Diane Geerlinks

Room 101

The Growth Versus Fixed Mindset

This is too hard! I can't do this! Is it possible to help our students change their attitudes about learning and their own stereotype of the outcome? How does this mindset affect our students that learn differently and have already adopted their "lease" on life? Dr. Dweck's scientific research and her coined terms, "fixed mindset” and “growth mindset" describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. This research shows that parents and educators can have a powerful impact on their student's mindsets. In this workshop, we will discuss these two mindsets and focus on how we can help our students take the plunge to make mistakes to develop strategies for lifelong learning so that they can reach their potential and beyond!

Diane is passionate about helping kids learn, developing their strengths and improving their weaknesses. She has worked in the field of education for the past 25 years, pursuing her passion for learning with a particular focus on the neuroplasticity of the brain and how we can improve our capacity for learning, at any age. In 2009, Diane trained as an NILD Educational Therapist and opened up her own practice, GeerLINKS Educational Therapy & Consulting. Diane is an Exceptional Needs Consultant for HSLDA Canada.

Robert Schiedel

Room 102

Teaching Technical Studies At Home

We will explore ways to get your children involved with tools (hand and power), measuring, specialty tools, and plan drawing and reading. We will look at projects that can involve younger children, who have never used a tool before, up to high school students interested in getting involved in a trade. We will explore ways to get supplies in a cost effective manner and possible revenue options once skills are acquired. Feel free to ask questions during the seminar.  

Robert has been a mechanic for over 25 years, built custom furniture for 6 years and has renovated the 6 homes they have lived in. He has been a high school Tech teacher for 14 years and currently teach grade 9-12 students woodworking and construction.

Brigette VanHuisstede

Room 103

Plans,  Problems, Purpose

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21  Homeschooling brings with it so many plans: lesson plans, curriculum, and scheduling plans, household organizing  and meal plans. So what do we do when problems devastate our carefully laid-out plans? This session provides Biblical encouragement, first-hand experience, and practical tips on how to navigate problems that interrupt our homeschool plans.

Brigette is a wife and homeschooling mother of four.  She is an English Lit graduate and has studied Biblical Exposition with Simeon Trust.  She is a cancer-survivor and a hiker.  She loves to encourage and point others to Jesus.

Jennifer Timm

Room 104

Building Community Through Co-ops

Co-oping is a wonderful way to combine education and fun while building community. And it is easier than you think! Whether you want a simple group of a couple families, a large structured community, or something in between, Jennifer will share practical tips to get you started. For her children, the happiest memories from homeschooling are the special shared activities and life-long friendships that developed through co-ops.

Jennifer,  mother of 5  has been homeschooling for 22 years. She built Funday Club,  the largest co-op in KWCHEA,  now in its 20th year. She also assists her husband Chris who started the Eagles track and cross country team 11 years ago.

Lisa Schiedel

Room 105

Nature Study Simplified

What if instead of thinking of Nature Study as a subject to be taught, we approach it as a relationship to be built?  Let's chat about ways to encourage the relationship, even if especially you yourself barely have an acquaintance with nature.  This practical session will equip you to confidently incorporate nature study in your home.

Lisa finds joy in the ordinary and delights in encouraging others along the way. She has the privilege of co-leading a community learning group as well as a book club for children.

Sonya Sommerville

Room 106

Struggling Readers: Practical Tips and Techniques

Whether your student is struggling to learn to read or is able to read, but not fluently (slow to read,  low comprehension,  gets easily bored or tired,  needs graphics)  this session will give you practical tips and techniques to help boost their reading ability.  Everybody learns differently and has a different mental skill set.  Reading is a learned skill  and some people need to use a wide variety of techniques in order to make use of their mental strengths and learn to read effectively.

Sonya has been homeschooling her 3 girls for over 17 years.  Two of her children have dyslexia and struggled with reading, math,  and literacy skills over the years. They are now succeeding academically in their post-secondary years and love reading.

