A Mom's Sentimental Journey

A Mom’s Sentimental Journey – Fifteen years and 17 kids later, what a veteran homeschool mom would repeat and what she would do differently on this homeschooling journey!

Building a Framework (High School 101, Part One)

Building a Framework: Strategies for High School Success (Part One) You have laid the foundation; now it’s time to envision the house! We will discuss goal setting, graduation requirements, an overview of high school planning, and course descriptions. Q& A.

Choosing Curriculum

Choosing Curriculum: Charting Your Family’s Course – Mom of 17 homeschooled students and curriculum counselor for a statewide homeschool organization, Vicki shares the secrets to mapping out a successful course of study for your children. This workshop helps beginners to get a solid start in home education, and encourages veterans to re-examine goals and priorities. Includes a basic overview of different teaching approaches.

Families Encouraging Families (for support group leaders)

Families Encouraging Families -In this interactive session, Vicki discusses four basic needs of homeschool families and shares practical way for leaders to encourage those families without discouraging their own! (For support group leaders. This can be an abbreviated 20-minute version for lunch or brunch, a regular 50-to-60--minute workshop, or a 1-hour condensed workshop including basic mentoring group information.)

Fishing 101: Mentoring Groups in Action (for support group leaders)

Fishing 101: Mentoring Groups in Action - Learn how to meet the needs of your newer families without losing the veterans. What is a mentoring group? Hear how some groups have mobilized their veteran homeschoolers to help pass the baton to the new families. Vicki discusses various types of mentoring programs available, practical ideas for success, and the benefits to your support group. Sample materials will be available.

Frugal Homemaking

Frugal Homemaking [NOTE: homemaking workshop revised for 2008+] Vicki shares tips on how to maintain a homeschool household on limited funds.

Getting Kids to Help at Home

Getting Kids to Help at Home – Training in Diligence and Thoroughness - You know you need to let the children be more involved in helping at home, for training them in character and in practical skills, AND for your sanity! But where do you begin? This foster mom to almost 50 children will share tips and practical helps that have enabled her to homeschool 17 children and still be able to open the front door to guests.

Getting Started

Getting Started – Are you overwhelmed by the options? Not sure where to begin? Good planning is the key to any successful road trip, so Vicki will walk you through a planning checklist to help you prepare for this homeschool journey! Topics include research, goal setting, supplies, schedules, and more, plus Six Tips for Success.

Graduation and Beyond (High School 101, Part Three)

“Finishing” Touches: Graduation & Beyond (Part Three) Ah—graduation! Preparing for college admission and/or apprenticeship, military service, or other options. Reading lists, resumés, essays, and portfolios. Vicki will translate the acronym maze of AP courses, CLEP tests, SAT/ACT exams, the PSAT/NMSQT, and more. Q&A.

High School 101: Blueprint for Success

This is a seminar in three parts (see individual descriptions, below). Can be given as one dedicated block, or can be divided into three separate, one-hour workshops.

Homeschooling on a Shoestring Budget

Homeschooling on a Shoestring Budget – Homeschooling doesn't have to cost hundreds of dollars per child. Vicki homeschooled seven at a time while their family was without a full-time income for four years, sometimes spending less than $100 per year.

Jump Start to Joyful Motherhood

"Jump-Start" to Joyful Motherhood (Psalm 113:9) What comes to mind when you hear, "Joyful mother of children"? If you aren't sure this describes your perspective on motherhood right now, come learn four steps to guide you to the joyful path! We will also discuss practical strategies to help us stay "tuned up."

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned – Interactive session: Participants will walk through What I Will Do Again Next Year, and What I Will Definitely Change! Works best with Vicki facilitating discussion among participants divided into small groups. (Interactive session, good for end of year)

Multi-Level Teaching

Multi-level Teaching - When you had one child, it seemed easy, but adding more children sometimes makes homeschooling feel like a zany plate-spinning act. Vicki shares ideas for keeping the homeschooling “plates” from crashing to the floor! Practical tips for teaching multiple ages—from a mom of 17 homeschooled students (seven school-age at a time).

Organized (Well, Almost!)--Time Management for Busy Moms

Organized (Well, Almost!) – Time Management for Busy Moms - As a busy mom, do you sometimes struggle with lesson planning, keeping the house somewhat presentable, teaching, keeping up with the laundry, AND getting dinner on the table the same day you homeschool? Come hear practical tips and encouragement from a fellow homeschool mom of many. Your husband and children will thank you, and you will have hope for another day of science and language arts!

