28th Home School Book Fair
May 11 and 12, 2012
Speakers
These are some of our speakers for the 2012 Home School Book Fair. More will be posted later. Go to the Program page for information on their workshops. CD's of all workshops will be available for sale at the Book Fair.
Featured Speakers
Sally and Clay Clarkson
Sally and Clay Clarkson are popular home school authors and conference speakers. Sally served with Campus Crusade in Communist Poland and continued in ministry after her marriage to Clay in 1981. Clay is a graduate of Denver Seminary and has ministered full-time since college. He is also a Christian songwriter, singer, and worship leader. In 1994, the Clarksons started Whole Heart Ministries to encourage and equip Christian parents through books, workshops and seminars, and a ministry website. Since 1998, Sally has ministered to thousands of mothers through her Mom Heart Conferences and online ministries. Clay edits and publishes reprints of public domain works through Whole Heart Press. The Clarksons home schooled all four of their children and currently live in Monument, Colorado. www.wholeheart.org
Mark Hamby
Mark Hamby is founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries and oversees its five branches: Lamplighter Publishing, Lamplighter Theatre, Lamplighter Guild, Lamplighter Life-Transforming Seminars, Lamplighter Moments Daily Radio Broadcast. He lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Debbie. They have been married for 33 years and have three adult children. Jennifer is married and is the graphic arts and illustration director for Lamplighter. David works for Apple and oversees video production for Lamplighter. Jonathan, their eldest, is married, lives in California as a commercial broker, and functions as his dad’s personal counselor! As author, speaker, and Bible teacher, what Mark enjoys most is helping his audience to remove the mask in order to expose the heart. Through the genre of storytelling, role models, and the life-changing power of God’s Word, Mark’s audiences learn that there is nothing impossible with God. www.lamplighter.net
Sonya Shafer
Sonya Shafer is a popular home school speaker and writer, specializing in the Charlotte Mason Method. She has been on a fifteen-year adventure studying, researching, practicing, and teaching Charlotte's gentle and effective methods of education. Her passion for home schooling her own four daughters grew into helping others and then into Simply Charlotte Mason, which publishes her many books and hosts the simplycharlottemason.com website—a place of practical encouragement to home schoolers. www.simplycharlottemason.com
Andrew Pudewa
Andrew Pudewa is the founder, principal speaker, and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Presenting throughout North America, he addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students and teachers have helped transform many reluctant writers into competent with powerful tools to dramatically improve students' skills. Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan (Suzuki Method) and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him "the funny man with the wonderful words." He and his beautiful, heroic wife Robin currently teach their two youngest children at home in Oklahoma. www.excellenceinwriting.com
Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally
Sarah, Stephen, and Grace Mally (homeschool graduates) live in Marion, Iowa, where they are involved full time in their family ministry called Tomorrow’s Forefathers. They speak often at conferences, encouraging families and young people to be strong for the Lord. In 2002 Sarah, Stephen, and Grace co-authored the book, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. Sarah is the founder of Bright Lights, a nationwide discipleship ministry to equip young ladies to live fully for the Lord. Today there are more than 450 Bright Lights groups nationwide. In 2006 Sarah published the book Before You Meet Prince Charming. As our world grows increasingly dark, the Mallys pray that the Lord would raise up mighty warriors for His kingdom in this generation. www.tomorrowsforefathers.com
Harold Mally
Harold Mally is the founder of Tomorrow’s Forefathers—a discipleship ministry to “equip families to be strong in the Lord”. It is his desire to see the coming generation rise up as strong men and women of God. Harold and his family speak at home school and family conferences, publish discipleship materials, and are raising up a discipleship network of Bright Lights groups for young ladies and Light Shop groups for young men. Harold is the author of Learning from Dad (a tool to help fathers train their families), and Light Shop (a discipleship notebook for young men). He is an elder at Cedar Rapids Bible chapel. Harold and Rebekah began homeschooling their family in 1990. His three children co-authored Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends, and his daughter Sarah is the author of Before You Meet Prince Charming and the founder of Bright Lights. The Mallys live in Marion, Iowa and work together as a family ministry team. www.tomorrowsforefathers.com
