2023 Event Sessions and Activities

 REGISTER for the HOME Convention and enjoy any or all event activities! 

FIND A COMPLETE SCHEDULE HERE.

WORKSHOP SESSION I (Friday, 8:30am - 9:30am) 

Women's Morning Worship and Workout

Peggy Ployhar (Hope Baptist Church, 176 Western Ave., Manchester)

“Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.”

Psalm 149:3

Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, finds that her morning workout time has been a catalyst in improving her connection with God as she uses movement and music to worship the Lord. In this session, Peggy will use a playlist of worship music to lead the group through a warm-up routine, light conditioning exercises, and stretching that can be modified to any ability. This session is a great way to start your day, with a focus on Jesus and movement to awaken your soul.

WORKSHOP SESSION II (Friday 10:15am - 11:15am)

Using Scripture and Meditation to Calm the Nervous System

Peggy Ployhar (Hope Baptist Church, 176 Western Ave., Manchester)

Even though God reminds us it is counter kingdom culture to live in a nervous and stressed-out state, many of us have unknowingly trained our bodies to operate in this mode. Thus, flipping the switch to enter a peaceful time of scripture meditation is not as simple as picking up a Bible and forcing ourselves to meditate on scripture. Instead, it requires a focused effort and understanding of how to flip off the “high-alert” switch in the nervous system so it is possible to enter the promised rest God says He has ready and waiting for anyone who wants it. In this short talk, Peggy, a recent cancer survivor, will share nervous system calming scripture meditation strategies based on Biblical principles and medical research that reveal how God designed our bodies, minds, and souls to most effectively enter His rest no matter what.

WORKSHOP SESSION III (Friday, 11:30am - 12:30pm)

The Basics of Fasting for a Healthier Body, Mind and Soul 

Peggy Ployhar (Hope Baptist Church, 176 Western Ave., Manchester) 

You may have heard that fasting can improve your spiritual life, mental clarity, and a variety of health issues, but the whole idea of fasting to tap into these benefits can seem daunting and confusing. Well, help is here. Peggy Ployhar, SPED Homeschool Founder & CEO, started fasting in 2020 when her functional doctor informed her it was a necessary part of her natural cancer healing regime. 2+ years now in remission, Peggy has found that fasting has benefited her holistically after moving from just a health-based approach to a Biblically centered approach to diet and healthy living. You will walk away from this talk with helpful information on how to successfully start fasting, understand how God created our bodies for fasting, and what you can do to personalize your fasting plan to maintain your health – body, mind and soul.  

HOME HIKE (Friday, 10:00am - Noon)

Nathanael Morin and Robert Weisman (Kennebec River-Rail Trail, Augusta)

WORKSHOP SESSION I (Friday, 1:30pm - 2:30pm)

The Pilgrims Were a Covenant People

Leo and Nancy Martin (Maine State Library, 242 State Street, Augusta)

The Bible consists of the New Testament and the Old Testament. Testament means covenant so we have the Old Covenant and New Covenant. These are covenants with God and His people.  They are a vertical covenant. There are also covenants between people with God as their witness. These are horizontal covenants. If we are believers in the Bible, then we are covenant people and believe in both horizontal covenants and vertical covenants. Nancy and Leo Martin will explain that because the Pilgrims were covenant people they had the perseverance, through all their hardships, to build a community based on Biblical law that has become the Christian nation we have today. By remaining a covenant people, we will keep our Christian nation.

WORKSHOP SESSION II (Friday, 3:00pm - 4:00pm)

Conversations with a Pilgrim

Leo and Nancy Martin (Maine State Library, 242 State Street, Augusta) 

In discussing the history of our country and its founding principles we are sometimes faced with revisionism. People trying to change the narrative to reflect their world view. There is a secular world view and a Biblical world view. The people with a secular world view try to change the story to remove the Christian founding of our country by changing the narrative. We are very fortunate that we have primary documents that help us to stand firm in the truth of the founding of our country. Rather than  go nose to nose with people who disagree we have discussions and use the primary documents to back up the biblical world view. We will demonstrate how people will try to revise history and how we, using primary documents, will show the true history of our country.

FRIDAY NIGHT BOWLING (Friday, 6:00 - 8:00pm)

1-7-10 Bowling & Entertainment Center, 2246 N Belfast Ave., Augusta

WORKSHOP SESSION I (Saturday, 8:00am - 9:00am)

How to Write an IEP and Then Use it Effectively in Your Homeschool

Peggy Ployhar (Main Speaking Area, Augusta Armory) 

An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a tool public and private school special needs teachers use to set progress goals for their students. Join Peggy Ployhar, the CEO of SPED Homeschool, for a very “how-to” oriented introduction on the basics of writing and implementing an IEP, homeschool style. This talk will take you through the entire process of the hows and whys of an IEP, the legality of the using a homeschool IEP based on the American Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as well as many teaching strategies on how to reach IEP goals for specific diagnosis and learning struggles.

Who Are You Going to Call? Mythbusters!

