2025 Adult Conference

Come Home

Date: Jan 17 – 18, 2025

Join us for another wonderful conference celebrating the simplicity of Coming Home, this years theme.  Wherever you are in your parenting journey, there can be healing and growth in remembering to “Come Home.”

Our conference strives to focus on bringing unity to homeschoolers throughout East Idaho and provide a hub for gaining new insight and friends. Come learn, connect, and enjoy two full days of inspiration right here close to home.

Idaho State University Student Union Building, Pocatello Idaho

Register now

This year we are offering complimentary conference tickets to parents of preschoolers who are considering or new to home-schooling and grandparents of home-schooled children.  To qualify for complimentary tickets:

  • A grandparent of home-schooled children

  • A parent of preschool children (eldest child not over 5 years old) and a first time attendee at one of our conferences.

Get Complimentary Tickets

Speakers

This years speaker line up will not disappoint!  We are very excited about those who are coming to share their experience and knowledge with us.

 

 

Keri Tibbets

Keri Tibbets

Mentor

Keri is a mother of six, a homeschooler of 20 years, and a private math tutor.  She loves learning and helping students to fall in love with learning. 

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Nephi Zufelt

Nephi Zufelt

entrepreneur

Nephi is a servant of Christ; Elizabeth’s devoted husband; Zoe, Ainsley, Keller, Melina, and Stratton’s homeschooling father; world traveler; and a wannabe church basketball star. 

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Kami Harris

Kami Harris

Mentor

For nearly two decades, I’ve joyfully embraced my roles as a homeschooling mother to four wonderful children.  I’ve mentored hundreds of youth over the years and in 2022 became a certified coach. I help homeschool mamas find CONFIDENCE, JOY, and PEACE in homeschooling!

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ROsie Christman

ROsie Christman

Mentor

A homeschool mother of 8 with a degree in social work, Rosie worked with infants, toddlers, and adult mental health until she received a promotion and became a full time stay-at-home-mom,…

Learn more...
Jennifer Holyoak

Jennifer Holyoak

Math Teacher

Born and raised on the east coast, Jennifer trekked across the country to attend college at Brigham Young University. She thought about majoring in elementary education,
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William and Ranae Mckee

William and Ranae Mckee

Mentor

William McKee is a licensed professional counselor and has been in private practice for over 30years.  He began his career as an entrepreneur at 21 years old when he created what is now…

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Tatianna Fallon

Tatianna Fallon

Mentor

Tatiana Fallon was homeschooled her whole life, well almost. She told her mom at age five after four months of kindergarten she would not go back to school.

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Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor

Attorney

 

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Janel Andersen

Janel Andersen

Homeschooler

Janel Andersen enjoys Idaho country living on three acres in Shelley with her husband McKay. They’ve been married 29 years and have six children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. 

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Aby Rinella

Aby Rinella

Podcaster

Aby Rinella lives in the mountains of the west with her college sweetheart, where they homeschool their 3 kids.

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Dan Hunter

Dan Hunter

Author

Dan and his wife have home schooled since 1993.  Dan is the author of nine history books which are used across the nation…

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Breann Duffin

Breann Duffin

Homeschooler

Does her family always eat their daily veggies? Nope. Is her house a pristine canvas able to welcome guests at any moment? Also a negative. Sometimes as her six children…

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Julie lopez

Julie lopez

home educator

Julie Lopez is a homeschooling veteran of 23 years. She has loved every minute and is fighting being placed into forced retirement,…

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Leah Stoddard

Leah Stoddard

Leah M. Stoddard is a citation editor, lead animator, graphic designer, and sound designer for the Joseph Smith Foundation.

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Daniel Nielson OD, FOVDR

Daniel Nielson OD, FOVDR

Optometrist

Dr. Nielson is one of two doctors in Idaho who are board certified in vision development, vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. 

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Stephanie Harris

Stephanie Harris

home educator

Stephanie Harris teaches at C7 Ranch Academy in Southeastern Idaho- student enrollment: 8, with five having moved on to various post-graduate experiences.

