9:00–10:00 Am Workshops

teaching math as a language - what gets lost in translation?

Tom Clark Did you know that Mathematics has parts of speech and sentence structure, just as does any spoken language? Did you know that understanding the “grammar” of Mathematics greatly helps student understanding of problem-solving and applications? In this workshop, Tom Clark, founder of VideoText Interactive, and author of “Algebra: A Complete Course”, and “Geometry: A Complete Course”, clearly and humorously demonstrates this quality of mathematical language. At last, you will truly understand the roles of all types of mathematical symbols, and you will see how easy it is to translate between Mathematics and English, enabling you to improve your understanding, and teaching, of “story problems”, at all levels.

Create a 4-Year High School Plan

Felicia Johnson Having a high school student can be overwhelming, but it can also be very rewarding. Planning from the beginning will set your student up for success and alleviate unnecessary stress. In this workshop I will walk you through knowing your state's graduation requirements, discovering your child's dreams, and putting it together to create a 4-year high school plan, whether that is college, workforce, tech school or beyond.

Classical Conversations Sponsored WOrkshop

Rachel Thomas & Area Directors Learn all about Classical Conversations, the local Classical Conversations communities, and meet local CC Directors! Are you interested in classical education? Discovering what the classical model of education is can enrich any homeschool. Come learn about the resources and the structure that classical education can add to your homeschool experience.

human development and the learning child

Andrew Parrish M.S. , LFMT Homeschooling, especially with multiple children, can be very challenging. Utilizing ideas within human development can help us all, as parents, maximize potential for children of all ages. By giving a quick overview of all age brackets and their development, you will find that this workshop will leave you feeling better equipped to tackle your homeschool challenges head on. Age brackets covered are: 3-5, 6-11, 12-18.

10:15–11:15 PM General Session—headline Speaker Zara Fagen, PhD

What is Minimalist Homeschooling, Anyway? How to gain more in your homeschool by doing less

Zara Fagen, PhD Have you ever felt exhausted and overwhelmed in your homeschool? Are you busy all day, but not quite sure what you accomplished? Do you often wonder whether you’re doing enough, or doing it right? Or, do you crave less chaos and stress; and more time to breathe and enjoy your Children? Welcome to minimalist homeschooling. In this presentation, Zara Fagen, PhD – best-selling author of Minimalist Homeschooling, and creator of Simple is the New Smart - helps homeschoolers rethink how they spend their time and energy in order to gain more educational value in their homeschool by doing less. Homeschooling does not have to be a crazy-busy life of too much to do, too much to plan, and too much to buy. Learn how to declutter an education, while adding value, clarity, and confidence. Less stress, less doubt, and less stuff will leave you loving your homeschool more than ever.

Lunch and Exhibit Hall are from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm.

1:00–2:00 PM Workshops

Dyslexia the Gift

Griselda Oaxaca Children with dyslexia have trouble reading and spelling. But their reading and spelling challenges aren’t all the same. Some may not be able to match sounds with letters. Others find it hard to recognize sight words. Most have difficulty in more than one area. One thing for sure is that dyslexic clients can have an extraordinarily high intelligence. To better understand the challenges they have, experts have broken dyslexia down into “types” and “levels of severity.” They presume that each type is linked to different areas of the brain. And they think it’s genetic as well. This doesn’t mean a person only has one “kind” of dyslexia or another. Different types of dyslexia are more like pieces in a puzzle. Together, they form a unique profile of what someone’s reading and spelling challenges are. This can help psychologists and/or reading specialists create a personalized treatment plan that targets the student’s needs. We’ll also talk about the characteristics of and early signs of dyslexia. We’ll address the consequences of dyslexia and we’ll end with the programming for success that Dyslexia Institutes of America has developed to produce results for lifelong success.

The Healthy Mom's (& Dad's) Grocery Guide

Dr. William Morrissey Dr. Will invites you on a tour of the grocery store! What does he buy? What does he avoid? In this interactive talk Dr. Will points out common pitfalls to healthy eating. He will translate jargon and expose doublespeak often seen on food labels. Dr. Will also gives his top "must have" items in a healthy fridge and pantry. Time will be allotted for questions from the audience.

Homeschooling and the Law - What Every Texas Homeschooler Needs to Know

Tim Lambert, President Texas Homeschool Coalition (THSC) explains the laws concerning homeschooling in Texas. THSC will relate ways that home school families can avoid problems with school authorities and feel prepared if a truant officer or a social worker knocked on your door. We will share some legislative victories and challenges for homeschool families. This informative event will give you the tools to keep your family free to homeschool in Texas!

Homeschooling with Littles

Janel Barr Are you homeschooling while also managing a home with little ones in tow? Do your days seem chaotic and over run by messes or just trying to keep the littles busy and from destroying everything? Don't be discouraged homeschool parents, you aren't alone and these aren't wasted years. Come hear ideas of ways to help bring your little ones in on the learning without going crazy. Read aloud and the experience of play are vital lost tools that kids need more of these days, and preschool age friendly activities can simplify your daily homeschool routine.

2:15–3:15 PM Workshops

Baby Steps to Begin Minimalist Homeschooling

Zara Fagen, PhD—Headline Speaker— Minimalist homeschooling is about how you approach your homeschool – not an educational philosophy or prescribed curriculum. In this workshop, Zara Fagen, PhD – author of the best- selling book Minimalist Homeschooling, and creator of Simple is the New Smart - gives dozens of ideas to begin decluttering your homeschool right away, without a major overhaul. Get plenty of practical tips for creating more space, more clarity, and more value in your homeschool by making small changes.

Homeschool 101: Goals + Curriculum

Lindsay Kronmiller + Julia Novoa Choosing curriculum and starting your homeschool journey can be overwhelming. There are a million philosophies and curriculums to choose from. How do you pick a direction? How do you narrow it down? This workshop will be a hands on workshop of working through deciding what your goals are, seeing examples of what other homeschool families do, and a starting place to help you choose curriculum/philosophies to get your home education journey off the ground. From both a non teacher turned homeschooler and a teacher turned homeschooler.

Teaching Your Kids Financial Success in the Real World.

Seth Hunter Come and learn some exciting strategies and techniques that will help you prepare your children for the real world. Even young children can start to understand the value of hard work, earning money, and saving for the future. This is a fun workshop with stories and examples that will give you many ideas for your own family. Educators of all ages will benefit from this workshop.

Sponsored workshop presented by love therapy:Creating a Sensory Diet for your child an Ot Perspective

Ashley Love Do you  like spicy foods, or love to shop on black Friday? Do you prefer to have the lights dim and the curtains closed at home? Sensory processing and modulation is a complex brain function that all people must address daily. In order for it to work well, it needs to be nurtured. Providing the right kind of sensory input can stop melt downs before they start and can help children function at their best. When our sensory systems are in balance learning, is optimized and skills are developed. Come learn how to set your child up for success with the correct implementation of a sensory diet.

3:30–4:30 PM Keynote

Homeschooling with confidence

Greta Eskridge

In this talk Greta shares parts of her own educational experience as a homeschooled student in the early days of homeschooling. She shares how her parents allowed her to forge her own educational path and the beautiful successes it led to, ultimately shaping the educational journey Greta took with her own children. Greta offers encouragement for parents to follow or create the path that is best for their children from the early years through college, and to homeschool from a place of confidence rather than fear.