Retreat Schedule
We have organised this retreat especially for home schooling mothers. It will be a special weekend away where you can spend time reflecting on your homeschool and considering new ideas and opportunities.
Enjoy two days learning with us and refresh yourself for the last half of the homeschool year.
Day 1 – Saturday June 10, 23
9:00am – 9:30am
Main Hall
Arrival & Registration
Light refreshments provided.
9:30 am – 9:50 am
Main Hall
Also Available For Virtual Attendees
Conference Opening & Welcome
By Michelle Morrow, My Homeschool Founder
9:50 am - 10:45 am
Main Hall
Also Available For Virtual Attendees
Bringing the Home Back Into Homeschooling
By Jo Lloyd, My Homeschool Mentor and Course Creator
Too often in our striving to create the perfect homeschooling experience we can focus too much on academics and outside activities. Or we can simply try to cram in too much at once, leaving us feeling exhausted and with little time for genuine learning. Yet, what we long for is to keep the heart of our homeschools beating strongly.
Be encouraged to see how you can build the foundation of your home to sustain and enhance your homeschool. Learn how your homeschool can serve to nurture, restore, strengthen, and delight your family.
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Main Hall
Morning Tea
Tea, coffee, pastries and fruit platter.
11:15 am - 12:00 Midday
Main Hall
Also Available For Virtual Attendees
Why Curriculum Matters
By Michelle Morrow, My Homeschool Founder and Course Creator
Does it really make much of a difference what curriculum you choose? Will it really matter in the long run? Let’s explore some of the important things to consider when selecting curriculum. We’ll also look a little deeper into worldview, morals, social justice and academics and how these are reflected in the resources available.
12:00 Midday - 1:00 pm
Dining Hall
Lunch
Menu: To be advised closer to date.
1:00 pm - 1:45 am
Main Hall
Also Available For Virtual Attendees
I Was That Homeschool Kid
By Beth Frankish, Homeschooled Student and School Teacher
Beth was homeschooled from kindergarten till she went to university at 16. Now she is a school teacher. Beth shares her experiences of what it was like homeschooling, where she struggled, what she loved, what she thought was weird and how she spent her days.
1:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: To be advised
Workshop Sessions
Workshop Session 1
- Homeschool Basics & CM – If you’ve never heard of Charlotte Mason before or if you are a newbie homeschooler then this session will bring you up to speed on her methods and why they work so well for homeschooling.
Workshop Leader: Michelle
- Boost Your Homeschool – Have you been homeschooling for a while and are you looking to make some tweaks or extend yourself? Join this workshop to get some ideas on how to keep your homeschool an academically challenging environment for your child.
Workshop Leader: Jo
- Troubleshooting The Teen Years Discussion Group – Are you ready to make the transition to homeschooling teens? Are you already there and want some tips. These two women have 14 children between them and they have oodles of wisdom. Come to this workshop to get some ideas about navigating these tricky years well.
Workshop Leaders: Shona & Annette
Workshop Session 2
- Homeschooling Through Distractions and Hard Times – Homeschooling is a lifestyle and not a day passes when something doesn’t mess up our routine. We will discuss the ways we manage to keep a schedule going through the big and small interruptions homeschool life throws at us.
Workshop Leaders: Jo & Annette
- Homeschooling Multiple Ages: Shona homeschools 9 children and Michelle homeschooled 4. How do you homeschool more than one child? Here we will discuss strategies to make homeschooling work with a larger family.
Workshop Leaders: Shona & Michelle
- Artful Expression & Art as Therapy: Art helps your child reconnect with themselves through creative expression and it improves their technical and fine motor skills. It is also an effective way to draw children out, and make them feel comfortable whilst encouraging them to be individuals with their own identity. Nicole will be sharing from her experiences using art to help children express themselves emotionally and spiritually. She will be sharing examples from her professional work as an art therapist and in Christian ministry to children and adults. Her website Art For Kidz offers a range of art classes for children.
Workshop Leaders: Nicole and Sarah
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Main Hall
Afternoon Tea
Selection of cakes and fruit.
4:00pm - 4:45 pm
Main Hall
Also Available For Virtual Attendees
Beyond the Booklist & Day One Wrap Up
By Jo Lloyd, My Homeschool Mentor and Course Creator
What is a Living Book and how do I use them? These are just two of the questions we will answer in this session centred around the beloved feature of My Homeschool: Excellent books. We will examine different approaches to reading and teaching using Living Books to support learning at each age and stage. Also, this session will teach you how to curate a collection of books your family will treasure forever.
Day 2 – Sunday June 11, 23
9:00am – 9:30am
Main Hall
Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel
Arrival and Reflection
The Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel is open from 9am for those wanting a time for personal devotion or reflection before the conference begins.
Light refreshments provided on arrival in the main hall.
9:30 am – 9:45 am
Main Hall
Day 2 Welcome Back
By Michelle Morrow, My Homeschool Founder
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Main Hall
After The Academics Are Done
By Annette McCredie, Homeschooling Mentor.
There is so much more to homeschooling than academics. How do we find our kid’s passions? What are some practical ways to teach faith? Where do we fit in the character training? How do you keep yourself replenished? What’s the big picture? Annette will be sharing about raising 5 children and 20 years of home education.
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Main Hall
Poetry Tea Time
Hosted by Amanda Sim and Sarah Graham.
Enjoy a special morning tea with a selection of poetry read to us by some of the mums attending the conference.
11:15 am - 12:30 pm
Main Hall
Demonstration Lessons
By Jo Lloyd and Michelle Morrow
Here we will give you five short practical lessons on how to:
- Use workboxes and schedule cards to organise your child’s work
- Do a dictation lesson
- Use narration in your homeschool across the ages
- Do a Picture Study lesson
- Enjoy Charlotte Mason style exams
12:30 pm- 1:15 pm
Dining Hall
Lunch
Menu: To be advised closer to date.
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Main Hall
Sustainable Home Schooling Q & A Panel
Facilitated by Amanda. Panel Guests: Annette, Michelle, Shona, Sarah & Jo
This is a time to ask any questions from our panel speakers.
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Main Hall
Prepping For Tomorrow & Retreat Wrap Up
By Michelle Morrow
It’s time to finish up and go home. What will that look like tomorrow?
3:00 pm
Main Hall
Conference Close & Home Time
Say goodbye to new friends. Pack up and go back to our families.
Got More Questions – Contact Us
We’d love to answer questions about our retreat and how it can work for you.
Please email Amanda your question.
Email Amanda: support@myhomeschool.com.au