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Steve Dewey

Steve Dewey

Teacher

Steve Dewey is a Blackfoot, Idaho native. He got his education degree from Brigham Young University in 1988. He has been a special education teacher for the past 35 years,…

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Schedule

Idaho State University Student Union Building, Pocatello Idaho

Click Here for a map of the student union building classrooms

Friday – January 17th

TimeMain Auditorium Classroom AClassroom B
8:00am - 8:45amRegistration
8:45am - 9:00amWelcome and Conference theme
9:00am - 10:00amKeynote - Nephi Zufelt
10:15 - 11:15 amTatiana Fallon - Homeschooling in the Age of AI: Preparing Your Children for the FutureJulie Lopez - Shadowing Mentoring in the Teen yearsJanelle Andersen - Whats your why
11:30 - 12:30pmBreann Duffin - CurriculumStephany Harris - Shared Books Shared SoulsJennifer Holyoak - How to be a Good Math Teacher
12:30 - 2:00pmBreak for Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 pmAby Rinella - Free to Homeschool
3:15 - 4:15 pmAby Rinella -The Health Benefits of HomeschoolDan Hunter - Making History Come AliveRosie Christman - The Power of Words
4:30 - 5:30 pmMcKee's - Self-esteemLeah Stoddard - ConstitutionDr. Daniel Nelson
5:30 - 6:00 pmCo-op Mingle (What is it?)
7:00 - 8:30 pmHome School Musical Extravaganza

Saturday – January 18th

TimeMain AuditoriumClassroom AClassroom B
8:30 - 9:00 amVisit Vendors and Find Seating
9:00 - 10:00 amKeynote - Leah Stoddard
10:15 - 11:15 amNephi Zufelt - Being Creators in a Consumption WorldKami Harris - Becoming AntifragileMcKee’s - Communication in Marriage
11:30 am - 12:30 pmKeri Tibbets - Home Environments Nephi Zufelt -
Dads, We Need You		Tatiana Fallon - Start out homeschooling on the right foot by failing fast
12:30 - 2:00 pmLunch and Visit Vendors
2:00 - 3:00pmMark TaylorSteve Dewey - ParentingKeri Tibbets - Require and Inspire
3:15 - 4:15 pmSteve Dewey - Learning disabilitiesKami Harris -
The Motivated Mind: Encouraging Intrinsic Drive		Jennifer Holyoak - Fractions, Seeing is Believing
4:30 - 5:30 pmClosing Keynote - Tatiana Fallon - SuffEDcated: How American's Education system in destroying our Democracy and your role in fixing it
Keri Tibbets

 

Keri is a mother of six, a homeschooler of 20 years, and a private math tutor.  She loves learning and helping students to fall in love with learning. 

Keri graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology. She loves reading, writing, discussing great ideas, cooking, baking, exercising, gardening, and all active things outdoors. Her favorites are mountain biking and hiking. 

With a special interest in how children learn, Keri has spent two decades researching, discussing, and discovering how to help students fall in love with learning and drive their own life-long educations. Nothing is more exciting to her than to see a child caught up in a great book, their heart aglow with interest, and their mind engaged without effort because of the natural joy of learning. 

For the last two years she and her daughter Grace have been teaching parent courses on the start-to-finish how to’s of successful classical education for children, showing parents how to take their children from Little House on the Pairie to Shakespeare in just a few short years!

 

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NEPHI ZUFELT
Nephi is a servant of Christ; Elizabeth’s devoted husband; Zoe, Ainsley, Keller, Melina, and Stratton’s homeschooling father; world traveler; and a wannabe church basketball star. In his free time from these important roles, he is the CEO of NexTek Innovations (a medical device incubator), entrepreneur, founder and president of Wealth Mentality Families, author of 2 best-selling books (Katie Bell and the Wishing Well; A Story of Finding True Wealth and The Big Startup Guidebook for Kids), and keynote speaker.
Nephi grew up in the beautiful landscape of Moab, Utah and graduated from Utah State with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and MBA from the University of Tennessee. He has spent 10 years working his way into the C-Suite at a medical device manufacturing company only to turn around and leave it all for the uncertainty of startups and entrepreneurship so he could spend time doing what was most important to him; raising his family.
Nephi still enjoys the process of innovation and creation in the world of medical devices but finds his true passion in teaching and helping families to find their true purpose and create the life they desire. He teaches parents and youth how to avoid falling into the traps of worldliness and consumption while also pursuing true wealth in the correct way to be used in the service of others.
Dads, We Need You
Target Audience: Adults (Fathers and others)
Description: The world has a Dad problem. Study after study demonstrate the dire effects of fatherlessness on society. Crime rate, sexual immorality, success in school, drug use, lifetime earnings, and every other measure of success are drastically different between families that have a father in the home and those that do not. Dads, we need you in the lives of your children. We need you home more often. We need you engaged with your family. We need you to be spending quality time with them, and we need you to take the leadership role in homeschooling. In this class we will talk about the importance of your role as a father and how you can arrange your life to better fulfill your dream job, being the World’s Best Dad.
Being Creators in a Consumption World
Target Audience: Youth and adults
Description: We live in a world of consumption where it is commonplace to sit and consume hours and hours of content (Netflix, video games, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) every single day. As a society, we are losing our ability to create and produce because of our tendency to consume. This class is not intended to teach you how to avoid consumption through screens and social media. Instead, we want to focus on teaching ways that you can change your usage of modern technology from consumption to creation. The tools we have been given are amazing, but we absolutely must use them to create and produce in lieu of using them as tools of consumption. We will discuss strategies to change our use of technology and introduce the production/consumption ratio.
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Kami Harris
Mentor