Organizing Your Home – Creating a Lifestyle Learning Environment

Organizing Your Home – Creating a Lifestyle Learning Environment – Vicki will help you decide what is important to your family, where you need to begin, and will discuss organizational challenges unique to homeschoolers. Vicki Bentley, fellow busy homeschool mom, shares practical ideas that have helped her manage her household of ten.

Recordkeeping and Credits (High School 101, Part Two)

High School Construction Tools: Recordkeeping & Credits (Part Two) In this workshop, Vicki will walk you through scheduling and lesson planning, recordkeeping & credits, grades/GPAs, and transcripts. We’ll also discuss how to document and give credit for less conventional studies, and how to incorporate life skills and independent studies into your program. Q&A.

Various homeschool publications

Articles in various homeschool publications such as Practical Homeschooling, Homeschooling Today, The Court Report; state/provincial magazines for Arizona, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ontario, etc.

2009

Getting Dinner on the Table. . . The SAME Day You Homeschool

Does dinnertime sometimes feel like a battle between the Three R's and the Four Food Groups? You CAN feed your family quick, nutritious, and tasty meals and STILL have hope for another day of science and language arts! Time-saving tips, recipes, full-color photos, and more. 27 page e-book (also available in print format)

Family Resources 2008

The Everyday Family Chore System

Practical ideas for getting your family to help at home - from a busy mom of eight and foster mom of over fifty! Includes the tried-and-true How-to-Do-It cards now used successfully in many homes, ideas for using the cards as a stand-alone system or in conjunction with another system you may already be using, plus tips on how to organize your household to maximize success. 88 pages, lay-flat coil binding. Also available in e-book format so you can print the cards straight from your computer!

Family Resources 2006

Everyday Cooking

Expanded, revised edition! Collection of tried-and-true recipes and hints for simple, everyday cooking with an emphasis on whole foods - from a busy homeschooling mother of eight. Includes photos, sample menus, shopping and equipment tips, and more! 100 full-size pages; glossy color cover; coil-bound for convenient use. E-book format includes color photos! Revised 2009

Family Resources 2006

High School 101: Blueprint for Success

PREVIEW EDITION. Veteran homeschool mom of 17 high schoolers shares practical basics about a high school "overview," goals, course planning & descriptions, transcripts & recordkeeping, grades, credits, graduation, post-secondary options, and more. 60 pages; glossy cover; 8.5"x11"; also available as e-book/download. This preview edition is intended to provide comprehensive notes to seminar attendees. The full book is scheduled for publication soon, with revised formatting and expanded material. Check back for updates!

Family Resources 2006

Home Education 101: A Mentor's Manual

Home Education 101 - a tool to encourage and equip new homeschoolers! Mentor's manual covers basic topics of interest to first- or second-year homeschooling parents, including how to begin, choosing curriculum, recordkeeping, lesson planning, testing & evaluations, learning styles, home management for homeschoolers, and more. Nine lessons. Glossy cover; coil-bound manual; 224+ pages. Updated May 2008 to reflect new Virginia law, but may be used in any state. Appendix can be custom printed with state-specific information; contact the author for details. Designed to be used family to family or in a small group setting. Great support group resource! Companion workbook is also available. For more information, see www.HomeEducation101.com. NOTE: This manual contains the entire contents of the parent workbook, plus the additional mentor/resource material; may be used as a stand-alone book. NEW: E-book format may be used by mentors teaching from a laptop computer! Revised 2008

Family Resources 2003

Home Education 101: Parent Workbook

Parent workbook for Home Education 101 mentoring program for newer homeschoolers. Covers basic topics of interest to first- or second-year homeschooling parents, including how to begin, choosing curriculum, recordkeeping, lesson planning, testing & evaluations, learning styles, home management for homeschoolers, and more. Nine lessons. Designed to be used in conjunction with leader's guide (Home Education 101: A Mentor's Manual) in a small group setting or family to family. Glossy color cover; coil binding, 174+ pages. For more information, go to www.HomeEducation101.com. Updated May 2008 to reflect changes in Virginia law, but may be used in any state. Group discount for quantities over 10 books; contact us at www.HomeEducation101.com. Revised 2008

Family Resources 2003

My Homeschool Planner

Homeschool planner designed by a mom who has homeschooled 17 kids! Includes virtually all records that could be requested by state authorities. Sections for weekly lessons plans, reading lists, projects & achievements, unit study planning sheets, field trips, curriculum planning, goal setting, certificate of progress, and more. Appropriate Scripture verses on the bottom of many pages. Includes helpful hints for use. Our most-requested resource since the mid-90's! 122 pages, spiral bound, full color glossy cover. Revised 2007

Family Resources 1994