Preschool Mentor Program
for Homeschool Parents
for Parents of Early Learners Nationwide
Super Price Cut! Just $47 for the entire program!
NEW — Deep Discount
Thanks to a grant from VELA Education Fund*
Homeschool Mentor Program for Nurturing Early Learners
A dynamic, interactive program
open to parents nationwide (preschool through kindergarten)
Do you sometimes second-guess your “credentials” to educate your child at home, even in the preschool years? Does the thought of homeschooling make you feel anxious?
Parents, you come into homeschooling with the greatest qualifications: a deep love for your child and a vested interest in his or her success You have already been homeschooling since your child was born!
You CAN have the knowledge and confidence you need to equip your child successfully in these foundational years.
*New! Sign up now and save $150!
Thanks to a grant from the VELA Education Fund, you get the entire 8-week course for just $47.
VELA Education Fund, dedicated to the support of nontraditional educational opportunities, has invested in the future of homeschooling—in YOU—through a Next Step grant.
Don’t miss this opportunity. Sign up today!
Get the Confidence You Need.
- With HEAV’s mentoring program, you’ll get help with all the big questions AND get small-group coaching and shared experiences to reassure you that you are on the right track for your child. We will help you to
- Understand the developing brain.
- Learn about gross and fine motor skills development.
- Gain insight on language and thinking skills.
- Explore science/nature studies through fostering curiosity.
- Address socialization concerns: field trips and extracurricular activities for early learners.
- Get many resource suggestions.
Do you wish you
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Starts September 9
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Mondays at 7 p.m
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.September & October
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Weekly Webcasts
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Small-Group Coaching
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Course Notebook
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Community & Friendship
- Had more insight into your child’s natural development?
- Knew of practical strategies for fostering a nurturing learning environment?
- Knew the simple answers to questions like socialization and where to begin?
- Were confident your preschool/kindergarten plan was “right”?
- Had a sounding board with a parent a step or two ahead of you?
Discuss All the Topics that Concern You
Small Group Coaching
An eight-week program of weekly coaching sessions with an experienced mentor, weekly virtual live events covering foundational topics, and access to a whole host of resources throughout the year.
Veteran Mentors
Our mentors are veteran homeschool parents with the experience and knowledge to help you in your journey.
Successful Foundation
You can have the knowledge and confidence you need for a successful educational foundation!
Discuss All the Topics that Concern You
- The HEAV’s Nurturing Early Learners Mentoring Program is an eight-week program that offers weekly, small-group coaching sessions with an experienced mentor, weekly virtual live events covering all the topics below, and access to a whole host of resources throughout the year.
- Get insights into child development, foundational skills, and practical strategies for fostering a nurturing learning environment from preschool through kindergarten.
- Through live interactive sessions and resource suggestions, parents will gain confidence in their ability to support their child’s holistic growth and academic readiness.
- Our mentors are veteran homeschool parents with the experience and knowledge to help you in your journey.
- You can have the knowledge and confidence you need for a successful educational foundation!
Nurturing Early Learners
Course Summary
September and October, Mondays at 7 p.m.
September 9, 2024
Session 1: Keeping Preschool and Kindergarten in Perspective
with Vicki Bentley This introductory session sets the stage, guiding you on how to seamlessly transition from parenting to homeschooling! We’ll cover foundational strategies for nurturing a love of learning in a dynamic learning environment. As the first in the series, this workshop lays the groundwork for more in-depth sessions on effective homeschooling techniques and child development.- Welcome
- Strategies for observing and nurturing your child (Mom as Teacher)
- Foundational skills & character development for children
- Promoting learning through everyday activities
- Resource suggestions for multi-age learning
Vicki Bentley
Vicki Bentley is a joyful mother of 8 daughters, foster mom to 50 children, and proud grandma to 23 wonderful grandbabies (plus 11 great-grandchildren). Alongside her husband, Jim, she’s homeschooled 17 children, and her workshops and articles reflect her understanding of the daily challenges facing homeschooling parents. Since 1991, Vicki has been an integral part of support group leadership, providing invaluable guidance and support to homeschooling families at HEAV and HSLDA. Vicki blogs at EverydayHomemaking.com and has authored countless magazine articles, as well as such essential resources as My Homeschool Planner, The Everyday Family Chore System, and Home Education 101: A Mentoring Program for New Homeschoolers.
