HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION - Oregon Home Education Network

Oregon Home Education Network (OHEN)
presents its 12th
HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION
Saturday, June 30, 2012
9:00 am - 5:15 pm
Valley Catholic High School
4275 SW 148th Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97007
www.ohen.org/convention
Tap into resources!
Learn from each other!
Connect with your community!
Oregon Home Education Network is your INCLUSIVE statewide
homeschool resource support group!
For more information about the OHEN Convention, visit
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2012 OHEN Convention Schedule
Saturday June 30
9:00 - 10:00am Registration and Vendor Court (open until 2:00pm)
10:00 - 10:15am Introduction
10:15 - 11:00am Session 1: Meet & Greet, Vendor Shopping
11:00 - 11:15am Break & Vendor Shopping
11:15am - 12:15pm Session 2: Parent, Teen, Children Workshops
12:15 - 1:45pm LUNCH & Vendor Shopping
1:45 - 2:45pm Session 3: Parent, Teen, Children Workshops
2:45 - 3:00pm Break
3:00 - 4:00pm Session 4: Parent, Teen, Children Workshops
4:00 - 4:15pm Break
4:15 - 5:15pm Session 5: Parent, Teen, Children Workshops
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OHEN is always looking for committee members and volunteers.
If you would like to find out more or get involved, please contact
Alison Jakel at registrar@ohen.org
Board of Directors
President Alison Jakel
Vice President Gina Guzman
Secretary Bobbi Burton
Treasurer Carol Pitkin
Information Coordinator Stephanie Nystrom
Event Coordinator Diana McIntosh
Outreach Coordinator Rosalyn Newhouse
Non Board Members serving vital roles for OHEN
Legislative Liaison Barbara Smythe
Legislative Consultant Amy Grant
Helpline Coordinator Carol Rulla
PR/Media Coordinator Tara Atkinson
OHEN Convention Committee
Chair Diana McIntosh
Treasurer Carol Pitkin
Secretary/Registrar Alison Jakel
Vendor/Facility Coordinator Rosalyn Newhouse
Website Manager Stephanie Nystrom
Volunteer Coordinator Tara Atkinson
Program Coordinator Alison Jakel
Children’s Sessions Diana McIntosh
Teen Sessions Anne Ashton von Borg
Teen Committee Jacob Ashton von Borg
Vivianna Ashton von Borg
Taylor Scharp
Tia McIntosh
Advertising/PR Gina Guzman
Publications Barbara Hammond
Visitor Bags Bobbi Burton
Signs Coordinator Mai Lon Ross
Lunch/Hospitality Trisha Mitberg
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Vendors and Presenters
Acerlogic Language Services International
Amy Grant Lola Carlile
Anne Heinrich Mad Science
Anne Shoepe Masabi/Barefoot Books
Ano’s Art Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Annunciation Homeschool
Enhancement
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Misty Stromme
Christian Family Adoptions Moonstar Dance Studio
Better Learning Solutions Northwest Children’s Theater
BJ the Clown OATAG - Oregon Association for the
Talented and Gifted
Cori Smith OMSI - Oregon Museum of Science and
Industry
Cwerks Oregon Chautauqua
Destination Imagination Oregon Gymnastics Academy
Discovery Toys/Simply Fun Outdoor School Partnership
Donate Life Northwest Seven Stars Studio
Emily Troper Tamra Orr - Author and Homeschooling
Expert
Evergreen Aviation Museum Teaching Textbooks
FixMyGadget Terry Jordan - Storyteller
Gina Guzman Terry Purcell
Ian Powell, Speech Therapist Test Metrics
ITT - Technical Institute Trackers Earth
Jesse Hampton Twin Rocks Friends Camp
Dr. Jim Petersen United Studios of Self Defense
John Bennett VEGA Fencing Academy
Just Ducky Books - Usborne Books Village Home Education Resource Center
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OHEN would like to thank all our vendors and
presenters for participating in the 12th annual
OHEN Homeschool Convention
Adult Workshops - Session 1
Who are your homeschooling neighbors?
During Session 1, parents and children together will gather informally
in small groups, to give families who live near each other,
and families with learning challenges, a chance to connect.
Come learn about local resources, meet other
homeschooling families, and swap email addresses.
A1 - Meet and Greet Your Neighbors - Rooms 101 - 105, Cafeteria
and 202 - 204
See registration desk for specific room assignments, designated by geographic
area. Pre-arranged childcare will be in Room 210.
A2 - Meet and Greet for Families and Children with Special Learning
Needs - Room 103
Are you worried that your young child is delayed in his/her speech and
language development? Are you concerned about your child’s learning?
Troubles with reading, spelling, writing or math? Does your child have
problems with focusing or attention? Come meet other families with similar
challenges, or find out the most common causes of difficulties in these
developmental and academic areas and what you can do to help your child.
Professionals in the field will be available for you to talk to and answer
questions you may have.
A3 - Meet and Greet for Teens - Room 205
Homeschoolers ages 12 and up may meet up with other teens and
nearly-teens in the Teen Room.
About Oregon Home Education Network (OHEN)
OHEN is an inclusive, statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting
all of Oregon’s homeschooling families. OHEN supports the right of all
homeschoolers to educate their children with as little government intervention
as possible. Celebrating the diversity within our homeschooling community,
OHEN welcomes any person without regard to educational philosophy, religion,
creed, race, color, sex or ethnic or national origin.
For more information about OHEN, visit www.ohen.org.
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Adult Workshops - Session 2
A4 - No Math, No Problem (John Bennett) - Room 101 - 102
When are we going to use this math stuff in real life? Come hear a math teacher's
(and homeschooling dad's) journey of how the answer to this common question changed over
time and how his controversial conclusion is polarizing the world. You may never think of math
the same way after this.
