Description
1. A Mother and Son Look Back -Louise & Dan House
Join Louise and her twenty-five year old son, Daniel for an informal time of sharing as they look back over their home education journey. Hear about learning struggles, exciting opportunities, high school, post-secondary and now a career with London Police Services. Dan and Louise will each give their perspective as they recount high points, struggles, and the blessing of their homeschooling adventure. Come and be encouraged.
2. How Hard Can It Be? A Glimpse into Learning Disabilities – Matthew Turton
This fun, experiential and interactive workshop will provide valuable insight into your child’s struggles by allowing you to step into their shoes, experiencing what it is like to have a learning disability. Matthew Turton, Vice-President at Breakthroughs in Learning, and International Best Selling author, will share about his life as a child struggling with several learning disabilities.
3. ADHD–Curse or Gift?-Donna Fawcett
In this hour workshop, Donna will share her own struggles with being ADHD in a family of ADHD siblings. She will offer solutions from personal experience from her learning and from her children’s learning paths.
4. ADHD: Disease, Normal Childhood or Something Else? – Mary Lou Maclean
Statistics today indicate that 5-15% of school-aged children are affected by ADHD. But what truly is ADHD and are there other conditions that mimic the ADHD symptoms or can lead to it? This workshop will educate you on how to identify whether or not your child has ADHD, as well as looking for therapeutic solutions to symptoms that may impede your child’s academic performance or social wellbeing.
5. ADHD: What’s Myth, What’s Real? – Matthew Turton
Matthew is Director of Breakthroughs In Learning, shares from his personal experience of growing up with ADHD and then becoming a successful learner both in college and University. He will discuss common myths and provide factual and helpful information about this all-too-common yet misunderstood learning challenge.
6. Demystifying ADHD: Toward a Hope-Filled Approach – Ben Loveday
Some children naturally seem to struggle more than others with sitting still, paying attention, and even learning from consequences. Why is this the case? Where did the diagnosis of ADHD come from? How has it become an epidemic? The latest psychiatric diagnosis manual (DSM V) indicates that active, rambunctious children have a “Neurodevelopmental Disorder”. How true is this? Who benefits most from early identification and treatment of ADHD? How, as parents, may we support our children to optimize the strengths and minimize the pitfalls of being active and impulsive?
7. Homeschooling the Child with a Label and/or a Disability – Sylvia Funk
A child labeled, whether with ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome etc, is typically expected to achieve less. The label often limits the child from achieving their full potential. As expectations are lowered so are opportunities to succeed. For example: It is a common misconception that a child with Down Syndrome cannot learn to read, or a child with ADHD will always be impulsive and unfocused, or a brain injury will never be overcome. When given the correct tools in the form of a neurodevelopmental program parents can break the bonds that accompany labels. A neurodevelopmental program, which combines neurological organization along with an academic program, can be your strongest weapon against the limiting impact of a label.
8. Extreme Parenting: Homeschooling When Learning is Difficult! – Linda Hoffman
Homeschooling takes time and energy. Homeschooling a child who struggles to learn takes more! Linda has wrestled with many of the same frustrations and concerns as most other moms – What curriculum is best for my child? What should my expectations be? Can I really teach my child as well as the Special Education “experts” in school? What will my child’s future look like? How do I give the siblings the attention they need? Join Linda in this interactive session as she opens the floor for your questions, and also shares research, resources, ideas and hope. Her experience is gleaned from over twenty years of homeschooling her daughter with multiple special needs, as well as from her many connections with other families who are homeschooling their own children with special needs.
9. Homeschooling your Child with Special Needs – Linda Hoffman
Home education takes time and energy. Home educating a child with special needs takes more! Linda has wrestled with many of the same frustrations and concerns as most other moms – What curriculum is best for my child? Can I really teach my child as well as the Special Education “experts” in school? How do I give the siblings the attention they need? Join Linda in this interactive session as she opens the floor for your questions, and also shares research, resources, ideas, experience and hope.
10. Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner – Barbara Postma (HSLDA)
There is no question that being at home is the best place for children who are struggling to learn. However, it is critical that homeschooling parents remember that struggling learners need to be taught differently in order for them to succeed. In this session, Barbara Postma, an NILD Educational Therapist and homeschooling mom of seven, will discuss how to choose curriculum that suits your child’s learning difficulties, how to have your child assessed and diagnosed, and what types of outside help and therapies might be most useful to your child. Speaking from personal experience, Barbara will help to answer your questions and to give you the right questions to ask.
11. Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner Through High School – Diane Geerlinks
“HELP! I don’t think so!!!” Are you exasperated with your struggling learner, but at the same time realizing that he/she may not be able to manage a traditional high school? The challenge of homeschooling through high school feels overwhelming enough, let alone with my student who cannot even write a paragraph without my help! In this workshop, Diane will share personal experiences as well as educational tips on how to make high school a great opportunity for your struggling learner!
