Homeschool Idaho Convention

Online Pre-registration: $60

At-the-Door Registration: $70

Spouses attend free!

Registration check-in will be held in the foyer of Treasure Valley Baptist Church.

Bummer, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be nice if homeschooling was the answer? I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if all of the problems in our families could be solved with good family time and top of the
line curriculum? Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do was adopt a certain daily schedule, read aloud certain books, and follow a certain educational philosophy? Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were just a simple checklist of “To-do’s” each day that would guarantee success? Yes, it would, but alas, there’s not. However, there is an answer to all that ails us: the sin and death, the pain and misery. Come be reminded of the Answer and the hope it engenders.

Exhibitor list coming soon!

Education for the masses is a relatively recent phenomenon that grew out of a Christian desire to know God and His Word. The advent of government control of education, by contrast, was a distinctly anti-Christian project with roots in communism and a plan to build utopia. Men such as Robert Owen, Horace Mann, and John Dewey were all united in the push to radically transform society using education as the means. In this explosive talk, Alex Newman breaks down the hidden history of education that will shock you to the core and explain how society ended up in the mess it finds itself in. 

Have you just started your homeschooling journey? Come to this workshop to get information on legal requirements, what to expect in the first year or two, and how to navigate the various ages and stages of homeschooling. Whether you’re starting with preschoolers or high schoolers, this session will help you start strong!

If you are just getting started on your homeschool adventure then this is a great workshop for you to attend! Come with questions and leave with answers. Homeschool Idaho Board Member Audra Talley is a homeschool graduate as well as a homeschool mom. She has a wealth of information to share, so join her for an interactive hour.

There are 10 Essentials needed for a joyful homeschooling journey. You might be surprised to find out they aren’t using a perfect curriculum, reading a particular book, or following a specific methodology. The 10 Essentials to homeschooling are far more foundational than that (and they are super easy to apply this week)! In this session, Carrie shares the 10 essentials and how to incorporate them into your homeschooling today whether you are new to homeschooling or you have been homeschooling for years.

Please note: this workshop room is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. 

Do you know what to do if Child Protection Services knocks at your door? In this workshop, Homeschool Idaho Board member, Melissa Nash will walk you through the Idaho Homeschool education requirements and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfares’ policies and procedures so you are prepared if your doorbell rings.

You are welcome to pack a picnic to enjoy on the TBVC campus. Numerous restaurants are a short drive from the convention site.

As you consider how to go forward in your homeschooling journey, where are you standing? Are you on the field, in the stands, or in the blimp? It matters. What is obstructing your view? Who’s on your team? Where is the finish line? How can you best proceed? Why are you where you are? It’s difficult to answer any of these questions in the heat of the battle. It’s important to take inventory, to step back, to step away. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, to go down to go up, to go left to go right. What if there’s a place to stand so that you can really see?

Always feeling behind? Wondering how to get it all done? Find out about this simple and flexible tool and how you can incorporate it into your homemaking and homeschooling! This in-depth workshop will guide you through several ideas and templates to get you started.

Although there is no perfect homeschool, no ‘one right way’ to do it, and no certain formula, there are a few things that will guarantee to ruin this call you have been given. Come and learn of some of the common pitfalls in homeschooling and how they can be avoided so that we can endeavor to flourish as we answer the call to homeschool.

In this session, Carrie shares how to teach PreK- 4th-grade for free (or for almost free), how to keep God and His Word at the center of your PreK-4th studies, how to protect your child’s childhood from academic overload, and more. This session will help you keep the WONDER years WONDERful, full of awe and fun, and on a budget! If you are a mom of a PreK-4th grade student, a family on a strict budget, a parent wanting to have more meaningful experiences with her younger children, or a homeschool mom wanting to simplify her schedule, then this workshop is for you.

Please note: this workshop room is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. 

Classical education embodies the most natural skills of learning.  To give your children a better education, you must give them more than content.  You must teach them the timeless art of how to learn.  Discover the skills that teach your children how to think well and develop understanding of any subject, topic, or trade.  We will model these skills and tools allowing you to experience them yourself so you’re able to use them in your own homeschool.  Learn how a Classical Education differs from a modern education, how it can help your discipleship relationships with your children, and get some interactive practice.  Experience classical education in action!

