OCHEC Convention

Many parents are confident managing decisions and educational choices through the middle school years, but shake with fear when looking ahead to the high school years. The issues do seem to have greater consequences, but Dr. Smith will show a mindset and approach that can energize you to make them the best years. Your emerging adults can become the one who praises you, instead of being your greatest critic. Together, you can not only save tons of money, but you can launch your teen to find own purpose.

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

Have you ever said, “My kids are out of control!”? The Smiths will show you why it is not such a bad thing, and will even encourage you to transfer more control for the good of the children, and for your own sanity. Though this is not a new idea, the way of thinking about it is foreign to most people. Having raised 4 children to lead productive lives as adults, the Smiths bring real-life stories from their past to illustrate both good and bad approaches to control in the family. You will be encouraged, and you will be inspired.

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

Having watched their children approach life with gusto, sensing few boundaries, the Smiths will share some of the things they think made it possible for their children to think outside the box, and live like it! Stories from others they know, and examples from scripture will be used to help make the ideas and approaches applicable to your home. We all want our children to be brave. This session will examine what that may look like in its development.

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

Preparing your children for success means giving them the best part of you, and that doesn’t happen by accident. A combination of deciding what you think is important and discovering ways to clearly and effectively communicate it is core to discipling your children. The Smiths will share ideas for ways you can communicate your family values. Additionally, a key concept for establishing goals for each child will be shared from scripture, . . . and it could be a game changer!

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

What’s a dad to do? In a busy home, dads often find themselves being dragged along in all the activity involving the children. But can it be another way? The influence of the father can be the thing that helps all the activity stay on course. Dr. Smith will share ways he and others have made significant contributions to the home in the midst of a busy career. This session will not be an attempt to produce guilt about failures, but will offer solutions and hope for increasing the influence of dad in the home, resulting in everyone being more happy.

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

How are your children growing toward adulthood? Children have essential needs that enable them to grow up, and it is our job to help meet those needs. This session will identify the core needs that must be met to provide optimal growth toward maturity, and the Smiths will discuss how we, as parents, can effectively meet those needs. Home is the place where children grow the most. Be inspired to change your home environment resulting in a better outcome for all. Handout included.

Dr. Roger Smith, author of Parenting with Influence, is a primary care physician in rural Louisiana where he oversees the medical care delivered in four small town clinics. He is board certified in

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and has a special interest in the relationships in the home and community. His vlog, Parenting Matters Now, can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and RogerSmithMD.com. Dr. Smith speaks on parenting, marriage, education, and leadership, and offers parenting tips through his podcast, Parenting Matters Now.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles in numerous organizations, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Homeschool Speech and Debate, and the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a mentor at a local faith-based substance abuse program. He currently serves on the board of his state and national homeschool organizations Dr. Smith, influenced by science education, spiritual teachings, psychosocial research, and personal experience, delivers insights with southern flare, applied with common sense.

You can find out more about Dr. Smith on his website.

Yes, seriously! Come hear all about it from some of the most enthusiastic Bible quizzers and see a short demonstration of how fun, character-building, and competitive Bible Quizzing really is. From what a quiz practice looks like, to the big Quiz Meet, or how to set up a team in your area, we are super excited to share our love and passion for Bible Quizzing with you.

These three homeschooled friends enjoy memorizing scripture and hiding God’s word in their hearts. Lucas is a homeschool graduate who enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking and fishing. He loves learning languages and has a passion for missions. Hannah loves spending time with her friends and siblings, going for walks and playing the piano. Olive is a sporty homeschooling girl who loves a competitive game of soccer or spike ball. She also enjoys sewing and creative projects, as well as sitting with a book in the sunshine. The three friends encourage each other to memorize scripture and live out God’s word in their daily lives.

The journey through high school graduation in Ontario involves understanding transcripts, accumulating credits, and navigating alternative options — it can feel like trying to decipher a secret language. If you’re wondering exactly what is required for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), what you need for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and how to make wise and intentional curriculum choices, this workshop is designed to turn confusion into clarity.

Melanie is a devoted daughter of God and a homeschooler for life. As a wife to Dan and mama to five children, she has spent the last 23 years building a life centred on faith, family, and lifelong learning. Melanie is widely recognized within her community as a passionate advocate for rich curriculum and an unapologetic connoisseur of quality literature. When she isn’t deep in the Word or curriculum research, you can find her surrounded by her family, Starbucks and her ever-growing library.

So, you’re a Christian husband and a dad, and you want to be successful at it all. You had it figured out before you got married, you just need to flex your brain a bit and figure something out here…. How are you going to please everybody, God most of all? How are you going to keep your kids from rebelling? Oh, you’ve been at it a while and you’re not pleased with your results? Oh, your wife isn’t either? I see. How are you going to maintain, or even gain, control? Where do you start this time? If this sounds like you, join Benjamin as he explores these questions and more with practical solutions and strategies.

Benjamin Harms is married to a homeschooling wife, and is blessed with six loving children. A Christian for 45 years, Ben’s enduring passion is to bring joy to God’s heart by helping restore the Church in its humble walk with God, its unwavering commitment to Truth, and its love for the Bridegroom. From Bible school to university, Ben’s continuing education has always been with this goal in mind. Though his 30 year teaching experience has been primarily in churches, with children and young adults, Ben now also labors to secure future generations of godly marriages through means of counseling and education initiatives.

Join Mark as he shares how homeschool literally saved his life as a child and the importance of “the homeschool dad” today. Using stories, he will unpack the toolbox of principles he’s acquired and learned along the way to help equip and encourage you as you lead and support in your home. Let’s laugh and learn together.

Mark is a follower of Jesus, a husband to his amazing wife Beth, a father to four children: Reese, Lincoln, Maddox and Finnley and a pastor at Kingsway Church. Mark and Beth were both homeschooled for a portion of their childhood and they have homeschooled their children for the entirety of their education so far. Together, they started a Charlotte Mason based cooperative school at their church a few years ago and love to see children and parents develop a love for learning. In his “spare time”, Mark enjoys life on his little homestead growing fruit and vegetables, keeping bees, tending chickens and raising a fold of Scottish Highland coos.