Popular Topics
Thought-Provoking
· Humble Yourself – Conflict Resolution*
Our mothers always told us “it takes two to tango.” By looking at God’s Word we find conflict may begin with ourselves, and peace may also begin with ourselves. Susan looks at humbling ourselves before our God and others to resolve conflicts in our homes, our ministries, and our communities.
· Let This Be a Sign*
God instructed the Israelites to build memorials, so when the children asked the parents would have an answer to the mighty things God has done for them. Susan tells how to preserve heritage and create memorials, to pass on to your children and grandchildren.
· Why Am I Doing This? Philosophy of Education in Seven Steps*
A written philosophy of education can be the foundation of our homeschool. For those of us who didn’t stay awake during Philosophy 101, we wonder just how to write something so lofty. In this hands-on workshop, Susan will take you through seven steps to writing a philosophy of education. When finished you will have the backbone your written educational beliefs. Come prepared to work.
Practical
· Get Ready for Hard Times
In Proverbs, we are told to be like the ant and prepare for coming storms. Whether the storms are economic (unemployment, disability) or natural disasters (earthquake, floods, fires), as Christians can not only be ready to care for ourselves, but also for our neighbors. Susan has been living a prepared lifestyle for more than twenty years and shares how her family has gathered in the summer to be ready for winter storms. (Pro. 6:6-8)
· Science in the Kitchen
Is it possible for the home educator to provide a complete science experience without leaving the comforts of home? Yes! The lab is in the kitchen and the chemicals are probably already on the shelves. Susan shares her secrets along with some helpful hints from high school science teachers.
· Practical Blogs for Writers
We hear it all the time. We should have a blog. Writing a blog article is the easy part, most of the time. It’s the blog part that baffles many of us. Susan, the blog coordinator for Mount Hermon Writer’s Conference, gives non-technical advice to start a blog using WordPress. From purchasing a URL to writing that first blog post, Susan will give step-by-step instructions to get started.
Genuine
· The Fractured Home School
Do you feel like you misunderstood God’s call for homeschooling? This intimate and personal session discuss what appears to our human eyes to be failures. Susan presents a personal testimony about God’s victories in her Fractured Home School.
Encouraging
· Standards with No Compromise*
Learn how to develop a Biblical standard for your home that fits the needs of your family and will keep you on course when the desert gets hot and the manna is old.
· The God of Paper Clips*
Too often we get bogged down in the details and forget whom God is and what he wants to do for us. Susan talks about allowing God to take care of the details so we can do his work more completely.
Common Sense
· The Frugal Homeschooler
Is the cost of curriculum and materials getting you down? Do you have a garage full of unused books and supplies? With more than twenty years experience, Susan gives methods of saving money and making wise choices in acquiring your school materials.
· Wake Up and Smell the Crayons
The need for preschool is a hot topic. Do we need to send our young children to preschool? Do we need to start teaching at the age of 2? Will our children fall behind? Susan answers these questions and more in this very practical session.
· A Learning Way of Life
It wasn’t long after beginning to homeschool, Susan found more learning was taking place outside the books. Her family began to use life as the foundation for their curriculum. This session will cover how to have a lifestyle of learning and how to ease into this learning method without feeling like important topics are being missed.
Knowledgeable
· Everything I Need to Know Is on the Internet?
The wealth of information on the internet is amazing. It’s not called the information superhighway without good reason. Research is more than searching on Google. It still requires getting out of the chair and away from the computer. Susan will take you back to the basics of research. She will show you not just how to do internet research, but also how to combine it with original document sources, interviews, and roaming the stacks at the library. Be prepared for some quick assignments to learn the skills.
· Editing: Preparing for the Professionals
Of all the mistakes that can cause a book not to succeed, lack of professional editing is the most visible to publishers and readers. According to Bookbaby’s 2017 survey, 74% of authors who earned more than $5,000 in sales paid for professional editing. First-time authors, indie-published authors, and even multi-published authors can miss some essential steps of editing. Susan K. Stewart, a professional editor with more than fifteen years of experience, hires a professional editor for her books. She will take you from self-editing to the final proofreading, and how to find an editor who is perfect for you and your project.
What audiences are saying:
“Honest, vulnerable, encouraging. Susan, thank you so very much. You hit on unchanging truths.”
“Excellent delivery and passionate expertise.”
“Susan gave good perspective and foundation to the topic. She revealed basic issues and was clear.”
“Very informative, encouraging, and funny. I like the Christ-centered focus.”
- Suitable for keynote sessions