Therese McDonald hails from the gently rolling prairie near Derwent, Alberta. A wife and mother of four, she has over sixteen years of home schooling to her credit. As director of WISDOM Home Schooling’s Mediated Learning Program, she offers workshops to families throughout the province, targeted to help parents unlock the unique, God-given learning styles in their children and in themselves. Therese aims to explode the myth that there is a single “cookie-cutter” mode of approaching education and family life, stressing that everyone has a natural intelligence and learning style that can blossom with guidance. She believes that anyone can succeed if given the right tools to enhance learning. There is no need for anyone; child or adult, to stay stuck.

Therese has a tremendous love of life, and believes that an attitude of excitement toward learning is crucial to understanding and benefitting from endeavors. All of life is learning, and a passion for it can turn any situation into an opportunity to expand in knowledge and wisdom.

“My husband and I have deliberately chosen to let curiosity loose in our lives and in the lives of our children,” Therese says. “Once we’ve inspired, offered guidance, infused relevance, and imparted faith and reason, we get out of the way and let a holy wind carry the seeds of learning in many directions.”

Hearts and Minds, Zealous to Learn

Someone wise once said, “Education is what is left behind when the facts are forgotten”. It seems that for many in their educational formation, this truth was often lost. The goal most of the time was about covering ground; finishing the chapter, remembering the facts, completing the test, and getting a good grade. With a few exceptions, formal schooling lacked meaning, purpose or application. Something as natural as learning had been fashioned into an industry. The innate curiosity we are born with has all too often been pressed between the pages of textbooks, there to dry and become lifeless.

In her keynote address Therese McDonald will explore the question, “So what is it to educate?” If we are looking for “something that is left behind once the facts are forgotten”, what is that something? How can we teach our children the way they learn best? Therese will share her thoughts on these questions and will offer insight as to how parents can teach to the distinct creation each child is and to be faithful to the uniqueness and exceptionality of their family. Therese looks for those teaching tools and skills that never become obsolete and will offer her ideas on how to enhance learning in the home, so that every child can move beyond passive learning to “that something” that fosters perpetual growth and change.

Different Brains, Different Learners

How do we see our children? Do we accept wholeheartedly how singular and matchless each child is, especially those that are different brained and different in their learning? “I want to shout from the roof tops what a tremendous gift the out of the box learner is, and how we are in a world desperate for people who think creatively and uniquely.” says Therese McDonald, workshop presenter. This refreshing talk will have you looking at your children through their strengths and how even the most challenging learning, behavioural, and emotional barriers are indicators of great gifts. In a world that labels and limits children to a cookie cutter model, Therese will help parents explore how to better reach children by identifying what kind of learners they have, and how to adapt their teaching and formation in the home to connect profoundly with each child. Come away with some great tips and practical direction!

 

Staying Solution Focused

We all face challenges in our home schooling journey. Therese McDonald will help parents evaluate learning and behaviour in the home, and offer ways to work past difficulties to a place of success. What are the triggers that create difficulties? What are possible solutions to the tough times, and what can we do to help parents and children see challenges as opportunities for change and growth? Tap into some concrete tools that can help you deal with conflict, blocking, learning struggles, frustration, and confidence issues. Embrace a new optimism in your home schooling!

Best-selling author of 19 novels and several series of childrens’ titles, and with over 3 million books in print in five different languages, Sigmund Brouwer’s Absolute Pressure was a Junior Library Guild selection. Among Sigmund’s titles are eight on the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens 2009/11 He has appeared on Good Morning America to discuss his work; his books have appeared in the top 20 of Amazon ebook downloads, and in the iTunes/iBooks top 80. Through his Rock & Roll Literacy Show, he speaks to about 80,000 students per year at schools across North America and Europe.

Rediscover the Power of story to Help With All Teaching in the Home

If you are looking for a detailed pedagogical analysis of the literacy process, backed by reams of studies and hundreds of footnotes, from someone with a doctorate in the educational field, this talk is not for you.

Instead, Sigmund Brouwer simply shows what you instinctively know about story, but have sometimes been taught to ignore, supplying with a solid foundation to use with any and all types of literacy curriculum for home-school education.

Much more importantly, however, understanding the power of story also helps you with one of the most important aspects of teaching: connecting with your child through the heart, not through the brain. With three million books in print, Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of dozens of popular books for children. Over the last two decades, his presentations and workshops have inspired students and teachers at schools and home-school workshops all across North America, from inner city Los Angeles to north of the Arctic Circle.

