Karen Imperato
Karen and her husband, Joe, will be married for 30 years in June and have 11 children ranging in age from 26 to 4 years old. They have been homeschooling for 16 years and have served the homeschooling community as chapter leaders, regional reps, and treasurers for NY State LEAH, and are currently assistant chapter leaders for New Life LEAH. Karen's 4 oldest children have graduated from homeschooling. One is on the mission field in Guatemala, one is in the military while in college, and two are attending college full time. She is currently homeschooling the remaining 7 children.
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Exhibitors Hall
Our Exhibitors Hall offers an excellent opportunity to view a variety of materials as well as to speak with representatives from retailers, publishers,
organizations, and ministries.
The following retailers, publishers, organizations, and ministries were represented in our Exhibitors Hall:
A Beka Book *
Applied Grammar *
Augustine College
Bob Jones University Press *
Brigade Air *
Bright Minds/BRAIN-athon
Classical Conversations *
Davis College *
Elijah Ministries *
Elim Bible College
Family Matters *
Generations of Virtue *
God 4 Me Ministries
Gravitas Publications/Real Science 4 Kids *
Great Wolf Lodge
Home School Legal Defense Assoc./HSLDA
Institute for Excellence in Writing *
Jeff Lewis/Planning Financial Futures
Kids Read to Succeed/Usborne Books *
Laurelwood Books
Liberty Games/Holiday Hop *
Nest Family Media *
New York State LEAH
New York State Right to Life *
Nyack College
Operation Christmas Child *
PICC LEAH
Precious Seed Ministries/Rod and Staff Publications
Sonlight Curriculum *
Spruce Lake Retreat *
Summit Ministries
Teaching Textbooks *
The Medical Transcription Service
The Widow's Friend *
Total Language Plus
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Special Needs
Mary Fratianni
-
NYC/LI Homeschool Convention Special Needs Corner:
Mary Fratianni, the NYS LEAH Special Needs Coordinator and Chapter Leader of Parents Instructing Challenged Children (PICC) LEAH, once again hosted a Special Needs Corner at the convention, as well as conducted a two-part workshop. PICC LEAH is the Special Needs Chapter of New York State Loving Education At Home.
At the Special Needs Corner, one could find information and resources to help homeschool a child with special learning needs. The entire Parents Instructing Challenged Children LEAH Lending Library was on display. The PICC LEAH Lending Library contains over 300 special needs items that cover the following areas: ADHD, Hearing Impairment/Deaf, Autism, PDD, Behavior Management, Cerebral Palsy, Special Needs Curriculum, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia, Special Needs Homeschooling, Nutrition, Health, Occupational Therapy, Parenting, General Interest, Physical Therapy, Reading Comprehension, Speech & Language (includes: Auditory/Visual Processing, Articulation, Sequencing, Comprehension, Reasoning, Memory Recall, Language Skills, Social Skills, Life Skills, and many more), Transition to Work, Teaching Helps, Skills Evaluations and Checklists, Neuro-Developmental Treatment, and Vision Therapy.
Membership information for the PICC LEAH chapter (www.piccnys.com) was also available. Special Needs software demonstrations were available upon request.
You can contact Mary at either of the two addresses below.
NYS LEAH Special Needs Coordinator: fratpak@verizon.net
NYS LEAH Special Needs PICC LEAH Chapter: piccleah@verizon.net
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Children's Art Class
The children's art class that was offered for the third time this year was a big hit once again.
We hope to have some photos posted here soon.
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Student Juried Art Exhibition
This year's convention showcased some of our students' art work in a special juried exhibition.
We hope to have some photos of the display, as well as the winning works, posted here soon.
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Teen Track
By all reports, this year's teen track was a blessing for many of the teens who participated.
It was a two-day track, presented by John Stonestreet, Norm Wakefield, and a panel of LEAH alumni, which covered the topics listed below.
Friday, 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
The Battle for your Heart and Mind: What is Worldview and Why Does it Matter?
- John Stonestreet
This seminar is a basic introduction to the concept of worldview, with an emphasis on why worldviews matter and how they impact our lives as individuals and affect the mindset of our culture (there will be two more workshops covering worldview on Saturday).
Friday, 7:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
An Eternal Perspective
- Norm Wakefield
How easy it is to become discouraged when we have our minds set on the daily grind and struggles of life! But God has ordained that those who maintain an eternal perspective in life will receive grace and strength for the tasks He calls them to do. Your heart will be encouraged as you hear what God's Word has to say about keeping an eternal perspective in life.
Saturday, 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Worldviews in Conflict 1: The Major Ideas You Need to Know
- John Stonestreet
Understanding the world means understanding the major worldviews that are battling for your attention and allegiance. This seminar will give you an easy to understand introduction to these worldviews with real world examples.