Dr. Jobe and Jenna Dee Martin
After graduating from dental school, Dr. Jobe Martin spent two years in the Air Force where he was the dentist for the Presidential flight crew of Air Force One. Then he established a private dental practice at NASA in Houston. Jobe and his wife, Jenna Dee, moved to Dallas in 1971 when he assumed a teaching post at the Baylor College of Dentistry. In 1982, he made the decision to enroll at Dallas Theological Seminary after which time they founded their creation discipleship ministry, Biblical Discipleship Ministries. Jobe’s wife, Jenna Dee is a retired R.N and ministers to ladies’ groups and does counseling with women. The Martins’ daughters, Taryn and Mirren work with their parents in the ministry. When they are not traveling in ministry, the Martin family resides in Rockwall, Texas. www.BiblicalDiscipleship.org
Mirren and Taryn Martin
Taryn and Mirren Martin are the daughters of Dr. Jobe and Jenna Dee Martin and work full time in their family’s ministry, Biblical Discipleship Ministries. They were home schooled through high school. In college they studied elementary and history education and both hold Ph.D.’s in history. Together with their parents they are involved in writing and research, events coordination, the BDM book table, and product development. As the Lord gives opportunity, they also enjoy a side ministry within BDM to young ladies. Their desire for young ladies is that they understand the importance, blessing, and fulfillment found in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Their talks include presenting Biblical truths to encourage young ladies in living victorious Christian lives and to equip them to confront cultural issues in a godly manner so that they can better live out a Biblical worldview for God’s glory. www.BiblicalDiscipleship.org
Renee Ellison
“Your home schooling tips are like brain candy to me!” Renee Ellison’s practical tips have been a boost to thousands of moms. With over 30 years of experience in Christian, private, secular, and home education, she brings rare understanding to all of her workshops. She has taught nearly all grade levels and was an elementary principal, head of a high school English department and Teacher of the Year. She developed and ran gifted and talented programs and has conducted numerous teacher training workshops and seminars at home school conferences nationwide. You’ll leave with newfound confidence and capacity. Her unique knack and wit for making complex things simple makes attending her workshops a pure delight. Her new book, Teachers' Secrets and Motherhood Savvy for Homeschoolers, will be coming out soon at amazon.com. www.homeschoolhowtos.com
Dr. Henry Morris III
Dr. Henry Morris III is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Creation Research. He holds four earned degrees, including a D.Min. from Luther Rice Seminary and the Presidents and Key Executives MBA from Pepperdine University. A former college professor, administrator, business executive, and senior pastor, Dr. Morris is an articulate and passionate speaker frequently invited to address church congregations, college assemblies, and national conferences. The eldest son of ICR's founder, Dr. Morris has served for many years in conference and writing ministry. His love for God's Word and passion for Christian maturity, coupled with God's gift of teaching, have given him a broad and effective ministry over the years. He has authored numerous articles and seven books, including The Big Three: Major Events that Changed History Forever, Exploring the Evidence for Creation, and 5 Reasons to Believe in Recent Creation. www.icr.org
Dr. John Morris
Dr. John Morris, President of the Institute for Creation Research, is perhaps best known for leading expeditions to Mt. Ararat in search of Noah's Ark. He served on the University of Oklahoma faculty before joining the Institute for Creation Research in 1984. He received his doctorate in Geological Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1980. Dr. Morris held the position of Professor of Geology before being appointed President in 1996. He travels widely around the world speaking at churches, conferences, schools, and scientific meetings. Dr. Morris has written numerous books and articles on the scientific evidence that supports the Bible. He is the author or co-author of such books as The Young Earth, The Modern Creation Trilogy, and The Fossil Record: Unearthing Nature's History of Life. www.icr.org
Dr. Charles Jackson