Kathi Kearney (Classroom 1, Augusta Armory)

Fallacies and misconceptions abound when it comes to Maine's homeschool law. Are you certain of your own understanding? Kathi Kearney, HOME board member and author of Maine's current homeschool law, will sort out the facts and myths in this lively presentation.

Practical Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Ages

Michelle Collomy (Classroom 2, Augusta Armory) 

Are you wondering how in the world you will be able to homeschool multiple children, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and all at different grade levels? Michelle Collomy, homeschooling mother of twelve, has been homeschooling for over 25 years. She has learned a thing or two along the way! In this workshop, Michelle will share her experience and some key strategies for homeschooling multiple children without losing your sanity! Find out what steps you can take to bring richness, harmony and joy into a busy home that is full of life and learning.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 1 (Saturday, 9:30am - 10:30am)

Overcoming Doubt - Your Greatest Homeschool Enemy

Peggy Ployhar (Main Speaking Area, Augusta Armory)

Doubt is the number one enemy of all homeschoolers. So, it stands to reason that overcoming doubt is the key to homeschool success. Peggy Ployhar, the CEO of SPED Homeschool, has 18 years’ experience battling doubt in her own homeschooling endeavors. But, instead of letting those doubts creep in and destroy her homeschool, she learned with each battle just how much God’s grace and truth provided strategies for conquering her doubts. This talk is filled with biblical fighting strategies to equip every homeschooling parent to do battle head-on with their own doubts so they can overcome them and homeschool victoriously.

WORKSHOP SESSION II (Saturday, 11:00am - 12:00pm)

Hands-on Workshop for Using Unit Studies Through High School 

Peggy Ployhar (Main Speaking Area, Augusta Armory) 

Many parents slowly progress away from hands-on learning as their student nears high school level classes. But, for students who have difficulty with understanding abstract concepts through traditional instruction, the removal of multi-sensory and discovery style instruction makes the leap to high school not only challenging but also often very discouraging. In this talk, Peggy Ployhar, the CEO of SPED Homeschool, covers practical ways to build high school credit courses for a homeschool student using unit studies and encourages her audience to do the same in this interactive workshop. You will leave this talk encouraged and equipped to start, or continue, your homeschooling high school journey using unit studies.

Words of Wisdom from a Veteran Homeschool Mom

Patricia Hutchins (Classroom 1, Augusta Armory)

Homeschooling doesn't look at all like traditional schooling. In fact, your homeschool doesn't even look like your neighbor's homeschool! So how do we know what makes homeschooling work? HOME Leader and veteran homeschool mom Patricia Hutchins has two homeschool grads that have now gone on to college. What were the secrets to her success? Where were the pitfalls? In this session, Patricia will pass on the wisdom she gained from experience at all stages of the journey. A question and answer time will follow!

Your Children: Society’s Next Great Leaders, Parents & Workforce 

Elizabeth Caruso (Classroom 2, Augusta, Armory)

Regardless of your child’s age, this workshop will encourage you on “the goal”, which as parents, is to prepare your children for their adulthood. Now more than ever, we need the next generation of parents, society leaders, workers and business owners who are strong in character, hardworking, competent, freedom-oriented, and knowledgeable in TRUE history, science and the Constitution. 

Homeschooling is the most rewarding gift for you and your children, as it allows you to engage with, empower and encourage each child to be all that they are called to be. In this workshop, you will realize that homeschoolers don’t miss out. Learn how their school years can be full of co-op classes, sports, robotics, 4H, extension office programs, theater, free Early College classes, and free technical center programs for the trades. We need your children to excel, succeed and prosper!

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 2 (Saturday, 1:30pm - 2:30pm)

Customizing Your Curriculum

Peggy Ployhar (Main Speaking Area, Augusta Armory) 

As the CEO of SPED Homeschool, and the former Special Needs Team Lead for the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) and former Special Needs Coordinator of MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators), Peggy Ployhar speaks to one of the most frequently asked questions she has received over the past 17 years: “What curriculum would be best to teach the unique needs of my child?” Whether you have a child who has a specific diagnosis or one who just struggles in one area of school or another, Peggy addresses in this talk how to take the curriculum you already own, or plan to use, adjust it to meet the specific needs of your child, and consequently dissolve the struggles you are currently seeing in homeschooling your unique child.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION 3 (Saturday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm)

An Eclectic Approach to Homeschooling Charlotte Mason

Peggy Ployhar (Main Speaking Area), Augusta Armory

Using the Charlotte Mason pillars for instruction as a framework for homeschooling can open up wonderful opportunities for learning while providing the freedom to customize curriculum and pace to meet the needs of your family and your students.  Peggy takes the three basic pillars of the Charlotte Mason methodology (home environment, character training, and lifestyle learning) and expands them by sharing eclectic parenting and homeschooling ideas she has used over her 18 years of homeschooling.  In this session families will be equipped with lots of practical, and customizable, ways for using the Charlotte Mason pillars in their homes and homeschooling they can easily implement into whatever homeschooling framework they choose to use.

 * Music on Saturday will be provided by the Beal Family of Roots by the River. Please arrive early to enjoy!

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