Opening Keynote: Let's Get Ready to Rumble (Nicole Freeman)
What is that rumbling? Do you hear it? Where is it coming from? What is coming? Curiosity and intrigue have been awakened! The type of rumblings we will create during our conference are ones that ignite our curiosity, fuel our continuous, persistent habits, and spark the wonder of those around us.
Nicole Freeman
Comparison Is a Thief of Joy (Rachel Spigarelli)
How do I fit, relative to others? Am I doing enough? Our tendency to make comparisons seems nearly automatic. Comparison clouds our focus. Comparison contributes to chronic dissatisfaction and prevents contentment. Homeschooling requires self-acceptance and is built on the foundation of self-love. Self-compassion is an essential homeschooling practice that allows you to overcome the inclination to compare.
Rachel Spigarelli
Who Shall Ascend to the Hill of the Lord... (Tim Hester)
We will review times in scriptural history when Jehovah spoke with prophets in the tops of mountains. We will try to understand why Jesus needed to ascend into a high mountain to commune with God, even though there was a Temple on Earth. Incident to these, we will compare Moses in the mountain (receiving the Law at Sinai) with Jesus in the mountain (giving the higher law, at the "Sermon on the Mount").
Tim Hester
Vendor Workshop
What Matters Most (Adelin Bates)
Every family and every person is different and therefore, the question of “What matters most?”, has many different answers. In this class, we will go over the principles and processes we can use to help determine your answers of what matters most in your life.
Adelin Bates
Dads, We Need You and Moms, You Can Help (Nephi Zufelt)
The world has a Dad problem. Study after study demonstrate the dire effects of fatherlessness on society. Crime rate, sexual immorality, success in school, drug use, lifetime earnings, and every other measure of success are drastically different between families that have a father in the home and those that do not. Dads, we need you in the lives of your children. We need you home more often. We need you engaged with your family. We need you to be spending quality time with them, and we need you to take the leadership role in homeschooling. In this class we will talk about the importance of your role as a father and how you can arrange your life to better fulfill your dream job, being the World’s Best Dad.
Nephi Zufelt
Vendor Workshop
Lunch and Activities
Focusing on What Matters Most Through Bullet Journaling (Cassandra Smith)
Bullet Journals are flexible planning and reflection tools that have helped many people to live more mindfully, intentionally, productively, and to focus on what matters most every day. This class will demonstrate the basic techniques and many uses of a bullet journal that you can start implementing now. This class is appropriate for both youth and adults.
Cassandra Smith
How to Prepare for the Second Coming (Amy Crockett)
How do you prepare for an event for which you do not know when it will occur? Just do your best each moment and try to progress each day.
Amy Crockett
TBA
Kathy Mellor
Painting With Watercolor (Jessica Croker)
Come join Jessica Croker for some fun play with watercolors. We'll learn some techniques and then put them together in a small landscape painting. You'll need to bring a set of watercolors and a size 8 or 10 round watercolor brush. Paper and water will be provided.
Budget Set: Prang® Watercolor Oval Set With Brush, Assorted, Set Of 8 Colors (found on Amazon)
Good Quality Set: Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box, Half Pans, 13 count:12 colors and a brush (found on Amazon)
Jessica Croker
Escape Room (Bill Snyder)
“TEN, NINE, EIGHT SEVEN…………..” “Quick Johnny, find the key, find the KEY!!! We’re going to die in here!” Coming soon to an LDSHE near you, the Escape Room you have been waiting for! Do you want intrigue? We’ve got you! Do you want excitement? Look no further! Do you want the “KEY” to a fabulous day? Come and join us for an Escape Room adventure you will never forget! Bring you mom, bring your brother, bring your DOG (well, maybe not your dog)! And see if you’ve got what it takes to escape the room!
Bill Snyder
Family Party Time! (Katherine Allen)
Come take a break from learning and lectures and let loose in this interactive class that goes beyond Minute-To-Win-It games. Youth and parents will learn how to re-create recreation and re-stock their repertoire for games and play so family time is fun time!