Dr. Charles Jackson, and wife Bonnie, are missionaries to young people, particularly American college students, and have served Creation Truth Foundation since 2009. Holder of five university degrees and a lifetime member of Mensa, "Dr. J" is an outstanding speaker in both Biblical and scientific topics, as well as an dynamic defender of Biblical truth. As Director of Points of Origins, he makes a powerful case for a literal six-day creation about 6,000 years ago, as recorded in the Book of Genesis. He attacks the evolutionary (evo) darts that Satan blasts at our college students with the power of a nuclear warhead. As he brings the Word of God and science together again, he equips believing students to defend the scientific case for a Young Earth and inspires them to cease hanging their heads in shame because they don't accept the theory of evolution, which holds American academia in a vice-like grip. www.creationtruth.com
Tim and Lyndsay Lambert
Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Home School Coalition, and his wife Lyndsay, have been leaders in the Texas home school movement for more than twenty years. They began as local home school leaders in the Lubbock area before Tim assumed leadership of the Texas Home School Coalition in 1990. They travel tirelessly around the state, encouraging home school families and training support group leaders. Tim also lobbies in Austin, having built strong working relationships with Texas state legislators and governmental agencies so as to protect the rights of parents to home school their children. The Lamberts have four grown children (including twins) whom they home schooled. www.thsc.org
Mary James
Mary James lives in Bastrop, Texas and is the mother of eight children. In 1989 she began home schooling them. In 1999 Mary co-founded Smoothing the Way, a non-profit organization which seeks to meet the needs of new home schoolers. She also serves on the Texas Home School Coalition Board of Directors and continues her popular speaking ministry at several home school conferences each year. In her workshops, Mary draws not only from her personal experience as a home schooling mom but also from her many years of working with new home schoolers. Speaking from her heart with warmth and humor, she encourages her listeners to face the often daunting task of educating their children at home. www.smoothingtheway.com
Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson
A former home schooler (K-8), Dr. Jeanson received his B.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and his Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Harvard University. An active participant in Bible-science issues, he researched adult blood stem cell uses for his graduate studies, and he actively opposed embryonic stem cell research while in Massachusetts, submitting testimony to the state governing bodies and speaking on the stem cell issue at the Massachusetts Citizens for Life convention. He is currently researching the DNA evidence supporting the biblical model of origins and contradicting Darwin’s “tree of life”, and he is a frequent lecturer for ICR on the creation/evolution issue. www.icr.org
Lalo Gunther
Lalo Gunther was a member of a gang in Southern California. He was saved in 1995 after a police officer witnessed to him about Christ, and he left his former lifestyle behind. He graduated from San Diego Christian College (formerly Christian Heritage College, co-founded by Dr. Henry Morris, founder of Institute for Creation Research) and went to work in ICR's distribution warehouse in 2000, eventually managing ICR's warehouse operations. Mr. Gunther is a former youth pastor and has a passion for conveying the truth of the gospel to young people. He currently serves as ICR's Director of Conference Ministries and represents ICR at numerous conferences and seminars around the country each year. www.icr.orgRegular Speakers
Jan Bedell
Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, is a master neurodevelopmentalist and founder of the Christian neuro-educational consulting and training group, Little Giant Steps. After many years as a public, private and home school teacher, she has become passionate about helping parents better the lives of their children using her life-changing neurodevelopmental approach to learning. She knows that parents are asking questions like, “Why do my children know something one day and not the next? Why are they so disorganized? Why does it take them so long to do their school work”? For more than two decades she has offered ways to discover and improve a child's current functional abilities whether gifted or challenged. www.littlegiantsteps.com
Carlita Boyles
Christian educator, author, and speaker, Carlita Boyles is a home schooling mother of three children who developed a method of teaching math using life experiences instead of textbooks. In 2007, she and John, her husband of over 20 years, created Math on the Level, a math curriculum designed especially for home schooling families. Carlita has a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Learning Disabilities, and before her children were born, she taught for over 12 years in the California public school system. When she’s not traveling, Carlita enjoys reading, sewing, camping, and spending time with family and friends. www.mathonthelevel.com
