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Speaker’s Bureau

Nancy Kelly

Member since 01/2010

Sixteen years ago, Nancy first read For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley and her family's homeschool journey began to blossom. Since then she has delighted in educating her six children using the Charlotte Mason method. Married to Kent for twenty-three years, she lives in southwest Minnesota with her family in a three-story Victorian. Nancy has enjoyed inspiring other educators to consider and apply Charlotte Mason's philosophy and methods. Two of her children have graduated with National Merit honors, and she is presently educating the younger four. Mentoring other moms, coordinating the Living Education Retreat and homeschooling her children keep her busy when she isn't tending her perennials or organizing her out-of-print books. She is currently contributing to the literature guidelines for the Childlight USA curriculum project. Her speaking engagements have included MACHE (Duluth, MN); A Day Away (Mt. Pleasant, MI); The Living Education Retreat (Windom, MN); Childlight Conference (Boiling Springs, NC) and homeschool support groups. Her topics include teaching Shakespeare, using living books to encourage a love of learning, teaching multiple ages and using the Charlotte Mason method with high school students.

My Mission Statement

The following quote by Charlotte Mason sums up Nancy's educational philosophy: "...we hold that all education is divine, that every good gift of knowledge and insight comes from above, that the Lord the Holy Spirit is the supreme educator of mankind, and that the culmination of all education (which may, at the same time, be reached by a little child) is that personal knowledge of and intimacy with God in which our being finds its fullest perfection." Vol. 3 p. 95.

Honorarium

Travel and lodging expenses, if necessary.

Past Engagements/Seminars

"Living Education Retreat" Windom, MN - 7/2010

"ChildLight USA Conference" Boiling Springs, NC - 6/2010

"Prairie States Christian Home Educators' Conference" Sioux Falls, SD - 5/2010

"Living Education Retreat" Windom, MN - 7/2009

"ChildLight USA Conference" Boiling Springs, NC - 6/2009

"Living Education Retreat" Windom, MN - 9/2008

"Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE)" Duluth, MN - 4/2008

"A Day Away" Mt. Pleasant, MI - 7/2007

Presentations

CHARLOTTE MASON 101

Who was Charlotte Mason? What was her educational philosophy? Can her methods be used in high school as well as elementary and mid-school? Drawing from her 13 years of experience using Charlotte Masons methods, Nancy will talk about the basics of a Charlotte Mason education and how it can transform your homeschool.

THE BANQUET WHICH IS SHAKESPEARE

Using methods espoused by Charlotte Mason, Nancy will guide you through how to teach Shakespeare to your elementary and high school students. Personal anecdotes, recommended resources, tried-and-true techniques, and some audience participation will motivate and prepare you to tackle the Bard in your homeschool!

ADHERING TO THE PRINCIPLES

In this talk, Nancy explains why consistently applying Charlotte Mason's methods produces wonderful results. Using examples from Charlotte Mason's own school as well as her personal experience with children of all ages, she will inspire listeners to try these methods in their homeschools.

BOOKS AS FRIGATES - Finding and Collecting Living Books

After establishing a definition of a living book, Nancy will recommend books about living books, helpful websites about living books, places to find and buy living books and many other helpful tips. A highlight of this talk includes what she states are the three most important sets of books in her homeschool.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB - Using the Internet to Help Implement the Charlotte Mason Method in Your Homeschool

Nancy will explain how you can use the internet as a tool in your homeschool to help implement the Charlotte Mason method. She will show you how to find support, encouragement, schedules and information to help you in your homeschool journey - especially for high school.

CITIZENSHIP - Inspiring Heroism on a Daily Basis

What exactly is Citizenship? Charlotte Mason felt it was a very important subject that children should study throughout their school days. This talk will explore the methods and materials Mason used and that still work amazingly well today. Nancy will explain what was used in each grade and share her own family's experience in this area. "In unlikely ways and from unlikely sources do children gather that little code of principles which shall guide their lives." -Mason on Citizenship

TRUTH, BEAUTY, GOODNESS - The Story of a Co-op

Have you always wanted to start a co-op with a group of home educators? Something that enhanced your homeschool yet didn't detract from it or become a burden? A healthy event that mom could look forward to as much as the children? Let Nancy share about her experiences with the Truth, Beauty, Goodness Co-op. This is a bimonthly, fine arts, Charlotte Mason-inspired co-op that she started and has helped other moms establish in their homeschool communities. She will give attendees the tools to organize a group from the planning stages to starting the meetings. Come and learn how you can revitalize your teaching, students and homeschool with picture study, composer study, Shakespeare, poetry, hymns, folk songs and nature study!

WHEREBY TEACHERS SHALL TEACH LESS AND SCHOLARS SHALL LEARN MORE - My Homeschool Journey with Charlotte Mason and Six Kids

A practical, autobiographical talk interspersed with storytelling and poetry. In this talk, Nancy explains how she got from here to there with funny things everywhere. She gives some tips on how to use Charlotte Mason methods with a large family and how to avoid burnout. Practical benefits of using this method in your homeschool journey are expounded upon.