The first thing you must know is that you’re not alone if you have one. And the second thing you need to know is that they’re sent to you as a blessing. If those two things seem unimaginable, if you’re thinking, “If you only knew.,” well, I do. I’ve got one too. So, what face comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘That” child? Do you smile or scowl when you see that face? Do you see yourself in that face? Do you struggle to like that child? Does it seem difficult? Impossible? I want you to know: That child is a world changer. God has a plan for that child. All of that energy, all those questions, all that strength, all THAT, is God-given for His glory. Come learn strategies for learning to love that child, to embrace that child, to train that child. They are worth it and He is worthy!

Economics is a subject that plays a profound role in the life of everyone on the planet, and yet there is an astounding lack of knowledge when it comes to this field. This must change! Join Alex as he shares the critical foundations of this essential social science, learned from 12 years as a teacher of advanced economics to some of America’s brightest high-school seniors. He will talk about basics like supply and demand, and more complex issues such as the monetary system and banking. Finally, he will offer practical tips to homeschoolers on this critical field.  

Explore how to tailor your homeschooling curriculum to match your child’s unique learning style. This session delves into understanding various learning modalities and practical strategies for selecting or adapting curriculum materials accordingly. Whether you’re a novice or experienced homeschooler, discover how to create a personalized learning experience that aligns with your child’s strengths and interests.

You can do this and you can do it well. If I can do it, you can, too! I will give you some Rock-solid foundational principles and practices that, when put in place, will confidently and successfully usher your teen across the highschool finish line.

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

American homeschoolers cannot and must not become complacent after several decades of freedom. Storm clouds are gathering rapidly on the horizon. From Ivy League law professors and government bureaucrats to international organizations and unions, the threat to education freedom and home education is real. Multiple governments have banned homeschooling in recent years. It is time to prepare by learning about the danger.

Online Pre-registration: $60

At-the-Door Registration: $70

Registration check-in will be held in the foyer of Treasure Valley Baptist Church.

There are many existential threats to fundamental liberties and the very fabric of Christian civilization building on the horizon, but homeschool families are uniquely positioned to help hold the line. From rekindling an awareness of the biblical principles at the foundation, to re-imagining education, to getting involved in the cultural, political, and spiritual battles raging all around us, we have an obligation to be a part of the solution. In this talk, Alex will offer concrete ideas for action.

Exhibitor List coming soon!

The Silent Auction Fundraiser will close at 1:20 PM on Saturday.

The world has a vision of education and its purpose. Christians must as well. In this talk, Alex Newman will explore what the Bible teaches on education and discipleship, and how this differs radically with what the present education system offers. He also provides an in-depth look at the history of Christian education — the very education that built Western civilization and the United States of America. Finally, he will equip parents to rethink education in light of Scripture, with practical tools to honor God in this critical realm of life.

We’ve all heard the adage, “Nothing is easy,” and it’s true. So why then do we use ‘ease’ as the determining factor in our life choices? As a culture, we want dinner-making to be easy. We want house projects to be easy. We want relationships to be easy. We want our jobs to be easy. Look around, ‘easy’ seems to be a pretty high-value today. But what about the Christian life? What about marriage? What about parenting? Are any of those easy? Could it be that our longing for easy is what keeps us from becoming the people, spouses, and parents that God has intended for us to be? God is calling, He’s inviting us to be a part of His plan to change the world. It won’t be easy, but it will be for His glory and our good. Let’s get to work together.

Struggling to teach all the kids all the things? Finding it difficult to plan your days or keep from falling behind? Learn from a homeschool mom of 6 practical ways to organize your days, maximize your teaching time, and still make time for the joys of homeschooling.

Join us for this unique look at three different Language Arts curriculums not found in our exhibit hall. We will begin with a brief description of each type of curriculum. You will have time to take a closeup look at each example as well as ask questions from someone familiar with the products. In this workshop we will highlight Master Books, Institute for Excellence in Writing, Classical Academic Press, Write Shop, Analytical Grammar, and Writing Rhetoric.

Please note: this workshop room is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. 

This practical workshop shows how to use picture books to teach literary devices and writing with all ages. This is a fun, practical workshop that equips parents with tools for engaging their children with literature and writing skills. I’ve taught and tutored essay writing and literature for many years, and even at the high school levels, using picture books simplifies the process of finding literary devices and understanding them. This workshop is great for all levels from elementary through high school.

Consider purchasing lunch and snacks from the Homeschool Idaho Concession Booth. Every purchase helps support our year-round efforts to inspire, promote, and protect home education in Idaho.