Katherine Allen
Being Creative Inside the Box (Bente Rodriguez)
As homeschoolers, we are known for thinking outside the box, drumming to the beat of our own drum and doing our own thing. While this is awesome, we can sometimes find ourselves frustrated and tied down by the homeschool laws and regulations of our state. Come learn some ways to support and follow these laws while still being creative and individualizing our children's education.
Bente Rodriguez
How to Lead a Book Discussion (Kathy Mellor)
Reading great books with your kids is essential for homeschooling! But, is reading them enough? Come learn how to leverage the power of the books you are reading by leading formal or informal book discussions. I'll share ways to formulate great questions that will teach your kids to think deeply and make connections with other works and with their own lives. All who attend will get a guide written for a classic fairy tale that you can use to get started right away having meaningful conversations with your whole family.
Kathy Mellor
Vendor Workshop
Creating a Family Plan for Courtship/Dating That Is Safe, Fun & Purposeful! (Monica Irvine)
Parents, first...relax! Let’s remember that with God, all things are possible and let’s also remember, FEAR does not come from God. With that said, it’s time to get excited and look forward to the years that your children will begin the process of choosing their spouse. Imagine your children being committed to keeping themselves pure and chaste so that they can enter marriage without regrets and with great anticipation for intimacy designed between a husband and his wife. Imagine you and your children being able to openly discuss specific plans, real temptations, hopes and dreams with honesty and without inhibition.
Parents, you can have this with your children, but creating a very specific family plan is essential. When do you start teaching your children the plan? As soon as they can talk and throughout their life.
Listen to Master Motivator, Monica Irvine, as she walks you through principles and specific plans to create purpose and success. It is essential that you and your teens are completely united on the long term goal of remaining virtuous. Don’t miss this!
Monica Irvine
How to Teach a Foreign Language (Rachel Spigarelli)
Do you long for your children to have exposure to other languages, but do you hesitate because you aren’t yet fluent in those languages yourself? This held me back for many years. I felt inadequate to the task. Yet, in a period of four years, we built our fluency as a family from ground zero, and I’m here to share my secrets with you! This class will be full of practical tips to help you be effective, efficient and economical in your approach.
Rachel Spigarelli
Mentor Mom Discussion - Bullet Journals
Did you attend the bullet journal class at 2pm? Do you want to learn more? Come visit with other moms and learn even more about bullet journaling.
Dinner
Family Dance
Lead Me: Begin With the End in Mind-Home Educating the Elementary Years (Jen Altman)
What matters most to you? What vision do you have for your homeschool journey? Together we will discuss what it means to "begin with the end in mind." We will discuss the process of making a mission statement and how it can help you focus on your goals, including what matters most for your family, and how it helps bring those concepts to a reality.
Jen Altman
Raising Authentic Kids in a Fake World
Social media, virtual reality, artificial intelligence--all are changing the way we live and breathe. You can't avoid them, but how can you work to give your kids the foundations to know who they are and why they are here. We have to work to create a solid family culture, integrate the gospel throughout our lives, and desperately try to navigate the place for all the fake that comes with the virtual world in a well-balanced life. You are the first generation of parents to navigate this. Join me as we look at principles and pitfalls to doing it effectively.
Kathy Mellor
Killing Two Birds With One Stone: Being Efficient in Life (Mayde Robertson)
How do you do it all? How do you prioritize? Hints and suggestions from a veteran homeschooler on how to effectively use your time, prioritize what is important, and at least attempt to “do it all”.
Mayde Robertson
Guide Me:The Roller Coaster Middle School Years (Rosanne Patterson)
The middle school years are so important as children begin to transition physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually from their childhood and into their teen and young adult years. Come to this class for some perspective and pointers on how to navigate these years with your child, including how to help them discover their interests, have new learning experiences and opportunities, continue to develop their talents, and develop healthy social skills.
Rosanne Patterson
How to Mark a Book (Amy Palmer)
We are homeschoolers, and therefore, by definition, love to read, right? But what do we do with the things that we read to transform the amazing books we read into life changing books for us and for our children? How do we organize our thoughts from great books into inspiring book discussions? How do we remember the things we loved in a book for a few years so we can share them with the next child who reads that book? Come learn some tricks and tools for getting more out of the books you're reading so your kids can too.