For nearly two decades, I’ve joyfully embraced my roles as a homeschooling mother to four wonderful children, a supportive wife to my best friend, a proud “Grammy,” and a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Since I was small, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree and hoped to be a professional educator once all my children started school. However, plans changed after sending my daughter to kindergarten and first grade and seeing the light go out of her eyes and her love of learning dwindle. While looking for alternative options, I felt inspired to homeschool. Initially, I followed the public school model at home because that was how I was trained. This led to a frustrating first year. As a lifelong learner and avid reader, I searched and sought mentoring from successful veteran homeschool parents, taking advantage of every training and class that could potentially guide me.

In the process, I discovered empowering principles and effective methodologies that were not taught to me in my professional training. In 2010, I co-founded iFamily Leadership Academy, where I served as President and have been privileged to mentor hundreds of youth. In 2018, after facing challenging life circumstances, I joined Jody Moore’s coaching program seeking relief. The tools I learned transformed my life, inspiring me to become a Coach and help others do the same. I am certified in the Life Coach School and Creation Coach School and continue to apply these tools in my personal life, teaching, and home. I am also a Mentor trainer for Leadership Education Mentoring Institute (LEMI).”

As a certified Coach, I help parents understand where their power lies, master their thoughts and emotions, get clear about their goals, figure out effective systems that work, offer support in bringing out the genius in all their children, and help them to show up as the best version of themselves in their home. I love to help parents discover how to connect with and positively influence their children and empower parents to create the homeschooling environment they long for and turn their frustrations into fulfillment. Homeschooling has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding adventures of my life, and I love to simplify the journey for others, so they can more quickly find the JOY!

Becoming Antifragile
In a culture increasingly defined by ‘safetyism’—the notion that individuals are inherently fragile and need constant protection—many are experiencing heightened anxiety and depression. However, what if discomfort and adversity were not signs of failure but essential ingredients for growth? Enter the concept of becoming ‘Antifragile’. Embracing discomfort and challenges can be transformative, leading us to discover untapped strengths and resilience. By exercising our agency and drawing strength from the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can harness adversity to fulfill our divine potential. Join me as we explore how pushing boundaries and embracing discomfort can lead us to become who our Heavenly Father designed us to be.
The Motivated Mind:  Encouraging Intrinsic Drive
In this session, we will explore the fundamental differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and why fostering an internal drive to learn is essential for long-term educational success.  We will discuss practical strategies to create a homeschool environment that cultivates autonomy, competence, and relatedness.  Learn how to encourage ownership of education and inspire self-driven, passionate learners.”
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Rosie Christman

A homeschool mother of 8 with a degree in social work, Rosie worked with infants, toddlers, and adult mental health until she received a promotion and became a full time stay-at-home-mom, which is the hardest, yet most rewarding work she’s ever done. She loves to mentor youth and adults, help heal hearts and families, and use her gifts and talents to bless others and further the Lord’s work here on earth. She comes from a yours-mine-and-ours family with 21 kids. She has lived in poverty-stricken Bolivia, helping people learn to read, garden, build adobe huts, and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a family, they have raised pigs, dairy goats, chickens, Guinea hens, rabbits, turkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, an orphaned cow, dogs, and cats. They have also raised all sorts of crops for personal use and also to sell at farmer’s markets. They love hunting and processing their own meat, canning food, making cheese, fermenting foods, making home-made vinegar, and more! They have a business called the Homestead Institute where they teach people to be self-reliant, improve their emotional and physical health, and live off the land. Rosie loves people, life, and learning and her love for the Lord motivates her in all she does.

