Ms. Diane Flynn Keith:  Homeschool Conference Speaker and Workshop Leader Details

• Homeschooling: Activity Days and Field Trips

Homeschool 101 - The Nuts and Bolts That Get You Started
In this workshop, you'll receive advice from veteran California homeschool moms who explain: * The legal ways to homeschool in California; * Homeschool methodologies from classical to unschooling; * How to rely on the world as your classroom; * Where to find curricula and fun educational products for all ages; * How to get connected with support groups or "neighborhoods" of homeschoolers near you; * How to easily get involved in co-op classes and field trips; * Why so many homeschoolers are being accepted to the finest colleges and universities. You'll also hear personal homeschooling stories and receive practical insights into how people actually homeschool on a day-to-day basis.

The 7 Dumb Mistakes Smart People Make When They Homeschool... And How to Avoid Them
Why go through your own School of Hard Knocks? Here's where the veterans weigh in: Find out what they are and how to avoid them from the people who know best - the hundreds and hundreds of parents who embarked on homeschooling years ago and have graduated (some with honors) from their own "School of Hard Knocks." With her trademark humor and practical ideas, Diane Keith gets you rolling on the inside track to what really works and what really doesn't. We'll leave plenty of time for audience participants to share their own stories, too, so that others can pick up tips and hints from these valuable "lessons learned."

Quick Start to Homeschooling
Interested in Homeschooling? Get the basic information you need to make a decision and get started fast! This quick-start presentation with Diane Flynn Keith (a veteran homeschool mom, author, speaker and coach with over 17 years experience mentoring homeschool families) is designed to answer basic questions you have about homeschooling. It is ideal for people who are considering homeschooling and need more information. It's also perfect for beginners who want a little advice or encouragement about any topic related to homeschooling. Diane will explain: * The Legal Ways to Homeschool in California * Where to Find Curriculum and Educational Resources * How To Get Connected with Homeschoolers for Support and Socialization. Then, enjoy a relaxed Q&A session and get answers to your questions or concerns about homeschooling. You'll also find out about the many resources Homefires provides to support you as you begin your homeschool journey.

How To Ease Your Homeschool Anxiety: A Homeschool Trouble-Shooting Session
* Are you frustrated with homeschooling? * Do your children refuse to cooperate? * Is your curriculum not working? * Is your unschooling not working? * Do you feel incapable of teaching? * Do you worry that you are not covering it all? * Are you scared that when your kids grow up they won't have the skills to compete in the global economy? * Is your budget for homeschool resources maxed out? * Do you homeschool children with varying age ranges and find it difficult? * Do you homeschool an only child and find it challenging? * If your kids previously went to school, do they miss their friends? * Are you or your kids lonely? * Have you been unable to connect with other homeschool families? * Is your house a mess or in such chaos that you can't think straight? * Do you and your husband disagree about how you should homeschool? * Are your relatives or friends opposed to homeschooling? * Is there a particular homeschool issue or problem that you have not been able to resolve? * Do you feel burned out? * Are you thinking about quitting homeschooling? * Need a shoulder to cry on? Don't give up. You're not alone. Come and ask us the questions that are on your mind and get some insight and practical help. In this interactive Q&A style presentation we'll tackle these questions and provide some strategies, resources, and new perspectives for how to solve problems that come up in homeschooling.

One-Click Curriculum Shopping with "Clickschooling!"
Thanks to the Internet, phenomenal educational resources are yours for the taking. Here's how you do it: Discover the world's best websites for enhancing learning in every subject including math, science, history, social studies, language arts (reading, spelling, grammar), foreign language, music, and art. We'll even give you our top recommendations for virtual field trips! These compiled resources are gleaned from Diane Keith's free Clickschooling E-List service with thousands of members.

Pick A Homeschool Graduate's Brain! (With Rachel Phillips, Barbara Phillips and Diane Flynn Keith)
Rachel is thoughtful and articulate and has been a popular speaker at several homeschool seminars and conferences. In this evening of conversation, she will answer any questions you have about her homeschool experience such as: * What were your homeschool days like? * What kinds of structure or guidelines did you have? * Did you get along with your mom? * What role did your father have in homeschooling? * What about academics, did you have a curriculum? * What other interests did you have? * How did you learn to manage money? * What about highschool? * How did you do algebra and higher math? * Where did you find high school level classes? * Did you feel out of synch with your peer group? * What about the prom? * Did you take the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam)? * How did you transition from homeschool to college? * What was attending community college like as a teen? * How did you adjust to the academic demands of college? * Once you graduated, how did you adjust to working? * Did homechooling give you a good foundation for adulthood? * If you have children someday, will you homeschool them? * If you had to do it all over, would you want to do it again? Rachel can also offer advice and encouragement on a variety of homeschool subjects including helping children learn to read. Her mom, longtime homeschool advocate and reading specialist, Barbara Phillips, will join the discussion as well. Diane Flynn Keith, editor of Homefires.com, will be on hand to moderate and help answer any questions you may have about homeschooling through the high school years. This is a rare opportunity to really get the low-down from someone who has been there, done that.

Calendar Schooling! Learning Through the Days of the Year - Adult
Need some innovative ideas for learning history, social studies, science, math, music, and more? Look no further than your calendar! In this workshop, we‘ll explore the many subjects you can cover each day of the year. Find out why January 25th is the most celebrated day of the year in Scotland. Circle March 14th on your calendar and get some great ideas for a math party in honor of National Pi Day. Take an apple-picking field trip in September to honor the birthday of John Chapman a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed. Re-enact the discovery of the tomb of Egypt’s King Tut in November with a do-it-yourself archeological dig! We’ll take a month-by-month look at the many educational holidays you can celebrate with your children. Discover simple, inexpensive, stress-free activities and resources that will transform your calendar into a curriculum that the kids will think is just plain fun!