Amy Palmer
The Unique Child: A Special Needs Discussion Group (Jen Altman, Cara Rector, Alyson Redford)
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to meet with other homeschooling parents who are facing the unique opportunity and challenge of educating a child or children with special needs. This open-discussion class will give all who attend a chance to share and learn with each other.
Alyson Redford
Cara Rector
Jen Altman
Walk Beside Me: Homeschooling Our High Schoolers (Bente Rodriguez)
How do I prepare my high schooler for life? Homeschooling high schoolers looks a lot different than when they were elementary or middle school age. We have the blessing to see our youth become men and women and the responsibility to help them develop the skills and character traits they need to fulfill the great missions God has given them. While we can't teach them every little thing they'll need, we can give them opportunities to develop skills and character traits that will enable them to succeed and overcome any challenge that comes their way. Come learn how to Walk Beside Them as they discover their own path.
Bente Rodriguez
Living Life Mindfully (Maggie Woodland)
Learn about skills to help manage stress and increase your ability to respond to life instead of just react. Basic mental health overview as well as discussion about how to support others in their struggles.
Maggie Woodland
Vendor Workshop
Lunch and Activities
Panel: Tips and Tricks For Beginners
No one likes to be at the starting line of a race that feels like it has no end. But this race is a race you can win! Come discover some tips and tricks we have found that will take your from the starting line and move you into the winners circle!
A Lifelong Pursuit in Learning (Chloe and Nate Foulk)
How to build, or continue, a love of learning among the pulls and necessities of adult life.
Nate Foulk
Chloe Foulk
Vendor Workshop
Explore Your City (Nicole Freeman)
You need not go far to find adventure. Your next quest is awaiting you right outside your door...literally. With a unique twist on how you view your neighborhood, hometown, or city of your choice, exploring what is right under your nose becomes an adventure! It was thrilling when on a recent trip, a shop owner asked, "So, what brings you to Ohio?" I enthusiastically replied, "Oh, we are on vacation!" The shop owner looked puzzled and questioned, "In Ohio?" With complete contentment I said, "Yes! isn't it great!" Together we will uncover how you can discover greatness where you are.
Nicole Freeman
I've Homeschooled My Children and Now What?
The transition from being a full-time wife and mother, especially if it includes homeschooling, has been known for many years to be difficult for women. Fortunately, just as children usually come into our families one by one over a period of time, they usually grow up and leave the nest in the same way. Come to this class for some thoughts and ideas on how to utilize those years of transition to prepare for the opportunities of empty nesting!
Rosanne Patterson
Vendor Workshop
Hands On Science For Early Learners (Jen Altman)
Learn how to embrace the awe and wonder of science in early childhood by incorporating a hands-on, organic method which will naturally encourage curiosity and exploration in your children.
Jen Altman
Panel: Early Reading Class
Does teaching your kid to read seem like a mountain to climb? It's not as scary as you think. Come and learn about the different techniques that worked for us.
Mentor Mom Discussion - Book Discussion
Join us as we discuss the book Just David by Eleanor H. Porter.
Dinner
Talent Show and Carnival
Teaching Math To Your Young Ones (Adelin Bates)
In this class, we will explore different ways to familiarize and introduce math to your young children. We will also talk about ways to incorporate math in your everyday life, so they can see how relatable math is and how fun it can be.
Adelin Bates
Entrepreneurialism: How To Build Assets (Nephi Zufelt)
Never has it been so easy to create your own business and find success. Manufacturing, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and social media have made entrepreneurship accessible to everyone. Come and learn how you can get started right now.
Nephi Zufelt
Vendor Workshop
The Beauty of Boundaries and Consequences (Amber Majeske)
Amber Majeske
Living After The Manner of Happiness (Tim Hester)
The Book of Mormon can provide key insights into helping us to experience happiness in life. We will discuss teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, modern prophets and apostles, and current research into what can lead to happiness. We will focus on the experiences of Nephi and his people when they "lived after the manner of happiness" in the land of Nephi, Alma the Elder and the people from Mormon who had "great...rejoicings", Captain Moroni and his people when “…there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni", and the people who lived after Jesus visited the Nephites when “…there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God". We will pull out themes from these experiences and compare them with key research about happiness.