Turn Curriculum Upside Down, Just For A Moment (Teach Story to Teach Writing)

When curriculum focuses solely on pieces of the writing process, it’s like trying to teach kids to play hockey by teaching them to skate. This workshop makes an argument for why story is the most powerful engine we have to teach reading and writing skills, and how to understand story in a way that you can apply it to any curriculum.

 

Revising What’s Important (Getting Kids Excited About How To Self Edit)

Spelling, punctuation and grammar have nothing at all to do with good writing. These conventions — while extremely important — only affect the appearance of a piece of writing. The other aspects of editing are equally important, and often overlooked in school situations. Come away from this workshop understanding the entire picture, and armed with ways to get kids much less reluctant to work on a second or third draft.

 

Websites

• http://www.rockandroll-literacy.com/
• http://www.sigmundbrouwer.com/

Cindy Pukalo is a teacher and home school veteran of over 25 years. Both Cindy and her husband Wayne have been involved in the education field for decades. Cindy has taught in public and private schools, home educated both of her sons Joel (22) & Jesse (20) and is presently serving as a home school facilitator. Vast experiences with her boys and assisting hundreds of other home education students provides her with key insight into the foundations, experiences and environments necessary to provide the best home education journey for your child.

Play With Me

Parents will roll dice, shuffle cards and use their brainpower to play games and solve puzzles! We will explore math concepts and master basic facts through addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Playing games motivates students to do math, have fun doing math, and feel confident that they can do math. Some games will be played individually, some with a partner and others in a group setting. Working with a partner or in a group creates an opportunity for participants to discuss what they are learning. Talking about what is being done helps clarify thinking and deepens understanding. This also provides a chance to verbalize mathematical terms and enhance cooperative learning. Please come prepared to participate, ask questions and share as we explore together. “No one knows what he can do until he tries.” Publilius Syrus

“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27

Joel Pukalo has been immersed in home education (tradition, blended and online) since a child. As a home school graduate, certified teacher, activist, writer & speaker he is passionate about assisting families to enable every student to unleash their full potential. Come experience the living testimony of home education and bachelor of education graduate who is experiencing true holistic success in life. Home education has brought focus and vision enabling Joel, at a mere 22 years of age, to begin to unleash his full potential and change the world one student at a time.

”The future of the human race hinges on every individual awakening the talents and abilities within them to create a better world.” – J.A. Pukalo

Unleashing Your Child’s Potential – Practical Insight for parents & students for home educating in junior high and beyond (part 1 & 2)

Does home education prepare students for post secondary studies and most importantly translate into practical skills required in the real world? As parents, there is nothing more valuable then to know we are doing all we can to provide our children with the brightest possible future. However, at one point during home education, almost every parent will be struck by a sense of doubt and will wonder, am I really doing what is best for my child’s future? My hope is this session will dispel all past, present and future doubt and forever settle in your mind, that home education provides the most holistic education and will best unleash the full potential of your child. The best way to prepare children to succeed in high school and beyond is imparting to them the ability to dream.

As parents, you are the sunshine that enables the child to develop from their seed potential into the person they were created to be. As sunlight is critical for any seed to germinate, sprout and grow; the love and support of parents are the most essential components to unlock the potential of a child. Without parental support, your child’s potential will never be realized and the seed will lie dormant for ones entire life. Educating our children is both a tremendous privilege and incredible responsibility.

This presentation will equip parents by:

• Casting hope and encouragement of “light at the end of the tunnel” to persevere through the challenges of home educating
• Providing practical foundations for success in junior high school & beyond; focusing on how to engage your child in powerful dynamic education through active reading, note-taking and study skills.
• Demonstrating home education provides the foundation required to live a successful life illustrated through my personal journey (through home education, online education, the faculty of engineering & my journey as an educator, activist and youth worker)
• Providing practical insight based on Mediated Learning Experience research to create an environment where your child will become successful and unleash their full potential in life
• Examining how purpose and motivation play an essential role in defining successful vs. unsuccessful students
• Highlighting the importance of developing a relationship with their child and provide practical strategies how to develop a working relationship with your child to impel them to academic success and unleash their full potential
• Providing a game plan with practical steps to develop motivation and purpose in their children through goal setting, dreaming and creating a positive self image

 

Empower Your Child To Find Their “STORY”

People Management International’s has successfully used the “STORY” Assessment Tool in the workforce for the past 45 years. This assessment has assisted millions to assign employees to specific jobs that will best utilize their unique skill sets. I have modified this assessment and created a presentation specifically geared to teenagers to empower and assist them to find their unique “STORY”. The collaboration of “STORY” and brain development is the catalyst igniting a continuous cycle of exponential growth, enabling individuals to reach the pinnacle of their potential. Every child is a book waiting to be opened, read, discovered and understood. Our greatest responsibility as parents is to help our children discover their “STORY”.

