Symposium Speaker Schedule
Tuesday May 11
* All times are in EDT
12:00
Carroll Smith
In this workshop we will briefly introduce the life and work of Charlotte Mason, a British educator who lived from 1842 to 1923. We will start at her humble beginnings to her running one of England’s Infant Schools to her college teaching experience on to her time in Ambleside, England where she set up her college and began the Parents’ Union School. To help assist parents and teachers she started the Parents’ Review, a journal of education for teachers and parents. What is unique about her philosophy, and why may a parent be interested to know more about her and the relevance of her work for today’s homeschooling parents. Join me for a quick journey into the life and work of this dedicated Christian educator.
1:00
Cori Dean
Just starting out or considering taking a homeschooling adventure? This workshop will address some of the top questions that new homeschoolers ask: Do I need to contact my local school board? What resources and supports are available to me? How do I choose curriculum? What should a typical school day look like? What about socialization!?! – With lots of time built in for questions and answers you will have the chance to get specific answers to specific questions.
2:00
Mary-Lou Maclean
The one-room schoolhouse in the 1800’s focused on Reading, ‘Riting and “Rithmetic. These subjects and skills are still the backbone of our education system. Unfortunately for some of our students, these skills don’t come easily. What if we had the tools to boost their competence and confidence so they could reach their potential? In this workshop you will learn the pillars of Reading, Writing and Math instruction so you can begin to understand the steps to helping your child succeed.
3:00
Lisa Marie Fletcher
Are you trying to figure out exactly what you need to do this year for your homeschooling and pulling it all together? Well, here is a 5 step process to planning your homeschool year. Follow this process and you will know how to teach your children, what to teach your children, and have a plan from day one through to the end of the year.
4:00
Wednesday May 12
* All times are in EDT
Renton Rathbun
The Bible is our guide for faith and practice, but is that where the Bible’s relevance ends? In this presentation, we explore how to have a biblical worldview of any subject matter. We will begin with the biblical premise that there are no neutral topics in the universe (yes, that includes math). We will then discover how it is possible for the Bible to be the foundation of all thinking (English/literature, math, science, social studies, etc.). Lastly, we will discuss practical strategies to help set the groundwork for the school year by implementing Scripture from day one.
12:00
Peter Stock
Home education is legal all across Canada. But, governments are continuously updating the laws that affect how we homeschool. Hear an overview of the legal and political scene for home education in provinces and territories across Canada. Find out what’s new where you live and ask the national homeschooling organization your questions.
1:00
Thomas Bailey
For over 35 years that CMI has been involved in ministry, the same questions keep coming up. This presentation involves people in the audience asking questions regarding issues of origins, the creation/evolution debate, Genesis, etc. A list of common question will be provided on the screen, but participants are not limited to those. Some common questions include:
- Who did Cain Marry?
- Was the Flood Really Global?
- What about Distant Starlight?
- Where Did the Races Come From?
- What About Dinosaurs?
- Did God really create in 6 literal days?
2:00
Diane Geerlinks
All children learn and grow at their pace…from rolling over as infants to crawling, to talking, to toilet training, to learning the alphabet. Homeschool parents are told over and over again ‘Don’t worry…they’ll catch on eventually’. Although this is somewhat reassuring for a homeschool mom who has tried everything to get their child to read, she wonders, “Is it fact? Do I dare wait?” In this workshop, Diane, veteran homeschool mom and trained educational therapist will debunk some myths, discuss some red flags and offer some tips and encouragement for the journey.
3:00
Ana Willis
Your home education don’t have to taste plain and bland. In this workshop, Ana Willis founder of Theycallmeblessed.org and thehomeschoolsisterhood.com will teach you how to add a mix of “spices” that will elevate your kids’ learning time to the richest and most tasteful feast they will beg for more! This workshop will give you the practical steps and ideas to capture the heart of your child and help him/her fall in love with learning in a fresh new way!
4:00
Thursday May 13
* All times are in EDT
Renton Rathbun
Some view biblical worldview as “frosting on the cake.” It’s a nice addition to a curriculum that is fine to implement if there is extra time. This fundamental misunderstanding of biblical worldview shaping stems from the idea that critical thinking is possible without biblical worldview shaping. Because of the demands and scope of critical thinking as a discipline, biblical worldview is absolutely inherent in providing real academic rigor. This presentation makes clear the indivisibility of biblical worldview and critical thinking and provides practical strategies for building a rigorous curriculum.
12:00
Nicole McCloud
Are you looking to homeschool the early years (JK- Grade 3) and wondering where to begin? Do you want to make sure your kids don’t “fall behind” but also want to inspire a love of learning in your children? Imagine being able to facilitate your kids “learning” without having to fight with them to complete workbooks. Nicole McCloud, will share how she grew up being homeschooled using unit studies and how she uses this as the foundation for homeschooling her three children in these early years.
