Other Conference Speakers (continued)

Mike and Ronda Marshall are the homeschooling parents of six (ages seven to twenty-four) in Asheville, NC. They are completing their fifteenth year of homeschooling. Mike is an electrical engineer, working as an engineering consultant to the electric utility industry. Together they serve on the board of North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE), and have established and coordinated local homeschool support groups, email groups, co-ops and conferences in their area. Over the past few years they have had the privilege of speaking at various support groups and state homeschool conferences.

• Session 8, G     Teaching More than One, Ronda Marshall—How do you teach children on different learning levels? As an experienced homeschooling mother of six children, ages seven through twenty-four, Ronda shares tips and ideas on how to homeschool children of different ages and abilities. Explore how to start multi-level teaching, how to set goals, how to create a learning environment and receive many practical tips for teaching multiple levels in your home.
• Session 9, B     Still Undecided? Mike and Ronda Marshall—Have you been considering homeschooling and are still not quite sure? Let us help you make your decision. We don't sugarcoat it but tell you how it really is. Learn the benefits, the difficulties, what to expect, how to avoid common mistakes and the keys to getting started. We'll give the information you need to make an informed choice.
• Session 11, M  Mary Homeschooling in a Martha World, Ronda Marshall—Balance, that's what it is all about. Yet we live in a culture with the daily demands of a busy world, and often try  to do everything. Like Martha, we love Jesus and really want to serve Him through homeschooling our children, but we sometimes struggle with weariness, feelings of inadequacy and are overwhelmed by our responsibilities. The Lord will calm our anxious hearts and give us His extravagant love right in the midst of our circumstances, so that like Mary, we can keep first things first and choose God's best for our families.

 

Debbie Mason and her husband, Spencer, have four children, ages twenty-one to twenty-nine and have homeschooled from the birth of their oldest. Alexa graduated from UNCC and is now married and has three young children. Scott graduated from Grove City College in PA, graduated from Regent School of Law in May 2008, passed the NC Bar in July 2008 and is now a lawyer in the Army. Levi graduated from NC State in May 2008 and received his master's degree in May 2009. Mereda graduates from UNC Chapel Hill in May 2010. Debbie and Spencer have been board members of NCHE since 1988. Debbie has coordinated the conference speakers and workshops since the 1990 conference and has been the editor of the Greenhouse Report since 1995. She was the director of the HINTS support group in Charlotte for over twenty-two years. Debbie has a B.S. in secondary education, mathematics and a M.Ed. in counseling. She is a consultant for homeschoolers, primarily for those wanting help with teaching high school and applying to college, and has written a five-year, grades eight through twelve, curriculum, The Mason Plan, integrating all the humanities.

• Session 1, P     Homeschooling High School, Debbie Mason—The thought of teaching high school can be intimidating for many homeschoolers, causing them to question their competence. Debbie will show you how you can accomplish this challenging task. She will cover topics such as what to do before high school starts, what courses your student needs and where to get them, what the law says and how to deal with co-ops and testing. She will touch on what to do along the way to prepare for college.
• Session 2, P     Preparing for College, Debbie Mason—Does the thought of getting your student into college frighten you? One of the first questions beginning homeschoolers ask is "Can homeschooled students get into college?" The answer is yes. Homeschooled students can and do go to college. However, it does take planning and preparation for a student to successfully apply and flourish in his studies. Come to this workshop and learn how to prepare for college.
• Session 4, P     Parenting the Homeschooled Teen, Debbie Mason—Debbie will share ideas for parenting homeschooled teens. As our children become teens, the way we parent them changes. The letting go process is hard but necessary.

 

Marji McIlvaine and husband, Rick, have homeschooled for twenty-two years across four states. One daughter has graduated from college; one will graduate this year; a son is in college and one daughter will graduate from their homeschool this year—that leaves two daughters to still enjoy homeschooling. Marji's heart is to encourage other parents in the homeschool journey. She is the administrator for Henderson County Homeschool Association, administers the Woodcock-Johnson test in western NC and has a passion for foreign languages.

