Christopher J. Klicka
Senior Counsel
Director of State and International Relations
As Senior Counsel for Home School
Legal Defense Association since 1985, Chris has intervened on behalf
of thousands of homeschool families across the country who have been
threatened by prosecutors, social workers, and truant officers. He has
represented many homeschooling families in court and testified before
numerous state legislatures and Congress. He currently directs a staff
of 10 lawyers and legal assistants, and together they annually handle
10,000 legal conflicts/issues and monitor and lobby the 50 state
legislatures. A popular national speaker, he is the author of several
books including The Right Choice: Home Schooling, The Heart
of Home Schooling, and his latest book, Home School Heroes.
Chris and his wife, Tracy, educate six of their children at home in
Virginia, having graduated their seventh child who is now attending
Patrick Henry College.
Homeschooling Heroes:
The Struggle and Triumph of Homeschooling in America:
Over the last 21 years, Senior Counsel Chris Klicka has
battled for homeschool freedoms in all 50 states on behalf of
thousands of homeschoolers. He has many stories of how God delivered
homeschool families again and again in face of intense opposition. In
this session, Chris recounts many stories of homeschool families from
the 80s and early 90s. He gives God all the glory for answering the
prayers of His people and delivering them from a very intense and
difficult battles in the courts, the legislatures, and in their own
homes. Chris Klicka tells about the draconian laws that require
parents to be certified teachers, submit to home visits by government
officials, have their curriculum approved by public school
administrators, and other unacceptable restrictions—and how homeschool
families overcame! Chris' hope is that all those who hear this session
will feel compelled to remain "eternally vigilant" in being active to
protect our hard fought freedoms to homeschool in the United
States.
Home Education: The
Good, The Bad, and The Ugly:
In this important session, Christopher Klicka describes
the blessings, dangers, and disappointments of homeschooling. He will
draw on his 20 years of working in the courts and legislatures for
homeschool freedoms, being a homeschool dad of seven children, and
counseling thousands of homeschool families. This talk will make you
aware of the enemy without, who is trying to stop homeschooling, and
the enemy within, who wants to weaken homeschool families and destroy
the witness of homeschool teens. As Klicka describes the incredible
blessings that God pours out on homeschool families, you will be
inspired and encouraged.
How To Avoid Being A
Victim of the Child Welfare System:
Over his 12 years of experience at HSLDA, Chris Klicka has
handled on behalf of homeschoolers over 700 legal conflicts with
social workers. Recounting true stories of social workers who harassed
homeschoolers with false allegations, Chris explains your rights,
describes how to handle child welfare investigations, and summarizes
the facts which show the child welfare system to be out of control.
His presentation includes a humorous but effective skit, illustrating
important dos and don’ts for families who encounter a typical social
worker investigation. This is a practical topic since the child
welfare department can investigate anybody at any time simply based on
an anonymous tip. Includes handouts.
The Battle For Our
Children’s Minds:
The Bible commands parents to raise their children “in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.” Chris Klicka encourages fathers and mothers
to develop a lasting commitment to homeschooling as the best means to
train children in God’s ways, and then explains how the agendas and
philosophies of the “movers and shakers”—past and present—in public
education are diametrically opposed to this. He challenges parents to
train their children to be leaders of tomorrow by teaching them not
only to believe, but also to think like Christians.
Kevin Swanson
Kevin Swanson was raised and homeschooled by his parents on the
Japanese mission field in the 1960's and 70's. After graduating from
homeschooling, Kevin attended a large California university where he
was elected student body president by a student body of 17,000. He and
his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Kevin has
35 years of experience in the homeschooling movement and has served as
Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the
last seven years. He has served in various other leadership positions
in corporate management, church, and other non-profits.
For the last 3 years Kevin has hosted a daily radio program,
Generations - a Homeschool and Biblical worldview program
broadcast on air across the Rocky Mountain Front Range and via the web
to all 50 states and over 30 countries around the world. He is also
the author of two books: The Second Mayflower and Upgrade:
The Ten Time-Tested Secrets of a Successful Education. Serving as
a resource on home education, he has been featured on hundreds of
media outlets, including Dr. James' Dobson's Focus on the Family and
the Fox News Network.
Why Homeschooling Will
Change the World:
Is it saying too much that homeschooling will change the
world? It already has. Ideal for keynote, this presentation will draw
from history, real research data, and the Bible, to illustrate the
power of relationship-based, parent-guided learning. The real reason
why homeschooling will change the world is found where it is least
expected.