1:00
Jessica Holder
How does a homeschooling mama intersect scripture and prayer in the midst of learning, living, and laundry? Is it possible to fill the home learning days with authentic truth and prayer amidst the books and checkboxes? Can the daily rhythms and routines make room for a seamless patterning of God’s Word integrated with prayerful hearts? Using Deuteronomy 6:7 as a framework, this workshop explores meaningful ways to bring scripture and prayer into the everyday moments: when we sit at home, walk by the way, lie down and rise up.
2:00
Matthew Stephens
Do you ever wonder which components are needed to make up a balanced language arts program? In this session, Essentials in Writing author Matthew Stephens talks about what makes a balanced language arts program for all grade-level categories. Get clear information about what your child should be learning in language arts for every grade level.
3:00
Hester VanBraeden
Classical education is a new term for an old path. It is presented in many different books and curriculum as a method, or a variety of methods. We’ll talk about that, but before we get there, we’ll take a trip back in time to look at how ancient civilization taught us something that we need to remember, even today.
4:00
Friday May 14
* All times are in EDT
Dr. Cotter and Kathleen Lawler
Maybe you struggled with math, so how do you choose a curriculum to avoid the same fate for your child? Maybe you are really good in math but are unsure how to teach it now? Should you include manipulatives or not? What DOES it take to be the best teacher for your child? Find out the science and the art of teaching math. It is a science because much research has been done on how children learn, especially in math. It is an art because each child is different and lessons need to be tweaked. Come learn and be encouraged to become a great math teacher.
12:00
Louise House
Choosing curriculum can be a challenge at the best of times. The internet inundates us with information. Friends, acquaintances and the social media community all have suggestions for what you should do. While choice is wonderful, it can be overwhelming. What is best and how do I know if something can work for my family? How can I find something to help my struggling learner? Is expensive really better? Come and join Louise as she shares how to make the best curriculum choices for your family.
1:00
Stacey Weeks
Nobody said it would be easy, but deep inside, part of me hoped it would be. Parenting can be challenging, and that difficulty is exasperated when homeschooling. Not every day, but many days, and sometimes days and days strung together. Christian homeschooling happens in a war zone because raising our children in the ways of the Lord and educating them to be responsible God-honouring adults is an all-in, no-holds-barred, the-enemy-fights-dirty battle. Sometimes, even after suiting up in the armour, fear spears us right through the heart. Journey with Stacey through 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 in Homeschool Hardships and Humble Hearts and learn how a teacher’s character shapes the student and how you can fearlessly lead your children through battles that belong to the Lord.
2:00
Peter Lindsay
Sometimes fathers of homeschooling families are busy and detached from the day to day learning activities of mom and the kids. Peter will address homeschooling parents to provide helpful suggestions for fathers’ involvement and support.
3:00
Michael Zietsma
Shouldn’t there be more to the study of history than just dates and facts? Learn how to break down the study of history and use it as means to develop faith. The study of history reveals who we are as humans created wonderfully and beautifully by God, but still in desperate need of a Saviour. Throughout history, the world has continually experienced the effects of sin and attempted to remedy the problem through many different human-centered efforts, none of which have fully fixed the underlying problem. The true study of history reveals our individual and collective need for a Saviour. Join us as we develop a Biblical framework around teaching history supported with effective learning strategies.
4:00
Saturday May 15
* All times are in EDT
Nicole McCloud
Are you looking to homeschool the early years (JK- Grade 3) and wondering where to begin? Do you want to make sure your kids don’t “fall behind” but also want to inspire a love of learning in your children? Imagine being able to facilitate your kids “learning” without having to fight with them to complete workbooks. Nicole McCloud, will share how she grew up being homeschooled using unit studies and how she uses this as the foundation for homeschooling her three children in these early years.
12:00
Sue Wright
What is science and what are its limitations? Is scientific truth determined by majority rule? What is the difference between science and history and what happens when the boundaries get blurred? What are the presuppositions that underlie our interpretations of evidence? The focus of this workshop is to share strategies to teach your children how to avoid being taken captive by authoritative-sounding evolutionary teaching.
1:00
Tarah Stock
Digital media is central to our culture and can play a large role in our children’s futures. In many ways, the Internet is a beautiful blessing to home educators, but it can also bring serious challenges and concerns. This workshop offers a top-level look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of modern media usage. We will discuss some great benefits and tools for creating and sharing digital media, examine negative effects of Internet use (some that may surprise you), and look at key privacy and security concerns parents should be made aware of before letting their children log on.
2:00
Brigette VanHuisstede
Over the course of the past year, a global pandemic, masks, uncertainty, anxiety, rearranged homeschool schedules, virtual classrooms, virtual churches, and social distancing completely reshaped our world. How do you move forward in the midst of such uncertainty?
3:00
4:00