Power of Words

You know the old adage: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” That simply isn’t true. Words have power that few people realize. They can tear down or build up. What if you could improve your homeschooling experience with just one word? I am here to tell you, you can!!! There is power in words! They carry energy with them and can transform the energy of a person, a room, an experience! Learn words you can eliminate from your vocabulary and the powerful words to add to it to completely change the energy in you, your home, your students, and your whole homeschool experience!

Engaging Reluctant Learners
Do you have kids who are struggling with school? Maybe they feel dumb, feel bored, feel distant or distracted. Maybe they’re just tired of the grind…. Come and learns some awesome tips and tricks to bring the love of learning back to your homeschool experience and create an environment that you and your child will both enjoy and even look forward to learning together!

 

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Jennifer Holyoak
Born and raised on the east coast, Jennifer trekked across the country to attend college at Brigham Young University. She thought about majoring in elementary education, but settled instead on the field of dietetics (food and nutrition). While in college, she met and married her sweetheart Matt. After graduation, they moved to Boise where they are raising six wonderful children, five girls and one boy!
Jennifer became an unexpected homeschooler when her oldest reached sixth grade. She couldn’t bear to send her to middle school and brought her home instead. By fall of 2018, everyone else came home, and SixOaks Academy was born! Since then Jennifer and Matt have successfully graduated one daughter with a second set to graduate in May of 2025. When not teaching, Jennifer spends her time exploring the great outdoors, sewing, reading, serving at church, and sneaking in a nap.
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Bill and RaNae McKee

William McKee is a licensed professional counselor and has been in private practice for over 30years.  He began his career as an entrepreneur at 21 years old when he created what is now known as McKee’s Garden and Pet Centers.  Later, he and his wife RaNae created Center Counseling where 29 therapist work together in assisting families throughout the Southeastern Idaho area. Bill’s  emphasis  is in marriage counseling  and  adults dealing with childhood trauma.  He has taught as an adjunct professor in the Social Work Department at Idaho State University and has also taught Marriage and Family Classes at the LDS Institute at Idaho State University. He received the Counselor of the year award for the State of Idaho in 2004. Bill has been active in the community and church throughout his life and has served in many interfaith capacities.

RaNae Petersen McKee and William are the parents of 10 children and 32 grandchildren. They have been foster parents for over 25 years to more than 45 foster children. RaNae is a certified PRIDE trainer for Health and Welfare Child Protective Services and a certified Love and Logic Instructor. RaNae is a musician, and has taught piano and organ for over 40 years. She is a former Miss Idaho and won one of the 8 talent awards in the Miss America Pageant .  For the past 20 years, Bill and RaNae have taught community classes dealing with Lifeskills, Self Esteem, Parenting, Marriage and Family Relationships. They are sought out often as public speakers and have presented programs for Firesides, Youth Conferences and other trainings for over 30 years.

Bill McKee was born and raised in Inkom Idaho (just outside of Pocatello) with 9 brothers and sisters.  He served a 2 year mission in Sweden and has served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in many capacities, including bishop, stake president and was President of the Tennessee Nashville Mission.  He has been active in the community and church throughout his life.  He is a licensed, professional counselor has worked with sexual offenders groups, a very successful interfaith group in Pocatello.  His emphasis is in marriage counseling and adults dealing with childhood trauma.   RaNae is from Preston. She attended BYU, ISU,  and her greatest calling in life is that of being a wife, a mother and grandmother .

As you see today, RaNae is a walking miracle.  While they were in Nashville, after serving for about 1 1/2 years, RaNae suffered 2 strokes, a heart attack, heart surgery, cardiac arrest, brain surgery all within 4 days.  She was in a coma for 4 weeks,  in the ICU for  6 weeks. and in the hospital for 3months.  The doctors came in almost every day for the first month, and said to Bill:  “You know she is going to pass away today.”  Bill said, ” Well, Let’s just see what the Lord has to say.”