Jean Burk
Jean Burk is the author of College Prep Genius and has written numerous articles about the SAT and PSAT tests, College Prep, and How to Get Free College. She has been featured as an SAT expert on Fox, CBS, NBC, TXA21 and The Homeschool Channel. She home schooled both her children who received incredible scholarships because of their PSAT and SAT scores for full tuition, room and board, unlimited laundry and lunchroom passes, study abroad stipends, etc. She currently travels and speaks about the importance of college preparation at conventions, book fairs, schools, libraries, etc. She has taught her “Master the SAT” Prep Class all over the United States. www.collegeprepgenius.com
Cathy Canen
Cathy Canen began home schooling her kids in 1989 with the intention of giving her kids a great education on a small budget. She found that traditional (and often expensive) approaches were teaching material that was retained in the short term, but quickly forgotten. After considerable research, she organized School on a Shoestring (SOS!), an approach to learning that is research based, inexpensive, and effective for long-term memory retention. She has been traveling and speaking for Writing Strands since 1997. Additionally, Cathy does tutoring, curriculum consultations, and has organized language plans for deaf, deafblind, physically handicapped, and learning disabled children. www.writingstrands.com
Tom Clark
Tom Clark, teacher of mathematics and science with 45 years experience at all levels, is convinced that everyone has the ability to understand mathematics. During the past 14 years he developed multimedia programs that challenge traditional methods of instruction by focusing on the “why” of mathematics. He also helps home schooling parents to become more effective instructors. He is the author of Algebra: A Complete Course and Geometry: A Complete Course (with Trigonometry), and is the president of VideoText Interactive, a company that specializes in bringing the textbook to life through technology. www.videotext.com
Judith Darling
Judith Darling developed her own specialized program for teaching language arts/writing during her 30 years of teaching language arts and social studies, and fifteen years of teaching home school students. Upon retiring from teaching, she formed the Razzle Dazzle Learning Co LLC, which develops materials that encourage students to be independent, critical thinkers and responsible learners. She believes children learn from repetition, application, and analytical self-assessment of their assignments. Her informative and lively workshops on taking the stress out of teaching writing and language arts are enjoyed by parents and teachers alike. Students attending her writing and poetry workshops find that writing is fun. www.rdlco.com
Lynn Dean
Because she didn't like history as a student, Lynn Dean determined to give her own children something better. She created Discover Texas, a discovery learning program that blends stories with activities, field trips, and discussion to make history memorable and meaningful. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Lynn taught drafting, writing, and Texas history classes for 10 years at the Brazos Valley Home School Cooperative. Lynn and her husband, Tom, home schooled for more than 16 years and served 3 terms as leaders of their local support group. Their son and daughter are now adults who prove that home schooling was worth every effort! www.discovertexasonline.com / www.aNOVELWritingSite.com
Robin Finley
Robin taught language arts for 34 years in California, Alaska and North Carolina. In 1981 the school where she was teaching refused to order a set of grammar books for her class because “research showed students didn’t need to know grammar to be good writers”. Undeterred, Robin began writing her own grammar program and during the next 12 years she had plenty of opportunity to fine-tune it in her classes. One day a private school asked if her materials were for sale. Not long after that Analytical Grammar was born. “Grammar is an important subject, but people are starting way too early and spending an unjustified amount of time in its formal study,” says Robin. Come find out why! www.analyticalgrammar.com
Stephen Guffanti MD
Who'd have thought that the kid who was nearly kicked out of every school would become an inspiring, hilarious and popular convention speaker? (Not to mention a successful medical doctor, author, and happily married husband and home school dad.) No wonder one of Stephen Guffanti, MD's favorite messages is this: "Your child may never be normal but he can be extraordinary!" Not only is Stephen a physician, but he's also dyslexic and ADHD, and from this unusual perspective he presents hope, understanding, and practical solutions. Dr. Steve has served as the medical director of a learning disorders clinic and has studied nutrition's effects on learning. He is the author of Rocket Phonics, The Purpose of Passion, and Does Your Child Really Have ADHD? His passions include creating curriculum to meet the needs of all kids, following God's plan, and encouraging home school families. www.adhdoractivechild.com
