E•vent Library

What do I do when a social worker knocks on my door and asks to interview my children? Can I refuse him entry? What if the visitor is a police officer – does she have a right to come into my home? Does homeschooling make me more vulnerable in a social services investigation? What evidence do I have to provide to prove I am educating my children? How does the Fourth Amendment apply?

In his presentation, Michael Smith, President of HSLDA, will answer these questions and more. Since 1981, when he and his wife began homeschooling their children, Mike has counseled thousands of homeschooling families in various legal situations, including social services investigations. Although the odds are that your family never will be the subject of an abuse or neglect investigation, this webinar will ensure that you are well prepared to handle that surprise knock on the door, when you open it to find someone saying, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to protect your children.”

Join Mike Farris and Representative Pete Hoekstra(MI), the sponsor of H.J. Res 42, for a briefing on the resolution and the effort to pass the Parental Rights Amendment. A time for questions and answers will follow.

If you are the parent of a homeschooled high school student, you are probably asking yourself many questions: How do I prepare my student to succeed in college academically? Is my child ready for the spiritual challenges he or she will encounter in college? Is there any more affordable way for my student to earn college credits?

Join HSLDA Chairman Mike Farris as he introduces Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy, one way that HSLDA is seeking to answer these questions and serve families who are homeschooling through high school.

This online academy offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which prepare high school students to succeed on the College Board’s AP exams and to earn college credits accepted by over 90% of American college and universities. PHC Prep provides students a way to get this academic head start without compromising their pursuit of a biblically grounded education by integrating Christian worldview teaching and discussion into every subject.

Want to know more about how this works? Don’t miss this chance to learn more about PHC Prep and ask Mike Farris your specific questions regarding the Academy!

Homeschool curriculum choices should reflect the unique needs of each family and child as much as possible since one size definitely does not fit all in homeschooling. Curriculum might need to reflect the level of experience of the teacher, his or her preferences for specific teaching methods (e.g., Charlotte Mason) or religious elements. Likewise, it should take into account individual student needs and preferences, such as learning styles, a penchant for independent study, or a desire for computer-based instruction.

In this Webinar, curriculum expert Cathy Duffy will explain and demonstrate Home Ed Expert, an exciting new, online tool that helps homeschoolers choose the right curriculum for their students. Using Home Ed Expert, teachers can capture information about their own capabilities and teaching styles, as well as their children’s needs and learning styles. The tool then uses that information to identify the best educational resources for your homeschooling out of the vast array of options available.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions via interactive chat.

A free, three-month trial subscription is being offered to all HSLDA members. For more information visit http://homeedexpert.com.

Are you concerned with the future of your country? Do you want to instill a love of country and a passion for involvement in your children? Join Joel Grewe, Deputy Director of Generation Joshua, for this special @home e-vent on how young people can change the future of America. Joel will share details on the impact youth can have this year in crucial races around the country. Through the Generation Joshua Student Action Teams, you and your students can be personally involved in the exciting campaign process. If you have or know teenagers who want a role now in our country’s future, you won’t want to miss this!

American homeschoolers enjoy a freedom that many around the world only dream about. If you’d like to know what homeschoolers in other parts of the world are facing, or if you’ve ever wondered whether your support could impact international homeschoolers, keep reading! HSLDA is excited to present its first-ever international e-vent as a resource for you.

Although this e-vent is free of charge, a suggested donation of $25 to the Home School Foundation’s International Fund is greatly encouraged! Be a blessing to persecuted homeschoolers in other countries by visiting the Home School Foundation website and helping to spread homeschool freedom around the world.

Join Mike Donnelly, HSLDA’s Director of International Relations, as he chats with an impressive array of international homeschool leaders. His panel will include Dave Tucker from El Hogar Educador in Mexico; Gabriel Curcubet, president of the Romanian Home Schooling Association; Leendert van Oostrum, president of the Pestalozzi Trust Legal Defence Fund in South Africa; and Uwe Romeike, a German homeschool father whose family is fighting for political asylum in the United States.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from homeschool leaders across the globe!

In the wake of the November 2010 elections, the landscape of New Hampshire’s state legislature is looking significantly brighter for homeschoolers. Republican legislators, who were the minority, now outnumber Democrats by a margin of almost three to one in the House and nearly four to one in the Senate. Specifically noteworthy for homeschoolers were the elections of homeschool father and former Christian Home Educators of New Hampshire President Jim Parison and strong homeschool advocate Jim Forsythe.

