Conquering Corrupt Culture by Raising Christian Communicators
“Conquering" implies that we are in an extended campaign — a war — for the heart of our Christian society, now corrupted by a continuous onslaught of relativism in thought, art and morality, resulting in a culture of death, debt and despair. Christian homeschoolers must have more than just "nice" reasons to homeschool — it's not about academics; it's about reclaiming Western civilization for Jesus Christ.
Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Be Making Forts...
Children like to do what they can do, they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do. If you want excited, enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. This session will enlighten you with specific ways to find and create relevancy for children.
Leadership Education: The Seven Keys of Great Teaching
Exploring the practical elements of the Thomas Jefferson education model, Andrew will explain the seven keys as well as the five learning environments as developed by DeMille and his colleagues. (There's even an unofficial "eighth key.") With humorous stories from his own family's experience, this session will delight homeschooling moms looking for tips on how to escape the "conveyor belt" approach to doing "school" at home.
Teaching and Evaluating Writing
Evaluating a student’s writing can be very difficult for anyone, but especially for the parent who may feel less than perfectly confident in their own English or grammar skills. Learn how to provide specific models and stylistic goals for each composition, giving specific assignments to your children for both fiction and non-fiction. Solve the “How long does it have to be?” problem. Never again hear yourself say, “Don’t you want to add a little more detail?” With confidence and precision, you can design and communicate to your children goal and model-based writing assignments, and have a concrete tool to objectively evaluate their efforts.
Nature Deficit Disorder: Causes, Consequences, & Cures
“Nature Deficit Disorder” refers to the costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of emotional and physical imbalances. It can affect individuals, families, and communities. Although we as homeschoolers strive to provide the best education for our children, we may also be overlooking the importance of sufficient time in a natural environment—an essential component of raising children in an environment saturated with goodness, truth and beauty.
The Four Language Arts--Developing Excellent Communication Skills in Children of All Ages
When asked, “What are the language arts,” people may respond by listing such things as: spelling, phonics, grammar, penmanship, composition, etc. But actually, only one of these is correct! According to the classical (and the common sense) model, there are four core “language arts” and to teach each from the beginning in the proper way must be the highest priority for those who call themselves “writing educators.”
The Profound Influence of Music on Life
Music has become such an ever-present influence in our daily life, we seldom stop to consider what effect it has on us. But we must. As we changed over the last 100 years, from being music “makers” to music “consumers,” we have gradually lost control over, and even awareness of, our auditory environment. In what way is music beneficial to our bodies and minds? In what circumstances can it actually be harmful? Solid scientific research provides some astounding answers to such questions--indeed, facts that must not be ignored by today’s parents and children.
Freedomship and Entrepreneurial Education
Many of us realize that we value home education not only because it often results in better academics, superior social environments, and enriched family life, but because it builds a better community and country. The result of true liberal education—a “freeedomship” education—will be not only young men and women who know how to think and communicate, but who think evangelically and entrepreneurially. To revive a culture of self-sufficiency and freedom requires more people with the “owner/entrepreneur” mindset and fewer with the “employee” mindset. Join Andrew for a discussion of how to cultivate an entrepreneurial, or “georgic” aptitude in our children. The future of freedom may depend on it.
Reaching the Reluctant Writer
Many children really do not like to write. Why? This workshop will answer that basic question and teach a specific and successful method of separating the complex process of writing into the smallest possible steps, making it possible for even the most reluctant writer to produce short but complete compositions. He will be proud and motivated to write again. If you remove the problem of what to write, you will be free to help your child learn how to write, using source texts, key word outlines and �dress-up� checklists. Results guaranteed!
Teaching and Motivating Boys & Girls—How They Learn Differently
Andrew presents the most significant neuro-physiological differences between boys and girls and how to teach each more effectively, along with an overview of principles of motivation--the four Relevancies, the three Laws, and the two Secret Weapons.
The Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing
We've all suffered it at one time or another: Frustration about writing assignments. Either on the receiving end, or perhaps now on the giving end, there can be a few distinctly discouraging aspects to teaching and being taught writing. The tough questions include: What to correct and how to give a grade? How much help is too much? Isn't the assignment clear enough? Why don't students find their own errors? Learn and avoid four teaching mistakes that contribute to this frustration: Overcorrecting, Holding Back Help, Unclear Assignments, & Over-Expectation.
Rebuilding Your Education Paradigm: Teaching for “Freedomship”
Escaping the "conveyor belt" approach of institutional education by which most of us were shaped isn't easy, but it has to be done. For many parents, our greatest handicap as teachers is our own education—but it need not be so. In this inspiring and empowering session, you will not only come to understand the nature and purpose of today's educational system as it was originally conceived and designed, but you will see a shining alternative path, one that develops true thinkers, leaders, and communicators—so desperately needed in today's world.
Mastery Learning, Ability Development & Individualized Education
What is "mastery learning" and how does it relate to home education? Andrew will explain the methods, goals, and benefits of the ability development model as developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, and applications to disciplines other than music, along with potential obstacles to successful implementation. Come and hear how, as Dr. Suzuki puts it, "Every child can learn", and you can create success in areas where you or your children have struggled in the past
Humor in Teaching and Speaking
The power of humor and mirth to aid in effective teaching is certain. Although some people have more of a natural inclination toward humor than others, everyone can study and learn how to use the elements of humor to improve their teaching and speaking skills. Learn to incorporate the rhetorical techniques of Misunderstanding, Absurdity, Hyperbole, Exaggeration, Understatement, Double Entendre, and more.
Nurturing Competent Communicators—The Two Most Critical Components
Many parents think that good readers will naturally become good writers. Others think that writing talent is just that—a natural ability—some have it; others don’t. Both are myths. History and modern research show very clearly how good writers have developed. What are the two most critical things you can do as a parent to develop a high level of aptitude, from a young age and into high school? With humor and insight, Andrew will share the two easy but unbelievably powerful things you can do to build language patterns and nurture competent communicators in your family.
Fairy Tales and the Moral Imagination
Are fairy tales good, even important, for Christian students? Where did they come from, what can they teach our children, and should we spend our valuable time reading them? In this session we will discuss several basic themes in fairy tales and traditional children’s literature (goodness, truth, beauty, hope, honesty, wishes, etc.) as well as key archetypes of literature and their importance to the moral imagination. With the confusion surrounding modern fantasy writing, many parents feel uncertain in discerning the good and important literature from misleading and confusing books, stories, and movies.
Overcoming Obstacles to Competence in Composition
Paradoxically, writing is one of the most important academic skills a student must acquire, while at the same time being one of the most complex of all human brain functions. For children who struggle with language and written expression, breaking that complexity into the smallest possible steps is absolutely vital to avoid overwhelm and make meaningful progress. In this very practical workshop, Andrew will lead you through the first steps of this process while explaining exactly how it can be adjusted for a student of any age or aptitude—even those who are still learning
Reading Strategies for the Non-Reader
As schools have made reading their new god, believing that producing good readers will solve all their academic problems, many children—the dyslexic, the easily distracted, the auditorily challenged—are truly left behind in the rush to improve test scores.
Narration, Copying, Dictation and Public Speaking
Understanding the Brain
Developing the Essayist
Spelling and the Brain
Instant Improvement in Writing
Rebuilding Your Educational Paradigm: Writing, Thinking & the Essence of Teaching
Mastery Learning: What it is and Why
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