Caring for Our Own: Schooling from the Heart

Homeschooling is about learning—and sometimes there are lessons that don’t fit into the three R’s. What happens to school when you take in an elderly relative, experience illness, or go through an unexpected life change? I call this "crisis schooling,: and in this practical, reassuring workshop, you’ll find out that learning continues, no matter what happens. If you keep your heart fixed on priorities, know when and where to find help, and how to create a loving learning environment, your family can survive and thrive, even in the tough times.

Charlotte Mason, Meet Thomas Jefferson: How to Implement the Eclectic Curriculum

If your curriculum choices don't fit neatly into a standard program, perhaps you're an eclectic homeschooler. A bit of classical, a sprinkle of Thomas Jefferson, a textbook or two--all mixed with a generous dollop of Charlotte Mason principles--can you be sure the basics are covered? This helpful workshop focuses on ways to create big picture learning, get ready for college, and keep great records no matter what your daily school life looks like.

Choosing Curriculum that Fits: It Can Be Done!

Whether you're just beginning to homeschool or are getting ready for another new school year, choosing curriculum can seem a bit like navigating New York City without a map. How do you make sense of all the choices, and find the best options for your family? Join us to learn four questions you need to answer before buying anything; the basic curriculum methods; two sets of foundational skills your student must learn; and ten things to remember in order to choose wisely.

College Level Exams: The Nitty-Gritty on How to Prepare

So you’ve signed up for an AP, CLEP, or DSST test—now what? This workshop will introduce you to some of the most useful resources available for studying for college-level exams. You’ll learn how to study efficiently using college textbooks, a timeline, and index cards and a variety of non-traditional resources. A handout will include a list of books and websites to help you get started.

Decoding the Classics: How to Read, Enjoy, and Teach Great Literature

Have you always wanted to read the classics, but didn’t know where to begin? The “Great Books” are wonderful reading, and well worth the effort it takes to understand them. In this inspiring workshop, you’ll learn the basics of how to approach challenging reading assignments; how to use context materials to bring unfamiliar settings to life; how to discern an author's worldview, and how to help your high school students develop the kind of analytical reading skills they will need in college. A handout will provide a suggested reading list for high school students.

Evaluate Student Writing: You Don’t Have to Be An English Major!

Do you know what you need to know to evaluate your student’s writing skills? Can you recognize quality writing when you see it? Most professional teachers use a set of objective standards, known as a rubric, to fairly evaluate student’s written work and to pinpoint areas that need improvement. You can use this valuable tool also! Come to this workshop and learn how to recognize well-written work, and how to use a rubric to evaluate writing skills, including content, organization, style, word choice, sentence fluency, and mechanics.

Get a Jump Start on College: Make Those Teen Years Count!

There’s a reason that young people used to enter university at the age of 14-16—many of them are completely ready at that age to tackle the challenging study required for college-level learning. This workshop will explore the financial, intellectual, and social advantages of earning college credit while in high school; the top three ways to earn credit; why getting a jump start on college is an automatic credibility clincher for your high school transcript; and ways you can help your teen study for college-level exams. This workshop has been described as "life-changing," and attendees have returned in later years to recount how they've saved thousands of dollars by using these "jump start" strategies.

Homeschooling Through High School

Can it possibly be a good idea to homeschool all the way through high school? Can homeschooled teens get into college? What about teaching advanced math and science? This encouraging seminar is designed to reassure parents (and teens) that it’s not only possible to homeschool through high school, but that it is a wonderful choice. Learn how other families have made it through the high school years, and how you can too!

How to Become an Entrepreneurial Writer

Have you always wanted to be a writer, but hesitated because you also need to earn a living? This clear, candid overview of the writing life will help you choose the basic tools and systems you need in order to create a solid freelance career or just use your writing ability to create extra streams of income. You will learn: • Multiple ways to earn money by writing • How and why to choose a niche • How to structure your career plan • Fast, cheap, and easy marketing tips • How to streamline customer service

I’ve Written a Book! Now What?

You’ve just completed your manuscript. All the basics are there, but what comes next? Should you send it to a publisher? Have it edited? Look for an agent? Show it to your writing group (you do have one, don’t you?) and ask for feedback? Get it printed? Depending on your purpose and goals, there are different paths you can take, but there are certain things you must not miss. Listen to this seminar and avoid the 7 mistakes of the inexperienced author and get an Action Checklist that will help you make your book the very best it can be.