A5 - Staying Connected With Your Teenager (Emily Troper) - Room 103
This class focuses on the primacy of connection in parenting teenagers. Hear from experienced
parents of teens about how they stay(ed) connected with their teenagers through these exciting,
scary, fragile, powerful years. You will come away with an understanding of the importance of
preserving connection between parent and teen, and ideas and inspiration for how to live together
harmoniously while setting limits respectfully. Incorporates concepts from the work of Patty
Wipfler, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, and Mira Kirchenbaum.
A6 - On the Cutting Edge:
How Homeschooling Embodies Best Education Practices (*Lori Walker ) - Room 104
Do you wonder if what you are doing at home will "measure up" to the neighborhood school's
curriculum, or even the curriculum of that expensive private school? Discover what an ideal 21st
century education looks like, and take a look at how your homeschool plans compare. Gain clarity
on what really matters, and how we can best support the lifelong learner within our children and
ourselves.
A7 - Homeschooling the Young Child (Cori Smith and Gina Guzman) - Room 105
So you've decided not to send your child to preschool or kindergarten. Now what? Learn how to
inspire discovery and creative play. Combine the effective use of living books, storytelling,
hands-on learning, and field trips for a well-rounded education for young children. Learn to
observe your child and notice the signs of readiness instead of following the age-based
"standards" of modern education. Recent studies in the field of education will be presented for
consideration.
A8 - Beyond Brainstorming (*Karen Anderson) - Room 202
This will be an interactive session for parents covering both Teamwork and Creative Problem
Solving skills. The development, characteristics, and behaviors of teams will be discussed, and
some team-building games shared. The tools that can be used to develop creative problem solving
skills from generating ideas to implementation will be shared and used. A brief discussion of
Destination ImagiNation and how its concepts can work in the homeschool environment will end
the session.
A9 - Privately-Developed Plans (PDPs):
An Alternative to Testing and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) (Amy Grant) - Room 203
Oregon law allows children with disabilities to be assessed under a Privately Developed Plan
(PDP) as an alternative to standardized testing or an IEP. At this session you’ll learn about the
qualifications and requirements for a PDP, and have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss
the advantages and disadvantages of a PDP.
A10 - Word Magic (Tamra Orr) - Room 204
Worried about how to teach writing to your children? Want to teach the creativity and magic of
writing instead of getting tangled up in grammar and sentence diagramming? In this workshop,
author/writer Tamra Orr will present ways to keep the fun in writing, with games to play, ideas to
try and stories to create. Let’s explore how to make writing a natural part of life—and not
something to be "taught."
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* Visit their vendor booth for more information
About Our Speakers
Lori McKee Walker is the founder of Village Home Education Resource
Center and currently serves as the Executive Director. Village Home is gaining
national recognition for its innovative approach to education, and will be
featured in the upcoming documentary, "Class Dismissed." Prior to becoming
a mother, which she believes is her most important job, Lori was the Director
of Training and Curriculum at Learning Forum, where she designed
curriculum for life skills and academic skills programs worldwide. She also
served as a facilitator herself at programs in the United States and abroad. Lori
has over 15 years of experience teaching and training adults and children in a
variety of subjects, from geography and pysanky, to accounting for REITs.
She earned BA degrees, graduating summa cum laude with distinction and
honors, from SMU in Business Management and Psychology, with an
emphasis in child development.
Shadowmoon Wolf (Moonstar Dance Studio) Shadow is the founder of
Moonstar and she’s been dancing for over 20 years throughout the West Coast.
She spent most of her high school years on the Forest Grove Vikettes Dance
Team and went on to instruct dance camps at Portland State and Western
University. She later returned to Forest Grove to take the head coaching
position in 2005. Shadow has danced with the Oregon All-State team,
Portland Forest Dragons, Semi-Pro Football, Team and the Thunderbolts. She
recalls that she’s had many wonderful dance experiences over the last 10
years, but she always had a dream of owning her own dance studio. Five years
ago she founded Moonstar Dance Studio and she says, “Every day I feel
excited about the opportunity to touch the lives of our youth!”
Ano Youssefian (Ano’s Art) Ano believes that art has the power to shape
lives. To practice art is to affirm one’s beliefs. To share art is to create a
dialogue with others. To appreciate art is to find the best of ourselves
reflected in it. Ano learned to connect art and life from her mother, Serpouhi
Sakouyan, who found so many ways to show it. Now it is her privilege and joy
to bring this family tradition to her art and teaching. Taking the time to savor
the big and small wonders of life—and to share them—is both the greatest
lesson she has learned and the greatest gift she can give. With each child that
Ano teaches, she passes along the same love, hope, and care that her mother so
tenderly gave to her. (Ano’s assistants, Jamie and Xia, will be teaching the
Ano’s Art workshops at the OHEN Convention.)
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About Our Speakers
Misty Stromme & Jesse Hampton Misty loves nature and is passionate about
teaching! She is currently obsessed with model rockets and toy dinosaurs, but her dream
is to one day establish a complete outdoor education program for homeschooled
children and their families. She recently led an expedition to eastern Oregon to search
for rare birds with several Village Home families. As Baba Dioum said, “In the end, we
will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will
understand only what we are taught.” Jesse has taught OMSI outreach programs for the
past 10 years; everything from astronomy to forensics. His specialty is in physics and
using science to solve everyday problems. Jesse is a fun, enthusiastic science teacher.
His interests and hobbies are too many to count but they include board games, wildlife
photography, and building model rockets.
Joel Thomas is a licensed teacher with a passion for science education who has chosen
to teach outside of the traditional classroom. He started teaching science in 2000 and
has been involved in camping ministry since 2004. Currently he works as the Outdoor
Education Coordinator for Twin Rocks Friends Camp on the Oregon Coast. Joel also
founded, and directs, the Oregon Outdoor School Partnership Program
(www.odspartnership.org).