Tim Hester
Vendor Workshop
Focusing on What Matters Most Through Bullet Journaling (Cassandra Smith)
Bullet Journals are flexible planning and reflection tools that have helped many people to live more mindfully, intentionally, productively, and to focus on what matters most every day. This class will demonstrate the basic techniques and many uses of a bullet journal that you can start implementing now. This class is appropriate for both youth and adults.
Cassandra Smith
How to Prepare for the Second Coming (Amy Crockett)
How do you prepare for an event for which you do not know when it will occur? Just do your best each moment and try to progress each day.
Amy Crockett
TBA
Kathy Mellor
Painting With Watercolor (Jessica Croker)
Come join Jessica Croker for some fun play with watercolors. We'll learn some techniques and then put them together in a small landscape painting. You'll need to bring a set of watercolors and a size 8 or 10 round watercolor brush. Paper and water will be provided.
Budget Set: Prang® Watercolor Oval Set With Brush, Assorted, Set Of 8 Colors (found on Amazon)
Good Quality Set: Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box, Half Pans, 13 count:12 colors and a brush (found on Amazon)
Jessica Croker
TBA
Escape Room (Bill Snyder)
“TEN, NINE, EIGHT SEVEN…………..” “Quick Johnny, find the key, find the KEY!!! We’re going to die in here!” Coming soon to an LDSHE near you, the Escape Room you have been waiting for! Do you want intrigue? We’ve got you! Do you want excitement? Look no further! Do you want the “KEY” to a fabulous day? Come and join us for an Escape Room adventure you will never forget! Bring you mom, bring your brother, bring your DOG (well, maybe not your dog)! And see if you’ve got what it takes to escape the room!
Bill Snyder
Family Party Time! (Katherine Allen)
Come take a break from learning and lectures and let loose in this interactive class that goes beyond Minute-To-Win-It games. Youth and parents will learn how to re-create recreation and re-stock their repertoire for games and play so family time is fun time!
Katherine Allen
Lunch and Activities
Implementing an Innovator's Mindset in Our Homeschool Classrooms (Trent Merrell)
We will discuss your role as an innovator in your homeschool classroom. (YES, you are an innovator!) We will also discuss some of the strategies and techniques used by top inventors and innovators, that can be applied to the issues you encounter each day in your classrooms. I hope to make this a light-hearted and uplifting celebration for the progress we all have made this past year and offer a few ideas for how we can make next year even better.
Trent Merrell
Team Work Makes it All Work (Patrick and Louisa Wells)
Teacher, janitor, doctor, and chef are just a few of the roles homeschooling parents must juggle. Since there are only two parents to fill all the leadership roles, Dads and Moms must work together, and it is our teamwork that really forms the foundation of a successful homeschool. In this class we will share some helpful hints we have learned in our fifteen plus years of homeschooling.
Patrick and Louisa Wells
Vendor Workshop
How to Mentor Your Children (Kathy Mellor)
Anyone can teach, but becoming a mentor happens with intention. and pays dividends in the teen and young adult years. Mentoring entails individualizing learning, building a solid and open relationship, and considering your child's whole life in the educational process. I've experienced kids with learning disabilities, ADHD, lack of motivation, mental health challenges, and sibling rivalry, so I know this isn't necessarily easy. In this session, we will talk about tools that will help you understand your children, the power of choosing the most effective learning environment, and ways to grow your ability to be a mentor.
Kathy Mellor
Satan's Counterfeits (Amber Majeske)
When life gets difficult, we each turn to our own coping mechanisms to deal with stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, and so on. However, not all strategies are healthy and helpful in the long-term. If not balanced, escape can lead to dependency or addiction. In this class, we will introduce signs of addiction and learn how to tell when we're relaxing and when we're escaping.
Amber Majeske
Mentor Mom Chat
Closing Keynote - The Long Run (Annette and Jonathon Whitlock)
On the night of June 13, 1999, everything changed for eighteen-year-old Jonathan Whitlock and his family. That's when wrapping his car around a telephone pole nearly took his life, and "the long run" of recovery began. And yet, that long run also opened up opportunities to witness miracles, strengthen faith, and share light and truth with an ever widening circle of influence.
Annette and Jonathan Whitlock
