 Saint John Paul II Education Guild offers home educated students a rigorous classroom experience of core academic courses in a two-day per week format with proven teachers and excellent materials. Stop at their Vendor Booth and add their presentation to your list of must-do Conference events to learn more. Catholic Core: A New Approach to Home Education for Young Adults/High Schoolers 8:30, Saturday
The challenges and compromises of traditional schooling are well known to home educators. Still, many parents find that providing a strong classical education for young adults at home can be difficult. Join us to learn about a new and truly Catholic answer to this problem: a rigorous, integrated course of study offered by seasoned teachers in an face-to-face setting, yet structured and priced to put the family first. Presenter John Niemann has been an educator for over 20 years, home educating his six children with his wife Sibyl and working at some of the best traditional schools in the area, including Chesterton Academy, Eagle Ridge Academy and Trinity School. He has a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law, a Master of Liberal Studies degree from Saint John’s College, Santa Fe, NM, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative History from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.  Costco as a homeschool vendor? YES!
They offer a surprising number of goods and services that will be useful to your school (and a great price) and you can stop by their vendor booth to learn more about specials for teachers. Chances are pretty good that you have heard of Well-Read Mom. It'a a growing movement that started locally, and is a perfect excuse for many women (homeschooling moms included) to exercise their minds while getting in some much needed social time each month. Groups get audio and print resources to guide the way, along with opportunities for annual conferences. We know quite a few women in groups and all recommend it highly!  Well-Read Mom is a movement of women who are accompanying one another in reading the classics, great books, and timeless spiritual works from the Western and Catholic tradition in order to awaken the moral imagination to a greater truth of reality. In the fall of 2012, 20 women gathered in Marcie Stokman’s living room in Crosby, MN, for the first Well-Read Mom meeting. Now, there are hundreds of groups in over 40 states and 10 countries, that’s approximately 900 women who are reading more and reading well. Spend a little of your Conference time taking care of yourself by visiting the Catholic Family Resource booth or one of their Vendor Presentations. Presenter Jim Otremba has a B.A. (Philosophy) NDSU/Cardinal Muench Seminar, a M.Div. (St. John's University), an M.S. Applied Psychology, St. Cloud State University, and is a LICSW (Licensed Independent Social Worker, State of Minnesota). He's currently pursuing a doctorate in psychology through California Southern University, is a regular guest on Relevant Radio, and has appeared on EWTN.  Eucharist as the Model for Marriage 4:30, Friday Come discover practical skills that married couples can apply to their marriages, all deriving from the Eucharist. Learn why we believe the Eucharist can be "weekly marriage enrichment." Skills for Christian Stress Management 5:30, Friday Theology and 21st century biology provide the foundation for this skills-based workshop which helps participants manage the stress that comes with Christian living, parenting, and homeschooling. One of the most effective ways to reinforce math concepts is by playing games, and this one features positive and negative temperature values ranging from –32° to +32°. Using temperature value cards and weather wildcards, the temperature rises and falls throughout each round of the game and at the end of each round you are given a personal temperature score. Stop by their vendor booth for a fun demonstration!  In the year 2000 a group of Catholic educators and writers gathered to address an urgent need – a lack of Catholic textbooks. Frustrated with the poor quality, sloppy scholarship and anti-Catholic bias of secular textbooks, they knew something new needed to be done for the sake of Catholic students and the future of Catholic education. Since its founding, the Catholic Textbook Project has published five textbooks (for grades 5 – 12) and accompanying materials. Our textbooks bring history alive, using a story-narrative format that engages student interest. The graphic design, with custom maps and full-color reproductions of beautiful art, please the eye and inspire wonder. But most importantly, our textbooks are Catholic; they proceed from the insight that mankind and history have been transformed irrevocably by Christ and his Church. Put simply, without the Church, history simply would not be the same. We tell that story fully and accurately. Today, our textbooks are being used throughout the United States — in parochial schools, private schools, and home schools. Principals, teachers, and parents, as well as bishops and historians, have praised the books. However, most gratifying has been the response from students, who have found the books such a joy to read that they read farther than they “need to.” Gratifying too, is the knowledge that we have done our part in helping introduce children to their religious and cultural patrimony, and to the fullness of history and reality, with all its possibilities.  History Textbooks for Today's Catholic Students
4:30, Friday Come find out why Catholic students are tweeting about our history books. This workshop will spend time talking about Catholic Textbook Project and why our history books are so needed in the homes of our students. Real history told in a narrative form with 2000 years of Catholic contributions to World and American History. These books are for grades 5-12. Presenter Matt Sumers is vice-president of Marketing and Sales of the Catholic Textbook Project. He received an MA in Adult Religious Education in 2017 from Regis College, Denver, CO. He's been married for 38 years, has two adult children and four grandchildren, Matt spent 15 years as a director of faith formation and teacher in Catholic Schools 1978-2001 and was national sales manager for Our Sunday Visitor from 2009 - 2016.  Memoria Press is a favorite for a huge variety of Classical Education materials, and we're blessed to have their representative, Paul Schaeffer, with us doing two Vendor Presentations. You can also talk with him in person at the Sacred Heart Books and Gifts Vendor Booth. The 2 Approaches to Critical Thinking 4:30, Friday We all want to prepare our students to think well, think deeply, and be able to discern truth. And there is disagreement over the best way to achieve this lofty goal. Come hear the pros, cons, and history of both sides. You will walk out with the knowledge needed to teach your students this essential life skill. Why Doesn’t My Child Like to Learn? 6:30, Friday “I’m not going to do it!” Sound familiar? Most children at some point express reticence or downright refusal to learn. By looking at all the causes of this phenomenon we can appropriately address it and make learning satisfying once again! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul Schaeffer is the assistant director of the Classical Latin School Association and a consultant for schools and homeschoolers. He received a classical education from his parents and at school. He then went on to study philosophy in Rome, where he helped run the International Leadership Semester. He has taught middle school, high school, and college-level Latin internationally. His favorite class to teach was the 7th grade Classical Studies course at Highlands Latin School in Louisville, Ky.
 Applying to College as a Homeschooled Student 6:30, Friday What questions should you be asking during the application process, as a homeschooled student? What questions should you be asking during a college visit? Together we will discuss the admission process for homeschool students, how to craft your application essays, what is the point of standardized testing, and how to discuss scholarships, financial aid and more with your college choices. Bring your questions! Presenter Lacy de la Garza is the Lead Admission Counselor for the University of Dallas. As a former homeschooler, she offers a unique perspective to the homeschool community from both sides of the desk. Currently serving UD in her fifth year as a counselor, Lacy has also recently graduated with her Masters in Psychology and will pursue a professional counseling license.  4:30, Friday Whether you are a blogger, a wanna-be blogger, or a follower, come and join the fun!   Arts, culture, music, and phy-ed all rolled into one - it's a homeschooler's dream! Dannsa Clan offers classes for beginners through advanced dancers, in addition to private lessons, summer camps and workshops. Stop at their vendor booth to get your family or homeschool co-op involved in this wonderful activity! * * * * * * * * * * * * * DannsaClan fosters a family-friendly environment where Christian values are treasured and Irish culture is celebrated! Come join our family! Our school is unique in that our dance instruction comes to your local community to provide Irish Dance instruction rooted in the beautiful Irish-Catholic tradition.
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