Dennis Gundersen
Dennis Gundersen is owner of Grace & Truth Books, the family business he and his wife Naomi began in 1993. They have published 60 books, most of of which are reprints of children's books from the 1800's. He is author of two books, Your Child's Profession of Faith and Courtship or Dating: So What's the Difference and hopes to have a new book, Teaching Children the Fear of the Lord, by the time of this convention. He is a frequent speaker at church conferences, men's retreats and home education conventions. Dennis and his wife Naomi have been married since 1976, and have four sons. He has served as senior pastor of three churches in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 1984, but since 2010 has focused on publishing and writing. He is an avid mountain climber and photographer. www.graceandtruthbooks.com
Jim Hodges
Jim Hodges is an 18 year home schooling father of three children, a 20-year Navy retiree, and 32-year husband to Monica. On a date night before his retirement, Monica asked what he would do if he could choose his job. Jim said, "Easy, I'd record books." Monica said "Let's try it!" and Jim Hodges Audio Books was born. Jim has made unabridged recordings of 18 of the George Alfred Henty historical novels, 6 childrens books, 3 "Overtly Christian" books, and reissues educational Old Time Radio Shows. Jim would like to see everyone enjoying their work doing something they love. www.jimhodgesaudiobooks.com
Sarita Holzmann
Sarita Holzmann is co-founder and president of Sonlight Curriculum. She has been married to her husband John for 32 years, home schooled her four children and is now the grandmother of five. She cherishes family-centered, literature-rich home schooling. As true leaders in the field of literature-based home schooling, Sarita and John established Sonlight Curriculum twenty years ago. Their goal is to provide families across the globe with the rich resources to raise lifelong learners who fervently pursue whatever God calls them to do as ambassadors for Christ. Sarita believes that a vital part of this mission is to encourage families to read great books together, think critically and discuss important ideas. She and John have co-authored almost fifty of Sonlight Instructor's Guides and Core programs. www.sonlight.com
Dawn Hudson
First a home school student and now the home educator of her own three children, Dawn Hudson sees home schooling from both sides. This second generation home schooler brings a “practitioners” bent into her home classroom, giving her insight into what works and what could cause unexpected problems! Dawn has worked for Focus on the Family, Christian Bookseller’s Association, and as a Colorado state legislative aide. Now Dawn truly works in her favorite environment: first as a wife, mom, and a home schooling teacher; then as a voice of support to home schooling parents. As a consultant for My Father’s World, Dawn fields questions from home schooling parents who are looking for better methods and innovative techniques. She is also actively involved in her church and local home schooling community, encouraging parents to train their children to be shining examples of God’s love. www.mfwbooks.com
Dr. Ronald Johnson
Dr. Johnson is a teacher, school administrator, innovator of individualized learning techniques, author and recipient of international awards. He was vice president of a large textbook publishing company for 21 years. He was invited twice by President Reagan to the White House to discuss the impact of private schools on American education. He traveled extensively throughout the Western Hemisphere and Pacific Rim area where he conducted educational seminars. He is founder and president of Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum, which publishes textbooks designed with virtues and principles. Paradigm textbooks enable students to complete high school courses as rapidly as desired to earn transcript credit. Dr. Johnson has authored a dozen books on parenting and education. www.pacworks.com
Kim Kautzer
Kim Kautzer, home schooler and author, loves to help parents feel more confident about teaching writing. With a heart to equip apprehensive parents, Kim believes that teaching writing is much more objective than people think, and with the right tools at their fingertips parents can motivate their struggling writers. Award-winning WriteShop, her unique and successful writing program, has been honored as one of Cathy Duffy’s 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. Kim and her husband Jim home schooled for 15 years. Two of their three children graduated from Christian universities, and their son is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in theology. The Kautzers enjoy their passel of grandchildren and their sometimes-empty nest in Southern California. www.writeshop.com