Emily Troper is the mother of four kids (ranging from 7-20 years old) and is a life-long
student of child development, alternative education, and parenting. She currently works
as a respectful holistic caregiver to the elderly.
United Studios of Self Defense located in Beaverton, Oregon. To ensure top quality
instruction, all Instructors must graduate with honors from the United Studios
Instructors Academy. The Academy is taught by Senior Instructors that have been
training in martial arts and managing studios for over ten years. Our Instructors must
constantly refine their teaching and organizational skills to make your Martial Arts
training experience exciting and enjoyable. Upon completion of this unique training
course, we certify them to teach the United Studios of Self Defense System. Fully
qualified, they are prepared to help you with all aspects of your Martial Arts’
Training. Instructors participate in weekly training sessions taught by Master Instructors
as well as 10th Degree Black Belt and United Studios founder Professor Charles
Mattera.
Archers Afield (503) 639-3553
11945 SW Pacific Hwy Ste #121 Portland, OR 97223
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5
FixMyGadget
425 SW Madison Ave
Suite H-2
Corvallis, OR 97333
Telephone: 541-250-0349

Adult Workshops - Session 3
A11 - The New Consciousness of Education (John Bennett) - Room 101 - 102
The education system in the United States is in need of a major transformation, despite
continuing governmental controls and ongoing efforts from within the system to effect change.
The imbalance between relationships and resources remains at the core of the problem. The key to
the solution is looking at the problem in a different way and NCE, The New Consciousness of
Education, is that new lens. Come try on a brand new pair of shades, custom-fit with NCE lenses.
Not only will you see the world differently, you may never want to take those shades off ever
again.
A12 and A19 (2-hour session) - Experience Dyslexia:
A Learning Disabilities Simulation (Kelly Arnold and Anne Shoepe) - Room 103
Come learn more about the most common cause of reading, writing and spelling difficulties.
Experiencing Dyslexia is a hands-on experience that was designed to increase awareness of the
difficulties and frustrations that people with dyslexia encounter daily.(This also mimics problems
with ADHD, dysgraphia, and auditory processing problems since these conditions are often
associated with dyslexia.) Participants rotate among six learning stations that simulate various
language-related tasks similar to those encountered in the classroom and workplace.
This workshop will extend across both session 3 and session 4.
A13 - College Planning 101:
Practical and Streamlined Advice for Parents and Students (Brian Bills) - Room 105
As early as the 8 th grade equivalent academic year, families need to start helping their students
chart the course for acceptance to the colleges of their choice. This workshop will help you
understand today’s increasingly competitive college admissions process, highlight the importance
of building a winning student profile, and address unique issues for the homeschooled applicant.
A14 - Making the Brain-Body Connection:
Music & Movement for Whole-Brain Learning (Kaylyn Mabey) - Music Room
How can a song paired with purposeful movement make memorizing easier? Does music really
help children learn sequence and impulse control? What body movements help develop
communication and coordination between both sides of the brain? Learn the answers to these
questions plus tips and tricks to incorporate music and movement into your homeschool
experience.
A15 - Language Experience Approach (Gina Guzman) - Room 202
The Language Experience Approach is a gentle language arts method for teaching reading and
writing that works with any age, any ability, and any educational philosophy. In LEA we use the
person's own words and experiences to create stories that are then used to teach a wide variety of
language arts skills. Best of all you can do it for free and with very little prep time. This is a good
workshop for anyone who wants to get out of the reading and writing workbook rut or just wants
something new to add to their current methods.
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About Our Speakers
Dr. Jim Petersen, a professional counselor and retired pastor (and fisherman),
distilled more than forty years of experience in interpersonal relationships,
teaching, and counseling into an informal, often humorous volume
loaded with practical tips, examples, and techniques to practice. He leads
workshops and teaches listening/counseling skills in churches’, businesses and
schools, based on his book, “Why Don’t We Listen Better? Communicating &
Connecting in Relationships.”
Terry Purcell feels younger than he is. He knows what a paradiddle is, and
will teach you for free. He reads at a 25th grade level. He knows, off the top of
his head, what words can be spelled with the letters A-E-E-I-N-R-T. He loves
getting people excited about events that happened 50, 100, or even 1000 years
ago. He still gets excited about those events himself on a daily basis. Aside
from this, Terry is also an instructor at Village Home Education Resource
Center and is charged with keeping up with teens, tweens, and little ones - a
task he loves.
Chris and Marian Scadden (Cwerks) are co-owners of Cwerks Interactive
Theatre & have been homeschooling for almost 20 years. They've been
performing, teaching, and directing for even longer throughout Oregon,
California, and Washington. Chris has a masters in bilingual education and
Marian has a degree in children's theatre.
Debbie Schmidt (Cwerks) is well-known throughout the homeschool
community for her science dissection classes and primitive living skills camps.
She is a part of Cwerks Interactive Theatre's new AHSM ("awesome") program
= Arts, Humanities, Science and Math. Debbie has also taught a variety of
classes for all ages: at conferences, schools, church daycares, 4-H events, scout
events, museums and other venues. She has been home/car schooling for almost
19 years.
Anne Shoepe has a Master’s degree in Special Education and is the owner of
Developing Young Minds, which is a private practice servicing children with
developmental delays and disabilities. Anne is a certified dyslexia
specialist and provides both testing and tutoring for dyslexia. She has
homeschooled her three children, one of whom has special needs.
Cori Smith is the mother to two boys ages 6 and almost 9, who she has
homeschooled since preschool. She has an eclectic approach that has
influenced by Charlotte Mason and modern studies in education. Cori blogs at
www.wonderinthewoods.wordpress.com about homeschooling and parenting
topics.
