Each of the talks below is 50 minutes to an hour in length.  Lectures marked with an asterisk (*) contain Christian content.  Lectures marked with a carat (^) may be appropriate for keynote or general sessions.  

Teaching the Classics from Seuss to Socrates – Literary Analysis for Everyone

Does the subject of literature seem like a mystery?  Are you a loss about how to understand it yourself, much less teach it to your kids?  This inspiring lecture demonstrates that everything you need to know about understanding and teaching literature is present in your second grader’s bedtime story.  Adam reads a classics children’s story out loud and then leads the audience into a discussion of eternal literary themes.  Along the way, he shows how you can do the same at home by following five simple steps.  Your literature curriculum – to say nothing of family story time – will come alive automatically.  You’ll never put the kids to bed the same way again!   

*^Thinking Carefully About College – A Homeschool Dad Evaluates Higher Education

American higher education has become unfriendly territory for Christians and other conservatives in many ways.  Many parents wonder whether they should consider sending their students to college at all.  Drawing from extensive experience in higher education, Adam offers invaluable advice on this all important question, suggesting ways to make the considerable benefits of a college education available to your homeschool graduates.  You’ll learn valuable tips for deciding what kind of school to choose, and for avoiding the pitfalls that await the unsuspecting freshman.  A must for every parent of high schoolers.   

*^Homeschooling’s Highest Goal – Lessons from the Story of Job

Education is not an object we can posses; it’s a state of the heart, mind and soul.  All great leaders share certain attributes in these areas, and Job was one of the greatest! Adam’s unique perspective on Job’s career inspires parents to prepare their own students for leadership.  The lecture sends them away with renewed vision for the liberal arts and practical suggestions for applying this vision in the classroom.  

“It’s Onomatopoeia, Mom!” – Using Children’s Stories to Teach Literary Devices

Juxtaposition, metaphor, symbolism, irony, foreshadowing – HELP!  Parents often avoid the subject of literature because of the intimidating vocabulary of literary analysis.  The truth is, you don’t need a college degree in literature to understand this vocabulary; what you need is a well written children’s story.   Adam takes the audience on a guided tour of literary devices, making discerning literary analysts out of each and every audience member.  Doing the same with your own children couldn’t be easier, but beware: soon, they will be finding onomatopoeia everywhere they look.   

Asking the Right Questions – Teaching Literature with Socratic Discussion

Adam shows aspiring classroom leaders five ways to lead students naturally and effortlessly into quality discussions of any book.  He demonstrates each of these techniques through live discussion of a beloved American classic, and teaches audience members how to try them at home immediately.   

Literary Keys – Unlocking the Meaning of Classic Books 

Come listen to the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his famous poem Paul Revere’s Ride.  In the process, you will discover the surprising power of two literary elements – setting and context – to deepen your understanding of classic books.   Based on the idea that every book is product of a certain time and place, Adam shows how to use these details as keys for unlocking the meaning and significance of any work of literature.  Even if you’ve read the poem a thousand times, you might come away with a new perspective – and new vision for your work as a teacher.   

Building the Perfect Reading List – How to Find Great Books for Students of All Ages

In an engaging presentation that is as much class discussion as lecture, Adam involves the audience in a lively debate on the definition of the classic.  In the process, listeners are encouraged to consider the moral and ethical nature of reading, and invited to suggest candidates for a “class list” of all-time great books.  This presentation teaches three important tests to apply to any book in order to determine whether it is worthy – and suggests some reasons why you should even care.  So, which books belong on your student’s reading list? Come listen and find out!  

Designing Your Own Lit Program – a Scope and Sequence Workshop

Many parents are dissatisfied with the books assigned in box curriculum sets – and yet, they feel inadequate to strike out on their own and create effective reading programs for their children.  Adam puts these fears to rest with an inspiring lesson in scope and sequence development.  Presenting a step-by-step procedure that is accessible to even the busiest teachers, Adam makes a powerful case that it’s not how many books you do, it’s how well you do them!  Come listen and be set free from the “tyranny of the booklist."