This session will:

• Empower parents to recognize and cultivate their child’s “STORY” (strengths, topics, optimal conditions, relationships and yes moments that bring fulfillment to their lives).
• Investigate the essential role of experience in brain development.
• Examine how “STORY” is paramount to the growth and development of the brain.
• Demonstrate how living in your “STORY” creates a conducive climate that will enable the brain to function at maximum capacity.
• Provide practical research from experts on how to promote the brain development of children.

Websites

• http://www.facebook.com/awakenyourchild – This site offers daily inspiration and challenges for home education
• http://www.facebook.com/groups/253797714676923/ – This is an online support community designed for home educators.

Maureen Schmidt moved to Sexsmith after schooling in B.C. and receiving her Bachelor Of Education from Simon Fraser University. She has a passion to see children learn and for home educating parents to be creative in their teaching. She and Darrel have two children and have been home educating for 5 years. Maureen is a part-time facilitator with Centre For Learning@Home, and has coordinated the Grande Prairie Homeschool Fieldtrip Group for 3 years.

Discover Homeschooling

This will be a practical teaching time where curious parents will learn about the different paths of homeschooling, why people choose what they do, what boards are available to register with , what the available funding is and other key issues. Come and explore all your burning home education questions! If homeschooling is new to you, this workshop should prove extremely valuable.

Maxine Shantz is mom and teacher to her two homeschooled children, Nathaniel and Christina, and is now finishing her ninth year! Several years ago, she saw the need for a local place to peruse and buy curriculum, so she and her husband, Derek, started the Grande Prairie education store, Ashley Learning Resources. Maxine enjoys meeting other homeschoolers and discussing curriculum with them. She has a Bachelor of Religious Education in Music and Missions from PRBI, and has taught private voice lessons for about 20 years.

Curriculum Basics 101

Are you new to homeschooling? Do you want help in choosing curriculum? Join me as I walk you through good places to start. We will be covering four core subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies, all grades included. This is not a comprehensive overview as a limited number of choices will be shown per subject. This workshop is based on my many conversations with homeschoolers as we explore their options. Discussion and questions are encouraged!

Patty is a home educating wife of 23 years to Jeff and mother of 4 children. Her children have always been home educated and their eldest graduated in May, 2011 with the fruits of their efforts becoming apparent. She has an understanding of legislative acts, regulations and policies through previous employment as well as conference administrative experience. She is passionate about sharing the benefits of home education with others and advocating for the rights of home educators with policy makers. God has placed her in locations where she has had the privilege of sharing the spirit, philosophies and ideologies of home education with government leaders as well as praying with and for government leaders. Patty plans on continuing to push forward for home educators.

With the School Act revisions and Home Education Regulation review imminent, and as AHEA’s Political Liaison, Patty looks forward to advocating for our rights as parents to educate our children.

Home Educating in Alberta: Shared ideas from AHEA’s Government Liaison

Patty Marler, Government Liaison for the Alberta Home Education Association will share information on what happened with Bill 2 Education Act. She will also share ideas and insight on why it is important for home educators to be involved with our government representatives. Taking the fear and trepidation out of the process will be emphasised.

 

Making Math Fun. Can it be done?

Patty LOVES math and tries to incorporate it into her family’s everyday life and activities. Developing an approach which brings math to life is the focus of this discussion. Helping to minimize duelling battles over multiplication tables is one of the goals of the session.

 

Encouragement for Home School Parents

As the mother of one boy (man, boys are tough) and three girls (can we please do some work in addition to all the talking) ranging in ages from 9-19, Patty brings encouragement to stay the course in home educating. Life throws us curves and contrary to expectations people have of home education families, our kids aren’t perfect. How to continue home educating in the midst of real families is the context.