Capturing the Heart of
Homeschooling:
What is the heart of homeschooling? What is it that really
makes it work? This is an important question in that there is a
distinct possibility that the homeschooling ethos may disappear into
the burgeoning list of educational choices, especially with the rise
of government-funded school at home. In this presentation, Kevin
presents a passionate case for preserving the heart of homeschooling,
those elements that have contributed to its beauty and success - the
heart of Christ, the hand of the parent, and the blessings of freedom.
The Most Serious
Problems Facing Homeschooling Families Today:
As a second generation home educator and as a leader
growing up with the movement over 42 years, Kevin Swanson gives an
honest assessment of the challenges facing home school families. The
three most serious problems facing home schooling families today: our
teenage boys, stress on our moms, and lack of vision. Facing our
problems honestly is critical at this juncture in the movement. If we
can do this, then we can and we will find the solutions.
A Homeschool Vision
For Fathers:
“Without a vision, the people perish.” That Proverb
applies to families, too. As more fathers see God’s powerful purposes
in homeschooling for their families, they are getting involved. In
this message, Kevin Swanson will demonstrate the importance of fathers
casting a vision for the family. Where can fathers best involve
themselves in the home for the best possible return on the investment?
The Ten Secrets To A
Successful Education:
Most parents want a
successful education for their children. With this assumption in mind,
Kevin presents a powerful presentation that uncovers the ten secrets
to a successful education and training for your child. They are time
tested. They are the rock bottom principles that are basic to all
education, and they affirm the homeschool
vision. It is not a one-size-fits-all education. In fact, one
of these ten principles is the Principle of Individuality, which
requires a different model for each home and child. This impacting
presentation will give the first-time homeschooler confidence and
vision. It will also provide encouragement and a reality check for the
experienced home educator.
Perry Santos/Mike Strauss
Perry M. Santos, MD, MS
Married: Kathleen Children: 3: 8yo, 4yo, 2 yo Homeschooled
Church: Crossings Community Church
Physican/Surgeon; Bioengineering
Undergrad Univ of CA Santa Barbara
Medical
School: Univ of CA San Diego
Residency Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery: University of WA
Masters Bioengineering; University of WA Head and Neck Fellowship:
Guys Hospital, London, England Assoc Prof 1990-1997 Southern Illinois
University Presently Partner @ Hough Ear Institute/Otologic Medical
Clinic; OKC, OK
Dr. Mike Strauss is an Associate Professor of Physics
at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He conducts research in
experimental elementary particle physics at the Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, where he studies the fundamental
particles and forces in the universe. His recent research has focused
on studying the quarks and gluons that make up the internal structure
of the proton, and studying properties of heavy quarks.
Dr. Strauss graduated from Biola University where he studied both
physics and theology. He earned his masters degree and Ph.D. in
physics from UCLA.
Dr. Strauss is currently an elder at Wildwood Community Church
in Norman. He and his wife, Julie, have homeschooled their two
children, Zach 17, and Christy 14, for eight years.
Teaching Science From A Biblical Worldview:
How do we teach our kids science from a Biblical
perspective? How do we, as parents, sort through the many competing
ideas in science to determine where the facts end and where the
unbiblical ideas begin? How do we determine what are good scientific
facts when we may not be experts in this field? In this workshop,
Physician Perry Santos and Physicist Mike Strauss will help prepare
you to train your child to explore nature in a way which truly reveals
the character and wonder of God. We will look at Scripture to
understand what a Biblical perspective on science should look like,
and develop tools which will allow you to differentiate scientific
facts from unproven ideas. We will discuss some scientific theories
to determine their Biblical accuracy and what they may tell us about
the Creator.
Debbie Bryan, National
Center for Biblical Parenting
Debbie has a masters degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary. She and her husband, Randy, have four children, and have a
passion to help parents. As a pastor's wife, Debbie's life has been
filled with opportunities to work with children and education.
The
National Center for Biblical Parenting is committed to teaching
biblical parenting principles to help children change their hearts,
not just their behavior. As parents work on character with their
children, the academics become easier to teach and children are
prepared more completely for adulthood.
How To Teach Children To Follow Instructions:
All parents want cooperation but many find it difficult to teach. Most
parents give instructions over a hundred times a day. In this session
you will examine the Instruction Routine in your home. Replace
whining, arguing, and yelling routines with a five-step approach that
teaches cooperation and responsibility to children for the long-term.
