High School Essay Intensive by Andrew Pudewa (MHC205)
Presented by IEW’s humorous and engaging director and master teacher, Andrew Pudewa, the High School Essay Intensive class provides immediate experience and inside tips toward high school essay writing, including
General Strategies for Essay Writing
Choosing a structural model based on length requirements
Using “invention” and thinking skills to know what to write
Practicing style techniques to improve language
Understanding and Preparing for the New ACT® Essay
General guidelines
Types of essay prompts
Deciding topics and details
Outlining strategies
Understanding and Preparing for the Redesigned SAT® Essay
Understanding a critical analysis essay
Annotation
Strategies for the College Application “Personal Essay”
Types of essays and prompts
Determining topics and details
Standing out from the crowd
Participants will leave with
several new tricks and techniques to add to their repertoire
a clear concept of each writing task
an understanding of how to outline for better organization
Open to all students regardless of their experience with IEW courses or methodology, this seminar also offers tools and tips for general composition skills. Come prepared with pen and paper to write multiple essays and outlines during this six-hour class.
Parents are welcome to attend at a reduced cost.
High School and Beyond by Linda Lopez (MHC206)
Does homeschooling through high school intimidate you? Let's take it a step at a time. At this workshop, you will learn how to develop a four-year plan for high school, how to keep records, create a transcript, and prepare your student for college including testing, applications, PSEO, and scholarships. You can do it -- and this workshop will help you gain the confidence you need. Linda Lopez, homeschool consultant, will share her years of knowledge and experience in this information-packed seminar. Includes a 100-page handout.
Conference Events: 4-9 p.m. Curriculum Fair and Used Book Sale
5:30 Vendor Presentations:
How to Read History as a Catholic (OEC 203) by Mark Adderley, PhD, McCracken Adventure Books
History is our culture's identity, and yet it has been systematically squeezed out of the public school curriculum, and misinformation has been promulgated regarding the Church's role in history, particularly as regards the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Reformation, the discovery of the New World, the Galileo Controversy, the Church and science, and World War II. It takes some effort to navigate the academic minefield of history, but it can be done, and there are guides available.
EZ + 1: Making Sense of Teaching Writing (OEC 204) by Jan Miller, IEW Certified Instructor and Exhibitor
Teaching writing well is not only possible, it can be enjoyable! Come and learn about an effective and easy-to-use approach for the very reluctant child as well as the natural writer. Using models, checklists, and a clear pathway for "EZ + 1" skill progression, the Structure and Style® composition program is guaranteed to instill confidence and build competence in students of all ages and aptitudes.
Effective Brain & Body Training to Add to Your Home School Day (OEC 206) by Dolly Lower, Kinuu Founder & CEO
Does your child struggle with learning challenges? Kinuu developed a video game called BrainyAct to create long-lasting neurological changes and improve academic skills, behaviors and social interactions for children with ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia. BrainyAct’s interactive play sessions fit into any schedule, day or night. With two program options, home or the Minnetonka Center (Hwy 7 & 101), BrainyAct allows the flexibility to play the game where it’s convenient for them!
TBD (OEC 207)
Fostering a Sense of Wonder in Education (OEC 208) by Steve Whitson
Do you need to put some life into your homeschooling, maybe take it up to new heights? The study of birds can include more then just science, this interactive demonstration will open up the possibilities in your school. What is more wondrous than birds? What can capture your child's attention like birds? You don't have to be an ornithologist to teach your children about birds. I'll share lots of tips for feeding wild birds and incorporating it into your homeschooling program.
Steve Whitson,BS Wildlife Conservation, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, has 25 years experience as a Wildlife Management Biologist and is a homeschooling father.