September 16, 2024
Session 2: Foundations of Learning
with Pamela Gates Early Intervention for Behavior and Learning Issues As moms, we know when our children are struggling. You may wonder about over-the-top behavior issues (e.g., emotional meltdowns, anger outbursts). You may see signs that lead to concern regarding future learning difficulties (e.g., trouble counting or learning the alphabet). Come and learn the “why?” behind these difficulties, along with simple, effective interventions you can do with your preschooler at home that will address both behavior and learning issues.- Understanding the developing brain: age and developmentally appropriate expectations
- The preschool brain: cognitive and emotional development
- Kindergarten readiness and primary level expectations
- Resource suggestions for foundational learning
Pamela Gates
Pamela Gates is a Certified Learning Specialist in Dianne Craft’s Learning System. She has 18 years of experience working with bright, hard-working, but struggling students. A popular speaker at homeschool conferences, she brings hope to families with children who struggle with learning with practical teaching strategies. As a homeschooling mother of six, Pam. helped her daughter overcome dyslexia. She now has her Master’s degree in early childhood education and development and is an educational consultant.
September 23, 2024
Session 3: Learning in Motion
with Kate Ponce The preschool years are an important age during which your child develops so many of the foundational skills they will rely on for the rest of their lives. In this talk we will learn about the development of motor skills and the role that these skills play in a child’s subsequent academic performance. Expanding upon this concept, we will also discuss the importance of play and explore some of the many ways that active and creative play can often be more beneficial at this age than workbooks or structured lessons.- Gross and fine motor skills development in early childhood
- Understanding proprioception and its role in learning
- Implementing play-based learning and learning centers
- Resource suggestions for active learning
Kate Ponce
Kate is a homeschool graduate, wife, and mother. As an occupational therapist, Kate has experience working with a variety of ages and is passionate about helping individuals overcome mental and physical obstacles to improve their quality of life. She and her husband, Tony, are the owners of Thriving at Home Homeschool Support, providing a variety of resources for homeschool families, including telehealth occupational therapy services.
September 30, 2024
Session 4: The “Pre-Rs” – Reading
with Faith Berens
- The value of read-alouds at all ages
- Reading readiness and building blocks
- Curriculum suggestions for reading readiness and development from less to more structured
- Resource suggestions for read-alouds and reading instruction
Faith Berens
bio
October 7, 2024
Session 5: The Second R – ‘Riting
with Heather Haupt
Learn how to help your young children gain the skills they need to prepare them to communicate from developing pre-writing skills to increasing verbal and thinking skills, to setting the stage for the writing part of reading in a way that is fun and natural. What does this look like in this age and how can we have a developmentally appropriate approach to helping our kids in this area? Home is the best place to help our kids flourish and grow with little to no extra supplies!
- Verbal and writing skills for preschool through kindergarten
- Language and thinking skills
- Pre-writing skills development
- Resource suggestions for writing materials and activities
Heather Haupt
Heather Haupt is a homeschool mother of five. Recognizing the brevity of childhood and the power of a parent’s influence, Heather both inspires and equips families toward intentional parenting, pursuing God, and delighting in the adventure of learning through a developmentally appropriate approach to education. She is the author of Knights-in-Training: Ten Principles for Raising Honorable, Courageous and Compassionate Boys, The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks, and co-author of the GO TOGETHER curriculum. She writes at heatherhaupt.com and cultivatedlearning.org
October 14, 2024
Session 6: The Third R – ‘Rithmetic
with Ruth Cooper- One-to-one correspondence and math readiness practice in everyday activities
- Math skills development from preschool through kindergarten
- xploring patterns and thinking mathematically
- Resource suggestions for math materials and activities
Ruth Cooper
Ruth Cooper has taught and tutored a wide variety of math subjects over the past 18 years—from kindergarten through calculus!—to a diverse group of students including children, teens, adults, and special-needs students. Ruth holds a master’s degree in business administration from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and a partially completed degree in pre-medical biomedical engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ruth is a homeschool graduate with varied interests and titles that range from lifeguard and EMT to avid coffee drinker and webcomic. Ruth is also a master teacher of mathematics, bookkeeper, test scorer with Pearson, and occasional Uber driver. Ruth enjoys CrossFit, running, and triathlons, and has also completed two marathons as well as a half Ironman.