This exciting swing of control has many in the “Live free or die” state wondering what will happen in the 2011–12 legislative session. HSLDA is keenly aware of the favorable numbers and has undertaken discussion with key legislators about what should be done. Join HSLDA Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly and several invited guests for this exclusive legislative panel discussion!

Your homeschooling freedom is in danger! What can you do about it? Join HSLDA Staff Attorney Scott Woodruff for an urgent, open-to-the-public webinar on Senator Edward Maloney’s proposed Illinois bill SB 136. Learn why this bill would threaten all private school and homeschooling families with unprecedented state regulation. Invite your friends, family, homeschool groups, and private school acquaintances to watch this webinar so we can work together to protect your freedom in Illinois!

If you or a friend are interested in giving homeschooling a try, or if you’re tired of hearing from family members that you’re crazy for giving it a shot, check out this e-vent with HSLDA Attorney Mike Donnelly. You, your friends, and your loved ones can finally get some answers to see why homeschooling may be the best option for you and your children. Mike Donnelly shares from his years of homeschooling experience to show you why homeschooled students excel in academics and debunks the myths you’ve heard about homeschooling families. As a special gift to you, HSLDA is presenting this e-vent completely free!

Is your teenager a self-motivated and hardworking student preparing for college? Are you curious about Advanced Placement courses and how they work with homeschooling? How can your student earn potential college credit while still in high school? HSLDA is happy to present this free—open to the public—@home e-vent featuring Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy Director Adam Rohner! Come learn about the vision behind PHC Prep, the many AP courses offered, the difference between standard and accelerated courses, and how to help your student prepare for an AP exam. Sign up today for detailed answers to these questions and more!

If you have a child who struggles with writing, or your child has shown high proficiency in writing, find out how the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) can help your child reach his or her full potential. In this free and open-to-the-public webinar, IEW instructor Laura House will show you how to introduce the IEW method into your homeschool...guaranteed to be fun and effective! This webinar is for people who have never experienced IEW or new IEW users who are not very familiar with the program. You can listen, ask questions, and make an informed decision about where to start with IEW so that you can develop excellence in writing in your home!

Getting ready for college is a challenge, but your teen can get a head start by signing up for Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy's Advanced Placement courses! In this free webinar, you will hear from economics teacher Amy Raybould about PHC Prep's AP Microeconomics course. Get your high school student prepared for supply and demand, product markets, and how the government is involved! Amy will present a basic rundown of the course, the expected amount of work required, and answer participant questions so you can find out if this class is right for your teen. You'll also discover how this course will help your teen learn to view economics through a biblical lens. If your teen is self-motivated and hard working, sign up today to find out more! Please note that this class is for the fall semester only (August 29-December 16, 2011).

How do you know if your teen is ready to take on college-level writing and composition? What is an AP English Language and Composition course like? Come find out in the free e-vent "AP English Language and Composition: How to Know It's Right for You," featuring Patrick Henry College DL writing instructor and Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy master teacher Erin Brown Conroy. A college writing professor for 12 years who has designed courses and written books on college writing (and a mom of 13!), Erin will give you an overview of PHC Prep Academy's fall-semester AP English Language and Composition course, plus share the Top Five Tips for successfully teaching upper-level writing. With PHC Prep Academy, your teen can earn AP credit and prepare for the college life now. Sign up today to find out if this is right for you!

After three years and countless hours of hard work, homeschoolers in Minnesota have scored a victory! With newly signed legislation, it is now easier to homeschool in the North Star State. Find out what that means for you in this free, open-to-the-public e-vent featuring HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly and MACHE Board Member and legislative liaison John Tuma. Mike and John will show you how the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) and HSLDA worked on your behalf and they will explain the ins and outs of the new law. Sign up now to get the first look at your new freedoms!

The world of college-level calculus can be exciting and rewarding, but offers its own set of challenges. You can help your teen get ready for calculus now, but where do you start? With PHC Preparatory Academy, your high school student can learn the foundational concepts of calculus while potentially earning AP credit! In this free e-vent, you will hear from PHC Prep Academy classroom teacher Becky Darby and master teacher Tom Larry about the expectations and goals for the two-semester class AP Calculus AB. To find out if this online course is right for your student, sign up for our free e-vent today!

