Answers for Educators

July
21
2024
to Jul 22

Erlanger, KY

Answers Academy

Answers for Educators 2024

This annual event is designed to help equip Christian school educators as they strive to train up the next generation apologetically, biblically, and academically. Teachers and administrators will receive focused instruction and practical application on various biblical and educational topics while having the opportunity to earn CEUs for their teaching credentials. It’s a win-win! Join us at AiG’s new headquarters (located between the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter), which houses our K–12 Christian school, Answers Academy!

Attendees will experience:

  • Quality academic professional development from a biblical worldview, given by seasoned AiG educators, including our very own educators from Answers Academy.
  • Encouragement in the world of education as we endeavor to leave a lasting godly legacy.
  • Multiple tracks to choose from within primary and secondary education categories, as well as general education tracks for any type of educator.

Attendees will receive:

  • Sunday night: A catered dinner and a relaxing evening of worship led by AiG’s resident artists, TrueSong, along with an opportunity to win door prizes. You’ll also hear from Ken Ham’s daughter, Renee Hodge, who is the administrator of Answers Academy. And you will have an opportunity to meet our speakers and to fellowship with other educators.
  • Monday: Lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
  • An admission ticket for the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.
  • An exclusive discount code to purchase resources in our attraction’s bookstores.
  • And more!

Answers for Educators Day has been specifically designed to provide quality professional development (and CEUs) from a biblical worldview to Christian school teachers and administrators. Learn from seasoned educators and enjoy exclusive perks when you join us for this jam-packed event!

Sponsored by:

Registration

Register online to ensure your place at this conference!

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Includes:

Free Admission to Creation Museum and Ark Encounter

Event Cost

Price: $75.00

Location

25 Atlantic Ave
Erlanger, KY 41018

Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.

Sunday, July 21
6:00 p.m.   Dinner at the Creation Museum
Monday, July 22
8:00 a.m.   Check-in
8:30 a.m.   Ken Ham: Welcome/Keynote
10:15 a.m.   Workshops

Brittany Hurd: Count on Math: It Never Adds Up to a Dull Moment (Elementary)

David Thigpen: The Bible as a History Text (Secondary)

Dr. Jennifer Rivera: How to Make Science Fun for All Ages (General Session)

Joe Niemeyer (SSO): Safety for Schools (General Session)

Avery Foley: LGBTQ: Helping Students and Leaders Respond Biblically (Biblical Foundation)
11:30 a.m.   Workshops

Krystle Hegener: Learn, Apply, Repeat—Using Stations Effectively in Elementary Classrooms (Elementary)

Brittany Hurd: Big Kids Are Still Kids—Tips for Having an Engaging Classroom (Secondary)

Ann Rill: Authentic Assessment (General Session)

Dr. Dana Sneed: Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum (General Session)

Patricia Engler: Helping Students Think Critically About Evolution (Biblical Foundation)
12:30 p.m.   Lunch
1:30 p.m.   Workshops

Dr. Kristin Bird: Transformative Tools for Teachers—Unleashing the Power of Apps and Websites in Your Classroom (Elementary)

Ann Rill: Beating the Clock (Secondary)

Dr. Jennifer Rivera: Through the Lens: Incorporating Microscopy into Your Classroom at All Levels (General Session)

Brittany Hurd: Being Tech SMART in the Classroom—An Introduction to SMART Boards and Other Educational Technologies (General Session)

Dr. Dana Sneed: Critical Thinking Is Biblical Thinking (Biblical Foundation)
2:45 p.m.   Workshops

Christy Murnahan: The “Science of Reading”—Teaching Readers the Foundations of Language (Elementary)

Carl Hooker: How Do We Biblically Build Rapport with Students? (Secondary)

Ann Rill: Why Can’t They All Be Just Like Me? (General Session)

Brittany Hurd: Routines, Rules, and Rewards—Classroom Management for All Grade Levels (General Session)

Dr. Georgia Purdom: Biblical Authority in the Marketplace of Ideas (Biblical Foundation)
4:00 p.m.   Martyn Iles: Keynote

Biblical Foundation Workshops

Biblical Authority in the Marketplace of Ideas | Dr. Georgia Purdom: Society is becoming increasingly secularized, and Christians are being pressured to bow the knee to the modern woke agenda. The church is supposed to challenge the culture with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel but many times the opposite is happening, and the culture instead invades the church. We can combat this invasion, but we must argue or reason with people starting with God’s Word. We must not give up our firm foundation!

Critical Thinking Is Biblical Thinking | Dr. Dana Sneed: Teaching students how to think carefully and critically is essential to preparing them to face the cacophony of cultural voices clamoring for their attention. Will your students be equipped to discern truth from fallacy? Learn why critical thinking is biblical thinking and how to train your students to be critical thinkers.

Helping Students Think Critically About Evolution | Patricia Engler: From textbooks to nature shows, claims about “evidence for evolution” show up everywhere! By teaching biblical critical thinking tools, you can help students resist evolutionary indoctrination. Find out what these tools are, why they matter, and how they apply to answering common examples of “evidence for evolution.”