October 21, 2024
Session 7: More Than Just the “Three Rs”
- Exploring science/nature studies and fostering curiosity
- Introduction to geography, history, art, music, and physical education
- Integrating various subjects into everyday learning
- interdisciplinary learning materials
Sonya Shafer
Sonya Shafer is a popular homeschool speaker and writer, specializing in the Charlotte Mason Method. She has been on an adventure for more than 20 years studying, researching, practicing, and teaching Charlotte’s gentle and effective methods of education. Her passion for homeschooling her own four daughters grew into helping others and then into Simply Charlotte Mason, which publishes her many books and provides a place of practical encouragement to homeschoolers at simplycharlottemason.com.
October 28, 2024
Session 8: On the Home Front
with Durenda Wilson
Are you struggling with knowing how to prioritize during this season? Find out how to establish routines that create a healthy environment for learning, balancing homemaking/homeschooling demands and what socialization looks like in the early years.
- Establishing routines and creating conducive learning environments
- Strategies for harmony in homemaking vs homeschooling demands
- Implementing ideas for multi-age learning
- What about socialization?
- Planning field trips and extracurricular activities for early learners
- Exploring community and cooperative opportunities
- Resource suggestions for home-based learning support
Durenda Wilson
With more than 27 years of home education experience, Durenda is a trusted voice and resource at homeschooling conventions and on The Durenda Wilson Podcast. As an author and speaker, her greatest joy is reminding parents how doable and effective homeschooling is, and that they are, in fact, qualified for the job! Her books include The Four-Hour School Day, The Unhurried Homeschooler, and Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart.
BONUS!
November 4, 2024
BONUS – Special Needs Intervention
with Dr. Amy Moore
All children learn and grow at their own pace–faster in some areas and slower in others. But when we see our child is behind his peers, as parents, we struggle to know what is “normal” and whether our child will catch up at his own pace. How do you know when a delay is something to be addressed? Join cognitive psychologist and convention favorite Amy Moore for information on
- Recognizing signs for intervention and support
- Nutrition and the developing brain: understanding the impact of nutrition on learning.
Dr. Amy Moore
Amy is a cognitive psychologist, clinical researcher, board-certified Christian counselor, TEDx speaker, host of the Brainy Moms podcast, an ADHD mom, and a mom with ADHD. She is the director of research for LearningRx in Colorado Springs. Her neuroplasticity research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals. She has an M.Ed., a Ph.D. in psychology, and 30 years of experience working with children and families.
Each session includes live, interactive discussions and Q&A sessions with these speakers!
Make the Most of Your Time
THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED WITH YOUR FAMILY IN MIND.
- Direct Talk
- Clear explanations, on-point discussions, and honest answers.
- Direct Plan
- Consistent and convenient meetings and at-your-fingertips information.
- Direct Results
A solid, flexible plan tailored to your child’s strengths.
“I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me."
Meet the Directors
Jill Shelton
Director of Mentoring Outreach
Jill and Bob, her husband of 27 years, homeschooled their five children beginning in 2006. Three of the five have graduated and are successful in their adult lives. Sarah, 23, is in graduate school to be a speech therapist while working full time as an ABA therapist; Sophia, 20, is training to become a seamstress with a large university; and Daniel, 19, is in the USAF. Andrew, 16, and Hazel, 9, are also home-educated, filling Jill’s days with much laughter. Also in their home was a nephew during his last few years of high school and now works for the US Postal Service. Jill has used many curricula that have depended on the children’s needs. She knows the joys and challenges of educating children through high school with unique needs. Bob and Jill are active church members and live on a small homestead.
Crickett Brown
Preschool Mentoring Coordinator
Crickett and her husband, Michael, have been homeschooling since their children’s education began. They are blessed with five children here on Earth – Erin (24), Holly (22), Claire (19), Wesley (16), and Lydia (12). Three of the five have graduated, homeschooled all the way through. Crickett’s homeschooling style leans toward the Charlotte Mason approach, using an eclectic mix of curricula.
Since moving to Virginia in 2003, the Browns have been actively involved in local and state homeschool communities. Crickett has organized teaching co-ops and served in homeschool support groups, a local youth theatre, a Keepers at Home group, and a Contenders for the Faith group. In addition to homeschooling her children, Crickett also finds time to serve as the Virginia State Coordinator for TeenPact Leadership Schools and as a Richmond Regional Home Educators board member.
Meet Our Program Mentors
Program Mentors coming soon!
FAQ
The entire program is online–a beautifully orchestrated combination of live webcasts, helpful Q&A sessions, and weekly small group coaching with your mentor and your “tribe” – four or five other parents who will be your companions throughout the journey.
Want to be a mentor?
If you have experience homeschooling a preschool student and would like to learn more about becoming a mentor, click here.