After about 2 months, she regained consciousness, and had to re-learn everything again in her life. With her husband  by her side  and a determination to live,  she relearned to walk and talk and play musical instruments again.  She left the hospital being able to walk with much dizziness. When she had the brain surgery the doctor cut her head open from the top to the back of her neck and told Bill that her brain was so saturated with blood, that some of her cerebellum actually fell out!  That was the part of the brain that controls our balance.  She also had one eye that was stuck against her nose which caused her to see double.  Other than that, she is doing well.  She has re-learned to play the piano again, had surgery on her eye and now just sees normally. RaNae is now teaching piano lessons again.   She is so grateful for a loving husband and  family who stood by her side the entire way.

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Tatiana Fallon

Tatiana Fallon was homeschooled her whole life, well almost. She told her mom at age five after four months of kindergarten she would not go back to school. She struggles with dyslexia and did not learn to read until she was twelve. She started teaching at age fourteen. She is the creator of the LEMI Key of Liberty Project and the Sword of Freedom project. She has traveled around the United States speaking and training. She has been mentoring homeschooling parents for over 20 years. She worked as a citizen lobbyist from age 15-21 and has been striving to serve her country any way she can. She is now homeschooling her 4 children, two of whom also struggle with dyslexia. She has lived in Riga Latvia, Virginia, Utah and now calls Louisville Kentucky her home.

YOUTH Class
“To thine own self be true” Find your own powerful sense of self in the chaos of world today.
Discover how timeless classics like Shakespeare and Little Women can inspire a strong sense of self and leadership. This engaging presentation invites youth to explore themes of individuality, resilience, and character through literature. By connecting with the struggles and triumphs of iconic characters, students will learn to embrace their unique strengths, make confident choices, and become leaders among their peers. Join us for an enriching journey into the power of classic stories to shape modern lives!
ADULT Classes
Start out homeschooling on the right foot by failing fast.
Starting your homeschool journey can feel overwhelming, but with the right foundation, it can be a rewarding adventure! This presentation is designed for homeschool moms just beginning their journey. We’ll explore five crucial questions every homeschool parent should ask themselves to set their homeschool up for success. Learn how to balance the dual roles of parent and educator, discover practical resources, and develop systems that bring structure and harmony to your home. Join us for this empowering session and leave equipped with the tools and confidence to create a thriving homeschool environment!
Homeschooling in the Age of AI: Preparing Your Children for the Future
In a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence, how can homeschool parents prepare their children for the future? This presentation explores the impact of AI on education and society, offering practical strategies to equip students with essential skills. We’ll discuss fostering critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability—qualities that set humans apart in an AI-driven landscape. Parents will learn how to incorporate AI tools into their homeschool curriculum responsibly, teaching their children to use technology ethically and effectively. Empower your family to thrive in a world where AI is transforming the way we learn, work, and live!
SuffEDcated: How American’s Education system is destroying our Democracy and your role in fixing it
We live in unsettling times and we have been told many times that our democracy is at stake. Is it and if so what can you do to save it? Here are 5 key principles you can implement into your homeschool if you want to raise children who will keep our democracy around for the next generation. Following the life of founding mother Elisabeth Willing Powell and her example we will learn how to save our Democracy.
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Brittany Coulson

Brittany is a nurse and Family Life Educator by trade; a homemaker, wife, and mama by choice. She has been homeschooling since her first day as an Earthly mother in 2012. Her journey has been full of personal growth, healing her inner child, and being educated herself as she teaches and discovers this beautiful world with her children. Her friends call her “Britt” so you all can too! She loves hot cocoa on winter mornings and wishes her journal was more full of all the amazing days and moments she’s forgotten to write down. She falls into bed each night and rolls out each morning, driven with the desire to simply show up for herself and her family with hopes of inspiring and encouraging a few friends–new and old–along her way.

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Meet Janel

Janel Andersen enjoys Idaho country living on three acres in Shelley with her husband McKay. They’ve been married 29 years and have six children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Janel has homeschooled for nearly 10 years and is an Etsy shop owner where she designs and sews her animal-themed hooded towels that she calls RubADub Buddies. It’s common to find Janel in the kitchen baking fresh bread and cinnamon rolls that her children sell to earn money to support their cross country, wrestling and track sports. She grew up in Idaho Falls where she was involved in cheerleading, student journalism and the honor society. She graduated with an associate’s degree in journalism from Ricks College and a bachelor’s degree in English education from Utah State University.