Man's ability to think logically is a reflection of our Creator, and mathematics is one of the most evident tools of logical thought. In PHC Preparatory Academy's AP Physics B with Lab course, students will not only sharpen their mathematical skills, but also learn how to apply these skills practically through physics. Join PHC Prep Academy master teacher Dr. Michael Kucks and find out more about this two-semester, online class. Is it right for your teenager? Dr. Kucks will give a course overview, explain prerequisites and other requirements, and address your questions. Come learn how your student can be challenged to apply a biblical worldview to the principals of physics. Sign up today!

Where do students start to improve their writing? With Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy's AP English Literature and Composition course, high school students will not only expand their writing skills; they will also be prepared for the rigorous college writing courses ahead. In this free and open-to-the-public e-vent, parents can hear from PHC Prep Academy Master Teacher Steven Hake about this two-semester course. Also a professor of literature at Patrick Henry College, Dr. Hake will map out the course objectives as well as tie in the biblical perspective on literature and composition. Find out if AP English Literature and Composition is right for your teen!

A typical history class is full of names and dates. At Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy, AP United States History focuses much more: changes in political institutions, economic trends, and cultural development throughout America's history. Join PHC Prep Academy Master Teacher Robert Spinney as he explains this two-semester class and how students will be introduced to a college-level course. Dr. Spinney (also a Patrick Henry College professor) will give an engaging presentation to parents on what the students can expect and help you make the decision if this class is right for your high school student. Sign up today!

Grasping world history, with all its cultural, economic, and political shifts, is a difficult task-but viewing world events through a biblical lens gives students an advantage. Find out how your students can gain this understanding by attending the free e-vent "Exploring PHC Prep Academy?s AP World History." PHC Prep Master Teacher Doug Favelo, also a Patrick Henry College professor, will help you know what will be expected of your student during this two-semester course. Sign up today and see if this PHC Prep class is right for your teen!

College--for many parents, it's the launching pad where you watch your kids zoom off toward the future. And preparing for launch can be the mother of all white-knuckle experiences! However, the college experience for both you and your children begins many years earlier, in academic and spiritual lessons learned throughout the homeschool years. HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff will share what he has learned through homeschooling his three children (now pursuing college and careers), from the nuts and bolts of filling out a college application, to providing a solid academic foundation in high school, to preparing your child for the emotional and spiritual challenges of college and newfound independence.

Research and experience have proven that homeschooling is successful. But new public education officials in West Virginia are suggesting that homeschoolers need more oversight. Despite the best efforts of West Virginia homeschoolers and HSLDA to reason with these officials, a battle over freedom may be looming in this already highly regulated state. Join HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly as he discusses new enforcement issues, the impact of the new state superintendent's policies, and the likelihood of legislative battles. Donnelly is joined by John Carey of the Christian Home Educators of West Virginia (CHEWV). Sign up today and learn how to keep "Mountaineers Always Free."

Starting homeschooling is exciting, but can leave you feeling overwhelmed by the options. Not sure where to begin? Sign up for this e-vent and HSLDA Toddlers to Tweens Consultant and homeschool mother of eight Vicki Bentley walks you through a planning checklist to help you prepare for the homeschool adventure! Topics of discussion include research, goal setting, supplies, and schedules, plus Six Tips for Success. This e-vent is perfect whether you are new to homeschooling or would like to invite a friend who is considering homeschooling. The information is appropriate for teaching any grade level, plus this e-vent is free and open to the public!

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is being brought before the United States Senate for ratification. More social workers and police officers are forcibly entering homes without a warrant. Attempts to increase state and federal regulation of homeschooling are multiplying. And HSLDA is working harder than ever to protect your rights. In this exclusive @home e-vent, HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly leads an open discussion on current events that can potentially affect homeschoolers everywhere. And for the first time ever, participants from the live e-vent call in with their comments. Mike gives an overview of current events, and then provides an opportunity for the callers to comment and ask questions! Sign up now to see this exciting new @home e-vent and hear the encouraging words of homeschoolers like you!