Saturday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Thinking Beyond High School
- Panel of LEAH Alumni
Come to this interactive and lively discussion about life after high school. This is a great opportunity to hear from those who have gone before you. Come with your questions.
Saturday, 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Worldviews in Conflict 2: Thinking Biblically in a Confused World
- John Stonestreet
It's not enough to know the other worldviews around us, we must be able to respond to them also. In this seminar, John explores the basis of a truly Christian worldview and offers a clear strategy for engaging non-believers with the truth.
Saturday, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Clear Thinking About the World of Entertainment
- John Stonestreet
The most powerful culture shaping force in America is entertainment. It literally changes not only what we think about, but also how we think. This seminar presents a fresh, and Biblical, understanding of entertainment as well as strategies for helping students understand this cultural force and respond Christianly, without being irrational or afraid of it.
entire schedule
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Something Special for Our Graduating Seniors
All current LEAH member families are eligible to participate in our annual LI/NYC LEAH commencement ceremony, which wraps up the convention. This ceremony gives parents the opportunity to present a diploma to your graduating student and provides a time of celebration for the family. While convention registration is not required for participation for families of seniors, LEAH membership and commencement ceremony registration are required. However, attendance of the ceremony is open to all convention visitors. It's a great opportunity for LEAH parents of teens to see what a LEAH graduation ceremony is like!
Many people who attended the graduation for the first time found it to be a most moving experience. Our prayer is that it will encourage those families for whom graduation is still in the future to continue in their decision to homeschool, to the glory of God.
We hope to post some photos of this event very soon. Please keep this opportunity in mind for future graduates from your home school.
Any questions? Contact Cathy Barlow at
thebunch@optonline.net.
entire schedule
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Special Ladies' Tea
"Jesus--Hope and Rest for the Weary"
Karen Imperato, a homeschooling mother of 11, hosted this year's tea.
If you weren't able to attend the tea, or if you'd like to share Karen's message with others, you may order a recording. Please check our Session Recordings section for more details.
entire schedule
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Convention Schedule
Because this schedule may be subject to change, please check this page regularly, and especially immediately before the convention, for the most up-to-date information. A convention program, containing this schedule, will also be distributed at the convention for your convenience. Please be sure to pick up your program when you check in at the registration desk.
Friday, April 30, 2010
1:00 p.m. - Registration Opens
1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - Exhibitors' Hall Open for Shopping
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Workshop Session I
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Workshop Session II
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Teen Track Session 1
7:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Orchestra/Keynote Address 1
John Stonestreet - Why Students Walk Away from the Faith: What We Can Do About It
7:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Teen Track Session 2
Saturday May 1, 2010
8:00 a.m. - Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Exhibitors' Hall Open for Shopping
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - Workshop Session III
10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Keynote Address 2
Norm Wakefield - Equipped to Love: Building a Legacy of God's Love
10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Teen Track Session 3
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. - Workshop Session IV
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. - Teen Track Session 4
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Workshop Session V
2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. - Ladies' Tea (limited seating; pre-registration highly recommended)
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Workshop Session VI
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Teen Track Session 5
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Teen Track Session 6
3:50 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Keynote Address 3
Norm Wakefield - Anchored in Christ: A Solid Rock in the Storms of Homeschooling
5:00 p.m. - Raffle in Exhibitors' Hall (ask for details at registration desk)
6:00 p.m. - Graduation Ceremony (open to all convention visitors)
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Keynotes
Friday, 7:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
A performance by the LEAH Orchestra, followed by...
Why Students Walk Away From the Faith: And What We Can Do About It
- John Stonestreet
Studies show that nearly fifty percent of students reject their faith in college, and seventy percent will no longer go to church after they leave home. Why is this happening? What can we do about it? Based on years of research and his experience working with students and parents all over the U.S., this seminar explores five reasons students walk away from the Christian faith. Suggestions are also made for how we, as parents, teachers, and mentors, can keep this from happening.
Saturday, 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Equipped to Love: Building a Legacy of God's Love
- Norm Wakefield
Everyone knows they ought to love others, but not everyone knows how. The greatest hindrance to building a legacy of God's love is the spirit of idolatry. Idolatry is the world's counterfeit to God's kind of love. In this message, Norm gives practical insight into one of the most challenging goals of families—loving relationships. Marriages and parent/child relationships may be healed and strengthened as a result of these truths.
Saturday, 3:50 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Anchored in Christ: A Solid Rock in the Storms of Homeschooling
- Norm Wakefield
Do you ever feel like you're weathering a category-5 hurricane as you attempt to educate your children? Learn how to get anchored in Christ, so you can withstand whatever comes your way and lead your children to do the same.
entire schedule
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Workshop Descriptions
Did you miss any of the 2010 convention workshops that you might have liked to attend? Don't forget that you can order session recordings by checking our Session Recordings section. Below are descriptions of our workshops, to help you select the sessions recordings that you would like to purchase.
