As homeschooling parents, we work hard and give a lot. What do we get in return? Recognizing, appreciating, and making the most of the opportunities homeschooling offers parents: stronger family bonds, expanded learning opportunities for ourselves, increased confidence, greater control over our lives, connections with other homeschoolers, clearer understanding of how the world works, and preparation for the rest of our lives.

Boys and girls are different. But did you know those differences affect their education? This workshop will cover the very real differences between boys’ brains and girls’ brains, the many ways a conventional one-size-fits all education fails to meet the needs of boys and different techniques parents can use to facilitate their sons’ learning.

Join other parents to discuss topics such as how to begin homeschooling special needs children, tools that help them learn, creating your own curriculum and an environment in which your child can learn, finding social opportunities for your child. Continues as B-7; come to as much of either or both workshops as you want to.

How do the reasons that we work for pay affect the way we combine working, parenting, homeschooling, and the rest of our lives? How do we find time and space for the kids and make sure they get what they need? How do we deal with our feelings of pride, accomplishment, frustration, inadequacy, exhaustion, etc.? How do we get help from and give to our homeschooling community? How can we accept compromises when the ideal situation is simply not available? How do we make changes when circumstances change and previous approaches no longer work?

Developing parental skills of observation without judgment. Accepting that our children are often different from us. Living with children from a sense of discovering who they are rather than determining who they should be. Working to guide them and connect with them through their natural gifts. How this affects our homeschooling. Undertaking and learning about their interests which we may not share.

A continuation of A-7. Come to as much of either or both workshops as you want to.

An overview of the purpose and benefits of documenting your homeschooling experiences and activities. Finding a method that suits you and meets your needs. Ideas for simple records that save time yet are meaningful and retrievable for portfolios, credentials, college applications, etc.

Explore ways to connect with people in the context of food preparation, for example by cooking large batches of food with a group of friends, swapping meals, sharing a cookbook, having potlucks, participating in a community garden, etc. Along the way, learn more about food and cooking and make feeding your family easier and more enjoyable while expanding your social life.

Why multiple ages are an asset to learning. Ways to manage academics when you have children of different ages. Combining lessons for different grade levels and covering topics on different levels at the same time. How older children help younger ones. Keeping up with academics when there are babies and toddlers in the family. Presenter is an experienced homeschooling mother of a large family.

Some children seem to be or feel “too much”: too sensitive, too intense, too divergent, “too smart for their own good.” This workshop helps parents understand giftedness and explores how to recognize and accept “too much” traits as strengths rather than liabilities. Learn to understand perfectionism, asynchronous or uneven development, and intensity. For more, see D-7.

Why parents are essential to children, especially young children. Damage done by screening, labeling, and much special education. How institutionalized early education hurts young children and their families. How parents can maintain their confidence despite pressure from professionals, their associations, politicians, and the media.

This practical workshop builds on the information presented in C-7. Hear examples of how to live with and meet the learning needs of children who are unusually intense, sensitive, and creative. Share what works and what doesn’t, ask questions, and learn from each other. Familiarity with presented in C-7 recommended but not required.

Communicating effectively with kids. The importance of eye contact and focused attention. The value of play for children and parents. Rescuing a day that’s gone awry. Finding joy in parenting.

Choosing clear priorities and goals and using them as the basis for organizing our homes. Taking advantage of the flexibility that homeschooling offers in how we use our time and space. Tips and novel ideas for getting organized. Including children in the process.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you while homeschooling? What’s the most important thing you’ve learned? What frustrates you the most? Come share your stories with an appreciative audience and listen to the experiences of others.