Venue opens for registrations and resource viewing

"Things we Wish We'd Known”

Veteran homeschoolers shaire their thoughts

“Homeschool graduates speak”

Be encouraged by hearing from those who have 'come out the other end'!

“Teaching Boys and Other Children who would Rather Make Forts all Day”*

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, students 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.

"Spelling and the Brain"*

Many children (and some adults) have difficulty learning to spell but the difficulty may not be with the student so much as the method of presentation. Find out how spelling information is most efficiently stored in the brain and why. With greater insight into the nature of spelling and neurological fuctions presented in this workshop, the parent/teacher will be well equipped to meet the needs of all their children, not just the naturally 'good' spellers.

“Nurturing Confident Communicators”*

Many people think that good readers will naturally become good writers. Others think that writing talent is just that; a natural ability which some have and others don’t. Both are myths. History and modern research show very clearly how good writers have developed. With humour and insight, Andrew will share two easy but unbelievably powerful things you can do to build language patterns and nurture competent communicators.

"Narration, Dictation and Public Speaking"*

Inspired by Charlotte Mason, this very practical session explores the effectiveness and value of narration, dictation and public speaking and will enable you to effectively use these techniques to improve how we train our minds to retain and understand information.

"Developing the Essayist "*

What is the difference between a 'report' and an 'essay'? How do we help a student move from simply reporting facts to the more sophisticated skill of using facts to support an opinion? With several different essay models and a gradual method of building the analytical writer covered in this session, come and get the plan right now; even with a Primary school level.

"The Profound Influence of Music on Life"*

Music has become such an ever-present influence in our daily life, we seldom stop to consider what effect it has on us. But we must. As we changed over the last 100 years, from being music “makers” to music “consumers,” we have gradually lost control over, and even awareness of, our auditory environment. In what way is music beneficial to our bodies and minds? In what circumstances can it actually be harmful? Solid scientific research provides some astounding answers to such questions--indeed, facts that must not be ignored by today’s parents and children.

Afternoon Tea and resource viewing

"Humour in Teaching and Speaking "*

BONUS SESSION: "Bible based Writing Lessons"

For those who wish to stay on, Andrew will be doing an extra, optional session. This session will explain in detail how to use the Bible as a source text for teaching English composition, and how to create assignments for both creative writing and for Bible-based reports and essays. With direct application for those teaching students second grade through high school, this session will provide a few specific lesson plans as well as presenting the general principles of how to design your own lessons to teach writing with structure & style.