6:30 Vendor Presentations:
TBD (OEC 203) by Marcie Stokman, Well-Read Mom
Family Formation (family-based catechesis for Pre-K through Grade 6 (OEC 204) by Deb Lindahl, Family Formation
A family based catechesis model which supports parents in their role and mission as primary educators of their children in the Catholic Faith. Weekly lessons for the family are enhanced by games, activities, quizzes, stories, and music. Materials are engaging, down-to-earth, easy to understand, and fun! Driven by Sacred Scripture and faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium, Family Formation lessons transmit solid Catholic teaching and bring the Faith to life within the family. Presenter: Deb Lindahl, director of Distance Family Formation/Parent
How to Teach Music When You're Not Musical (OEC 206) by Sally Saxton
Lesson plans ideas and resources for the elementary homeschool
Strengthening Teens Faith Through Fiction (OEC 207) by Leslea Wahl
Are you discouraged with the teen books you come across in libraries and bookstores? Have you noticed that it is increasingly difficult to find YA novels that reflect wholesome values? Does your local Catholic bookstore carry a limited number of fictional books? Well, there is some good news. Catholic fiction is a booming genre that offers fantastic, engaging stories for teens. This session will explore this exciting trend and how these fictional novels can help strengthen your teen's faith.
TBD (OEC 208)
TBD (OEC 209)
TBD (OEC 210)
7:30 p.m. Special Presentation
Principles of Motivation by Andrew Pudewa (ARC Arena)
A student of motivation for decades, Andrew has organized fundamental ideas of motivation into three categories: four forms of relevancy, three laws of motivation, and two secret weapons. This is an expansion of Andrew’s previous talk “Teaching Boys and Other Children Who Would Rather Be Making Forts All Day,” with new and updated information, stories, and tips to help kids learn happily and well.
9 p.m. - Conference closes for the day.
Saturday, May 30, 2020
No Mass this year due to construction project. (There is 8 a.m. Mass at St. Mark's Church.)
8:00 a.m. - Vendor area opens (ARC Field House) (No breakfast included this year; food will be available for purchase.)
8:30 a.m. Vendor Presentations (OEC):
Integrating the Language of the Theology of the Body into Life & Outdoor Experiences by Jen Messing (OEC 201)
Theology of the Body has sometimes been put into the category of a chastity program or something mainly for married couples. This presentation helps clear up how the language given to us by St. John Paul II can be applied in everyday life to people of all ages and vocations. A special emphasis will be placed on why the presenter brings these concepts into outdoor experiences. Presenter Jen Messing is founder and executive director of Into the Deep.
Win-A-Key to unlock your retirement income! by Susan Wieneke (OEC 203)
Do you know how to turn your IRA into retirement income? Would you like a guaranteed retirement paycheck that you can't outlive? Come learn how to design a SIMPLE retirement income plan that's just right for you!
TBD (OEC 204)
TBD (OEC206)
TBD (OEC 207)
TBD (OEC 208)
TBD (OEC 209)
TBD (OEC 210)
TBD (OEC 216)
9:30 a.m. Keynote
Conquering Corrupt Culture by Raising Christian Communicators (ARC Arena) by Andrew Pudewa
Today, many of us have an intuitive sense that major changes are coming, that soon our world may be very different in ways not necessarily convenient or comfortable. But at the same time, we must wake up each day and live as though things will continue on pretty much as they are. Resolving this cognitive dissonance requires that we carefully contemplate our circumstances because we truly are in a cultural war, fighting the “non-gospel” of aesthetic and moral relativism on three fronts -– personal, familial, and social. What should our priorities be, and how can we prepare our children to be “culture warriors?”
11 a.m. - Workshop Session I
Liturgical Living in the Home: an Introduction to Dinner Table Evangelization (ARC Arena) by Kendra Tierney
Wondering what liturgical living in the home is? Or how it could possibly work in your busy home? Let Kendra Tierney, author of the book The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical living for Real Life, share how this focus on saints and seasons has brought their family together in faith, fun, and food puns.
Great Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree (OEC Main) panel discussion by the Center of the American Experiment
Back by popular demand! This workshop is based on a project of Center of the American Experiment that aims to bring awareness to career paths that don’t require the traditional, four-year degree route. Join us to learn more about alternatives to four-year degrees and how they lead to meaningful and successful careers. Catrin Thorman and Mitch Pearlstein will lead a three-member panel of working professionals (Amanda Phillips, Daniel McGee, and Robert McLainand) to share thoughts about why they chose these careers that do not require four-year degrees.