Debbie Oberste
Debbie and her husband Chris have been married for 21 years and have been blessed with six children. In 1993, led by the Lord, she started the journey of educating her children at home. Three have since graduated. Her children present a wide range of talent and challenge which has kept Debbie "on her knees" seeking the best ways to help them. Despite the challenges she still believes educating children at home is one of the best and hardest decisions parents can make. So she does what she can to come alongside parents to encourage and empower them to do the best job possible. Her oldest daughter is now married and has blessed her with two grandbabies. Debbie is looking forward to helping home educate the next generation. www.rightstartmath.com
Mark Osterink
Mark Osterink has a degree in Speech Communication from California Polytechnic University. He is a passionate advocate for children’s art and has been working in the area of visual art for over 19 years. Mark was instrumental in defining and developing the “Atelier” homeschool art product line, which is used by thousands of home schoolers throughout the United States. www.homeschoolart.com
David and Shirley Quine
David and Shirley Quine, parents of nine children, began home schooling their children in 1980 in Richardson, Texas. At that time, Bryce, their oldest son, was five years old. To David and Shirley home schooling has given them the opportunity to disciple their children. Shirley describes this as a "chain of faith" -- connecting one generation to the next as described in Deuteronomy Chapter 6. Together they have written many popular home school curricula. It is their desire to assist parents in building their families upon the Biblical World View. To them there is no higher calling. www.cornerstonecurriculum.com
Dr. Carol Reynolds
Dr. Carol Reynolds became interested in home schooling during her career as a professor of music history at Southern Methodist University. After retiring and moving to a ranch, she began designing historically rigorous fine-arts curricula for secondary students, particularly homeschoolers. In 2009 she published an unprecedented multimedia course entitled Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture. A lively program on America’s cultural, musical, and artistic heritage will soon be released. She and her husband, Dr. Hank Reynolds, have two grown children. www.professorcarol.com
Jessica and Anthony Rondina
In 2004 brother-sister duo Anthony and Jessica Rondina stumbled into filmmaking through a home school history project. Excited about their first family project, they submitted their short film to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and placed as a Finalist in their Young Filmmaker’s category. Their love for storytelling began to grow with passion and skill as top producers introduced them to the Christian film industry. Today, their latest animated film, JERICHO: The Promise Fulfilled, has been seen by thousands of people across the globe. Anthony and Jessica travel the country sharing what they have learned and encouraging families to work together as a formidable unit to produce films with excellence. www.shatterpointentertainment.com
Bonnie Simon
Bonnie Ward Simon is executive producer and creator of Maestro Classics™, a series of award-winning classical music CDs for children and their parents. Music educator, published author, and highly successful orchestra administrator, she created the original Stories in Music concerts performed at the Kennedy Center. www.maestroclassics.com
Betty Smith
Betty Smith and her husband Ron of Duncan, Oklahoma have been home schooling since 1985. They have been married 33 years and have five children, ages 3 to 26. For their anniversary, they bought a plaque that said, "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be." The Smiths publish home school curriculum written by Betty and her sister, Susan Mortimer, through their company, Eagle's Wings Educational Materials. They enjoy opportunities to be involved in short-term mission work around the world. www.eagleswingsed.com
Debbie Strayer
An educator by training, Debbie Strayer is co-author of the Trail Guide to Learning series and the Learning Language Arts Through Literature series, co-founder of Homeschooling Today Magazine, author of Gaining Confidence to Teach and the editor of The Homeschool Answer Book by Dr. Ruth Beechick. Debbie has been married to husband Greg for 32 years, home schooled for 16 years and is the mother of two home school graduates. Debbie speaks and writes, encouraging home schoolers and passing along the common sense approach to education that she learned from her mentor of 20 years, Dr. Ruth Beechick. Together she and Ruth co-author articles and a weekly column for The Homeschool Minute, part of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. www.geomatters.com