Giving instruction will never be the same.
Seven Categories of Consequences to Motivate Heart Change
Parents are always on the lookout for consequences. These seven
categories of consequences give them plenty of ideas for correction.
But the most important part of this talk is how to use those
consequences to help motivate heart change in children. It's not
enough to simply use behavior modification. Heart change is a
completely different way to think about your kids
How
To End Every Discipline Time With A Positive Conclusion:
Parents often think their job is done after they've given
a consequence. Unfortunately tension often lingers in the
relationship. Furthermore, many children don't seem to make the
connection between correction and life. Learning how to end the
discipline time constructively can make all the difference. Walk away
from this seminar with a plan to move correction from the head to the
heart. This session will give you a plan for helping the child who
blames, rationalizes, or justifies. Come see ways God includes hope in
the discipline process
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
TODD WILSON, author of Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe, Help! I’m
Married to a Homeschooling Mom and The Official Book of Homeschooling
Cartoons, is a dad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor.
Todd’s humor and gut-honest realness have made him a favorite speaker
at homeschool conventions across the country and a guest on Focus on
the Family.
As founder of Familyman Ministries, his passion and mission are to
remind dads and moms of what’s most important through The Familyman
Weekly (a weekly e-mail sent to thousands of dads), seminars, and
books that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool
their eight children in northern Indiana. You can visit Familyman
Ministries at
www.familymanweb.com
Lies
Homeschoolers Believe
Your house is a disaster, your kids seem out of control, and you
wonder how you'll ever make it through another day of school. Your
"get up and go" has "gotten up and went". You used to think
homeschooling was the best thing since sliced bread, but now you're
feeling like burnt toast. Take heart - you're not alone!
No one homeschools because it's easy. You do it because you believe
it's best. But there are times when you need to be reminded once again
why it's best. Join me as we do just that. You'll laugh and be
encouraged in the toughest job you'll ever...love.
Help! I'm Married to a Homeschooling Mom
(Dads only)
It's a fact! The only thing tougher than being a homeschooling mom
is...being married to a homeschooling mom! Dad, your wife needs your
help. Come join me as we discuss how to support and assist our wives
in the homeschooling journey. We'll also do a lot of laughing, as I
encourage men to be encouragers of their homeschooling wives.
Homeschooling,
but Still Married! (Mom's Only)
Are you having trouble finding the time and energy to meet the needs
of your husband after a hard day of homeschooling? Maybe you've
forgotten what his needs are. Would you like your husband to take a
more active role in homeschooling? Maybe your husband refuses to be
involved in training your children. Join me as we look at your role,
not as a homeschooling mom, but as a homeschooling WIFE. Your husband
will thank you for coming! The discussion will be lead by a real
husband of a homeschooling mom.
Every
Dad a Homeschooling Dad! (Dad's Only)
You may not crack open a book, work through a curriculum, or call it
school, but it's your job to train your children. Join me as we look
at the trials, triumphs, and tribulations of training our children.
Now don't worry, I won't make you feel guilty or give you a
forty-six-point outline, but I promise to tell it straight and to
encourage you in the best job there is - fathering.
Learning Naturally: An Insight into Charlotte Mason Education:
Inspire your children to learn naturally by introducing
them to great classic literature, a love of nature, and an
appreciation for music and art. A “how to” workshop based on the
teachings of homeschooling pioneer, teacher, and philosopher,
Charlotte Mason.
Shirley Solis
Shirley
Solis and her husband, Gus, have been married since 1993. They have
five children and are based in Homestead, Florida. Each year, they
travel the country for six months, catering to the needs of
homeschooling families as they share their hearts on life and
educational issues.
Shirley, a dynamic and encouraging speaker, has touched the hearts of
many around the country. With her delightful, upbeat personality and
her convicting message, she shares her life experiences while
inspiring and encouraging the Body of Christ to fulfill their
God-given purpose.
Academics for the Glory of God
In recent years, some methods of education glorify academics and its
classical roots. These methods have gained popularity because the
results are children who reach high academic standards. But do we
have to sacrifice a Christian Worldview to have the same results?
What does God have to say about academics? You will be amazed at your
findings.
Learning Naturally: An Insight into Charlotte Mason Education
Inspire your children to learn naturally by introducing them to great
classic literature, a love of nature, and an appreciation for music
and art. A “how to” workshop based on the teachings of homeschool
pioneer, teacher, and philosopher, Charlotte Mason.