At the end of each workshop description, we have included codes to help identify the audiences to whom that workshop would be most relevant. The following codes have been assigned:
(B) Beginners/preliminary instruction and basic reinforcement for those who have been schooling three years or less
(V) Veteran/workshop for those who have been schooling three or more years
(C) Children/workshop geared towards children
(W) Women/workshop geared towards women
(M) Men/workshop geared towards men
(P) Parenting/workshop suitable for all Christian parents
(S) Special Needs/specialty workshops for parents of special-needs students
(E) Exhibitor/workshop conducted by a vendor or exhibitor
Session I - Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Helping Your Child Reach His Full Potential: Learning, Social Skills, and Beyond! - Part I
- Mary Fratianni/PICC LEAH
Part I (of a two-part workshop) sets the groundwork for understanding why your student is struggling. Topics covered are as follows: This is Taking Too Long! How to Know If Something is Wrong; How to Find the Holes in Your Child's Developmental Foundation; How the Brain Works--Visual, Auditory, and Tactile Systems; and Important Questions You Need to Answer About Your Child to Help Him Reach His Full Potential. Part II takes place on Saturday. (B, P, S)
Homeschooling for Discipleship
- Catherine Millings
What do Iowa Tests, SAT’s, college prep, college, and careers (vocation) have in common? They all represent some of our immediate educational goals for homeschooling. But what is the one goal we must not fail to achieve? What is the biblical mandate we have as Christians? It is to make disciples of Christ. This workshop will enable you to identify and develop God’s vision for your homeschool. (B, V)
Conquering the Blank Page
- Pilar Stevens/Excellence in Writing
When you assign a simple writing assignment do you get groans of "I just can't, Mom! I don't know what to write!" Come and discover how to teach your reluctant or over-expressive writer how to organize their information so that they can say "I can write". With clear guidelines and models IEW makes it possible for both of you to love writing class. (E)
Children's Art Class: Session 1
- Cynthia Mason, Trish Cisek, Barbara Beckerman
Students will complete a simple acrylic painting project. This workshop, for registered children, ages 6 through 12, will be filled on a "first-come, first served" basis, with seating limited to 20. Register for this class and be sure to obtain your ticket(s) at no extra cost at the registration check-in table in the foyer. (C)
entire schedule
Session II - Friday, 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
The Calling Out of Sons: What's a Mother to Do with Teenage Sons?
- Norm Wakefield/Elijah Ministries
Around the age of 12, a voice speaks within the mind of a boy, "Ain't no woman going to tell me what to do." How does a mother cope with the transition of her little boy becoming a man? What is her role? What can she do to not alienate her son as she gives instruction? Answers to these questions and more! (B, V, W, P)
Starting Out for New Homeschoolers
- Cynthia Mason
Starting the journey of homeschooling? Come learn how to manage the paperwork, maneuver the regulations, and get a clear understanding of everything you need to begin. You will receive an explanation of NYS regulations, understand IHIPs and quarterly reports, and leave with a clearer vision for your homeschool. (B)
Flexibility in Homeschooling: James 4:13-15
- Lisa Fritz
How do you maintain a productive, efficient, nurturing homeschool environment when you feel like the world around you is falling apart? A single mother of two, homeschooling for seven years will share her experiences of teaching through personal tragedy, serious illness, and life in general. (B, V, W)
Children's Art Class: Session 2
- Trish Cisek, Barbara Beckerman
Students will complete a simple acrylic painting project. This workshop, for registered children, ages 6 through 12, will be filled on a "first-come, first served" basis, with seating limited to 20. Register for this class and be sure to obtain your ticket(s) at no extra cost at the registration check-in table in the foyer. (C)
entire schedule
Session III - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Heart Maintenance: Keeping Your Children's Hearts Turned Toward You
- Norm Wakefield/Elijah Ministries
One of the dangers in parenting is to overlook the importance of shepherding the heart of your child. What does that mean? Why is the child's heart so important? How does a parent care for a child's heart? This message, filled with personal experiences and practical suggestions, will answer these questions and more. (B, V, M, W, P)
Helping Your Child Reach His Full Potential: Learning, Social Skills, and Beyond! - Part II
- Mary Fratianni/PICC LEAH
Part II of this two-part workshop will build upon Part I (scheduled for Friday) and will cover the following topics: Dominance (Right, Left, or Mixed) and Why It Is So Important; Behavior; What Happens to Learning and Social Skills When the Brain Doesn't Work Efficiently; Tools You Can Use to Help Your Child Be Successful in Academics, Social Skills, and Life; The Listening Program© and Other Resources Available Through PICC LEAH. (B, V, S)
Keeping Character Key with Your Kids
- Cheryl Carter
Participants will learn practical ways to integrate character development into their homes and daily lives. Specifics will be given for working with toddlers to teens. (B, V, P)
