Session Topics
Listen to a 5min clip of Heidi's "REAL LIFE Homeschooling" workshop.
Titles are listed in blue. To invite the St. Johns to your event, please fill out the speaking request form or email Savannah St. John
Hot Topic!
R.E.A.L. L.I.F.E. Homeschooling
Let's face it. Homeschooling is challenging. Sometimes it can feel like a major accomplishment just to take a shower and get the breakfast dishes cleaned up before dinner! Most homeschool moms feel the pressure of providing their children with a solid academic foundation ~ but there's so much more to homeschooling than academics, isn't there? The truth is that the greatest accomplishment of your homeschooling is to nurture your children in the ways of the One who made them.
REAL LIFE Homeschooling is about getting real when it comes to the issues that are unique to homeschooling families ~ but more important than that, it's about being reminded why we are homeschooling in the first place. It's about keeping our eyes on the goal of discipling our children.
If you have been or are on the edge of homeschool burnout, if you are wondering why God has called you on this homeschooling journey, or if you just need some honest, real encouragement, this is the one homeschool workshop you can't afford to miss out on!
Strong Roots, Strong Families
Arguably the most profound change in America in the past 50 years has been the deconstruction of the family unit. The foundational building block of 4000 years of world culture and 250 years of American society has been undermined, under appreciated and under attack since the 1960's. Learn how to put down the kind of strong roots that will help you become an "intentional arborist" as you nurture the strong family that you desire-and that your children need. Learn how you can nurture nurture what's important and learn to ignore the flurry of cultural foolishness that we all-too-often mistake for what's really important.
Biblical Discernment in an Unbibilical Age
Our grandparents were bombarded with Christian values in a world firmly grounded on faith and family. Our parents were a part of a cultural revolution in which faith became laughable and families were disassembled on a wholesale basis. And now we find ourselves awash in a world where what is good is called evil and what is wicked is called good. Learn why nurturing Biblical Discernment is an essential lifeskill for any parent hoping to navigate the treacherous cultural waters of the 21st century.
Multi-Level Teaching
Toddlers, Tweens and Teens, OH MY!
Do you have a houseful? Are you planning on having a houseful? If so, then this is a great workshop for YOU! Heidi and Jay St. John are the homeschooling parents of seven perfect, never messy, always obedient very sweet, usually tidy, generally obedient, always energetic, very curious, children. They have homeschooled all the way through high school.
One of the most challenging aspects of homeschooling a houseful is figuring out how to teach them all while finding time to manage the rest of your day! Moms are always wondering if they are "doing enough" and finding the time to teach individual subjects, well, individually... can be overwhelming.
In this workshop, Heidi will share seven secrets of multi-level teaching that will empower, encourage and enlighten you! If you've got a houseful, then you've got your hands full! Let's laugh together, and rediscover the JOY of homeschooling with a full heart AND a full house!
Homeschooling Through the Seasons of Life
Blessed are the flexible - for they shall not break! Have you been homeschooling through some challenging seasons of life lately? It has been said that the only thing we can be sure of in this life is that nothing stays the same. Homeschooling is no different - one year we will be homeschooling a 3rd grader, and the next, we'll have a 4th grader, a Kindergartener and a new baby in the house. There are seasons of upheaval - moving, and perhaps health challenges. It's easy to wonder if we can successfully homeschooling throughout periods of change. But be encouraged! Join Heidi as she talks about how to navigate through the seasons of life and find joy and freedom in homeschooling along the way. You can do it!
Foundational Principles for Strong Leadership
(Excellent for leaders)
Have you experienced some trials in leadership lately? You're not alone! Leadership can be messy. Wise leadership requires the strength of a warrior and the heart of a shepherd. The heart of a strong leader requires a love that will get involved in the struggles and messes that will inevitably come up within their organizations. It may be frustrating, even exasperating at times, but successful leading in the body of Christ is not just about accomplishing a vision. It is about growing other leaders and knowing how to respond to challenging situations. Come learn some of the foundational principles of strong leadership - as well as some of the warning signs that will help you avoid division within your ministry and even GROW in the midst of adversity.
Hot Topic!
The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide™ to Romance
What comes first? The marriage or the math lesson? Most homeschool moms (every mom, for that matter) have felt the pull and pressure of trying to balance their marriages and their commitment to motherhood. Hey, most homeschool moms are happy to find time for a shower, let alone a romantic night with their husband! Yes, it's true. Homeschooling adds a new dynamic to the pressures of motherhood - but it doesn't mean you need to let your marriage suffer! In fact, it's never been more crucial than it is right now to strengthen the core of your family. In case you are still wondering, your marriage comes first.
In this workshop, you'll learn several key ingredients to balancing your love life with language lessons ~ and how you can become the most romantic homeschool mom on the block! Come hear a story of personal experience that will challenge the way you view your marriage and inspire you to seek God's heart as you model a strong healthy marriage for your children. This is Heidi's favorite topic, so bring a notepad and fasten your seatbelts! It's time to put the "real OO" back in your Homeschool!
Hot Topic!
Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide™ to Daylight: How to Fit Your Size 16 Day Into a Size 10
Tick Tock. Have you ever experienced a series of days, weeks or even months when you felt like you just could NOT get on top of all that you had to do? Have you just decided that it's either school or dinner? Or maybe you just gave up school and now everyone has matching socks again! Most moms struggle with finding a balance when it comes to homeschooling and staying on top of the rest of your day.