Susan Chrisman
Preschool/Kindergarten Education at
Home
Understanding the developmental abilities of your young child is
essential before planning a preschool curriculum. What should your
preschooler know by the age of 6? Join Susan Chrisman, homeschool mom
of five for twenty-three years and grandmother of two, to learn the
specifics of school preparation for your young child.
Cheryl Lange
A
stay-at-home mother of five, Bible teacher, and educational
consultant, Cheryl has spent the last quarter-century on an unusual
journey.
Cheryl and
her husband Bill were among the first pioneers in the modern
homeschooling movement. In fact, it was five years after God led them
to this lifestyle before they even met another homeschooling family.
In 1999, Cheryl and her family lost their husband and father, Bill,
suddenly to cancer. Through it all God has taken supernatural care of
them, even enabling Cheryl to stay home and continue educating the
children and parenting the family.
Since being
widowed, Cheryl has begun building a ministry to other women and to
families, through Bible study, mentoring, writing, teaching, and
support groups. These outreaches led to the creation of Lodestar
Ministries. These services are provided through a number of means
including a website, seminars, consultation, an online community,
articles and recordings. Cheryl approaches her entire life –
motherhood, relationships, even the daily weather – with a passion.
Not satisfied with simply the mundane or the adequate, she is
constantly seeking the “breathtaking moments” that give life on this
earth enrichment and delight.
Getting Off the
Conveyor Belt
Cheryl discusses the pitfalls and disadvantages to a Conveyor Belt
mentality and tries to demonstrate how thoughtful purpose driven
education can help to meet our purposes. This doesn’t mean NO schedule
or plans. Quite the contrary, instead, lots of evaluation and
continual adjustments as we find what works and what is cross-purposed
to our Goals and plans for their lives. Cheryl encourages you not to
educate and cultivate for age 8 or 18 but 38 and 48; to design our
homes and their studies and activities around our (and eventually
their own) purposes for their lives, not simply graduation or getting
a college degree. Educationally, we try to make them lifelong
self-educators and thinkers who love learning and simply don’t quit
because the bell has rung or the questions are all answered at the end
of the chapter.
Jan Bedell
Jan Bedell, B.S, M.ND, M.Ed (2008), Certified
Teacher, and Certified Master Neurodevelopmentalist an educator and
Certified Neurodevelopmentalist, began her professional life with a
love for little children and a deep desire to give them the best
academic start possible. She focused on early development in her
course of study and looked forward to teaching kindergarten. She
recalls having children in her classroom who were very bright, yet
would know facts one day and the next (as she says) “they were like a
cow at a new gate!” She still remembers how diligently she worked and
how frustrating some of those days were. If only she had known then
what she now knows. Today, Jan's mantra is: “What the future holds is
not predetermined or preset ~ what the future holds is based on
specific opportunities presented to the child or individual. When
something different is done for the child's brain development, the
results can be entirely different - irrespective of their IQ.”
Create A Positive
Learning Environment
Home schooling is the most flexible form of education. Learn how to
utilize that flexibility through three keys: frequency, intensity, and
duration. Discover behavior management techniques that will turn
those frustrating encounters with your children into positive, joyful
living.
Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD –
A Drug Free Solution
Does your child show Dyslexic, ADD/ADHD symptoms? Knowledge of
developmental stages and brain organization can prevent the pitfalls
of Dyslexic and ADD symptoms. When the brain is given specific
stimulation it reciprocates with advanced abilities. Receive tips and
techniques to accelerate academic and functional abilities. Learn to
avoid cultural practices that are contributing to many learning
difficulties.
For Your
“Absent-Minded Professors”
Why do some bright children seem so disorganized and have inconsistent
academic recall? The solution is never found in treating the various
symptoms of coping and compensating for these inefficiencies. Learn
to look for and treat the root causes of this frustrating situation.
Discover how to help your child achieve neurological efficiency.
David Hazell
David Hazell has been involved in homeschooling since 1987. During
several of those years, he was a stay-at-home dad directly responsible
for educating his children. For eight years, David and his family
lived in Russia where he served in Bible translation in Siberia and
helped coordinate Bible translations in 80 languages. His six
children often ministered with him as he traveled throughout Russia
and Europe. David and his wife, Marie, now devote the majority of
their time to the development of My Father’s World curriculum with the
dual goal of providing support for Bible translation and raising up
generations of families that see the world through God’s eyes and live
according to that knowledge.
