Browse Alphabetically
- Barnier, Carol
- Baughn, Lisa
- Beall, Bernie and Linda
- Beers, Barbara
- Bentley, Vicki
- Berens, Faith
- Black, Dee
- Boyer, Marilyn
- Boyer, Rick and Marilyn
- Carlson, Kaylyn
- Carman, Davis
- Carman, Rachael
- Carter, Derek
- Conroy, Erin Brown
- Cooke, Becky and Kummer, Diane
- Craft, Dianne
- Dahlin, Kurt
- Darby, Becky
- Dawn Borris
- DeYoung, Don
- Donnelly, Mike
- Duffy, Cathy
- Duvall, Steve
- Epstein, Robert
- Erdvig, Roger
- Escobar, George
- Estrada, Will
- Farris, Michael
- Favelo, Doug
- Fulbright, Jeannie
- Gaver, MaryAnn
- Geib, Chuck and Pam
- Gibert, Wanda
- Green, Melissa
- Grewe, Joel
- Guliuzza, Frank
- Hake, Steve
- Hamby, Mark
- Hodge, Bodie
- Hodge, Ian
- House, Laura
- HSLDA Panelist
- Hudson, Alan
- Joanne
- Jones, Darren
- Joyce Burges
- Klicka, Chris
- Kucks, Mike
- Larry, Tom
- Laura Geis
- Lorrig, Jeremiah
- Mally, Siblings
- Mason, Jim
- Metzgar, Jayme
- Mira, Denise
- Mitchell, Tommy
- Monica Olivera
- Myers, Jeff
- Myers, Lesha
- Novak, Jill
- Parent Panel
- Payne, Sherrie
- Peace, Martha
- Priolo, Lou
- Pudewa, Andrew
- Quine, David and Shirley
- Raybould, Amy
- Rohner, Adam
- Rosemond, John
- Schmidt, TJ
- Schmidt, TJ and Susan
- Schofield, Mary
- Schwabauer, Daniel
- Seligson, Sherri
- Smith, J. Michael
- Somerville, Scott
- Spinney, Robert
- St. John, Heidi
- Stobaugh, Jim
- Tate, Mary Jo
- Tigges, Jon
- Topp, Carol
- Tully, Wayne
- Tyler, Zan
- Veith, Gene
- Waring, Diana
- Weitz, Kathy
- Werner, Carl
- Wile, Jay
- Williams, Steve
- Woodruff, Scott
- Worth, Fred
- Youmans, Billie Jo
- Young, Hal and Melanie
Our Speakers
HSLDA’s @home e•vents program showcases speakers who are experts in their fields and often leaders in the homeschool community. They’ve been in your shoes and want to come alongside you in your journey to enhance your family’s homeschooling experience! Our speakers possess the breadth of experience, talent, and enthusiasm suited for encouraging you and equipping you with relevant tools.
Past e•vents have included presentations by well-known authors and speakers, such as Andrew Pudewa, Lou Priolo, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeff Myers, and Hal and Melanie Young, as well as experienced homeschooling parents and homeschool graduates. HSLDA staff speakers have included President J. Michael Smith, Chairman Michael P. Farris, many other attorneys, and some of our Special Needs, High School, and Early Years coordinators, such as Dianne Craft, Vicki Bentley, Becky Cooke, and Diane Kummer.
J. Michael Smith, Esq., HSLDA President
J. Michael Smith is the President of Home School Legal Defense Association, an organization which he cofounded with Michael Farris in 1983 to protect the right of parents who choose home education as their way to satisfy the compulsory attendance law in the various states and Canada. Home School Legal Defense Association now represents over 80,000 member families. He is an attorney licensed to practice in the states of California, the District of Columbia and Virginia.
Mike received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas and his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego. After serving two years as a Deputy City Attorney assigned to the Criminal Division in San Diego, he went into private practice specializing in personal injury and criminal defense. After he and his wife, Elizabeth, decided to home school their children, Mike became involved in defending the rights of home schoolers in California. It became glaringly apparent that home educators could not afford attorneys, and as a result, Home School Legal Defense Association was established to defend and advance the constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children and protect family freedom.
He and his wife have four children. Their oldest daughter, Kari, is a paralegal in San Francisco. Their next daughter, Chrissy, was their first homeschool graduate and is a graduate of UCLA. Their two youngest children, Andrew and Erin, were also homeschooled and graduated from George Mason University.
Mike has a simple purpose and message for his life work: Faith, family, and freedom.
“We just really appreciated the candidness of Mike Smith. He gave real life situations with good answers and we liked following along with the notes. This was very helpful. THANKS!”— Sheri, TX
E•vents
1/21/2010 (10:30 PM EST): The Angry Child: What Ticks Off Johnny?