It's important to look back at our history and remember how our forefathers (and mothers!) strove for the freedoms that we enjoy today. In this @home e-vent, HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt gives a brief historical overview of the events that have protected and advanced our right to homeschool in America. From court cases and legislative battles to grassroots action, Tj will show how God raised up families to stand for our right to give our children the education they need. Join us for this special e-vent to learn more about our freedoms and the people who have fought for them!

With all the video games and gadgets out there, how do you interest your sons in good, quality books? Find new ways to encourage reading in this special presentation by HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt, who shares a handful of books and authors that have impacted his life starting from his homeschool years. Whether you are dealing with a son who won't open a book, or you can't find enough options for your voracious reader, this practical webinar will share new books and authors appropriate for boys of all ages and reading levels. Get ideas for encouraging reading as part of your homeschool curriculum, or reading just for fun!

Imagine social workers and the police taking your child because you homeschool - a remote possibility? Few homeschoolers in the United States will ever face such an extreme circumstance, even though it has been known to happen. But in countries like Germany and Sweden, where parents are persecuted for homeschooling, the possibility of children being taken away is very real. Why should this matter to us in the U.S.? HSLDA Staff Attorney and Director of International Relations Mike Donnelly will interview international homeschooling parents in exile and other guests to discuss why what happens over there matters over here. You'll be able to call in to join the discussion, ask Mike questions, or share any personal experience you've had. This e-vent is absolutely free, so don't hesitate to find out how you can help homeschoolers who struggle for freedom and recognition.

Several important homeschool bills are receiving top-level attention in the 2012 Virginia Legislature. Delegate Rob Bell of the 58th District, a vigorous supporter of legislation such as the nationally publicized House Bill 947-which empowers public schools to let homeschoolers try out for their sports teams-will join HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff in this special @home e-vent to give an insider's view on the progress of these important bills. Join Scott as he interviews Delegate Bell on the specifics of the bills, how they influence your homeschool freedom, and what you can do. Don't miss this opportunity to get answers from a friend of homeschooling in the Virginia Legislature!

Pseudoscience and speculation are creeping into the Church! Are Christians conceding their beliefs to a worldview based on millions of years of evolution? Do the hypotheses of secular science align with the teachings of Scripture, or are they slowly undermining God's authority? Millions of years require millions of compromises on the part of Christians. Know that you can trust the Bible and its redemptive truth.

The book of Genesis was God's foundational pillar for His people thousands of years ago, and is no less so today. In it one finds His plan of grace unfolding, from the creation of a perfect world to the devastation of sin and the Fall that corrupted all things. Genesis clearly illustrates our world's need for a Savior and foreshadows Christ's redeeming work on the cross.

Just over 150 years since Darwin's On the Origin of the Species, our culture is still embracing the misconceptions and inaccuracies at the forefront of evolutionary theory. Yet from the Genesis flood to living fossils, true science is still subject to the authority of Scripture. Find out how you can teach creation science in your homeschool! Learn details about carbon-14 dating, intelligent design, life in space, and some of the most-asked Bible-science questions on the topics of astronomy, evolution, and more. And come ready to experience some hands-on at-home science activities!

Dr. Werner tells his personal story, describing his 30-year journey of discovery played out over three continents, unearthing truth one fossil at a time. In order to solve the controversy created by the evolutionary theory, he reviewed thousands of fossils from the dinosaur era, comparing them to animals and plants of today. He shares what he has learned along the way that influenced his decision to abandon evolution altogether.

Is there a noose tightening around global homeschool freedom? Swedish officials say religious and philosophical convictions are't good-enough reasons to homeschool. Thousands of miles away, parents in Alberta, Canada, are facing a bill that would strip them of their rights and would instead force them to teach a series of values and beliefs dictated by the government. Is America headed this way? An article in the Dayton Daily News of Dayton, Ohio, says that "Home School Oversight Is Lacking" and that homeschool families should be closely monitored. Join HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly in a discussion about these current events and find ways to support your fellow homeschoolers both here and across the world.

The rumor is spreading like wildfire: Idaho homeschool students can't get into college without a GED! Is it true? Get the facts from HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott A. Woodruff, who will discuss the recent changes in federal college financial aid law that have caused such confusion in Idaho. He'll explain the background, the details, the misunderstandings, efforts being made to fix the situation, and its current status. If you have a homeschooled student headed to college soon, you should hear this presentation.