Critical Thinking
- Gravitas
Learn how to build a critical thinking lens with your students. This lens will help your students examine--in detail--the claims and counterclaims made by scientists. By learning how to evaluation scientific data, your student will gain a better understanding of how scientific process and thought occurs and will have deeper knowledge of scientific theories. (E)
entire schedule
Session IV - Saturday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
A Biblical View of Education: Why a Worldview Education is Crucial
- John Stonestreet/Summit Ministries
A Christian education is not just education in a Christian environment. A Christian education must be thoroughly Christian: with different methods and different goals. (B, V, M, W, P)
Parenting in this Media Age
- Cheryl Carter
Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, blogging, and other forms of social media are impacting our children. Come learn how to parent wisely and how to use these tools and others for God's glory. Sage advice from a former social-media-phobe. (B, V, P)
Medical Transcription Service
- Deborah Burns/The Medical Transcription Service
Demand for medical transcriptionists is soaring! Make money part-time or full-time. If you want to choose your own hours, have a business at home, find clients easily, and make great money, this class will get you started. Discover a step-by-step guide to what medical transcription is. (E)
Chemistry and Physics: the Foundation for All Science
- Gravitas
Learn why chemistry and physics are foundational subjects for all science and how to integrate these two disciplines into every science lesson. (E)
entire schedule
Session V - Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Classical Education Made Doable
- Greg Stockton/Classical Conversations
Grammar, Dialectic, Rhetoric--what are these terms, do I need them in my homeschool, and can I fulfill them on my own? How do we provide our children with these tools of learning while maintaining personal control of our homeschool? We believe that, ultimately, you cannot truly teach any subject in isolation. So how do we train our children to view all subjects as glorifying the Lord, in an integrated way, while also acquiring life-long learning skills? Come learn how Classical Conversations can help you answer these questions and show you how obtaining a classical education can be something doable. (E)
Experiencing Excellence in Writing
- Pilar Stevens/Excellence in Writing
Come and discover award-winning Excellence in Writing, a method of teaching composition that really works. Using this program, students of all ages will learn to write stories, reports and essays with style. This workshop will give you an overview of the program and show you how you can get started. (E)
Homeschooling Through High School for the College-Bound
- Cheryl Carter, Diane Donahue
You can homeschool through high school! Come and learn how to prepare transcripts, college preparatory courses, where community service fits in, and so much more. Bring your questions. (B, V)
Total Language Plus
- Carla LaRoche/Total Language Plus
This workshop explains how an integrated, literature-based approach can be motivating, effective, and fun while, at the same time, developing thinking and communication skills in your 3rd grade through high school students. (E)
entire schedule
Ladies' Tea - Saturday, 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Jesus--Hope and Rest for the Weary
- Karen Imperato
Come and be encouraged as Karen shares about our Lord’s desire to have an intimate walk with his imperfect people, and how this intimacy with Him is the only practical way to keep our hope intact and vision fresh daily. (W)
entire schedule
Session VI - Saturday, 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The Calling Out of Sons: What's a Father to Do?
- Norm Wakefield/Elijah Ministries
For generations, fathers have done the best they could with what they had. But what many didn't have was vision for what to do with their sons. Hopefully this session will have a generational effect as fathers learn how to help their son's transition from boyhood to manhood. This message also explains why many in this generation struggle in marriage and parenting. (M)
entire schedule
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Thank You to Our Exhibitors and Advertisers
For their support of our 8th annual convention, our thanks go out to the following sponsors, who took advantage of a unique opportunity to reach the homeschool community, by advertising in our program and/or by providing tote bag inserts:
Applied Grammar (www.Applied-Grammar.com)
Augustine College (www.AugustineCollege.org)
CSB Ministries (www.CSBMinistries.org)
Christian Keyboarding (www.ChristianKeyboarding.com)
Davis College (www.DavisNY.edu)
Easy Grammar (www.EasyGrammar.com)
Home Science Tools (www.HomeTrainingTools.com)
Jeff Lewis for Planning Financial Futures, Inc.(www.PlanningFinancialFutures.com)
Jim Von Eiff for State Farm Insurance (www.JimVonEiff.com)
Learning by Grace (www.LearningByGrace.org)
Memoria Press (www.MemoriaPress.com)
Reach for the Stars Tutoring, Inc. (www.ReachfortheStarsTutoring.com)
Reflective Image (www.TheScoreChanger.com)
Sonrise Automotive (www.SonriseAuto.com)
Spruce Lake Retreat (www.SpruceLake.org)
Word of Truth Church (www.WoTChurch.com)
Please show your appreciation of their support, by visiting their web sites or researching what they have to offer.
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