Carschooling: How to Turn Travel Time into Learning Time - Adult
Whether you're shuttling your kids in town to sports activities, libraries, music lessons, friend's houses, or field trips ...or packing them in for an hour or more on an actual roadtrip, Diane Keith shows you how to better utilize time in your car with engaging games and activities that actually teach every facet of the National Curriculum Standards while they entertain. 
Discover "Dashboard Decimals," "Windshield Entomology," "18-Wheeler Chemistry," and "Roadkill Zoology." Diane will demonstrate fun, innovative and educational games, resources, and activities that will turn your kids into "Road Scholars." Guaranteed to improve the quality of everyone‘s drive-time in zero to sixty seconds! Ideas in this workshop are adapted from the new edition of Keith's book, Carschooling: Over 350 Entertaining Games & Activities to Turn Travel Time into Learning Time!

Homeschool Your Teen! - Adult
The looming decisions of college and career can make parents and teens anxious about homeschooling. In seeking more academic and social experiences and broader opportunities, many homeschooled teens give up and go to high school because they THINK they have no other option. In this workshop we'll explore some creative solutions and alternatives that will help you to successfully continue your homeschool journey through the teen years. Find out about online high schools and alternative ways to get high school diplomas. Learn about colleges and universities that offer high school correspondence classes (some of which offer dual credit). Learn about organizations seeking teen volunteers, or that provide work and job opportunities. Discover community resources that offer one-of-a-kind opportunities for education, socialization, and fun learning adventures for teens.

How To Create Your Own Family Blueprint for Homeschooling Success
Nearly 50% of new homeschools flounder or fail in the first year. But those who succeed share certain and specific strategies... What does it really take to make your homeschool work? You'll find the secrets here: In this interactive workshop, Diane Keith explores these "guaranteed wins" and shows you how to develop your own educational philosophy, your "blueprint" that subsequently (and much more easily) guides you in everything you do, from homeschool methodology to curriculum selection.

Papa’s Pearls: The Best Advice for a Happy and Meaningful Homeschool Life - Adult
My father lives by a set of immutable truths that he uses as guidelines for a wonderful life. A depression-era street kid on a fast track to jail, he had a series of experiences that caused him to course-correct and establish a path for personal success and happiness. A man of few words, he summed up the insight he gleaned from those experiences in ¨Disms¡¬ that he casually but purposefully imparted to his children. They are a prescription for how to live a happy and meaningful life. I‘m convinced Papa‘s pearls of wisdom are what gave me the internal drive and motivation to fearlessly homeschool my children. And now, they guide my own sons in taking risks to live the lives of their dreams. Discover Papa‘s Pearls and use them to help your family live happy, fulfilling, extraordinary lives. (Based on the new book, Papa's Pearls, by Diane Flynn Keith, coming soon!)

Xtreme Homeschooling - Adult
Prepare to have your brain cells stimulated! Xtreme Homeschooling is all about learning in unconventional ways that suit your family best. There are no rules. You decide what works and what doesn‘t, because Xtreme Homeschool parents know that they are the ultimate experts on what‘s right for their own kids. Information in this workshop may inspire you to reclaim your natural rights, liberty, and personal responsibility. You'll discover how to identify and nurture your children's unique gifts and talents so they can achieve their dreams. Come with an open mind and be prepared to be blown away by the possibilities.

Follow Your Child’s Interests
Squeezing your kid's brain into a bad-fitting curriculum is painful for everyone - and it defeats the purpose of homeschooling! What can you do, if you don't follow a curriculum? How can you be sure your kids will learn what they need to know? If you're tired of struggling with your kids over curriculum, and sense there's a better way - but don't know how or what to do.. join veteran homeschool mom Diane Flynn Keith for a presentation on how to help your children become well-educated, productive citizens simply by following their interests. In this "Brainstorming Session" we'll work together to help you figure out how to help your kids learn all they need to know - through what they love doing most! What if your daughter likes to read and draw but hates science? What if your son can't sit still for book learning? Is it possible to learn every subject through your kids' interests? How does that happen? Don't you have to force your kids to do curriculum so they can learn the value of discipline? Come get the answers to your questions and make your homeschool experience more rewarding and fun than you can imagine.

Potholes in the Homeschool Road & How to Avoid Them (1½ hour workshop)
What happens if your children won’t cooperate? What if you don’t feel capable of teaching? What if you get burned out? What if the curriculum you choose doesn’t work? What if your husband and you don’t agree on what methodology to use? What if the kids’ grandparents think homeschooling is a bad idea? How do you juggle your time to do it all? What if you don’t have money to spend on curriculum? What if your children want to go back to school? What if nothing you try works? In this interactive, Q&A-based presentation we’ll expose these potholes and provide some strategies on how to avoid them so you can relax and enjoy your homeschool adventure.

What About Socialization and eSocialization?
We’ll explore the “S” Myth and tell you what the researchers have to say, how homeschoolers learn to compete, and how homeschooling families go about developing socialization opportunities for their kids.  You’ll even get information on where to find real and virtual support groups in California to help you find fun learning and social networking opportunities right away!