• Session 4, B     So Much Curricula, So Little Time, Marji McIlvaine—Unit studies, classical, traditional, unschooling, relaxed, eclectic—what are all of these approaches to homeschooling, anyway? How's a parent to choose? “I bought the wrong curriculum—it's not working.” “I hate it!” “My friend says xyz curriculum is the one.” What do I do? We'll try to demystify the curriculum jungle and equip you to find the best pathway for you and your family.
• Session 7, G, B            Testing—A Giant in the Land, or a Goliath? Marji McIlvaine—NC requires annual standardized testing for homeschooled students ages seven through graduation. Which test shall I choose? What are the differences in the tests? Is one better than the others? What do the results mean? Can my child fail? We will cover all the major testing options, the differences in the tests, the pros and cons of each, getting info from the results, as well as tips for preparing your children for testing in order to equip you to make the best choice for your family.

 

Dari Mullins, co-author of Galloping the Globe and Cantering the Country, is the mother of three teenagers. She began researching homeschooling in 1995. She and her husband, Allen, have taught their children at home since the oldest started kindergarten in 1997. They live in Asheville, NC, where Dari teaches co-op classes and stays active with the local community. Dari has jumped into the world of social media marketing and helps small companies, organizations and non-profits capitalize and gain maximum exposure using this new medium. She is currently working for Bright Ideas Press, publishers of Mystery of History and other great titles, as the project manager for their new all-inclusive curriculum, Illuminations. Dari also has a passion for sports and remains active with Western Carolina Athletic Association, a group that provides junior and senior high homeschooled students with organized team sports. She stays busy speaking for various homeschool support groups, conferences and conventions throughout the US.

• Session 1, G     I'm Teaching, but My Child Isn't Learning, Dari Mullins—Are you and your child frustrated by your current teaching methods? Teaching involves more than pencils, paper and books. There are many facets including learning styles, modality, personality traits and environment that affect your child's ability to learn. This workshop will cover the main factors to look at when your child is struggling. It will provide some diagnostic resources to help you determine which of these factors need to be addressed in order to improve your child's performance and overall satisfaction.
• Session 4, G     How to Have S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in Your Homeschool, Dari Mullins—Do you feel like you are ever striving for success and yet never obtaining it? Sometimes we need to stop and analyze our definition of success. Are we defining success by others' standards or by God's standards? Every year of homeschooling, presents different circumstances and challenges. Come join us as we discuss a method to ensure success every year, no matter what we face. This seminar focuses on the broad heart issues which build the foundation for continued success, regardless of curriculum choice, ages of children, or number of years in homeschooling. Dari will encourage you to build your foundation on Truth, and give you concrete suggestions to implement in your homeschool.
• Session 5, G     Technology: Keep It a Tool and Not a Tyrant, Dari Mullins—Technology is a part of life. Our children need to know how to navigate and use this new media effectively. This seminar is an overview of what tools are available to enhance your schooling experience and how to maximize their effectiveness. General information will also be given about social media and how to help your children make technology a tool and prevent it from becoming a tyrant in their lives.
• Session 7, Leaders       Let's be R.E.A.L. Leaders, Dari Mullins—Leaders know the importance of their role in the organization, but it's easy to lose sight of who they are as a person. It is important that we be genuine with those who we are leading. Come be encouraged as R.E.A.L. leaders and focus on the heart of leadership. This workshop focuses on the spirit of leadership rather than the actual tasks involved in leading.

 

Joann Nabb has been married for thirty years. She has six children (ranging in age from fifteen to twenty-eight) and has homeschooled since 1985. She has her BA in French education, with Spanish and English minors. She has thirty years experience teaching French and has been on the board of HINTS in Charlotte for twenty-five years.

• Session 10, G   Why and How to Teach a Foreign Language, Joann Nabb—Although we are not all mathematicians or musicians, we are able to teach our children these subjects at home. Teaching a foreign language is just as important and not as difficult as many believe. In our shrinking world, there are more and more reasons to research good language curricula and many reasons to include a foreign language in your homeschooling. Joann has done extensive research over the last three years to help you sort through the best choices. This seminar is for those teaching students from kindergarten to high school.
• Session 11, P, T           Taking Advantage of a Gap Year, Joann Nabb—Have you heard the term gap year and wondered what it is? Come and learn about the myriad of opportunities that are out there; how you can apply to college and get a gap year, too; what is available in your field of interest, etc. A gap year is a time of supervised independence, anywhere from three months to a full year, for a student to see the real world in a safe way before entering the unsupervised independence of college. Most gap year students are more desirable college applicants because they have experienced something out of the ordinary. Come learn more and enjoy the trip.