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About Our Speakers
Gina Guzman has been teaching, in one form or another, her entire life. Besides
earning a degree in Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities she has tutored
students of all ages, helped start a family literacy program, taught American
Citizenship, Adult Basic Education, and English as a Second Language; as well as
taught within the homeschool community. Her family has been homeschooling for ten
years.
Anna Heinrich, M.Ed, has been training adults for over 20 years. She is an
instructional designer, facilitator, and producer with InSync Training, a global Virtual
Classroom provider. One the things that drove Anna to homeschooling was her work
with the Northwest Media Literacy Center in 2000-2003. “Homeschooling gives us
time. This time with our son counters the impact media has on him and our society.”
Anna and her husband have homeschooled their son for all his 13 years. “I’m the first
to admit homeschooling has been challenging, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”
Terry Jordan, a homeschooling mom for 16 years, has a passion for storytelling. She
has shared her tales, encouraging others to do the same, in workshops and
presentations at retreats, festivals, and conferences all around the country and even
abroad in Dublin, Ireland (which is a grand place for telling tales, don'tcha know).
Terry is a member of the National Storytelling Network and served on the board of the
Portland Storytellers' Guild where she continues to be a member. For five years, Terry
has facilitated a monthly Story Coaching session for storytellers of all levels. Terry is a
Reiki Master/Teacher and co-Founder of EastWest Reiki Association, whose mission
is to train and support all those using Reiki as a tool for self-care. She teaches a weekly
preschool class at Village Home, teaches Taekwondo to adults and children and is
currently training to run in the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon while raising funds
for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Kaylyn Mabey (Cwerks) is a part of Cwerks Interactive Theatre’s new AHSM
(“awesome”) program = Arts, Humanities, Science and Math. A homeschooling mom
for 16 years, she has also taught a variety of classes for all ages; at conferences,
schools, church daycares, 4-H events, scout events, museums, and other venues. She
has taught music workshops longer than she’s homeschooled! See us at
www.cwerks.com
Tamra Orr has been unschooling since before it had an official name (in other words,
25-plus years). She is a full time author/writer of more than 350 nonfiction books,
including half a dozen on homeschooling. She is mom to four, wife to one, and spends
her free time writing letters to people all over the world or reading—both preferably
done at a campsite somewhere.
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Adult Workshops cont. - Session 3
A16 - Everything You Wanted to Know About Oregon Home Education Laws
(Amy Grant) - Room 203
Ask your questions about the ins and outs of Oregon home education, private school laws,
reporting and testing requirements, and discuss compliance/noncompliance issues in this
interactive session. Amy will also discuss trends in the state legislature, and what you can do to
protect your home education freedom.
A17 - Media Literacy (Anna Heinrich) - Room 204
We teach our children how to comprehend their reading. We should be doing the same for the
television. The media we see on the TV is a major part of how we communicate as a society. Just
like learning how to analyze reading, this session teaches parents how to critically analyze what
we see on the television. The session will focus on the five principles to deconstructing media and
what type of questions we should be asking. The goal is to have a set of questions we can start
using to get ourselves and our kids thinking about the hidden stories in television.
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Adult Workshops - Session 4
A18 - Brain Games (John Bennett) - Room 101 - 102
John Bennett is a one-of-a-kind middle and high school math teacher in the San Francisco area.
His application of logic puzzles and strategy games in the classroom bring traditional
mathematics curriculum to life. If you plan on joining John, be prepared to be puzzled, amazed,
and downright inspired by the activities he has designed to stimulate analytic reasoning,
deductive logic and visual-spatial reasoning – essential skills needed for applied math theory.
A19 - Learning Disabilities Simulation, cont. from Session 3
(Kelly Arnold and Anne Shoepe) - Room 103 - 104 See session A12 for description
A20 - College Admissions Testing 101 (Brian Bills) Room 105
It used to be the case that “admissions tests” were primarily used by schools for making
admissions decisions. Today, however, admissions tests have a far greater impact. This
workshop will help you to understand the distinctions between these various exams and the
impact each can have on the entire college admissions process. Learn the importance of test
scores relative to other admissions criteria, as well as the impact on merit-based aid award
decisions. Also learn when each of these tests should be taken and the impact of multiple test
scores.
A21 and A29 (2-hour session) - Why Don't We Listen Better? (Jim Petersen) - Music Room
Family members get excited or confused, frustrated or hurt, grief-stricken or angry, and want to
be heard. But while we think we’re good listeners, most of us are not. We want to listen
effectively and talk without making others defensive and don’t know how. You’ll chuckle at the
Flatbrain Tango that shows what's going on and leads to better ways of handling conflict. You'll
observe and practice talking and listening techniques that work and learn a Talker-Listener Card
process to help your family in tense situations. The versatile card works on every situation from
the family dinner table to work, teaching, and counseling settings. It could end arguing as you
know it and the class will be fun. This workshop will extend across both session 4 and session 5.
A22 - Advanced Dissections at Home (Joel Thomas) - Room 208
Learn how to lead dissections at home for students aged 12 - 18. Joel will help answer questions
like: Where can I get equipment and specimens for dissection? What organisms are available?
How do I lead a dissection at my co-op? What safety concerns need to be addressed to lead a
dissection (physical and emotional)? Throughout the workshop he'll walk small groups step-bystep
through the dissection of a dogfish (shark).
A23 - Reading for Understanding (Lola Carlile) - Room 202
I can read the words, but what does it mean? With multiple strategies, resources, and
methodologies for all learning styles, this session is designed to help enhance your child’s
comprehension once basic sight words are learned. Meaningful and relevant reading creates
lifelong readers. This session will include hands-on activities incorporating art, drama, music, and
rhythm.