Have any of your children demonstrated a tendency toward anger or a bad temper? If so, this session is absolutely essential for you. Anger is a God-given emotion and did not come about as a result of the Fall. However, the Bible says, “Be angry, and sin not.” This talk addresses anger from a biblical perspective, focusing on the positive and negative aspects of anger. Michael Smith also delineates the five steps that lead to rebellion, then suggests ways to help your child identify the causes of anger and take the necessary steps toward freedom from anger.
Member Price: $5.95
Non-Member Price: $10.95
2/22/2010 (10:30 PM EST): Social Worker Contacts 101
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.”
Member Price: Free
Non-Member Price: Free!
4/13/2010 (10PM EST): State Counsel: California Work Permits for Teens
Is it legal for your children to assist you in your family business? Does your young teen want to start earning money for college, a mission trip, or a car? If so, don’t miss this exclusive @home e-vent with HSLDA Of Counsel for California Mary E. Schofield. Mary will be detailing the positive changes recently made to the Golden State’s work permits and how they apply to homeschoolers. Having played an integral role in the production and implementation of this legal change, she will be sharing the history of the work permit, the story behind the recent changes, the current law, and more! Be sure to bring your questions for the Q&A session at the end of this presentation.
Member Price: Free
Non-Member Price: Member Only Event
5/13/2009 (6PM EST): State Counsel: California
What are my options for homeschooling in California? Is one option safer than the other? Does HSLDA recommend one over the other? Join HSLDA President, Mike Smith for this FREE e-vent to discuss the nuts and bolts of homeschooling in California. He’ll also address questions about the ongoing impact of the Jonathan Long case and provide helpful tips for responding to a surprise visit by a school official. While it’s natural to feel apprehensive about contact from the public school, being prepared with the right tools can enable you to answer any knock at your door with confidence. Know your rights and how to respond. And bring your questions! The session will conclude with an open Q&A session.
Member Price: Free
Non-Member Price: Member Only Event
4/15/2010 (11:15 AM EST): How to Judge Homeschool Success
What’s the number one reason parents do not homeschool? Fear of failure. Perhaps you have personally struggled with this fear in the midst of your own homeschooling journey. So how can parents measure and achieve homeschool success? Thankfully, the Bible gives clear and decisive direction in this area, providing encouragement for even the most difficult situations. In this session, HSLDA President Mike Smith shares these encouraging insights and helps parents measure their homeschooling success by scriptural standards.
Member Price: $5.95
Non-Member Price: $10.95
Purchase as part of a Package
8/18/2010 (9PM EST): How Can I Afford to Keep Homeschooling with a Reduced Family Income?
In these difficult times—with the economy in recession and unemployment rates and inflation on the rise—just providing basic necessities has become increasingly challenging for many families.
If, like a majority of homeschooling families, your household relies on a single income, you may be especially hard hit by the economic downturn. When the primary wage earner loses his or her job or faces under-employment, families need to find new ways to balance earning enough to support themselves with still providing the best education possible for their children.
Join HSLDA President Mike Smith for “How Can I Afford to Keep Homeschooling with a Reduced Family Income?” and learn real-life strategies for meeting your income needs and the legal implications of a double-income household for your homeschool program, along with practical suggestions to help your family continue homeschooling through these hard times.
We understand the financial constraints that your family must consider, and that those who need the information in this e-vent the most may be able to least afford it. To that end, this e-vent will be offered at a special reduced rate (below our cost) to make this encouragement and information available to as many families as possible.
Member Price: $1.95
Non-Member Price: $3.95
1/13/2011 (9PM EST): Blessing Your Children with Words of Praise
Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Although they may not realize it, parents often inflict deep scars on their children, not only by using negative, condemning words, but by withholding praise and affirmation. HSLDA President Mike Smith wants to help you overcome poor communication habits so that your children can experience your words as a blessing, not rejection. Using James 3:1–10 as a model, Mike will explain how we can use words to edify and build each other up, rather than having them hurt and tear others down. Join us to discover how to use your tongue as an instrument of blessing and develop a positive relationship with your child that lasts for the rest of your lives!
Member Price: $5.95
Non-Member Price: $10.95
9/13/2011 (3:05 PM EST): Q&A with the President
Since the early days of homeschooling, HSLDA President Mike Smith has played a significant part in defending the rights of homeschoolers. Mike cofounded HSLDA almost 30 years ago when he was a homeschooling dad, and ever since has been helping to keep homeschooling strong on the legal front. HSLDA's @home e-vent team is happy to present this special open forum featuring Mike Smith. During this free e-vent, Mike answers questions regarding home education, cases past and present, and many other homeschool-related topics!
Member Price: Free
Non-Member Price: Free!