 

Charles Nettles and his wife, Sarah, have homeschooled for twenty-five years. Their eight children, ages seven to thirty have always been taught at home. The three oldest children attended college and all three have graduated (two with master's degrees). The fourth is finishing her sophomore year at college. Charles is a deacon in their local church, a district and state 4-H leader, a local homeschool support group leader and has served on the NCHE board. His hobby is photography, and he gets many opportunities during extended “field trips” across the country. He and the family drove to Alaska one summer as a school field trip. In his “spare time” he works for Duke Energy in the maintenance department at McGuire Nuclear Station.

• Session 2, B     Getting Started and the NC Homeschool Law, Charles Nettles—Charles will cover getting started in homeschooling as well as the NC homeschool law. Charles provides the details along with his personal experiences from twenty-five years of homeschooling. He provides information for dads as well as encouragement for moms.

 

Justice Paul M. Newby, a NC native, received his undergraduate degree in Public Policy Studies (magna cum laude) from Duke University and his law degree from the UNC Chapel Hill. He served as a judicial intern in the US Supreme Court and worked in private practice in Asheville before becoming a vice president and general counsel of Cannon Mills Realty and Development Corp. In 1985, Justice Newby was appointed as an Assistant US Attorney in Raleigh, where he served for over nineteen years. He taught courses for the US Dept. of Justice and received the Crime Victims Fund Award. In 2004, Justice Newby was elected to an eight-year term on the NC Supreme Court. He serves as an adjunct professor at Campbell Law School. In his personal time, Justice Newby works with the Boy Scouts, being an Eagle Scout himself, and is the recipient of the God and Service Award and Heroism Award for rescuing nine people from a riptide. He is an elder and youth worker in his church. Justice Newby and his wife, Macon, have been married since 1983 and have four children, whom they homeschooled for ten years.

• Session 5, T, P Considering Law as a Career, Justice Paul M. Newby—Conducted by a former homeschool dad who is currently a Justice on our North Carolina Supreme Court, this interactive workshop will focus on various aspects of preparation for legal training and law as a career.
• Session 7, G, T Homeschooling Families Impacting Public Policy, Justice Paul M. Newby—Conducted by a former homeschool dad who is currently a Justice on our North Carolina Supreme Court, this interactive workshop highlights educational opportunities in the public policy arena and discusses ways homeschool families can be involved and make a difference in our communities and state.

 

Cindy Randolph has a desire to equip parents to effectively address the hearts of their children and raise them with a heart to serve the Lord. She and her husband, Mark, homeschool their three children. They have worked in youth ministry six years.

• Session 5, Y, O            How to Correct Children with an Eye on the Heart, Cindy Randolph—It's hard sometimes to know when and how to correct a child whose heart is in the wrong place. Bad attitudes, angry outbursts, disrespect and meanness are just a few of the heart-issues that need to be addressed. A heart problem requires a heart-based approach to correction. This practical session will give you hands on ways to correct your child that address the heart.

 

Jennifer Schmidt served in full-time ministry as a director of music and youth in Milwaukee, WI, before moving to NC. Now she is a full-time family manager who writes about her never-ending pursuit of balancing it all in her widely read blog, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. As a motivational speaker and worship leader, Jen finds joy in encouraging women at conferences, on her blog and as a regular contributor to Hallmark/DaySpring's blog for women. But she receives the sweetest reward from her most demanding audience, her family. As a mom of five and frugal living expert, Jen has learned to embrace the good, the bad and the ugly. She shares with humor and authenticity on a myriad of topics, all which fall under her passion for living life to its fullest, debt free. You can find her on any given day dreaming about a clean house, chauffeuring, meal planning, homeschooling, thrift store hunting or quite possibly on a stage sharing both her beauty and bedlam as a daughter of the King.