You are welcome to pack a picnic to enjoy on the TVBCC campus. Numerous restaurants are within a short drive of the convention site.

If you have students enrolled in the Children’s Program, please pick them up for lunch at 12:00 PM. Return your children for the afternoon portion of their program at 1:15 PM.

Students enrolled in the Teen Program will meet their parents at noon. Return at 1:15 PM for the afternoon portion of the Teen Program.

All winnings from the Silent Auction Fundraiser should be collected by 5:00 PM on Saturday.

Every day we are bombarded with messages that try to convince us that we are individually important. The basic theme is that we should seek self. It’s all a big lie, from the king of lies. We must shift our focus away from ourselves and on to our awesome and mighty God. The world is relentlessly pursuing peace and contentment that can only come from a life that is totally surrendered to Christ and His will. Come learn how this realization radically changed Rachael’s life, direction, and purpose. It can change yours too!

Just like mothers, fathers are critical for homeschooling, and not just for paying the bills. In this fun talk, Alex — who homeschools his 5 children alongside his wife — will share insights into the role of dads in the education, upbringing, and discipleship of their children. He will also offer practical tips for fathers and families that can make home education even better!

Preschool and kindergarten are fun and wonder-filled times! But how do you know what to teach them? How do you give them the best start and set your homeschool up for success? It’s easy to get overwhelmed or think we have to replicate what the public school is doing. But there is great freedom in homeschooling, even for these early ages! In this session, a homeschool mom of 6 will help you navigate these precious early years with confidence and enjoy your time teaching your kids the things that matter most.

If given the opportunity, Carrie would sit down with her younger (and more idealistic) self and give her some much-needed sage advice! As a retired homeschooling mom, Carrie shares five important lessons she has learned after 20+ years of homeschooling. She candidly shares herepic fails and what not to do when homeschooling. She shares advice and hindsight that she wished she would have known before starting this homeschooling journey and what she has learned along the way.

Please note: this workshop room is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. 

In this workshop, Homeschool Idaho Board Member, Melissa Nash, will walk you through the ins and outs of starting a homeschool co-op: traditional or extra-curricular.

The Bible teaches more about government than it does about heaven. But for several generations, pastors and churches have remained largely silent on the issue, partly due to concerns about their tax exemption. This is inexcusable. The Bible calls on leaders to teach the full counsel of God. America’s founders understood the biblical view of government, and that is why Americans have been blessed for centuries with security, peace, prosperity, and liberty. In this talk, Alex will go into great detail on what the Scriptures teach. 

We all want to raise children to be responsible and diligent individuals. Teaching them to become independent learners is also helpful for our sanity and the efficiency of our homeschool. It’s an important life skill for our kids to develop! Come hear practical tips for how to teach our children these habits, from preschool to high school, through your homeschooling and family life.

Do you love to plan? Do you like organizers, rows, columns and checklists? Do you love to label and color code everything into neat little boxes?  Planning is essential to what we do; it helps our days and years run smoothly; but could it be that some of us become bound and chained to our ideas and plans? Is it possible that we are planning God right out of our homeschool? Come and hear how we can put God back in the driver seat of our home and school and how to use planning to help us rather than control us.

Gameschooling…. Yes, it’s a thing! And it is a great way to homeschool too. Shhh! Moms, don’t let your kids know they are doing school! Play is the work of childhood so don’t skip the play in your homeschooling. In this session, Carrie focuses on how to put the FUN back into learning the FUNdamentals. Carrie shares how to incorporate games into your lessons, how to gameschool on a budget, and shares tons of game recommendations for all subjects and all grade levels.

Please note: this workshop room is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. 

If you have ever wondered how to design a high school course of study, evaluate the results, develop a transcript, or award a diploma, then this is the workshop for you! Linda will cover all of these subjects and more in one quick paced hour.

So here we are. Most of us would have chosen something different than what we’ve recently had to face. I mean really, who would have signed up for the crazy chaos that has characterized the last few years? Not me. But, if I believe in a sovereign God, and if I believe that He has a plan, and if I believe that He has a role for me to play, and I do, then how do I lean into that and His plan? And what is my role in this cultural moment? Let’s take a look at some other similarly chaotic cultural moments in Scripture and see what we can learn from those who’ve gone before us. This is our moment. Let’s dare to live it for Him.