Speaking Topics

Growing a Garden of Godly Character~
All of nature displays many parallels to spiritual growth, but seed sowing is especially relevant to the process of developing one's own character. Just as there are certain steps you must follow to successfully start seeds, there are certain steps your children must take to successfully grow their own character. Learn how you can help your children take responsibility for their thoughts and actions, enabling them to produce a garden of godly character and fulfill their destiny in the Lord.

Preserving Your Family's Spiritual Heritage~ A Multi-Generational Vision
God is writing “His” story every day, and its right at the end of your fingertips. This workshop will inspire you to record your family’s spiritual journey with purpose and clarity. Reflections, observations, prayers, testimonies, tributes, poetry, and letters can all be preserved in a Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16) that will strengthen your children’s faith and make an eternal impact for generations to come. This workshop includes examples from well-known authors and homeschool mothers and fathers like you! Become inspired to put your pen to paper and leave a one-of-kind testimony that your children will treasure now and when they start families of their own.

The Gift of Family Writing
Are all children equipped with a gift for writing? Yes! You can help your children record their life stories as they happen. Give them a love for words and the tools to process them so that writing will be a non-issue later in life. This fun and natural approach will produce story after story as your children see the value you place on their life experiences. Do you have a reluctant writer or struggle with the thought of teaching your children to write creatively? This workshop makes the process attainable and even enjoyable! See how family writing can create strong bonds, and give you a written legacy for future generations. For preschool through high school, and parents, too!

Making Writing Real~ by Jill and Eric Novak
     Do you or your children dream of getting published someday? Come and see how your family’s life experiences can be turned into editorials, articles, and books for publication. This workshop covers writing from what you know, journaling, exploring the world of creative non-fiction, fiction, writing styles, and the importance of blogging. We’ll also cover the more technical aspects of self-publishing your own magazines, books, and e-books from home. With the first-hand experience of this mother and son publishing team, learn how God can use the words of your experience to make a profound difference in the lives of others. For parents and high school students.

Keeping Sketchbook Journals
    Sketching is a well-known method for improving the skills of the developing artist, but a sketchbook can be more than just a collection of drawings. It can also be a place to explore a subject in-depth – a format that houses the writings, artwork, and personal photographs of its creator. This workshop will cover the different kinds of sketchbook journals that you and your children can keep. The themed sketchbook, the garden keeper’s journal, the discovery nature sketchbook, the kitchen recipe sketchbook, and the life story sketchbook journal are just a few of the possibilities that we will discuss. See how your family’s writing and drawing skills will improve through the practice of keeping sketchbook journals.

Establishing a Creative Home Environment
What does it take to become an author/ illustrator? Join us as we explore the common threads behind the lives of some of our most beloved artists, authors, and children’s book illustrators. We’ll take a look at Beatrix Potter, Norman Rockwell, Tasha Tudor, Lois Lenski, and Marguerite de Angeli, learning how they developed the skills to write and illustrate their own books. See how to enhance your children’s skills of observation and equip them with the tools they need to write and draw from their own life experiences.

Becoming God’s Naturalist
God’s magnificence can be seen in all of creation, from the tiniest bee to the largest sunflower. Your children can become His naturalists by keeping nature journals and collecting specimens found in your own backyard. Meet Beatrix Potter and learn about the creative environment she grew up in. Become inspired as we explore ten practical ways to get the most out of nature study. Learn how to help your children, preschool through high school, express their thoughts and perceptions creatively as they observe, draw, and record the world of nature around them.

These are just a few of Jill's workshops. For further topics contact her at Jillnovak@dls.net.