Below are the 2010 conferene sessions, please check back for 2011 sessions

 2010 Conference Sessions

*Our Unschooling Lives

Presented by Luz Shosie

Join Luz Shosie, long time unschooling advocate, as she recounts her life with Ned Vare, raising their son Cassidy.  Litsen to how they came to unschooling, and what this journey has meant to them.  Luz will recount personal experiences as well as be available to answer questions and talk about any unschooling topic you want. 

*High School Transcripts and Diplomas 

Presented by Kelly Lovejoy

There is a big distinction between high school transcripts and diplomas. We'll discuss what they should look like and why. We'll talk about what colleges are looking for and how to meet their requirements. We'll take one child's teen years and transcribe them into educationese in a tight, neat package.

*Boundless Opportunity: Finding, Recognizing and Taking Advantage
of Teachable Moments

Presented by Tara Williams

The opportunity to learn is ever present.  However, the chance to introduce ourselves and our children to a new concept, or build on existing knowledge, often comes at an unanticipated moment, or in an unlikely form. If you aren't looking, you might miss it!  Join Tara to discuss finding and recognizing teachable moments, how to take advantage of the multitude of resources that are at your fingertips on a daily basis, and share the times you and your family stumbled over something new in an unexpected way!

*The Vision & Learning Link - Battling the Homework War

Presented by Dr.  Bugaiski

Are your children taking too much time to complete small tasks?  Do simple things seem to be a struggle.  As a parent-educator, do you recognize children who are wrestling with vision challenges?

Attend the Vision & Learning Link Seminar to learn about hidden vision problems that interfere with children and learning.

*Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Vision Problems

Presented by Dr. Bugaiski

The classroom and its special tasks demand visual abilities and skills every child must learn to be successful in school.  These abilities and skills are learned much better by children when all caregivers know how to evaluate the child's progress and how to guide vision development for future academic success.

In this interactive session, parent-educators will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of vision problems that prevent some children from doing well at school. 

*A True Individualized Education:  Homeschooling Special Needs

Presented by Cindy Gaddis

Special needs covers a host of labels anywhere from what Cindy calls “school-created labels” because they could be associated with learning differences such as ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, gifted, learning disabled, dysgraphia, etc., to more “traditional labels” such as autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome, mental retardation, etc., to those that may or may not affect cognitive ability such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Tourette’s Syndrome, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Whatever the special need, it appears that society’s view is one of “less than” or “broken” or a “problem”.  Cindy would like to share her perspective and experiences on interacting with the special needs in her family from a strength/weakness paradigm, which allows children to shine in their gifts while working through difficulties step-by-step in a mentor-supported, success-based environment.

*Homeschooling Special Needs:  Therapies and Special Services

Presented by Cindy Gaddis

Do you find that your child needs specialized help in certain areas as you determine modeling from the environment is not enough?  Speech-Language Pathologist.  Occupational Therapist.  Physical Therapist.  Play Therapist.  Developmental Teacher.  These are some of the service providers being mentioned.  Are school services your only option if independent financing is not realistic?  And what about the relationship bonding and individualized learning you were drawn to with homeschooling . . . where does that fit in, or does it?  A homeschooler of four years at the time, Cindy was looking for these answers over 11 years ago.  What she found through extensive research and application is that if you are ready and willing to begin a new learning journey yourself, just like the homeschooling arena, there are tons of resources available to you in providing the tools to meet your child’s needs utilizing the home and community environments while cementing the respectful and trusting relationship with your child that all leads to amazing joyful growth.  Cindy will share the types of therapies she utilized, how they were implemented, and what resources were most useful.

*Philosophies of Homeschooling

Presented by Amber Mourglea

Join Amber Mourglea as she discusses the different homeschooling philosophies that are available to you.  She will review relaxed homeschooling, unschooling, school at home, Charlotte Mason and many more, so bring your questions and come sit, listen and chat with Amber.

*The Top 12 Questions Concerning North Carolina Home School Testing

Presented by Debbie Thompson

There’s a world of tests out there!  Here are the top 12 questions we get asked most often concerning testing and meeting NC Home School law:

1. What testing do we have to do to be in compliance with NC law? 
2. Why should I test my child?
3. When do I test and which subjects? 
4. Who can administer the tests? 
5. What do I do with the test results? 
6. Which nationally standardized achievement test should I choose and why?
7. What are the costs and major differences between the tests? 
8. How do I choose the grade level?
9. Where do I get a test? 
10. What do the statistics mean when I get the report back?
11. How can I prepare my child for testing?
12. What other types of tests and honor programs are available that might be of special interest to home schoolers?

*Unit Studies

Presented by Tami Fox

Join Tami as she explores the world of unit studies.  How to use, find and create your own unit studies, tayloring a unit study to your child, using unit studies across the ages and grades, with multiple children of different ages.  Come prepared to learn and have your questions answered. 