What’s your Why?

The decision to homeschool is personal and unique to each family. Remembering why and how you came to choose this path arms you with strength and fortitude. The days of surety when beginning your journey serve as a reservoir from which you draw on days of doubt.

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About Aby

Aby Rinella lives in the mountains of the west with her college sweetheart, where they homeschool their 3 kids.
Aby writes and speaks to encourage and inspire families to train up their children in God’s Word, and to stand on truth in a culture that has lost its foundation.
The Rinella’s are board members of their state homeschool organization where the work to defend homeschool freedom for future generations.
Aby and her husband, Jesse, write for the outdoor industry as well as run a non-profit, Called Beyond Adventures, that takes families impacted by disability on outdoor adventures.
You can find them at https://calledtothetop.com/.

 

The Health Benefits of Homeschool

Most of us know that Homeschooling has great academic benefits and is good for families, but did you know that the benefits of go beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic.

In this session you will learn how you can use your homeschool to grow strong, healthy kids- physically, mentally, socially, emotionally,  and spiritually.

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Dan Hunter

Dan Hunter and his wife Janice have been married for forty-five years, have 5 children and 15 grandchildren. They have home schooled since 1993.  Dan is the author of nine history books which are used across the nation in private schools and home schools. He is a graduate of George Wythe University in Cedar City, Utah in Business and Biblical Studies, and was a private school teacher for 10 years.  Dan started Living History in 1999 when he started writing his history books.  In 2004 Dan and Jan bought Archive Publishers and Wholesome Books which they run with a lot of help from their children.  Wholesome Books is a home school/private school bookstore, and under the Archive Publishers name they re-publish out-of-print LDS and non-LDS books, with 200 titles currently available.  To add a little variety to his life, Dan recently retired as a driver=s education instructor after 17 years.

Class Description

A Hero demonstrates certain qualities in his/her character which brings out the best in themselves.  Secular and religious history give us plenty of examples of heroes.  We would do well to learn about these heroes from history, and follow their example so that we will become the kind of person others would like to follow.  This class will demonstrate from history the hero attributes of honesty, courage, leadership, integrity, honor, faith, and wisdom.  Come and learn what made these heroes great.

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Breann Duffin

Does her family always eat their daily veggies? Nope. Is her house a pristine canvas able to welcome guests at any moment? Also a negative. Sometimes as her six children, ranging from preschool to high school, pass by her, she wonders if their fashion inspiration came from a Dr. Suess book with tassels of hair flailing, mismatched socks, no shoes, and the constant reminder to brush their teeth. Sacrifices had to be made as Breann Duffin grinded to learn everything she could about how to educate in a superhuman way. She has earned two Bachelor’s Degrees from Brigham Young University-Idaho. The first in Agriculture and the second in Secondary Education; certificates in Agriculture and All Sciences. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education in Curriculum Design and Instruction with an emphasis in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. She added her Elementary Education certificate after she finished her master’s degree. Over the last twenty years, she has taught all levels, PreK through 12th grade, and also has a decade of experience in teaching at the university and adult levels. She has trained teachers from all over the nation, built a thriving music studio of fifty students, started and directed a PreK-12th grade youth softball program in her community, sang her heart out as the lead in the community musicals, served as the president of her town’s Arts Council, and has built the curriculum for and mentored three IDX STEAM teams who all won first place in Idaho.  She did all this as she was doing the most important work of homeschooling and nurturing her family. Her most valuable experiences have come through the constant introspection of her family’s character, their level of motivation and diligence, and the educational methodologies used in their homeschool. She is honored to be amongst other beautiful individuals at this conference as we learn to develop strengths that make us secretly superhuman.

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Meet Julie

Julie Lopez is a homeschooling veteran of 23 years. She has loved every minute and is fighting being placed into forced retirement, as most of her children have graduated and moved on, by helping others on their journeys. She has opened her own micro-schooling program, MAPLE Scholars, this fall, still teaches at the local co-op, and enjoys discussing homeschooling and mentoring every opportunity she has.

Her older children are on missions and attending college with merit scholarships- all in their own interests. She has used a variety of methods to homeschool all the way through highschool and is a strong believer that these years can be some of the best and most rewarding of all.