A24 - Math Playground: Hands-On Math Ideas for Early Elementary Learners (Amy
Grant) - Room 203
Discover fun and easy hands-on activities to encourage your early elementary-age (~4-8 years
old) child's mathematical thinking without worksheets. Amy will share the games, books and
activities that she uses in the Math Playground class at Village Home, and will show how to use
household items and recycled materials to make economical (and fun) learning tools.
A25 - Media Issues Roundtable (Anna Heinrich) - Room 204
Every family has different methods for dealing with the many media issues in our home. This
round table discussion will let us share our strategies with each other and our ideas on how to
make the most of media in today's media saturated world.
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About Our Speakers
BJ the Clown Performing at over 300 events every year, BJ the Clown (aka
Bret J. Christie) has long been considered one of the premier children’s
entertainers in the Pacific NW. A Portland native and member of the World
Clown Association, BJ originally trained under the guidance of former
Ringling Brothers clowns before developing his own unique style of
performing. After several successful years as one half of the comedy duo BJ
and Scampy’s Merrily Magical Mischief, BJ struck out on his own in 1996 and
has been entertaining non-stop ever since. Specializing in comedy variety
shows for schools, libraries, and corporate events BJ also performs at
birthdays, festivals, camps, and charitable events.
Lola Carlile has taught all grade levels from pre-K through the university
level. She has taught language arts, ESOL, American history and a language
sampler. She is a writer, reader, and dreamer! She recently received her second
Master's degree in Art Therapy Counseling from Marylhurst University and
believes everyone should enjoy learning, especially learning to read. Recently
she has published her first book, "The Twin Within" and is prepared to share
her second book, "Teaching Literacy in a Global Society" with conference
attendees.
Kelly Casperson (Seven Stars Studio) - Kelly’s business and atelier, Seven
Stars Studio, is located in Ladd’s Addition in southeast Portland, Oregon. This
is where she creates her artwork and in 2009, Seven Stars Studio expanded to
include art instruction. Kelly worked in Portland Public Schools for over 20
years, beginning in 1988. In 1990 she initiated an arts education program at
Edwards Elementary School that involved developing the curriculum and
teaching the classes. She has a degree in education and has worked with a wide
array of student learning styles in all the academic subjects. In 2010, Kelly was
able to become a full-time artist and art teacher, an opportunity she
whole-heartedly embraced. Her favorite moment as a teacher is to hear a
student say, “Oh, I get it!”, and her favorite moment as an art teacher was the
student who told her, “I didn’t know I could paint. Now I love to paint!” When
a student sees and understands for the very first time, new vistas are suddenly
opened and the world becomes bigger and brighter - this is why Kelly loves to
teach!
Amy Grant is an attorney and mother of two homeschool graduates, and leads
Math Playground at Village Home Education Resources Center in Beaverton.
She has worked with the Oregon legislature to protect home education freedom
in Oregon for over ten years.
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About Our Speakers
Karen Anderson, with a BS from Oregon State University in Resource Recreation
Management and Youth Agencies, is in her 24 th year as the Affiliate Director for
Oregon Destination ImagiNation and in her 9 th year on the International Board of
Trustees for the organization. Having presented workshops over the years on
teamwork and creative problem solving, she has numerous tips and tricks to share with
parents and students alike. Karen lives in Corvallis Oregon, is married and has 5 five
children and seven grandchildren. Karen is active in the Assistance League of
Corvallis and in the past was heavily involved in Boy Scouting and as a coach for
Cross Country and Track at Crescent Valley High School.
Kelly Arnold is a certified Dyslexia tester and tutor and has homeschooled all three of
her children. Her journey with dyslexia began with her own son’s diagnosis and her
dismay at the lack of accurate information about dyslexia, the most common cause of
reading and writing difficulties. Her business, Better Learning Solutions, evolved from
her desire to help educate parents about why their children might be struggling with
reading, writing, and spelling.
John Bennett is a math teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area and a homeschooling
father of four. An outspoken advocate of education reform, he has presented lectures
and workshops throughout California, including: TEDx, ManhattanBeach, The
California League of Schools, and The California Mathematics Council. John has
created the Blok Stak puzzle and has authored three volumes of Pentagrid Puzzles,
new puzzle forms he created to challenge deductive logic and visual-spatial reasoning.
His current project, BrainGames, is a collection of logic puzzles, abstract strategy
games, and other math activities designed to bring deeper analytic reasoning to the
classroom. For more information, please see iwannabigbrain.com and
pentagridpuzzles.com.
Brian Bills is founder and lead instructor at AcerLogic Educational Services. As an
undergraduate at UCLA, Brian founded Academic Advantage, the precursor to
AcerLogic, and wrote the SAT Preparation program for the Los Angeles YMCA, as
well as the SAT Program for the UC Regents Minority Outreach Program. After
graduating from UCLA Law School in 1999, Brian worked in International and
Corporate Finance until 2004, when he returned to his true passion and founded
AcerLogic. In 2009 he moved his corporate offices to Lake Oswego, putting together a
local team of instructors and admission coaches that have helped hundreds of students
realize their education goals. Brian is regularly asked to speak at local high schools,
community centers and other area businesses about the path to college and the
importance of proper planning. Brian is a member of both the National Association of
College Admissions Counselors, as well as the Pacific North Association of College
Admissions counselors.
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Adult Workshops - Session 5
A26 - Brain Games for ages 8 to adult (John Bennett) - Room 101 - 102
Come and try out several different kinds of abstract strategy games that will not only be fun, but
will also develop analytical thinking skills! Children 8 and up are invited to register to attend this
workshop as well.
A27 - Author Panel - Room 205
Adults are welcome to attend this panel of authors, which was coordinated by the teen committee.
