter, Sky (Stevenson) McNeill, authors of Secret Code Time. Join this dynamic mother daughter team as they recount hilarious antics and reminisce about heartfelt moments, explore the intricacies of parent child communication that forged an unbreakable bond that has lasted a lifetime. They will take you step by step in how to forge a bridge of communication with your children from an early age and how to mend and restore a broken parent/child relationship no matter what their ages.   Book signing after the talk will be at the "Media Angels" booth.

Spanish + Family + Fun= La Clase Divertida (The FUN Class!) - Come join Sr. Gamache in a lively workshop to see how your whole family can comprehensively learn Spanish together in a fun non-intimidating way through conversation, songs, games, crafts, cooking, and cultural stories. All materials are included in each kit. Come and see how FUN Spanish can be! The program is designed for families with students aged K through 8^th grade. We start out slow, fun and easy with the basics of pronunciation and conversation but with the completion of all three levels (3 to 4 years) , your children will have a high school Spanish I competency no matter what grade they are in!     Dale Gamache has 30 years experience teaching the Spanish language. He has taught elementary , middle and high school students in the Volusia County , FL school system. Señor Gamache and his family established their own private Spanish language after-school program where they teach public, private, and home school children in the Daytona Beach, Florida area. (Vendor Workshop)

Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day - by Andrew Pudewa (see Keynote Speaker bio) Children like to do what they can do; they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do. If you want excited and enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. If it matters, children will learn it, and if it doesn’t, they won’t. This session will enlighten you with specific ways to find and create relevancy for children, even when they have no apparent interest.

Teaching High School Science that Defends Biblical Faith - Creation Apologetics Part One Help your children to possess the firm foundation of knowing that God’s Word is true, even scientifically. Allow them to destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, particularly Darwinian evolution and all its implications in this International Year of Darwin. In Part One we will investigate young earth evidence, explore Noah’s ark and the common intellectual arguments surrounding it, and investigate the Geologic Column and its implications. Continue this adventure with us in Creation Apologetics Part Two and make this your Year of Opportunity during the Year of Darwin. Catie Frates is a Biblical Scientific Creation Speaker of over 15 years, high school science teacher, and veteran home educator.

Teaching High School Science that Defends Biblical Faith - Creation Apologetics Part Two Continue to explore the answers to some very hard questions our children will face. Building on the foundation laid in Creation Apologetics Part One we will complete our investigation by venturing into the Ice Age of Job and Abraham, and ponder natural history and ancient man from a Biblical perspective so your children can interpret all data through the Bible instead of compromising the Bible to fit ever-changing science. Make this your Year of Opportunity during the Year of Darwin. Catie's primary goal is to share the scientific evidence that supports the Genesis account and substantiates the inerrancy of The Word of God. She does this in an entertaining and understandable fashion, so people can have confidence that scripture can be completely trusted just the way it is written.

Teaching Science Out of the Box: Innovative Ideas to help make your year fun: You may know Felice Gerwitz as an author and publisher, but did you know that she use to consider science a drudgery…and the thought of performing experiments with her children reminded her of attempts to bake cookies with them when they were little! With that kind of outlook, science obviously took a back burner, until she found little known ways to make science part of her children’s day with very little adult intervention! She outlines this plan for you in this fun and creative approach to science. Felice has homeschooled since 1986, and is the owner of Media Angels, Inc., a publishing company with a focus on science, and her latest venture ScholarSquare.com a video website. Her articles can be found in magazines, including Homeschooling Today. Eight of her titles (including Teaching Science and Having Fun) have been selected in Cathy Duffy’s book, 100 Top Picks of Homeschool Curriculum.

Total Language Plus - Language Arts encompasses many subjects, reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, critical thinking and more. Most home schooling families select different curricula to cover all these major components. What if there was 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. Easier than you ever thought possible, using TLP can breath new life into your homeschooling year. (Vendor Workshop)

Traditional, Charlotte Mason, Classical or Confused? - by Cindy Prechtel (author of several books, including the Character Building Copywork Series) - What label do you wear? Discouraged or content – it is important for us to avoid the Comparison Trap. Join Cindy for a fast-paced and enlightening look at popular homeschool methods and the importance of following God’s plan for your family.

Time Tested Techniques of Positive Discipline and Self Esteem Building - by Rick Andreassen, founder of the Christian Homeschool Athletic Association. This workshop is designed to inspire, encourage, and equip parents as they desire to mold and shape their children to become all that God has created them to be! Included will be a helpful guide: “Tools for your Homeschooling Toolbelt”. Rick’s prayer and goal is to encourage, encourage and encourage some more!

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