I am passionate about encouraging parents in the home education adventure. Some of my very favorite things involve hosting and participating in events that encourage and equip homeschooling parents, writing articles about home education and life, and speaking to homeschool groups on a variety of topics.
In addition to speaking at the AFHE Convention, AFHE Leadership Conference, and to many Arizona homeschool groups around the state, I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak at the following home education conventions and events outside of Arizona. See list below.
My Workshops
WORKSHOP LEGNTH: All workshops are planned to be 60 minutes in length. Many can be adjusted down to 45 minutes, if needed.
GETTING STARTED IN HOMESCHOOLING
You've made the decision to homeschool or you're contemplating home education. What's next? Nancy will provide some direction as you embark upon this journey of teaching your children at home. You'll come away with a checklist of basic supplies you might want to have on hand, what’s required by Arizona law, and how to file your affidavit. We’ll also cover ideas for lesson planning, creating a schedule that works for your family, the benefits of joining a local homeschool group, and how to balance extracurricular activities.
[A variation of this workshop can be taught in other states that does not contain Arizona-specific information.]
IDEAS FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING
It is a rich experience indeed where learning is a hands-on, multi-sensory, interactive adventure. Nancy will share easy-to-implement, inexpensive, engaging ideas for children of all ages. Do you lack creativity but want to make learning fun and engaging for your kids? Come and get inspired! You can make learning a joy for your child as you incorporate hands-on learning in your homeschool—without a huge investment of time, energy, or resources.
YOU ARE ENOUGH!
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE HOMESCHOOL MOM
Feeling weary? Worried that you’re failing your children? Need a boost of confidence to keep plugging along? Join Nancy as she reminds us that God has placed our children in our families and that He has equipped us to raise them. She’ll share encouragement from God’s Word that will refresh you and revitalize you in your mission as a homeschooling mom.
[OPTION: This workshop can be adapted for a women's event, not specific to homeschooling.]
SMALL HOMESCHOOL CO-OPS: ENRICHMENT FOR THE LEARNING ADVENTURE
Participating in a co-op can be an amazing opportunity to enrich your home education adventure. A small co-op can be a really exciting and motivating way to study a particular subject or topic with a few friends, without replacing the parent as the primary instructor. It can be a great way to build lifelong friendships, too. Nancy will share from her own experiences the benefits of doing cooperative enrichment learning. We will also cover practical guidelines that will help you succeed in enjoying your own homeschool co-op experience.
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL HOMESCHOOLING
Nancy shares tips she’s learned along the way for making the home education adventure more effective and fruitful—and more enjoyable, too! We’ll talk about what success looks like and share 12 obstacles to success. Glean ideas to help you organize your time, your home, your schedule, and your life in ways that will foster a successful homeschool experience with your children.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Being a homeschooling family requires a great deal of sacrifice and investment. As a veteran homeschool mom who taught her children at home all the way through high school, Nancy will tell you that the price is absolutely right! When we choose to homeschool our children, we have the opportunity to nurture and develop the unique gifts and abilities the Lord has placed in each one at a much deeper level than if they were in someone else's care every day. In this session we will talk about the price we pay and remind ourselves why we started this journey and how we can finish strong.
[This workshop kicks off with one or more homeschool-related "Price Is Right" pricing games for some interactive fun and laughter!]
JOY IN THE JOURNEY
MAKING LAPBOOKS TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Lapbooks are a great way to enhance learning and they allow your child to create a review of what's been learned in a compact folder. Come and learn the basics of lapbooking in this fun, hands-on, instructional workshop! Nancy will go step-by-step through the entire lapbook making process including covering folding tips for creating a variety of mini-books to go inside the lapbook. You'll make a sample lapbook to take home with you in this workshop. Lapbooks can be used with many different subjects by students of all ages. They are a fantastic, interactive, educational tool for every style of learner.