Panel members are: Emily Whitman (Wildwing, Radiant Darkness), Christine Fletcher (Ten
Cents A Dance, Tallulah Falls), Sara Ryan (Empress of the World, The Rules for Hearts), and
Juleigh Hobson (published poet), Susan Fletcher (Dragon Chronicles).
A28 - Identifying Learning Disabilities (Kelly Arnold and Anne Shoepe) - Room 103
Come learn the basics of some of the most common learning disabilities. Topics will include
dyslexia (spelling and reading), ADHD, dysgraphia (handwriting), dyscalculia (math), and
non-verbal learning disorders.
A29 - Why Don't We Listen Better, continued from Session 4 (Jim Petersen) - Music Room
See session A21 for description.
A30 - Elementary Dissections at Home (Joel Thomas) - Room 208
Learn how to lead dissections at home for students aged 7-12. Joel will help answer questions
like: Where can I get equipment and specimens for dissection? What organisms are available?
How do I lead a dissection at my co-op? What safety concerns need to be addressed to lead a
dissection (physical and emotional)? Throughout the workshop Joel will walk small groups
step-by-step through the dissection of a sea star.
A31 - Literacy for Beginners (Lola Carlile) - Room 202
Reading can be fun and easy! But, where to start? Come learn about different strategies and
methodologies of helping foster early reading skills. Whole language vs. phonics – do we even
need to choose? This will be an interactive workshop designed to comfortably prepare even the
most novice individual to teach their child to read with pleasure and ease. A look at a novel way
of learning to read. Come prepared to leave with ideas galore as well as a firmer understanding of
the many different looks of reading instruction!
A32 - Homeschool Graduates Panel
(Golda Kamerman Besser, Paden Biggerstaff, Marshall Nystrom, Nicole Orr) - Room 203
Young adults who have graduated from homeschooling will share their insights about being
homeschooled from the homeschoolers' perspective and share their life experiences since
graduating. Bring your questions! Golda graduated from Clackamas Community College in 2010
and now runs a tenant screening business and is in the process of setting up an Armory/Jewelry
shop with her husband. Paden is currently in college studying Winemaking and Viticulture at
Chemeketa Community College but still finds time to write and record music (padenwest.com)
and play basketball and billiards. Marshall is a multi-instrumentalist and folk dancer with an A.S.
in Astronomy currently pursuing a B.S. in Physics at PSU. Nicole has worked in a firefighting
unit, the Civil Air Patrol, the Police Cadet Academy, and a Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue
Unit, and loves to travel.
A33 - Engaging All Readers (Gina Guzman) - Room 204
Do you wish that your children read more or read better-quality books? If so, then this is the
workshop for you! An informed child is a better reader. This is true for all readers whether gifted,
reluctant, or somewhere in between. When we give our children the tools to choose better books
they become better readers and more likely to read for pleasure throughout life. We will find out
which genres are pitfalls for reluctant readers but great for gifted readers, how to engage
nonreaders, how to avoid reading ruts, ideas for reading as a family, and much more.
9

Adult Workshops at a Glance
Session 5
4:15 - 5:15pm
Session 4
3:00 - 4:00pm
Session 3
1:45pm - 2:45pm
Lunch
12:15- 1:45pm
Session 2
11:15am - 12:15pm
Session 1
10:15am - 11:00am
A26 - Room 101 - 102
Brain Games
John Bennett
A18 - Room 101 - 102
Brain Games
John Bennett
A11 - Room 101 - 102
New Consciousness of
Education
John Bennett
A4 - Room 101 - 102
No Math, No Problem
John Bennett
A5 - Room 103
Staying Connected With your
Teenager
Emily Troper
Introduction 10:00 - 10:15am
A27 - Room 205
Author Panel
A12 & A19 - Room 103
Experience Dyslexia
Kelly Arnold &
Anne Shoepe
A12 & A19 - Room 103
Experience Dyslexia
Kelly Arnold & Anne
Shoepe
Meet and Greet Adult and Teen Stations
Vendor Shopping
A28 - Room 103
Identifying
Learning Disabilities
Kelly Arnold & Anne Shoepe
A20 - Room 105
College Admissions Testing
101
Brian Bills
A13 - Room 105
College Planning 101
Brian Bills
A6 - Room 104
On The Cutting Edge
Lori Walker
Vendor Shopping
A21 & A29 - Music Room
Why Don’t We Listen Better
Cont.
Jim Petersen
A21 & A29 - Music Room
Why Don’t We Listen
Better?
Jim Petersen
A14 - Music Room
Making the Brain Body
Connection
Kaylyn Mabey
A7 - Room 105
Homeschooling the Young
Child
Cori Smith & Gina Guzman
10
A30 - Room 208
Elementary
Dissections at Home
Joel Thomas
A22 - Room 208
Advanced Dissections at
Home
Joel Thomas
A15 - Room 202
Language
Experience Approach
Gina Guzman
A8 - Room 202
Beyond Brainstorming
Karen Anderson
A31 - Room 202
Literacy for Beginners
Lola Carlile
A23 - Room 202
Reading for Understanding
Lola Carlile
A16 - Room 203
Oregon Home Education
Laws
Amy Grant
A9 - Room 203
PDP’s
Amy Grant
A32 - Room 203
Homeschool
Graduates Panel
A24 Room 203
Math Playground
Amy Grant
A17 - Room 204
Media Literacy
Anna Heinrich
A10 - Room 204
Word Magic
Tamra Orr
A33 - Room 204
Engaging All Readers
Gina Guzman
A 25 - Room 204
Media Issues Roundtable
Anna Heinrich
Convention Information and Policies
VENDOR AND RESOURCE COURT
Vendor displays will be accessible throughout the convention, from 9am - 2pm. At the Resource
Court find resources for your homeschooling needs including books and supplies.
