True story — last year, when I got back home after speaking at the Great Homeschool Convention in Greenville, SC, I was hoarse for a week. Really. Scratchy voice that crackled above a whisper.
I just love, love, love talking to all of YOU!
Will you be at any of the GHC events this year? Come, on… snag yourself a pass and come hang out with me for a bit to chat about super-smart, quirky, intense, creatively awesome kids — yours and mine. I’ll have chocolate.
And probably a hug for you and a snuggle for any babies you bring my way. I just love those baby giggles.
If you’re a homeschooling family like us — relecutant or otherwise — I know you’ll be glad you took the time to get yourself to a convention. I’ll be at all four, so make sure that you take some time to track me down for those hugs, chocolate, and to help me get in my baby fix.
Check out this information from the folks at GHC — oh! and make sure you read all the way to the end because they’re giving one of YOU a chance to come hang out for free! At the end of the post, you can enter to win a family pass for the event of your choice and up to four tickets to EACH of the special events offered at the convention you’re attending.
Amazing, huh?
A family registration covers you, your spouse, children/teens, and their grandparents to hear the workshops and shop the exhibit hall for all three days of the convention. That AND the special events tickets. Awesome! Read on…
Colleen Kessler is an explorer, tinkerer, educator, writer, creator, and a passionate advocate for the needs of gifted and twice-exceptional children. She has a B.S. in elementary education, a M.Ed. in gifted studies, and is the founder of the popular blog Raising Lifelong Learners as well as Raising Poppies, a community of support for parents of gifted children.
The author of more than a dozen books for teachers, parents, and kids, Colleen left teaching after more than a decade to write and speak about parenting, education, giftedness, and hands-on learning and play. Homeschooling is an adventure she hadn’t planned on, but she has embraced the opportunity to learn alongside her kids every day, and is inspiring other moms and dads to do the same.
Her recent book titles include Super Smart Science: 180 Days of Warm-Ups and Challenging Activities(Prufrock Press) and Real-Life Science Mysteries (Prufrock Press). Watch for Gifted Kids at Home: Everything You Need to Know to Understand Your Quirky Children and Help Them Thrive (RLL Media) and The Coolest, Dirtiest, Creepy-Crawliest Backyard Nature Science Activities for Kids (Page Street Press/Macmillan) coming soon!
This year, we will feature more than 230 speaking sessions, led by a world-class featured speaker roster which also includes a number of highly-focused special tracks.
Special Tracks
- Cynthia Tobias, a regular contributor and radio broadcaster for Focus on the Family, will be speaking in our Parenting Track along with Norm Wakefield, Drive Thru History’s Dave Stotts, Dr. Thomas White, Pastor Randy Frazee, and more.
- J. Warner Wallace, atheist-turned-Christian author and homicide detective, will speak to our teens during the Real Faith for the Real World teen track.
- Sarah Mackenzie, Dr. Christopher Perrin, Adam Andrews, John De Gree, Dr. Carol Reynolds, S.D. Smith, and more, are back and better than ever, presenting invaluable sessions for the Classical Education Track.
- New this year is our Charlotte Mason Track with guest presenters Brandy Vencel, Dr. Jen Spencer, and Sheila Carroll.
- Janice Campbell will be sharing her wisdom and years of experience as a seasoned homeschooler in the Homeschool 101 track structured to guide beginning homeschooling families and those just considering homeschooling.
- Our College Track, sponsored by Cedarville University, will address theme Life Beyond High School: How to pay for and go through the process of choosing the right college.
- Parents with Special Needs and Gifted Children will be encouraged in home-educating children who struggle to overcome learning disabilities and how to continually engage a child who may be learning at a higher level. Colleen Kessler, Dr. Peg Dawson and Kathy Kuhl will be leading this track.
Workshop Sessions
In addition to these focused tracks, we also have a host of other speaking sessions covering how-to’s and tips of teaching math, language arts, science, writing, foreign language, and more. Check out our posted workshop preview which is only a sample of what is to come.
Moms will benefit from sessions encouraging them to continue their homeschooling journey, despite the obstacles and stresses that may be involved.
Children will have the option to enjoy a conference of their own! Hosted by Giant Cow Ministries, your children will love this high-energy, Biblical-based children’s conference.
Exhibit Hall
A huge exhibit hall will be available for you to explore all the best curriculum and homeschooling resources available under one roof. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes! Many of the curriculum authors will be present to answer your questions and help you decide which curriculum best fits your child’s learning style. There is no better way to make that all-important curriculum decision than to have “hands-on” access to every possible resource, right before your eyes.
Special Events
As each day winds down after a full schedule of presentations and shopping, you will have the opportunity to spend valuable time with your family and enjoy the evenings at our special events. Here are some of the events you can look forward to:
Jeff Foxworthy
Jeff Foxworthy Live! 13 Million Albums Sold….Largest Selling Comedian of all Time! Coming to the Texas Homeschool Convention.
Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country. He is the largest-selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, and best-selling author of more than 26 books.
Holocaust Survivor Dr. Inge Auerbacher
Coming to Texas!
Holocaust survivor Dr. Inge Auerbacher will give an account of her time spent in a concentration camp beginning as a 7-year-old child. She spent the worst years of her life surviving as best she could with her family in the cruelest of conditions. Her story helps us to “Never Forget.” Dr. Auerbacher is living history that you and your children may never have the opportunity to witness again.
Andrew Peterson
Coming to all four 2017 GHC events!
Christian homeschooling dad and musician Andrew Peterson will perform on Thursday evening and lead a very special workshop session on Friday morning! As a musician in Nashville, he has “been about the business of quietly changing lives in four-minute increments.” Join us for an evening enjoying Andrew’s music, as well as his special Friday morning session!
This year is going to be better than ever before! We strive to educate by presenting speakers who are professionals in their field and who can better prepare you for the journey, aspire to encourage you as you connect with like-minded, grace-filled families, and endeavor to equip you with comprehensive curriculum choices in the largest homeschool curriculum halls in the country.
Our mission is to help you and your children’s homeschooling journey so that it may be more successful and less stressful than you imagine.
Grab a friend, or rally the family, and come out to one of the events!
Enter to win your family pass and special event tickets now:
For more posts about parenting gifted kids, check out:
Welcome!
Hi! I’m Colleen, gifted specialist, educational consultant, author, speaker, and homeschool mom of four gifted/twice-exceptional kids.
Grab a cup of coffee, some of that chocolate you’re hiding from the kids, and join me as I learn, experiment, and explore with my kiddos — and hopefully inspire you a little in your journey alongside smart, quirky, creative kids, too!