• Session 9, Y     Character Counts: Polishing the Pearls among Pandemonium and “Perfection,” Jennifer Schmidt—First time obedience? Is it possible? Mom says, “Put on your happy face” because someone's coming. Can anyone relate? Jen will encourage you to laugh along the way while mapping out a practical plan to capture the heart of the matter in your child's character development. You will leave with a clearer, intentional vision of how to focus on lasting character among the adventures of every day school life.
• Session 11, G   The Power of Purposeful Traditions: Once a Month Memory Moments. Jennifer Schmidt—Sleeping under the Christmas tree, family run night—cozy, childhood memories. Jen will encourage you to maximize your homeschool year by weaving simple traditions into everyday life. Learn how to create powerful lifelong associations between memories, school and the values that you cherish. Evaluate your own traditions to see if they have the essential ingredients to leave a lasting legacy, while understanding the biblical importance that comes from these treasured traditions. Bring a notebook. You will leave with creative ideas to implement immediately.

 

Sandra Selling is a homeschool mom and an accomplished instructor with IEW. She has experienced first-hand the transformation of students who resisted writing, into ones who now write eagerly and are proud of the results. Her practical workshops provide the tools you need to awaken a love of writing in your students. She has worked with students in third grade through college, including gifted students and those with learning disabilities.

• Session 3, P     The SAT Essay, Sandra Selling—SAT testing requires a clear, logical essay written within twenty-five minutes. Is your student ready? This workshop will help you prepare your students for any essay assignment, especially the SAT.
• Session 10, G   Writing, from Groans to Delight, Sandra Selling—Learn how to break writing into small incremental steps at which any child can experience success!

 

Sonya Shafer is married to her best friend, John, and has homeschooled for fourteen years. With a passion to encourage moms in their homeschooling, she co-directs <SimplyCharlotteMason.com>, a website designed for those who use the Charlotte Mason method. She has written many homeschool resources, including Laying Down the Rails, and is a frequent speaker at homeschool groups.

• Session 5, G     Charlotte Mason and Her Methods, Sonya Shafer—This workshop presents a practical and encouraging overview of the methods used in the Charlotte Mason approach, including living books, short lessons, fine arts, history, geography, dictation, narration, copy work, poetry and more.
• Session 7, Y     The Early Years: Homeschooling Your Preschooler, Sonya Shafer—Give your child what is most important. Instead of academic or social pressures, Charlotte Mason encouraged mothers to give their little ones a full six years of developing good habits, getting acquainted with nature, exploring with the five senses, growing in their spiritual lives and more.

 

Misty Spinelli is a homeschool mother of six, ages three to fifteen. She and her husband, Tony, own Growing Scholars, two homeschool supply stores in the Charlotte, NC, area. She comes from a long line of educators and was herself a college professor of fine art and graphic design for over eight years. Misty administers nationally standardized tests to homeschoolers and gives private curricula consultations. She also speaks at state and regional conferences, support groups meetings, writes articles for newsletters and newspapers and offers info meetings for beginning and potential homeschoolers every month.

• Session 1, G     Nature Journaling, Picture Study and More Fun Art Stuff, Misty Spinelli—Do you want more art in your homeschool but don't know what to do or where to start? Misty will show you easy steps you can take as little as once a week which will easily make an artist or at least one who appreciates art out of your children. You will learn how to implement art by simply having your kids capture the nature around them on paper, look at and play games with famous art works and many other quick and simple activities that don't include an hour to clean up the mess.
• Session 6, G     History, for All My Kids? Misty Spinelli—It may seem daunting to try and teach history to several kids at different age levels, but don't let that deter you. History can be the most fun and rewarding subject you teach. Some moms feel that the only way they can teach history to multiple levels is to buy each one their own history textbook and let them work on their own. But history can be a great core subject for you to hang subjects such as writing, literature and art on to, if you learn how to utilize a unit study approach to just that one subject. All your kids can enjoy learning together, discussing together, and you can get more taught in a shorter period of time.