SMALL CHILDREN & BABIES IN WORKSHOPS
Children and babies are allowed in workshop rooms, but please be respectful of other participants.
If your child is unable to remain quiet, please leave until the child is ready to return. Positioning
yourself near the door or the back of the room may be helpful.
CHILDREN AT THE CONVENTION
You are responsible for your children at all times. Your children must either be with you or
checked into children’s sessions in which they are registered. You must check your children in
and out of each workshop. Please supervise your children closely as there are many doors that
lead outside.
TEENS AT THE CONVENTION
We welcome teens to the convention and mature teens are always in demand as volunteers in
children’s sessions. Mature teens are welcome to register for any adult workshop. You are
responsible for your teen at the convention. Throughout the convention, they must be either in a
teen, child, or adult session in which they are registered or serving as a volunteer.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
The convention takes place on two floors. Most sessions are wheelchair accessible. Please check
the map in your program when you arrive at the convention.
STROLLERS
No strollers are permitted.
Shadowmoon Wolf / 503.809.9537 / www.moonstardancer.com
19

18 11
Children and Teen Workshops at a Glance
Session 5
4:15 - 5:15pm
Session 4
3:00 - 4:00pm
Session 3
1:45pm - 2:45pm
Lunch
12:15- 1:45pm
Vendor
Shopping
Session 2
11:15am - 12:15pm
Session 1
10:15am - 11:00am
C20 - Room 108
Fun with Dr. Seuss
C14 - Auditorium Stage
Creative Movement
Moonstar Dance Studio
C8 - Room 108
BJ the Clown
C1 - Room 106
Watercolor Painting
Ano’s Art
Introduction 10:00 - 10:15am
C21 - Room 106
Skinny Sculpture
Seven Stars Studio
C15 - Room 106
Abstract Art
Seven Stars Studio
C9 - Room 106
Dry Pastel’s
Ano’s Art
C2 - Music Room
Sound Off
Cwerks
Meet and Greet Adult and Teen Stations
Vendor Shopping
C22 - Auditorium Stage
On Stage
Cwerks
C16 - Room 108
“Tell, Listen & Clap”
Terry Jordan
C10 - Auditorium Stage
Hip Hop
Moonstar Dance Studio
C3 - Auditorium Stage
Teen Hip Hop
Moonstar Dance Studio
Vendor Shopping
C23 - Room 107
Super Cool Science
Misty Stromme & Jesse
Hampton
C17 - Room 107
Super Cool Science
Misty Stromme & Jesse
Hampton
C11 - Center Courtyard
Good Sports
Terry Purcell
C4 - Room 108
Amazing Whales
OMSI
C25 - Cafeteria
Self Defense
United Studios
C18 - Cafeteria
Intro to Self Defense
United Studios
C12 - Room 107
Team Building &
Instant Challenges
Destination Imagination
C5 - Room 107
Math-terpieces
Cwerks
C26 - Room 101
Brain Games
John Bennett
C19 - Room 205
Movie: Part 2
Accepted
C13 - Room 205
Movie: Part 1
Accepted
C6 - room 205
Teen Game Room
C27 - Room 205
Author Panel
C7 - Center Courtyard
Good Sports
Terry Purcell
Childcare - Room 210

Children and Teen Workshops - Session 2
C1 - Watercolor Painting (Ano’s Art) - Room 106
Experience the joy of watercolor painting during our one hour workshop. Professional quality
tools and paper will be provided
Ages: 3 - 6
C2 - Sound Off (Cwerks) - Music Room
Want to make a lot of noise? Learn how noise is made with salt, slinkies, and singing rods. Make
your own harmonica, kazoo, and other noisy stuff!
Ages: 5 - 10
C3 - Creative Movement (Moonstar Dance Studio) - Auditorium Stage
Come dance and play with the Moonstar Studio! Children will have tons of active fun as they
stomp, swing and shimmy to a variety of music.
Ages: 4 - 7
C4 - Amazing Whales (*OMSI) - Room 108
Students crawl inside a 40-60 foot, life-size, inflatable whale. Young marine biologists take a
close-up look at whales and dolphins, examine baleen, and learn about the adaptations, habitat,
and stewardship of these amazing mammals!
Ages: 5 - 10
C5 - Math-terpieces (Cwerks) - Room 107
Learn how math and art blend together in this workshop that pairs super-cool math concepts with
the artists that used them.
Ages: 8 - 12
C6 - Teen Game Room - Room 205
The teen hang-out room is filled with board games, playing cards, magazines, snacks. If you’re a
teen, go to the teen room and do what teens love to do – chat and hang out!
Ages: 13 & up
C7 - Good Sports for Teens (Terry Purcell) - Center Courtyard
Come join me if you enjoy running, jumping, and causing a ruckus! We are going to let off some
energy in the sunshine and discuss and act on the aspects of fair play: competition, cooperation,
and collective action. You will all have ample chance to practice the simple rules of good
sportsmanship as we play different games - some new, some oldies.
Ages: 13 & up
Jan Montecucco
Team Leader
toylady@canby.com
Ph: 503-266-3343
www.discoverytoyslink.com/JanDT
12
* Visit their vendor booth for more information
Children and Teen Workshops - Session 5
C20 - Fun with Dr. Seuss - Room 108
Come and watch the classic animated version of Dr. Seuss films like “The Cat in the Hat” and
“Horton Hears a Who”! There will also be lots of Dr. Seuss books out for reading!
Ages: 3 - 6
C21 - Skinny Sculpture (Seven Stars Studio) - Room 106
This 3D class offers a fun experience in the exploration of line in space. In this class the artists
will learn about Alberto Giacometti, a famous Swiss artist who is best known for his thin, bronze
sculptures. The artists will create exciting, dynamic sculptures of themselves in action using wire
and foil.