Juggling: Time Management for Entrepreneurial Homeschoolers

Have you been eyeball to eyeball with overwhelm? Do you find yourself routinely working late into the evening, sacrificing rest and recreation just to get the basics done? Join us to learn how to create routines and systems that help you work smarter, not harder, leaving more time for the people and things that matter most.

Making Time For Things That Matter

Homeschooling isn’t just about doing school at home—it’s about making time for things that matter. Rather than just piling academic lessons onto your already overloaded life, you can create a home-centered life that nourishes the spirit and makes learning a part of everyday living. Come and learn the seven principles that will help you maintain focus and create a healthy, happy, and balanced learning lifestyle.

Micro-Business: Hands-On Entrepreneurship as A Learning Tool

Just because your student has reached his or her teens, there’s no reason to abandon hands-on learning! A micro-business is the perfect way to learn some real-world skills, explore a potential career interest, and even to earn money for college or other training. Your teen’s micro-business could even turn into a full-time career! You’ll learn from real-life examples how it’s possible to start a business on a shoestring and how to find the materials and resources you need to make it grow.

Multiple Streams of Income for Homeschool Families

Would you like to create a bit of extra income to finance homeschool extras, pay for college, fund a major learning trip, or just make ends meet? Many homeschool families have discovered the benefits of creating many small streams of income that not only supplement a single-income household, but also create learning experiences for the whole family. Learn how you can use your time, talent, and energy to make extra money from home, with examples of how other families are doing just that, both online and offline.

Not-So-Standardized Testing: A Different Kind of Year-End Assessment

What if year-end assessments measured more than academics? Testing shouldn't be just for students-- you can evaluate everything that affects your school year, including curriculum, teaching and learning styles. Learn how to use the SWOT Analysis and other tools to make each year the best it can be.

Teaching Language Arts The Easy, Natural Way

Communication skills are essential for every area of life, but it’s easy to get lost in the wilderness of language arts curricula. How do you decide what to teach when? What is the best way to teach the skills most needed for college and business? Come to this workshop for an overview of each subject included in K-12 language arts, a look at some simple teaching techniques, and a suggested sequence of learning that will efficiently equip your student for a lifetime of sound communication.

The High-School Transcript: It’s Easier Than You Think

There is really nothing scary in the transcript preparation process! Come and learn about the three basic sections in a transcript, and how to collect and record information in a professional format. Whatever kind of homeschooling you’ve done, traditional or non-, you can create a transcript that accurately records your student’s achievements. Remember, it’s easier than you think!

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Essay?

Writing essays is an essential high school and college skill. There's no need to be afraid of teaching this important topic! Come to this workshop and learn what you need to know in order to teach your teens to organize thoughts, develop and support a thesis, and construct a logical conclusion, all in a compelling and readable style. We'll review the parts of an essay, learn a five-step writing process, and discuss how to constructively evaluate your student's writing.

Excellence in Literature: Reading and Writing Through the Classics

This 5-volume literature curriculum for grades 8-12 teaching writing through literary analysis. Some of the greatest literary works of all time are read, along with context materials that help them make sense. The literature-based unit format of Excellence in Literature offers students the opportunity to grow thoroughly familiar with some of the greatest writers and literary works of all time. There are nine four-week units in each level. Study and writing for each unit is centered around a full-length focus text— a novel, play, or poem— chosen for its significance to the period of literature being studied. A reasonable number of context works, including poetry, short biographies, art, music, videos, and online resources, are selected to enhance the student’s understanding of the focus text, its author, and the literary period in which it was created. There is an emphasis on the analytical essay, which offers the opportunity to perfect the standard writing process of planning, drafting, and revising.

Everyday Education and the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) 2009

Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschoolers' Guide to High School Paperwork

The third edition of this popular classic provides guidance for the paperwork side of homeschooling through high school. You'll learn how to: Keep simple, accurate records quickly and easily. • Issue class grades fairly and honestly, even if you haven't been using grades in your homeschool. • Grant credit for traditional classes, unit studies, work experience, and other activities. • Award extra credit for honors classes, credit by exam, or dual-credit classes. • Calculate a grade point average, with or without weighted grades. • Showcase your student's achievements with a professional, credible transcript that will "wow" admissions counselors. • Issue a diploma that's nice enough to frame.

Everyday Education, LLC 2007

Get a Jump Start on College: A Practical Guide for Teens

Getting a jump start on college makes a lot of sense for many homeschooling families. This helpful guide will show you how to: * Save thousands of dollars on college tuition! * Transform school from a "must-do" chore into a "want-to-do" privilege! * Add instant credibility to your high school transcript. * Motivate bored teens to take charge of their learning. * Give your student success tools for life!

Everyday Education, LLC 2007