12. If You Don’t “Get It” You Can Forget It! Listening & Reading Comprehension – Matthew Turton
Our ability to understand what is going on around us is a critical skill for academics and life. It’s not a hearing problem, but your child often needs instructions repeated. They read wonderfully, but can’t tell you what they just read. Matthew Turton, Director of Breakthroughs in Learning, Educational Therapist and best-selling author has over 20,000 hours working with children with learning and behaviour issues. You’ll learn how the brain responds to visual and auditory input and what you can do in the classroom to help students struggling with poor comprehension. Matthew will share real life stories, tips and strategies that you can use with your learners right away.
13. Inside the Brain of a Hyperactive Homeschooler – Israel Wayne
If you have a hyperactive or easily distractible child, you won’t want to miss this informative and sometimes humorous message that shares the perspective of a homeschooling father who was once a hyperactive homeschooled child. You will receive practical and Biblical insights into ADD/ADHD and will be encouraged that there is hope for your child!
14. Laziness, Late Bloomer, or Learning Disability – Diane Geerlinks
You decided to homeschool your child. The curriculum is bought, the lessons are planned, the school room is ready, and you are filled with excitement. And then…. instead of peace and harmony, you feel like you’re in a battle with your child. In this workshop, Diane will help de-mystify questions and share strategies to help launch your struggling learner on the road to success. There is HOPE!
15. Learning Disabilities: Signals and Solution-Pauline Turton
As a classroom teacher and parent of two children with serious learning difficulties, Pauline Turton researched daily for seven years looking for ways to develop brain skills. Now, as Founder & Director of Breakthroughs in Learning, she is excited to help teaching parents identify some school room signals and apply practical solutions for children with learning disabilities.
16. Learning Disabilities 101 – Louise House
17. Help From the Trenches, My Life with Autism – Sarah Hornblower
Something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it. You have just come from a doctor’s appointment where the word you dreaded hearing has been uttered. Autism!! Lord, I can’t deal with this! Why me! Maybe this isn’t you but is your family, friend, or someone in your church. Come out and Be Encouraged!! We will laugh and cry together as we realize that life is NOT over just detoured. Sometimes the best things come when we end up where we never intended to be. Find out how to support those around you who are affected. Hear what you need to know at each part of the journey from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. A resource sheet will be available.
18. Movement and the Brain – Move More, Learn More – Diane Geerlinks
Research is showing that in order for our students’ brains to function at their peak, their bodies need to move! Dr. Ratey and others teach us that movement is integral for improving attention, warding off anxiety, controlling ADHD symptoms and stimulating general cognitive function. Dr. Blomberg and others teach us how unintegrated primitive reflexes can affect student’s academic and emotional skills. In this workshop, we will discuss this research and share ideas on how we can promote and incorporate movement in our daily lessons.
19. Picture This: Dyslexia as a Gift – Samantha Cameron
In a world constructed for verbal thinkers, visual thinkers are often labeled as having difficulty learning. Dyslexia is one of the most commonly misunderstood learning disabilities. With a host of symptoms affecting everything from math to spelling, reading and even body movement and control, dyslexia is often seen as a disability, instead of a gift. Visual thinkers (dyslexics) think in pictures and this process happens more quickly than verbal thinkers process. Very often it is our verbal system of education that hobbles these gifted thinkers. Learn how dyslexics think and practical resources for giving them the tools they need. With over 25 years of educational experience both in the school system and homeschooling her own children, Samantha strives to break the stigma surrounding the wonderful gift of dyslexia and present it to the world as the beautiful gift it truly is.
20. Reading Difficulties—Dyslexia, Eye Tracking and Letter Recognition – Matthew Turton
Dyslexia isn’t just a buzzword, but it also doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Children who struggle with reading may need different kinds of support. In this session, we will look at the varied root causes and symptoms of reading troubles, as well as tips to help struggling readers. Matthew Turton, an Educational Therapist with over 20,000 hours of experience working with children with learning disabilities at Breakthroughs in Learning, brings both his experience and passion for helping children enjoy reading. This session will give you insights and practical tips to apply in the classroom. Grades K – 6.
21. Struggling Readers: Could it be Dyslexia? – Penny Greenburg
22. Help for the Struggling Learner – Trix Bradley
Do you have a child that struggles to learn? Have you tried numerous curriculum with minimal success? Together we will explore the foreign land of learning disabilities and come to a better understanding of the elements of homeschooling that are necessary to support struggling learners and empower YOU with knowledge and tools to help your child achieve success.
23. Understanding the Right Brained Spatial Learner – Trix Bradley
24. Why Homeschooling A Child With Unique Needs Is A Great Choice! – Diane Geerlinks
– Are you trying to homeschool a child that doesn’t fit the mold? Every child is unique, but some have needs that require more intervention. The labels range from Autism to Down’s Syndrome, from ADHD to Vision Impairment to Auditory Processing Disorder. Is it really possible to teach your own child in all of these situations? In this workshop, we will discuss the pros and cons, hear each other’s real life stories, share available resources and receive some much needed encouragement for the journey!