Julie started what is now called the “Quest” homeschool co-op 11 years ago with some friends and a lot of advice from those that went before (because what better way is there to learn?). She has taught the 12-18 year olds for all 11 of those years. Her classes have been varied including: Shakespeare, History, Biology, Videography, Mock trial, Government, Leadership, Robotics, Simulations, Speech and writing. She has also directed 6 Shakespeare plays and run multiple youth trips and other opportunities for the youth. Her favorite saying is: “It’s not about the play, it’s about the kids.”

In her spare time, she loves reading all kinds of books, spending time with family(especially her 1 year old grandaughter), serving on the board of the ARRE Foundation, dreaming up new ideas for special needs schools and supports, and diving into medical research to help find answers for her beautiful younger daughter who has some severe special needs.

No, thank you. I do not want.
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Leah Stoddard

Leah M. Stoddard is a citation editor, lead animator, graphic designer, and sound designer for the Joseph Smith Foundation. She was interviewed in the documentary, Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail e the Lost Tribes in the Lands of the North. She also contributes through research, editing, web development, and more. In her free time, Leah enjoys animal husbandry, cooking, art, music, studying Gospel

topics, and working at their family-owned perennial garden retreat. Leah is excited about freedom, the Gospel, working with her siblings, and establishing a multigenerational vision
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Dr Daniel Nelsen

Dr. Nielson is one of two doctors in Idaho who are board certified in vision development, vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. He completed his BS degree from Brigham Young University in both Rexburg and Provo, and then his doctor of optometry at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He went on to complete a residency at Child and Family Eyecare in Wichita, Kansas where he received specific training in Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Neuro-Rehabilitation. He has sought out additional training with pediatrics and vision therapy because of the positive impact he has seen in patients who have been treated for binocular vision problems. At Idaho Vision Development Center he diagnoses and treats vision difficulties such as tracking issues, double vision, headaches, and lazy or turned eyes. He is passionate about helping others reach their fullest visual potential.

Beyond 20/20 Vision
Often vision is limited to a 20/20 view including doctors and other professionals. There are 17 different visual skills needed for reading and learning and seeing the eye chart clearly is only one of those skills. Binocular vision plays a significant role in one’s ability to read, write and even participate in sports. Common signs and symptoms of binocular vision issues will be discussed as well as their overlap with dyslexia and ADHD. Treatment options will be covered for binocular vision dysfunctions.

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Meet Stephanie

Stephanie Harris teaches at C7 Ranch Academy in Southeastern Idaho- student enrollment: 8, with five having moved on to various post-graduate experiences. Together with her husband CJ, they raise their children on the values of classical/leadership education, physical work, family activities, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their schooling style is eclectic, and carefully fit to their unique family dynamics and goals. She considers herself the primary curator of her children’s educations which have included full time homeschooling, online classes, co-ops, both part time and full-time public education, carefully chosen mentorships, and competitive athletics. She started the Twin Falls Commonwealth Co-op in 2006, served as Scholar Principal for the Pocatello Chapter of Freedom Scholars for America co-op. She currently offers a weekly writing and reading class for High School aged students at her home. She is an active real estate investor, a perpetual learner with both official university level classes and private pursuits of the Great Conversation. Her hobbies currently include reading, strength training, podcasts, all the kids’ sports, serving the Young Women in her ward, and never-ending home renovations.

Shared Books Shared Souls – Ideas for leading impactful book discussions

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Steve Dewey

Steve Dewey is a Blackfoot, Idaho native. He got his education degree from Brigham Young University in 1988. He has been a special education teacher for the past 35 years, working  mostly with children who have behavioral and emotional impairments. Steve started out his career at Primary Children’s Residential Treatment Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. After so many years of missing his Idaho roots, Steve and his wife Lisa moved their three boys to Idaho Falls.  Steve has worked over past years in the Jefferson School District #251, Idaho Falls District #91 and Bonneville Joint School District #93, running behavioral, self-contained programs. Since these programs involved working with students’ parents intensively, he studied various parenting programs and found an additional love of teaching parents. Steve became well trained specifically in the Parenting With Love and Logic method. He has trained thousands of parents and teachers over the past 27 years. Steve also teaches the Focus on Children Classes for Bonneville, Bingham and Madison Counties for divorcing parents. Steve and Lisa are now “empty nesters.” This has been a difficult adjustment that has became rectified by two granddaughters with two more on the way.

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