Joanne Schreuders

Room 108

Home Organization

Does stuff seem to be piling up around you while you do school making you anxious or frustrated? Joanne, mom of 10, will show you different ways to organize your space while decluttering. She will help DECIDE what goes where,  EVALUATE the space you have and show you ways to MAINTAIN your stuff once you have decluttered. Great tips will be shared which will you take home with you.

Joanne and her husband Jim have been homeschooling their 10 children over the past 26+ years.  Joanne is also a conference speaker and the author of a delightfully humorous book, Family at Large.

Rowan Atkinson

Room 110

Preventing Homeschool Burnout

Are you past being stressed out and are just plain worn out? Burnout is a common experience among home educators.  Learn from a veteran home schooler of four as she shares some of the causes of burnout and ways to eliminate them.  Topics covered include "curriculum slavery", "martyr mom" and "the guilt list".

Rowan has just finished 2 decades of homeschooling her 4 children and is the author of Enough Already! Real Help for Homeschool Burnout, Freak Out and Zone Out. She also has a podcast called Canada Homeschools to encourage Canadian home educators.

Lisa Knight

Room 203

The GAP Year Advantage

Though the GAP year originated in Europe,  it has gained popularity more recently in the West and for good reason. This time of personal development may take on many forms, including any combination of volunteer work, compensated employment, or internship opportunities. GAP years can be beneficial for indecisive students, as a time of career exploration and gainful employment while traveling the world. Find out practical ways to make your teen's GAP year a success and if a GAP year is the right fit for your student.

Lisa is the Conference Coordinator for HSLDA Canada. Her discovery of homeschooling came while she was studying at Wilfrid Laurier University. She was placed in a homeschool group program for a six-week stage. This assignment turned into two years because she loved it so much. Now Lisa and her husband, Shawn are embarking on their own homeschool adventure, with their two young daughters.

Melanie Glassford

Christie Beatty

Room 204

FIRST Lego League: What It Is & How to Run a Team in Your Homeschool

FIRST is a not-for-profit organization that engages kids from jk through high school in a mentor-based research and robotics programs that help them become science and technology leaders with a focus on improving society responsibly. Sound interesting? Let me show you how to start and run a FLL team for students ages 9-14 and what else is offered for ages as young as 4 to 18 yrs old. This program teaches leadership, robotics, public speaking, social awareness and team building skills.

Melanie has organized and run 3 rookie FLL teams for multiple home-school groups in the last 2 yrs. She also volunteers with high-school FRC teams. It's important to her to give kids tools to use technology responsibly and build ethical intelligence.

Ronald Morrish

Dining Room

Dealing with Adolescent Behaviour

Adolescence is a time of great change and even greater self-doubt. Motivation, organization, and decision-making can all become serious challenges. Emotional over-reaction may create frequent conflict with parents. In this seminar, Ronald will share insights about adolescent behaviour along with many practical ideas that will help you prevent problems and keep your adolescent on the right path.

Ronald is an educational consultant from Fonthill, Ontario and has provided over 2000 seminars for parent groups and teachers internationally. He has written three books on effective discipline for raising responsible children.

Emily Beilby

Round Room

Unschooling 101

What is Unschooling? Can you really teach a child core academic subjects without a curriculum? How do you teach a child simply by following their interests? What does that look like day to day? How do you know they are learning?  With lots of practical tips and ideas, this session should leave you excited about teaching - and about learning with your child!  This session will focus on children up to grade 6.

Emily is the mother of 4 children - 2 still at home and 2 in post secondary. She and her husband have been homeschooling more or less forever (at least it feels that way!) She loves knitting, reading, and answering questions from curious kids!

Brett Ullman

P3

The Walking Wounded

Life is good... until it's not. Dark clouds come in all shapes and sizes and leave us asking, where do we turn? This talk has no cliches, no Christianese, and does not put forward promises of false hope. No shame, fear, or hiding is required as we are safe to journey towards healing together. There is Hope for the Walking Wounded. Answering the question, "What do I do if I have anxiety and or depression?"

Husband to Dawn and father of Bennett and Zoe, Brett and his family make their home in Ajax, Ontario where Brett leads and directs Worlds Apart, a charity focused on empowering individuals to re-align their lives with Biblical core values.