Ages: 7 - 14
C22 - On Stage (Cwerks) - Auditorium Stage
Kids learn basic theatre skills that are useful in many areas of life, through fun theatre games and
activities.
Ages: 7 - 11
C23 - Super Cool Science (Misty Stromme & Jesse Hampton) - Room 107
In this session, you will get a chance to try some cool do-it-yourself science experiments that you
can do at home. We will also demonstrate a few more wild chemistry and physics experiments
that you couldn't do on your own - at least without getting in trouble and having to clean up the
kitchen. Experiments will range from playing with electricity - that big silver ball that makes your
hair stand up - to testing a giant catapult, to dry ice experiments and a Mentos and soda explosion!
Join us to discover just how much fun science can be!
Ages: 7 - 9
C25 - Intro to Self Defense (United Studios of Self Defense) - Cafeteria
Join us for an introduction to practical self-defense skills that could save your life! Learn how to
spot dangerous situations and to trust your intuition if something doesn’t feel right. You’ll spend
hands-on time practicing techniques to fend off an attacker!
Ages: 8 - 16
C26 - Brain Games (John Bennett) - Room 101 - 102
Come and try out several different kinds of abstract strategy games that will not only be fun, but
will also develop analytical thinking skills!
Ages: 8 & up (parents are invited too!)
C27 - Author Panel - Room 205
Emily Whitman: Wildwing, Radiant Darkness; Sara Ryan: Empress of the World, The Rules of
Hearts, Girl Meets Boy (Anthology); Juleigh Hobson: The Barefoot Muse and
Susan Fletcher: Dragon Chronicles
Ages: 13 & up
17

Children and Teen Workshops - Session 4
C14 - Creative Movement (Moonstar Dance Studio) - Auditorium Stage
Come dance and play with the Moonstar Studio! Children will have tons of active fun as they
stomp, swing, and shimmy to a variety of music.
Ages: 3 - 6
C15 - Abstract Art in Black & White (Seven Stars Studio) - Room 106
When two shapes overlap they create a new shape. When two or more geometric shapes surround
a space, that space is a new shape. This intriguing class will explore the elements of space and
shape undistracted by color. Inspired by M. C. Escher and using regular polygon tiles, the artists
will create their own fabulous abstract art in black and white.
Ages: 7 - 14
C16 - “Tell, Listen & Clap” (Terry Jordan) - Room 108
Children love stories and this one-hour, interactive storytelling workshop combines enthusiasm,
inspiration, and practical tools to have fun learning how to tell stories through exercises,
activities, and games.
C17 - Super Cool Science (Misty Stromme & Jesse Hampton) - Room 107
In this session, you will get a chance to try some cool do-it-yourself science experiments that you
can do at home. We will also demonstrate a few more wild chemistry and physics experiments
that you couldn't do on your own - at least without getting in trouble and having to clean up the
kitchen. Experiments will range from playing with electricity - that big silver ball that makes your
hair stand up - to testing a giant catapult, to dry ice experiments and a Mentos and soda explosion!
Join us to discover just how much fun science can be!
Ages: 10 - 12
C18 - Intro to Self Defense (United Studios of Self Defense) - Cafeteria
Join us for an introduction to practical self-defense skills that could save your life! Learn how to
spot dangerous situations and to trust your intuition if something doesn’t feel right. You’ll spend
hands-on time practicing techniques to fend off an attacker!
Ages: 6 - 12
C19 - Movie, Part 2 “Accepted” - Room 205
“Accepted” is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Steve Pink. The main plot centers
around a group of would-be college freshmen who, after being rejected from all the colleges and
universities to which they had applied, proceed to create their own "college".
Ages: 13 & up
16
Children and Teen Workshops - Session 3
C8 - Don’t Miss the Best Clown in Town! (BJ the Clown) - Room 108
One of the Northwest’s best known clowns performs an exciting mix of comedy, magic, juggling,
music, storytelling, puppetry, physical comedy, and audience participation. A high-energy show
that children often talk about for months!
Ages: 3 - 6
C9 - Dry Pastels (Ano’s Art) - Room 106
Enjoy an hour of fun exploring your creativity through dry pastel. Specialty paper and
professional quality tools and materials will be provided.
Ages: 7 & up
C10 - Hip Hop (Moonstar Dance Studio) - Auditorium
Moonstar Dance offers a variety of classes and in this workshop you will learn a really great “hip
hop” routine, choreographed by Shadowmoon Wolf!
Ages: 7 - 18
C11 - Becoming Good Sports (Terry Purcell) - Center Courtyard
Take this opportunity to join a great group of youngsters while we run, play, and generally enjoy
ourselves as we learn how to become good sports while remaining competitive and friendly. We
will be meeting in the sunshine of Oregon summer and learn a few new games that challenge us
to balance the competitive and courteous aspects of play.
Ages: 7 & up
C12 - Team Building & Instant Challenges
(*Destination Imagination) - Room 107
Like solving puzzles? Students in small groups will get to work together to solve various
challenges. This is a fun sampling of what Destination Imagination is all about!
Ages: 9 & up
C13 - Movie, Part 1 “Accepted” - Room 205
“Accepted” is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Steve Pink. The main plot centers
around a group of would-be college freshmen who, after being rejected from all the colleges and
universities to which they had applied, proceed to create their own "college". This workshop will
extend across both session 3 and session 4.
Ages: 13 & up
Nature Tours with Naturalist Misty Stromme & Photographer Jesse Hampton
Contact: zetoyoc@gmail.com
13
* Visit their vendor booth for more information

Lunch Workshop
Drop on by and visit our lunchtime
workshop vendors for free!
ITT Tech Innovation - Room 105
and
K12 - Room 102
14
15