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Following is a description of some of the talks for the Conference this year. We will continue updating this page as new information comes in.


Conquering Corrupt Culture by Raising Christian Communicators (Andrew Pudewa)

“Conquering” infers that we are in an extended campaign—a war—for the heart of our Christian society, now corrupted by a continuous onslaught of relativism in thought, art, and morality, resulting in a culture of death, debt, and despair. We, as Christian homeschoolers, must have more than just “nice” reasons to homeschool—it’s not about academics; it’s about reclaiming Western Civilization for Jesus Christ, and the choices we make every day have eternal significance as we strive to raise up a generation of young people who will be empowered to communicate the truth in a world of liars and lead their clueless peers through the coming crises. We have an immediate and urgent responsibility to raise up an army of “culture warriors.”


Nurturing Excellent Writers and Speakers – The Power of Linguistic Patterns (Andrew Pudewa)

Many parents think that good readers will naturally become good writers. Others think that writing talent is just that--a natural ability--some have it others don't. Both are myths. History and modern research show very clearly how good writers have developed, and what are the two most critical things you can do as a parent to develop a high level of aptitude, from a young age and into high school. With humor and insight, Andrew will share the two easy but unbelievably powerful things you can do to build language patterns and nurture competent communicators in your family.


Teaching Boys & Other Children Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day (Andrew Pudewa)

Children like to do what they can do; they want to do what they think they can do, and they hate to do what they think they cannot do.  If you want excited and enthusiastic children who learn well, you must understand these key laws of motivation, and focus on the essential requirement of relevancy. If it matters, children will learn it, and if it doesn’t, they won’t.  This session will enlighten you with specific ways to find and create relevancy for children, even when they have no apparent interest.


Liturgical Year 101 (Jennifer Miller)

Simple and practical ideas to aid in uniting your domestic church with Mother Church in both ordinary and festive days of the liturgical year.


The Neurodevelopmental Approach to Learning Challenges (Gail Mies)

The Neurodevelopmental Approach looks at the whole child to discover the root causes of our children’s learning delays. Many times it could  be visual issues, short or long term memory issues, sensory or tactility issues interfering with learning.  We build a program tailored specifically to each child to target these issues.


To Know Him is to Love Him. To Know Him More is to Love Him More. (Vicki Burbach)

How can we steep ourselves in the Love of God so that we can pass that love along to our families and to the world?  One very important and often overlooked way is through Spiritual Reading.  Fr. Eugene Boylan, in This Tremendous Lover, said that in today’s world daily spiritual reading is almost necessary for one’s salvation.  Yet how can we, as busy mothers, incorporate spiritual reading into our lives?  A better question is How can we afford Not to?  This talk will offer practical suggestions for incorporating spiritual reading into your prayer life, as well as how to wade through the infinite number of options available.


Spiritual Life: The Divine Surgeon (Keith Jiron)

In spite of our best efforts, we nevertheless seem to fall short of our ideals. 
We will discuss this reality in light of our fallen nature.   As Catholics, having the transforming power of grace, we have hope amidst our daily struggle.


Basic Budgeting, Careful Cutting, and Saving for a Sunny Day (Paulette Samson and Jackie Wild)

Having a full life does not need to cost a lot of money.  The secret is in using a bit of discipline and some prioritizing.  In this session Paulette and Jackie will introduce various budgeting options and explore many facets of frugal living.  Participants are encouraged to bring and share their budgeting ideas as well as money saving tricks.  We
hope to send people away with a proverbial shopping bag full of saving ideas as well as common sense strategies for living a joyful life on less.


LapbookingTM with a Catholic Twist Workshop (Lindy Meyer)

The process of lapbookingTM has become a popular and valued tool among many homeschoolers and educators worldwide.  LapbooksTM can be used to showcase a variety of subjects and units of study, even the riches and traditions of the Catholic faith, and can be used with a wide range of ages and learning styles.  In this workshop, Lindy Meyer of Faith Folders for Catholics will outline the basic concepts and techniques behind creating a lapbookTM.  She will also share the many ways these can be used to teach religion and share information about her unique products available through Faith Folders for Catholics, an online business featuring Catholic based lapbooksTM.  As part of this workshop you will be able to create a mini-Faith Folder to help unfold the mystery of lapbooking TM and get you ready to start creating them with your children. 

Trademark information: "Lap Book"TM is a trademark owned by Michael and Tammy Duby of Tobin's Lab. Used with permission.


Teen Track:  Push (Jeremy Sienkiewicz)

The duty to bring others to the truth is one that is both commanded by Christ and compelled by the Truth itself. But, ultimately, we are guided by love to help others come to happiness and fulfillment in God. If we are to be successful in this endeavor, we must convince the head (through apologetics and intellectual arguments) /and/ the heart (through beauty and charity). This talk will lay out the manner for convincing people of the truth of Christ and His Church. It will demonstrate the proper balance in this task between head and heart as well as the essential nature of both. Ultimately, it will aid in bringing others to truth in a way that they understand it and love it.

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