 

Jim and Karen Stobaugh have four home-educated adult children. They have a strong burden for the new leadership group that God is calling forth from the homeschooling community. Jim was a Merrill Fellow at Harvard University and holds a BA from Vanderbilt, an MA from Rutgers University, an MDiv. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a DMin. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. An experienced teacher, he is a recognized leader in homeschooling and has published several books for students and teachers. Some books are in the series Preparing Thoughtful Christians to be World Changers, with both student and teacher editions. Stobaugh has also published Fire That Burns but Does Not Consume (2003), A Gathered Inheritance (2004), and the highly valued SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student (1998; revised edition, 2004). He lives near Hollsopple, PA, and travels widely to speak at conventions about literature, teaching and education.

• Session 1, Y     Elementary Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning, Karen Stobaugh—Often too much dependency on curriculum in the early years fills our children up with knowledge that is most often forgotten later. Helping you understand how the brain functions and how to build a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning is the goal of this workshop.
• Session 3, G     Homeschooling: Back to the Future, Jim Stobaugh—After coming so far, after working so hard, have we homeschoolers forgotten why we came? Are we at the place where we can get the solution to our problems, but have we forgotten why we came? This workshop examines thirty years of homeschooling and offers new directions for the future. Our genesis emerged in a rejection of Enlightenment values but in this new century the movement has come of age. We are quickly approaching status quo. What does this mean for the future of homeschooling?
• Session 4, L     When the Going Gets Rough, Karen Stobaugh—This workshop is for parents who have hit some dead ends in teaching. No one likes labels, but there are times to face facts and to seek help. Does my child has a learning disability? Many may ask. How can we know?
• Session 8, G     Classical Teaching, but Is It? Jim Stobaugh—Classical education is a buzz-word that almost no one knows how to define. Dr. Stobaugh will define classical education, and he will offer concrete ways to implement this vital educational program in subject areas. The workshop participants will hear Dr. Stobaugh argue that true classical education is the best way to prepare students to be critical thinkers.
• Session 10, G   Teaching World View, Jim Stobaugh—In such a time as this, in the Post-Christian era, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, we need to exhibit great discernment in evaluating the world view of our culture. Dr. Stobaugh urges students and parents do exactly that. He employs a cultural paradigm (as opposed to a political/philosophical paradigm): Christian Theism, Romanticism, Deism, Naturalism, Realism, Existentialism, Absurdism.

 

Jim Weiss has been a storyteller for over thirty-four years. Under the Greathall Productions label, he has produced thirty-two story-telling recordings with such enticing titles as King Arthur, Greek Myths and Sherlock Holmes. Jim's recordings have received noted recognition from homeschooling reviewers such as Mary Pride, Cathy Duffy, Karen Andreola, and Homeschooling Today, as well as fifty national awards from The American Library Association, Parents' Choice Foundation and the Film Advisory Board and others. Jim travels extensively across the US doing home and public school performances and workshops, community performances and teacher/parent workshops. He has performed at the White House Easter event and starred in and hosted a PBS storytelling pilot that won a Northern California Emmy Award for Best Children's show.

• Session 5, G, T Mystery and Intrigue with Sherlock Holmes, Jim Weiss—Sherlock Holmes is amidst the greatest literary characters of all time. Sit back and relax as award-winning recording artist and extraordinary storyteller, Jim Weiss, captivates his audience with stories about the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his faithful companion, Doctor Watson.
• Session 10, G, T           King Arthur and Other Classical Leaders, Jim Weiss—Come get up close and personal with Jim Weiss as he presents stories that feature literary leaders such as King Arthur, who exhibits character traits worth emulating. Master storyteller and award-winning recording artist, Jim Weiss, will spin his classical yarns from the Knights of the Round Table to the forests of Aesop to the world of Hercules, discuss his storytelling techniques and answer questions from the audience.

 

Cindy Wiggers is an author, publisher, MOPS mentor and national speaker. She has a heart to help parents inspire their children with a love for learning. Her workshop presentations are full of practical ideas from true-life experiences gained from homeschooling her three very different children (now grown) and her intense desire to see homeschool families succeed beyond their hopes and dreams. She is creator and author of the Trail Guide to…Geography series, co-author of The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and established a family business, Geography Matters, with her husband in 1989. Her interests include nutrition and fitness, geography and culture and engaging in adventure with friends.