*Getting Started Homeschooling in North Carolina

Presented by Lori Barklage

abc

Join Lori as she talks about getting started homeschooling in North Carolina, discuss the law, the Department of Non Public Education, the fears of making the leap, and any questions you may have about homeschooling in North Carolina.

abc

*Jazz up Students’ Writing While Creating Critical Writers and Readers

Presented by Carol Baldwin

Do your students write with punch?  Do they use strong, vivid verbs? Do they employ image-driven adjectives? This interactive workshop shows you how to identify and use muscle words so that your students can critically analyze and strengthen their own writing. As students apply these writing skills they become more critical writers and readers. Adaptable for grades 3- 12.  

*Learn from the Masters: How Creating a Fictional Character and Setting Enhances Reading Instruction

Prsented by Carol Baldwin

Your students already have access to excellent writing models: their novels. This hands-on workshop exploits the reading/writing connection by demonstrating how to analyze literature to create a character and a setting, two major short story elements. Participants also learn strategies for planning a short story’s problem. Suitable for grades 4-12.

*The “How” of Home Schooling thru High School

Presented by Bobbi Gillette

abc

Home schooling through high school is:  Impossible?  No.  Challenging?  Yes.  Rewarding?   Most definitely!  Are you afraid or apprehensive about beginning or continuing to home school during your child’s high school years?  This seminar will address some of the concerns as to what to study, how to determine credits, making a transcript of your child’s work and preparing for college.  Having had one child graduate from her home school and another one ready to leave soon, Bobbi plans to share the lessons she has learned in this process of home schooling high school aged children.  Samples of transcripts, evaluation forms and course of study suggestions will be included in this presentation.

Hopefully by the end of this seminar you will be encouraged and motivated to home school your child during his/her high school career.  A time of questions and answers will be included in the overflow session.

*The High School Transcript

Presented by Bobbi Gillette

abc

*First Year Unschooling Lessons Learned

Presented by Cindy Gaddis

How do I know my child is learning?  What about socialization?  How will my child learn anything without being taught?  Or without being able to read?  What about proof of learning?  How do I deschool all that I have been conditioned to believe about education and learning?  Isn’t there an optimal “window” of learning that I need to take advantage of?  What do I do with all the naysayers, including family?  Where do I find inspiration for this new way of thinking?  How do I justify my children playing all day when everyone around me is bragging about their child’s accomplishments?  Cindy learned all the answers to these questions and more after her first year of unschooling her first child.  Eighteen years later and six more unschooled children, those lessons learned that first year are still the foundational Truths about learning that serves as an anchor for the entire unschooling journey.

*Unschoolers at College

 Presented by Cindy, Abbey and Eli Gaddis

Always unschooled and having never attended any class (except for driver’s education), Abbey and Eli both chose to enter college to pursue differing goals.  Initially foregoing the college route, Abbey worked for 1.5 years while working on her novels.  Midway, she decided she wanted to go to college, took 2 months to study for and take the ACT test, and apply (and get accepted) to a private university in Utah.  She began summer term, 2009, and went through the fall and winter semesters to complete her first year.  Eli has always wanted to attend college to major in computer programming.  After considering various options, he decided to obtain his associates degree in science from a community college before transferring to a larger university.  He will complete that in December, 2010, just before he turns 20.  How has the transition from unschooling to college been for these two young people?  In a question and answer discussion format, come listen to the unschooled perspective, as well as global insights from their mother, about the unschooled college experience leading up to it, applying, and being there.

*Collaborative Learning Process: Finding Passion and Purpose

Presented by Cindy Gaddis

abc

Cindy believes that there is an organic process each person navigates in order to find their passion and purpose.  As she supports each of her seven children on this journey, Cindy discovered there were distinct learning stages that supports discovery of one’s passion and subsequently develops the skills needed to turn that passion into a purpose.  In translating this process, Cindy realized that she played a crucial role during each stage by exposing her children to all that is available while using collaborative efforts in sharing her wisdom and insight with them in developing holistic skill sets.  We will discuss each stage of learning, what the parental role is during each, and how the child leads out in their strengths and particular learning style in order to achieve their adult pursuits. 

*Understanding the Homeschooling Laws in SC and How to Comply

Presented by Kelly Lovejoy

Often, it seems, laws are written purposely to confuse us. Kelly will be your guide through the homeschooling laws of SC and explain how to comply without over complying. It looks daunting, but one of the positives? There is no testing required in South Carolina!

abc

*Supporting Your Child Entrepreneur

Presented by Kelly Lovejoy

Kelly has started several businesses---from Babysitter to Restauranteur to Tack Shop Owner to Dog Groomer to Conference Coordinator to Accountability Association Director---and others! She has also coached many friends to start businesses of their own.

Join Kelly to chat /discuss how to support your homeschool entrepreneur!

aabcbc

*Getting Ready to Learn