The Department of Labor's quick pullback of ridiculous and invasive regulations of family farms shows the extent to which the federal government is seeking to control families. Although homeschoolers have been successful in staving off federal involvement for years, there is no doubt that, given a chance, regulators would seek to invade even this area of family life. What's the connection between family farms and homeschooling? In Ohio, an influential newspaper called for more restrictions on homeschooling families, using comments by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to advance the narrative that homeschoolers are "off the grid." Find out what it means for you in this @home e-vent as HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly and a special guest discuss the issues at stake!

The snow has melted, the trees are blooming, the grass is green--turn the TV off and take your family outside! HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff, a self-proclaimed "moderate" expert on outdoor outings, has a bagful of ideas for your family. Rafting through the throbbing waves of class IV whitewater rapids? Canoeing across a mirror-smooth lake while loons call overhead? Scrambling on hands and knees through narrow passages in deep caverns? Setting up tents under the Ponderosa pines and mile-high views of the majestic Rocky Mountains? Learn to love your family in an entirely different world. See more things that make you stand in awe of God.

Scott will share about his disasters and conquests, duds and moonshots. His tips will cover safety, equipment, locations, food, and encounters with God.

This e-vent is for families who have seldom or never tried outdoor adventures, or those who have gone out a few times and want some more ideas or advice. Listen to this e-vent and get inspired to make your own lifetime memories!

Grades, grade levels, graduation--they all play a part in your child's education. But do we have to think of these concepts in traditional terms, or can we as homeschoolers view them more flexibly? Can grades be a constructive part of your school's evaluation system? HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly explores out-of-the-box methods home educating parents can use to approach academic, spiritual, and emotional progress for your classroom of one . . . or twelve!

Exciting legislative changes are going into effect just in time for the new school year! After the passage of House Bills 545 and 1571, home educators in New Hampshire have gained more freedom for their homeschools. HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly will walk you through each bill and what it means for you. Mike will also give advice on how you can respond to officials who are unfamiliar with the new law, and how HSLDA will help if you continue to meet with confusion.

Get to know The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis's masterpiece of children's literature, with HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff. He has read the Chronicles over and over, and is ready to shed light on their beauty and majesty, as well as some flaws.

If you have never read the series, this presentation will let you know what to expect, and will encourage you to get ready for some quality reading time with your kids! The Chronicles present a powerful and attractive presentation of the gospel in a format superbly suited for children. The books' strongly allegorical elements point to the cross, the incarnation, salvation, hearing from God, growing in truth, the problem of evil, and more.

Awesome literature, awesome message, awesome time with your kids--find it all in The Chronicles of Narnia!

Due to technical difficulties, the beginning of this recording, which included The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, has been lost. However, due to popular demand, Scott and Dave will be conducting e-vents that address each book individually. Make sure to check our website and our @home e-lerts for information on these upcoming e-vents!

While homeschooling continues to grow and gain support even at the federal level, opposition has not waned. It can take the form of a bureaucratic attempt to increase oversight, an anonymous tip from a doctor or neighbor, or a blatant legislative attack. No matter what the threat, HSLDA is there to defend homeschoolers in these battles. Now, you can get behind the scenes and hear how past and current cases have strengthened your freedom to homeschool. You will learn how these cases affect your 4th Amendment rights in regards to homeschooling, withdrawing from public schools, and more. See how the trials of homeschooling families like yours have set precedents that affect thousands of homeschoolers today!

HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff will introduce you to one of literature's masterpieces: Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. This fascinating novel deals with cold-blooded murder, guilt, prostitution, betrayal, suicide, love, faith, and the Christian hope of redemption. And since it's a Russian novel, we can't leave out exile in Siberia!

Dostoyevsky had a deep and complex faith. A masterful author, his characters are broken, flawed, desperate, and yearning for redemption in a dark world-just like us! Scott Woodruff assumes you know nothing about the book-yet. But maybe you'll want to add this classic to your mature teen's book list after the e-vent.

How can your family implement or renew reading time in your home? Join HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt for his personal look at the blessings and benefits of reading to your children. Tj will share several books that he and his wife read to his children, as well as some of the opportunities that reading together has provided for his family to learn and grow. Join the conversation as Tj opens up for feedback and questions at the end of this e-vent.