• Session 2, G     What Everyone Ought to Know about Timelines, Cindy Wiggers—Are you trying to keep up with time and place in this continuum of life? Want to help your student remember historical events and their significance to history? Timelines can help you “Boldly know where mankind has gone before!” Transport your, often random, historical studies into a chronological, simple format, and watch your student's interest and recall soar. This workshop explains the importance of routinely using a timeline and how to get started!
• Session 8, G     Seven Secrets to Help Kids Think for Themselves, Cindy Wiggers—Do you have trouble keeping your students interested in learning? Perhaps it's time you begin to think outside the box. Discover techniques that will improve critical thinking and creativity, inspiring your students to want to gain knowledge. Included in this workshop are ideas from the teaching of Ruth Beechick to develop thinking skills which help create a delight for learning and improve your children's ability to excel in any area they chose to pursue.

 

Delnora Williams is the single parent of five children, ages thirteen to twenty-two, who have been homeschooled all their lives. Elisabeth will graduate from Bryan College in May and Annalise will be completing her freshman year this year there. Christina, Josiah and Johannah are still at home, in the thick of the adventure known as homeschooling. Delnora has a B.A. in English with college honors from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her passion is teaching.

• Session 11, G   Not Second Class: Single Parents and Homeschooling, Delnora Williams—Have you ever wondered if homeschooling is possible for single parents? Do you want to know how to help single parents? Have you ever felt like a failure as a homeschooling single parent? Do you have a testimony as a single parent? Join us! Single or not, you and your children matter to God. There is help. There is hope.

 

Hal and Melanie Young are parents of eight children, six real boys and two real girls. They have parented and homeschooled through seven high-risk pregnancies, three re-locations, two decades and 181 degrees of longitude. Hal and Melanie have published articles with Homeschooling Today, Homeschool Digest, the N.C. Family Policy Council, The John Locke Foundation and the Heartland Institute and are the authors of Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys, a new release from Great Waters Press. The Youngs live in noisy familial bliss in Smithfield, NC.

• Session 4, Y     Homeschooled from the Beginning—What to Do when Your Children Are Young, Melanie Young—You've made the decision—your child will be homeschooled from day one: good for you! But should you start at a young age? Is it wise to even try? How do you know when to get started and what to do first? Melanie Young has raised precocious readers and late bloomers, but every one of them has benefited from being homeschooled from the beginning. This session can give you a new perspective on how to relax and introduce your little ones to the joy of learning in a gentle and realistic way.
• Session 8, G     Hard Times Homeschooling, Hal and Melanie Young—Homeschooling is a challenge at any time. Sickness, job loss, learning disabilities, business travel and relocation are just a few of the extra stresses that can derail our best efforts to teach at home. Hal and Melanie Young have seen God's grace in all of these situations and more. The good news is that God can enable you to teach and learn more through the hard times than you ever thought possible. Come for a frank and encouraging look at what God can do through difficulties and why it's so important to keep homeschooling in spite of the challenges.
• Session 10, G   Raising Real Men, Hal and Melanie Young—In a culture that is intent on bending the definitions of male and female, it is crucial that Christian fathers and mothers make an intentional and counter-cultural moves to raise real men to serve God, family and country in the challenging years ahead. Hal and Melanie explain both the threat to our boys' masculine identity and the biblical way out—and the opportunity that gives us to train real leaders for the next generation.

 

Michele Zavatsky has been to 1,000 different cities and visited 5,000 places (with her family) to find the best sites kids love to visit. This adventure of researching fifteen family travel books has taken Michele on a journey of wonderful experience she shares with you today.

• Session 9, G     Families Love Travel on the Cheap, Michele Zavatsky—Does your family have cabin fever, but a slim budget? Take vacations without breaking the bank. You will hear ten proven tips that have saved hundreds of dollars, from Michele, the mom who's been 5,000 places on a budget!

 

G               Of general interest to all parents

T                Of special interest to teens

B                For beginners and inquirers

L                For parents of children with learning disabilities

Y               For parents of young children preschool to early elementary

O               For parents of older elementary age (may include middle school)

P                For parents of teens (and possibly teens)

D               For dads

M               For moms