Download the 2023 Speaker Schedule
Meet Crystal Wagner, our Keynote Speaker
Crystal Wagner is the founder of Triumphant Learning, host of the All in a Homeschool Day podcast, and a certified life and homeschool coach. As a veteran homeschool mom with over 13 years of homeschool experience, she delights in inspiring and equipping parents to cultivate an atmosphere where they and their children can thrive. She loves supporting parents as they calm the chaos of their schedule, manage their emotions, develop richer relationships, and train their children. You can connect with Crystal and download free resources here.
Keynote: What’s Your Story?
9:00 AM in the Keynote Room
Stories have power. Stories can transform lives, but they can also keep us stuck and prevent us from living out our purpose. It is possible to rewrite your story and live a more fulfilling life with confidence and purpose! Learn how to identify the elements of your current story and cast a vision of the story you want to be living. Become an editor who turns an ordinary story into one that inspires and encourages others.
Crystal’s Workshop: Lesson Plans For Learning To Listen:
10:30 AM IN ROOM B
One subject is missing from almost every curriculum: listening! Very few people are taught how to listen, yet most people crave to have someone truly listen to them. They want to be heard and understood. It’s never too late to develop this transformative skill! Discover what it means to listen and how to learn the art and science of listening. You’ll walk away from this workshop with a lesson plan so you can become a better listener today.
Crystal’s Workshop: Influence Factor: Navigate The Teenage Years With Grace And Joy
3:30 PM IN THE KEYNOTE ROOM
Many parents feel overwhelmed and apprehensive about the pre-teen and teenage years, but you don’t have to fear this important milestone transition. As you learn to let go of control and allow your teen to take the reigns, your influence in their life will rise. Learn how your teen’s brain works and how your role changes during these roller-coaster years. Discover how to help your child navigate the teenage years with fewer conflicts and without losing your sanity. This workshop is for parents in the throes of the teenage years and those wanting to prepare for the pre-teen and teenage years.
Meet Elizabeth Santelmann
Elizabeth Santelmann and her husband, Joseph are second-generation homeschoolers who live in Oklahoma City with their three small boys. Her family laughingly says they have a revolving front door because, with Elizabeth’s extroversion, their home is a hub for entertaining. Her hope is to share, through writing, what she is learning about gently nurturing children toward the gospel. Follow her @sunshineinmynest on Instagram.
Elizabeth’s Workshop: What’s Going to Matter Most in Your Homeschool:
10:30 AM IN THE KEYNOTE ROOM
Questions to ask yourself when deciding what to carry and what to drop.
Elizabeth’s Workshop: How to Homeschool Active Kids:
2:00 PM IN THE KEYNOTE ROOM
Upending the traditional school model in your homeschool. A homeschool looks nothing like a classroom.
Meet Emily Hladik
Emily Hladik, a teacher with several years of experience in the college classroom, is passionate about sharing her love of history and politics with the next generation. Each semester she noticed a decline in the general knowledge of most students concerning American Government, History, and Biblical literacy— and decided to do something about it. She created Great American Studies, an eLearning website that provides academic courses in American National Government and American History to high school homeschoolers. Emily’s years of homeschooling her own children have sharpened her teaching skills to keep the attention of any age audience.
Emily’s Workshop: Take a Stand in State and Local Politics!
10:30 AM IN ROOM A
This is a hands-on, nuts and bolts talk of how to get started in state and local politics— where you can make the biggest difference! Hear the exciting story of how Emily and a small group of friends got involved in local politics in July 2020, fought all the way to the OK Supreme Court, and swept every local election for two years and counting. Many believe the only politics worth following are the presidential elections every four years. They couldn’t be more wrong!
Rebecca Liao
Rebecca has devoted more than 20 years to the homeschool community by leading, serving, teaching, and walking alongside others on the same path. She is the mom of 4 grown children and is the Chief Customer Officer at Teaching Textbooks, a math curriculum company. She finds joy in scrumptious food, nature, and sharing the struggles and triumphs of her own homeschooling and parenting journey with others.
Homeschooling Kids with “The Knack” for STEM
2:00 PM IN ROOM B
Are you homeschooling a child with a bent toward STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? Do you find yourself feeling unsure of how to challenge this remarkable type of learner? Come find some practical ways to incorporate STEM into your homeschool from the early years through high school and onto a career path.
Cindy Bergren
3:30 PM IN ROOM A
Cindy Bergren has been married to her husband, Steven, for 17 years and has two children, ages 13 and 10. She has homeschooled her children for the past nine years. One of Cindy’s favorite hobbies is tabletop gaming. She will play anytime she has an opportunity, whether that is family game night, with her game group, or during the school day. She believes that learning should be fun and loves finding ways to incorporate games into all the subjects they are exploring.
Cindy’s Workshop: Gameschooling – Make Learning Fun Again
There are so many things we can learn from games aside from just taking turns and following directions. Games can be used to supplement every subject. Come learn how to add some fun and games to your homeschool year.
Robin Zwirtz
Robin and Julie Zwirtz of Oklahoma City have been married for over 30 years and have eight children – six boys and two girls. They have homeschooled for over 20 years and have graduated several students. The Zwirtzes is a 3rd generation entrepreneurial family. Robin owns BirdDog Software, a software development company located in Oklahoma City. Affectionately dubbed The Flying Zwirtzes by a family member, they enjoy the general circus-like atmosphere of their busy household. Between the marathon gaming sessions, jewelry making, philosophical discussions, lego masterpieces, and the continuous flow of artwork, there is truly never a dull moment “under the big top.”
Robin’s Workshop: Navigating Technology: Controlling the Technology Monster in Your Home
2:00 PM IN ROOM A
The Internet is a wonderful tool for home education! But it isn’t a pure and wholesome playground. Come learn new ideas for how to help your family deal with the realities of life in the 21st century.
Julie McIntosh
Julie McIntosh is a veteran homeschool mom of four. Three of her children are productive Christian adults, and the fourth will be a senior in high school next year. In her free time, she travels, gardens, hikes, and is generally a wandering wonderer.
What I Wish I Had Known When My Children Were Little
3:30 PM IN ROOM B
Aim for the future without missing the present! That’s the key to happy homeschooling. Be encouraged not to waste your homeschool journey by being too firmly focused on the final product.