Creative Curriculum for Grade School (OEC 201) by Kimberly Jaworski
You don’t have to be tied to textbooks for every subject and even if you feel better using your textbook as a guide, you’ll find strategies here that will ignite the explorer in your child. Learning, at its best, should include a sense of discovery for your child. We’ll discuss ways to bring that to your homeschool experience.
Beginning Homeschooling: Beyond the Basics (OEC 216) by Cathie Baier
New to homeschooling? Where do you start? How do you ensure an excellent (not just adequate) homeschooling experience, especially in that important first year? This practical how-to session will help you determine the appropriate first steps on your homeschooling adventure. We'll talk about picking a curriculum, scheduling and strategies for developing an independent child as well as strengthening your family and social relationships. Handout
12:30 pm. Informal Gathering of Parents of Children with Special Needs
Lunch and Learn (OEC Lobby) hosted by Cathie Baier
Informal Gathering of Parents of Children with Special Needs. Bring a lunch and meet other parents who are teaching children with special needs. Share resources and experiences.
1:30 p.m. - Workshop Session II
Fairy Tales and Moral Imagination (ARC Arena) by Andrew Pudewa
Are fairy tales good, even important, for Christian students? Where did they come from, what can they teach our children, and should we spend our valuable time reading them? In this session we will discuss several basic themes in fairy tales and traditional children’s literature (goodness, truth, beauty, hope, honesty, wishes) as well as key archetypes of literature and their importance to the moral imagination. With the confusion surrounding modern fantasy writing, many parents feel uncertain in discerning the good and important literature from misleading and confusing books, stories, and movies.
Liturgical Living in the Schoolroom: adapting Liturgical Living Practices to the Homeschool Day (OEC Main) by Kendra Tierney
Now that you're sold on liturgical living in the home, how about some strategies for bringing it into your homeschool day? From field trips to coloring pages to read alouds, let Kendra Tierney of Catholic All Year share how her family has been homeschooling with a feast day focus for over a decade.
A Message for Dads by Ken Davison
Description coming...
Set a Routine & Build Habits Instead of Sticking to a Schedule (OEC 216) by Rosario Reilly
Homeschool families seeking order in their day may turn to schedules to fix the chaos and unwittingly add more stress to their lives. Burn-out comes quickly to homeschoolers who have their priorities mixed-up. Rosario will demonstrate how a routine differs from a schedule, and why it matters. She will offer a framework for developing a routine that will work for each family's unique situation. Doing first things first.
3 p.m. - Workshop Session III
Mastery Learning, Ability Development, and Individualized Education (ARC Arena) by Andrew Pudewa
What is mastery learning, and how does it relate to education? Andrew will explain the methods, goals, and benefits of the ability development model as developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, and applications to disciplines other than music, along with potential obstacles to successful implementation. Come and hear how, as Dr. Suzuki puts it, “Every child can learn,” and how you can create success in areas where you or your children have struggled in the past.
Reflections of a Homeschool Graduate (OEC Main) by Clara Davison Katt
Description coming...
What about Preschool? (OEC 201) by Kimberly Jaworski
With the push for all-day kindergarten and preschool for all, it’s easy to get worried about the preschool years as a homeschooler. In this session we’ll talk about “preschool skills” (there’s a checklist) and how to include preschool in your everyday homeschooling work.
Fostering Your Child's Religious Vocation in the Catholic Homeschool (OEC 201) by Ana Braga-Henebry, M.A.
Catholic homeschooling parents are faced with the “Harvard or Heaven” question from the beginning. Propelled by high and noble academic goals, we are willing to take on—over an entire lifetime—the daily work to educate the children entrusted to us by God. As Catholics, the spiritual dimension of the task we lay ahead for ourselves is daunting: we are guiding and nurturing the spiritual formation of our children! As intimidating as the "Harvard" side of homeschooling may be, for many of us it is "Heaven" aspect that brings us to our knees each night. This past year our family has seen the departure of our beautiful and scholarly daughter to join a cloistered religious community. We dealt with her decision first as a family, with the seven siblings reunited under one roof, family photographs, tears, and plans for letter-writing. When we announced it beyond our family and circle of friends, inquiries began pouring in: What did our family days look like? How did our homeschool incorporate the life of faith? How can vocations be fostered in the home? We will answer some of these questions in this session.