Learning to LOVE to
Read – Teaching our Children the Value of Reading (Ages 6-14)
Once children learn to read, we need to nurture them in their love of
books. At this stage of learning breadth in education is better than
depth. We need to expand our children’s knowledge of the world in as
many ways as possible, allowing each one to develop their unique
interests. This is the time to do a sweeping overview of the world
and its history, exploring it through many books. Learn how to use
“Book Basket” to help children discover the world of books without
drowning in a sea of literature.
Exposed, Isolated, or
Insulated: How Should We Homeschool Our Children
In our world it is very difficult to protect our children from the
influences of those who seek to pollute our children’s minds. Some
respond by giving up and just leaving it to prayer; after all, it is a
tough battle, and we got through it okay when we were young. Others
withdraw, seeking to protect their children from the world. Is there
a better way? Learn how we can insulate our children from evil, and
at the same time equip them to battle against it, spreading God’s
Kingdom into a dark world.
Dr. Robert Myers
Dr. Robert M. Myers serves as the Executive Vice President at Oklahoma
Wesleyan University. As such, Dr. Myers is responsible for all
academics, faculty, admissions, financial aid, the Registrar, library,
assessment, and information technology. Dr. Myers received a B.S.
from the University of Maryland, an M.B.A. from Palm Beach Atlantic
University, and a D.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Myers
has been a part of Christian higher education for sixteen years.
During that time he was voted the Outstanding Professor of the Year
for excellence in teaching. Prior to entering Christian higher
education, Dr. Myers was the Manager of Information Systems for the
Town of Palm Beach. As such, he was responsible for all Town computer
information systems and strategic planning related to technology
issues. Dr. Myers also served for 12 years as a police officer in
Maryland. He had a variety of assignments including patrol officer,
polygraph examiner, hostage negotiator, and violent crimes detective.
Dr. Myers speaks to many groups about workplace violence and conducts
strategic planning seminars both nationally and internationally. Dr.
Myers has served as a manuscript reviewer for the Academy of
Management (Management History Division) and has been published in a
variety of journals such as Informatica, Management Decision, The
Journal of the Association of Marketing Educators, Florida Banker, and
the proceedings of many national and international conferences. Dr.
Myers has also served as a textbook reviewer for Prentice Hall and
McGraw-Hill.
College How-To
Roxanne Parks
Roxanne Parks has been homeschooling her 4 children for 9 years. She
felt called to homeschool for only 3 years originally because she
didn't think that she would be the best educational option for her
children during their mid-high and high school years. She has been
leading a large CO-OP in the OKC metroplex area for the past 5 years.
She has been involved in "seed-planting" new co-operative programs.
This has given her the privilege of learning many ways to CO-OP and
increase the results of your homeschool experience.
CO-Operative Teaching:
The Rest of the Story
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the idea of homeschooling ALL your
children in ALL subjects? Do you feel gifted or even adequate in
teaching ALL subjects? How about the different learning/teaching
styles? What about "socialization"? Possibly there are other
like-minded mothers that are gifted in areas where you are weak and
could "come alongside" to help you in your journey. This workshop will
explore the possibilities of getting "CO-OPerative"
help to achieve more that you ever could have on your own. Come hear
Roxanne Parks, leader of a successful Oklahoma City High School Co-op,
share her heart and her vision for homeschoolers as they cooperate for
success.
Jennifer Courtney
Jennifer Courtney and her husband
Tim are thrilled to homeschool their three precious children aged 8,
6, and 3. Jennifer is currently directing a weekly program for
homeschoolers and tutoring 5th-6th graders in English grammar and IEW
writing. Prior to homeschooling, Jennifer briefly taught
Rhetoric at the University of Illinois and worked in Information Sales
for Experian. Jennifer is now the state manager for Classical
Conversations and is working with homeschooling families around the
state who desire to classically educate their children.
Classical Education Made Doable
In this workshop, we will discuss the three stages of learning and how
you can teach to your students at each of these ages. Learn how to
have more learning, in less overall time, with less stress, for less
money. Throughout American history, how did sixteen year olds
successfully teach multiple grades multiple subjects, with such
impressive, lasting results, while we struggle at home with three
students? Learn their secrets.
OCHEC 101-103
Philosopy – Susan
Chrisman
Curriculum – Dana
Wilson / Cindy Nicolai
Scheduling, Planning,
and Record Keeping – Susan Chrisman