Have you ever read 2 Corinthians 12:9? You probably have... it says, "My strength is made perfect in weakness". Homeschooling reveals weakness ... it's true! And that's a good thing, because it means you get to give even more glory to the Lord when you graduate your kids see that they are walking with the Lord.
Homeschool mom, if you're struggling with trying to do it all, you will enjoy hearing some of Heidi's favorite tips for managing homeschooling and homemaking...and still finding time to fit in "other things" (like alone time with your husband!)
This is an opportunity GET SET FREE from the expectations of others, laugh out loud learn how two words: BE INTENTIONAL can make a huge difference in your ability to manage your home and your homeschool well. Heidi really loves to use acrostics and this is one of her favorites! Bring a friend and leave your preconceived ideas at the door because real moms sometimes serve Cheerios for dinner!
The First Three Years: A Workshop for Homeschool Rookies
If homeschooling up til now feels more like drudgery than delight, or if the thought of homeschooling makes your knees shake and your palms sweat, this is the workshop for you! Perhaps you've been hearing from "experts" that view homeschooling as just another form of education, like any other. Public schools think that way, but homeschooling is nothing like the school system. It's just the opposite. Learning at home is an adventure, a journey, a new lifestyle. Join veteran homeschool mom of seven (including one homeschool graduate!) Heidi St.John as she talks about the three things you've got to know as a new homeschooler that will set you on a track for success and enjoyment with your children.
Because, although you're nervous now, it'll all be okay. Homeschooling is worth it. So sit back, relax. You'll soon discover that homeschooling is a journey like no other. Take it in stride that you will bumble and stumble, stick your foot in it, take wrong turns, backtrack, start again, and again . . . . and your child will be just fine. Come and bring a friend for a dose of information and encouragement. You can do it!
Lessons from Esther: Peace in Times of Fear
In stressful situations, can you prayerfully wait for God's direction and timing? Today we are surrounded by a culture that is opposed to the principles of God's word. It's easy to succumb to fear: "What if I miss something?" "I know I'm supposed to home school... but WHAT IF I ruin my child?" "How can I teach all my children?" "What will my own parents say?" "What about socialization?" Homeschool moms grapple with these and many other fear-based questions, especially during the first years of homeschooling. But God says that as we trust in Him, HE directs our path, and He gives strength to the weary, wisdom when we ask for it, joy in times of stress and peace in times of fear.
Esther faced what seemed like an impossible circumstance, too. It is impossible to guess what might have happened to the Hebrew nation had there been no Esther. Except for her, Jerusalem might never have been rebuilt, and there might have been a different story to tell all future ages. This beautiful Jewish girl of long ago, though she herself may not have known it, played her part in paving the way for the coming of the Savior.
And just as Esther has a part to play, so you have an important role in shaping the hearts and minds of a future generation. Come and be encouraged as Heidi reminds you about what is most important during the homeschool years: following the Lord wherever He leads - and modeling that faith for your children. Because where God guides - he also provides. Peace in times of fear.
Notebooking and Multi-Level Teaching
Need More Life in Your Homeschool? Do you feel like your homeschooling has hit the wall? Or maybe you have hit the wall?! Tired of boring? Would you like to engage your children more? You're not alone!
Have you been wondering how to get your 5th grader and your sophomore excited about learning at the same time? Heidi will teach you this wonderful skill using the "show'n tell" approach. Notebooking is easy, flexible and fun. Not only is it a wonderful to learn, you are creating a record of your child's work at the same time. Heidi will have plenty of examples for you to look at and resources to take home. Don't miss it!
The St. Johns have been notebooking for several years and the result is that the children write more, learn better, and have a beautiful record of what they have learned at the end of the year. This is not a condemnation of workbooks (they do have their place) but rather it is an opportunity for you to discover a life-giving, truly interactive way of learning.
This is also a very hands-on workshop. Heidi will walk you through several approaches to notebooking and as she does, you will discover that there is a notebooker inside of you!
*Please note: Heidi is not able to present this workshop unless she is driving to an event. Notebooks do not like to fly. :)
10 Marriage Myths That Will Steal Your Joy
How is the state of your union? When was the last time you stopped and put your finger on the pulse of your marriage? If you are struggling in your marriage, or even if you're not, this is a message of hope and encouragement that will remind you of what's important and help you stay on course as you navigate through the homeschool years with the man of your dreams.
This is a 90 minute workshop that is geared toward the often overlooked issues that tend to weigh down our marriages over time.
FACT: If your marriage is not a priority in your home (including your homeschool) then your family is at risk. Come and learn how to recognize the signs of weakness in your marriage, and what defines a joy-filled marriage. Hint: It doesn't have anything to do with your circumstances!
Homeschooling High Schoolers
YES YOU CAN. Sometimes, these three words help parents who are "on the fence" about homeschooling through high school confident enough to give it a try. Hey, we won't lie to you! It can be intimidating. But the fact of the matter is that you really CAN do it!
Homeschooling through high school is the gift that keeps on giving because it affords the one thing that is so fleeting in the teen years: time. Psalms says that children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior and this analogy is a beautiful picture of a healthy parent/teen relationship. Think of an archer and how he prepares to launch his arrow. The archer's goal is to have that arrow hit the target, and go as far as it possibly can when it is released from teh bow.
If we follow this analogy, it holds several truths for us we consider the benefits of homeschooling through high school. We'll talk about this ~ and revisit God's heart for discipleship between parents and their children. It doesn't end in high school, and homeschooling, in the hands of godly parents becomes a tool that is unmatched as we raise our children to love and follow God.
