9:00 am

Room A

Getting Started Part one:
Foundations, Socialization and Child Training

by Kevin & Abbey Waterman

Getting started in your homeschooling adventure can be a challenge. Kevin and Abbey Waterman want to introduce homeschooling, discuss socialization, family dynamics and making things work at home. Kevin and Abbey have 8 children ranging in ages from 4-22. They have been homeschooling for 19 years, starting before homeschooling was accepted and legal. They have concentrated on discipleship training and character training focus that have led to young adults that are free to pursue their God given purpose. Please bring your questions!

NOTE: This workshop starts before the Book Fair opens... so those new to homeschooling can get questions answered early in the day.

10:00 am

Room A

Getting Started Part two:
Making it Work

by Kevin & Abbey Waterman

This is the practical how to session, a continuation of the previous session.

Room B

Teaching Math Without a Plan?
You’ve Got to Be Kidding!

by Tom Clark – VideoText Interactive Homeschool Math

This workshop is designed to help parent-educators understand the scope, the sequence, and the logic of mathematics instruction from pre-school through adult.  Join Tom Clark, founder of VideoText Interactive, and author of “Algebra: A Complete Course”, and “Geometry: A Complete Course”, as he takes you on a sometimes humorous journey, describing all levels of arithmetic and all mathematics courses encountered in high school and college.  In addition, considerable attention will be given to identifying the “why” of the study of mathematics with an emphasis on the development of concepts, instead of rote memorization.

11:00 am

Room A

In’s and Out’s of Michigan’s Homeschooling Law

by Kerry Morgan

Hear attorney and homeschool dad, Kerry Morgan, reviewing Michigan’s homeschooling law and legal developments. If you’re new to homeschooling and unsure of the law, this is a valuable session to attend. Time will be made for questions and answers.

Room B

Reading the Classics for Life

by Peter Stobaugh – For Such a Time as This

Home schooler Peter Stobaugh, son of Jim and Karen Stobaugh, and recent graduate of Grove City College, will discuss how using a whole book language arts curriculum in the real world has changed his life. In particular, he will address the issue of why students might want to read some of the more difficult, and, at times, controversial classics.

12:00 noon

Room A

Sibling Squabbles in the Classroom

by Kathie Morrisey – Courtship Connection

Sibling rivalry and squabbling is something we all deal with everyday.  It can be very frustrating, as well as discouraging!  It's important that we teach our children how to respond to conflict God's way.  Don't let the arguing and strife disrupt your home.  Find out what some of the most common causes are, and learn about some practical solutions to the problem. Kathie Morrissey is a veteran homeschool mom with much wisdom  in dealing with the common frustrations of homeschooling!  Her workshops are always encouraging and insightful.

Room B

He Reads Great, But...

by Tom Kroeger – Optimum Reading

Reading without meaning is just looking at words. Learn how to help your student increase their reading comprehension and efficiency. This will be a combination of explaining why at least 40% of readers struggle with reading, how Reading Plus works to develop the skills of any reader, and finally providing people with a couple reading strategies for working with text books. Tom has over 30 years experience as a certified reading teacher, serving schools in the Metro Detroit area. He holds a Masters of Arts in Reading and is active in improving literacy.

1:00 pm

Room A

What is Lap Booking?

by Nikki McNeil – In the Hands of a Child

You may have heard the term "lapbooking" but have no idea what it is or maybe you are overwhelmed at the entire concept of hands-on activities and unit studies. This workshop will help you get a better understanding of how easily lapbooks can be used in your homeschool, what exactly they are, how to make them, who benefits from using them, supplies needed, and of course we wouldn't send you off without some great tips and tricks for getting started! Learn how to bring laughter and learning back into your homeschool!  Niki and her friend Kimm Bellotto  found themselves constantly searching for the right graphics and information for their children to complete lapbooks and trying to answer the question, “What exactly is a lapbook?” With their love for lapbooks and both looking for an easier way for moms to put together the resources needed for lapbooks, Niki and KImm quietly “set-up shop” on the web becoming the first company to sell ready to use lapbooks kits.

Room B

Integrating the Seven C’s of Biblical History
into Your Curriculum

by Polly Brown – Answers in Genesis

Discover practical ways to implement the seven critical events from our Biblical history into your teaching no matter what curriculum you are currently using. It is so important to teach a true Biblical worldview. Polly is a veteran homeschool mom and volunteer with Answers in Genesis.

2:00 pm

Room A

After High School – What?

by Peter Stobaugh – For Such a Time as This

Home schooler Peter Stobaugh, son of Jim and Karen Stobaugh, and recent graduate of Grove City College, will discuss some options open to home school graduates. He will examine issues like “the mission year,” apprenticeship, online vs. on-site colleges. Peter himself took a year off before entering college to obtain a Bible College degree.

Room B

Creating, Editing and Grading

by Danielle Olander – Institute of Excellence in Writing

Grading writing assignments will always be hard. This workshop presents tips for creating writing assignments that are easy for you to evaluate, as well as guidelines for grammar, and suggestions for teaching students how to edit their own work. Since 2000, Danielle Olander has had the privilege of working with parents and students in writing and literature classes and convention workshops in Michigan and Wisconsin. Along with teaching her own children at home, she graduated from her parents' home school and knows firsthand the benefits and challenges of home education.

3:00 pm

Room A

From Dependent to Independent Learners

by Arnold Jagt – Robinson Curriculum

A passive, dependent learner learns more slowly and suffers from low retention rates. Find out the secrets you can employ to increase your child's rate of learning by up to three times and take their retention rates from a typical 14% all the way to as high as 91%. Talk with Arnold about Robinson Curriculum from a homeschool dad’s perspective and how it ha worked in his family.

Room B

Being Faithful to Your Future Spouse

by Tom Houck – Parenting for Purity

When should a person begin to be faithful to his or her future spouse — before or after they know who they are? The Bible has a lot to say on this subject! Learn how to be emotionally faithful, which is the first step to being physically faithful. Learn how to follow God’s principles from now on, how to conquer discouragement, prevent further damage, and receive God’s forgiveness.

Every year at the Spring Book Fair, Homeschooling Works hosts a variety of workshops geared toward helping you and your family learn about the many products, tools and materials to help you in your homeschooling. Two of our most popular workshops, Getting Started and the In's and Out's of Michigan's Homeschooling Law are featured every year. Again this year we have an incredible opportunity to learn from the knowledge and experience of our many speakers. Come, learn, ask questions, share ideas, get new ones. We look forward to learning together...

PLEASE NOTE: This listing of Workshops is for the 2010 Book Fair. Check back next year for an updated list.