CURRICULUM APPROACHES
Homeschooling jargon can be confusing even for seasoned homeschool parents. In this workshop, Nancy will give an overview of many of the most common curriculum approaches including textbook, unit studies, classical, Charlotte Mason/living books, eclectic, and relaxed/delight-directed learning. We will also go over examples of curriculum and resources that tend to work best with each approach.
Workshops for Homeschool Group Leaders
SUPPORT GROUP LEADERSHIP
Having served as the AFHE Homeschool Group Liaison for eight years, Nancy has spent a lot of time visiting with and encouraging homeschool support group leaders from across Arizona. In addition, Nancy spent ten years running her own email network to help homeschool families connect and share information with one another. This session will help you as a homeschool group leader to renew and revitalize your vision and focus for your group. Nancy will also share advice from seasoned support group leaders for dealing with a variety of issues and challenges unique to running a homeschool support group.
GAME SHOW THEMED LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS: The following three workshops for group leaders have a game show theme and can be done together as a series of three or as individual workshops. I have co-taught them with Tara Bentley, Indiana Association of Home Educators, at the HEAV Leadership Conference and can also teach them solo.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Volunteering to lead a homeschool group involves sacrifice ... and lots of it! In this session, we will talk about the various ways we pay a high price to encourage others in the home education journey, and why it is a worthwhile price to pay. But don't lose heart! With great sacrifice comes great reward. You'll be refreshed in knowing that the price you pay to serve is a worthwhile investment reaping eternal rewards. We will also discuss ways to keep wise boundaries, recruit help from others, and find a healthy balance as you juggle not only homeschooling your own children but serving and supporting other families.
[This workshop kicks off with one or more homeschool-related "Price Is Right" pricing games for some interactive fun and laughter!]
BUILDING STRONG CONNECTIONS
Leadership involves communicating and helping a wide variety of people to connect. Does your communication style help you to win, lose, or draw? In this session, Tara and Nancy will share ideas to help you be effective using the tools you have at your disposal to communicate well with your group members, volunteers, and leadership team. We’ll cover social media, email, newsletters, website, and in-person networking to build strong relationships.
[This workshop begins with a fun game of "Win, Lose, or Draw" to illustrate how important effective communication is in leadership.]
HEALTHY LEADERSHIP HABITS
Homeschooling your own kids and serving in support group leadership can be a recipe for unhealthy habits—neglecting your own well-being, putting the needs of the group over your husband and kids’ needs, or struggling to keep your own house in order. We’ll explore ways to tackle all of this successfully through healthy leadership habits. You can shed the weight of unhealthy habits that bog you down and thrive while serving others!
[This session theme is based on "The Biggest Loser" and includes a fun introductory leadership-themed skit plus a handout with quiz to help leaders identify top 10 healthy and unhealthy leadership habits.]
Bio
Nancy Manos and her husband, James, homeschooled their two daughters all the way through high school. The Manos’ home education journey was a rich, rewarding, sometimes-challenging experience, and Nancy is passionate about encouraging others in the homeschool adventure. Nancy and James served together on the board of directors for Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) from 2004-2017 and Nancy continues serving the Arizona homeschool community as the Executive Director of AFHE.
State Homeschool Organization events I've spoken at:
HOMESCHOOL IDAHO
2019 Homeschool Idaho Convention
June 7-8, 2019
Nampa, ID
NDHSA (North Dakota Home School Association)
2019 Home Educators Convention
March 1-2, 2019
Jamestown, ND
MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators)
2018 Homeschool Convention
April 13-14, 2018
Rochester, MN
CAPE-NM (Christian Association of Parent Educators - NM)
2017 CAPE Homeschool Convention
April 20-22, 2017
Albuquerque, New Mexico
HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia)
2107 Leadership Conference
March 10-11, 2017
Williamsburg, Virginia
CHOH (Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii)
2014 Conference and Curriculum Fair
March 14-15, 2014
Honolulu, Hawaii
CHOIS (Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State)
2012 Annual Convention
June 2012
Nampa, Idaho