Learn from Scripture how Jesus and others effectively defended the faith, how Christians should not argue but often do, how to argue and reason persuasively, and how we can “redeem the time” in these evil days to further God’s kingdom on earth.

LGBTQ: Helping Students and Leaders Respond Biblically | Avery Foley: Homosexuality, transgender, and the whole LGBTQ rainbow are increasingly appearing in content, curricula, and programs directed toward children. Sadly, many churches and Christian leaders are caving to the pressure to affirm these sinful lifestyles. Get equipped to think biblically on this issue so you can impact the next generation, encouraging them to stand firm on God’s Word on this issue.

Elementary Workshops

Count on Math: It Never Adds Up to a Dull Moment | Brittany Hurd: When are we ever going to use this? Why do we need to learn this stuff anyway? Why is math so boring? Have you ever heard questions like these come from your students? Math can be such an abstract concept in the minds of our students. That is why it is imperative for teachers of all grade levels to help make math concrete in the minds of our students by making it relatable to their everyday lives. Math is anything but dull! Join me as we dive into a variety of hands-on ways to bring your math class to life while making it relatable to students’ everyday lives.

Learn, Apply, Repeat—Using Stations Effectively in Elementary Classrooms | Krystle Hegener: In this session, we will learn about the benefits of incorporating stations in elementary classrooms, find inspiration for meaningful activities in all subject areas, and discuss tips and tricks for smooth transitions and setup

The “Science of Reading”—Teaching Readers the Foundations of Language | Christy: In this session, we will identify the “Science of Reading,” look at a brief history of reading instruction, and explore ways that we can bring the “Science of Reading” into our classrooms to help students have a better foundation of language.

Transformative Tools for Teachers—Unleashing the Power of Apps and Websites in Your Classroom | Dr. Kristin Bird: Join us for an insightful exploration of how to seamlessly integrate technology into your classroom. Learn practical strategies and discover curated apps and websites that reinforce biblical teachings, encourage spiritual growth, and facilitate effective communication with students and parents. Come away empowered to harness the power of technology to enrich the spiritual and academic journey of your students.

General Session Workshops

Authentic Assessment | Ann Rill: Teach, quiz, test, repeat. It is easy to get into a rut in the classroom. Week after week, unit after unit, year after year, grade after grade, students know what to expect from every instructor. But what if the classroom became somewhat unpredictable? What if we threw some authenticity into our lessons? The use of authentic assessment can breathe life into the classroom, bring relevance to the lesson, and boost grades on traditional assessments.

Being Tech SMART in the Classroom—An Introduction to SMART Boards and Other Educational Technologies | Brittany Hurd: Whether you already have SMART Boards, are looking to invest in SMART Boards, or just looking for another interactive and hands-on way for students to learn, this session will explore the basics of SMART Boards and other educational technologies teachers can use in the classroom.

Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum | Dr. Dana Sneed: Whether students are engaged in science, history, or the arts, it is imperative that they learn to think deeply and intentionally. Critical thinking is an educational outcome that should transcend disciplinary boundaries. Equip and empower your students to think critically regardless of the subject matter.

How to Make Science Fun for All Ages | Dr. Jennifer Rivera: Did you know that a child develops their interest in science by age 7 and their worldview by age 13? Join Dr. Jennifer Rivera and learn ways to make the study of science exciting, engaging, and biblically focused to nurture fascination in God’s creation from the earliest grade levels.

Routines, Rules, and Rewards—Classroom Management for All Grade Levels | Brittany Hurd: Classroom management is more than simply “dropping the hammer” when things don’t go as planned or a student is not behaving appropriately. Students of all ages thrive when they have been given clear boundaries and expectations. As teachers, we know the importance of setting routines and rules early in the school year, but how do we make those manageable and related to all students? Join me in this session as we discuss classroom management ideas that will leave you feeling refreshed rather than pulling your hair out.

(SSO): Safety for Schools | Joe Niemeyer: A conversation on the risks that schools are now facing, where security technologies are heading, and how we sift through it all to best protect our students.

Through the Lens: Incorporating Microscopy into Your Classroom at All Levels | Dr. Jennifer Rivera: Microscopy is the study of God’s unseen creation through magnification. Through the lens of a simple microscope, students are introduced to a new realm of science exploration. Join Dr. Jennifer Rivera as we explore the beauty, design, and order in God’s microscopic creation.

Why Can’t They All Be Just Like Me? | Ann Rill: We tend to interact with our students based on our personal style of communication. However, the majority of students do not share our communication style. Understanding and appreciating the six distinct personality types in the classroom can decrease behavior problems, increase academic success, and expand our sphere of influence.

Secondary Workshops

Beating the Clock | Ann Rill: One of the most common frustrations in the secondary English classroom is the limited amount of time there is each day to cover the multiple subjects that are included under the umbrella of English Language Arts. How can we fit it all in? In this workshop, we will explore ways to improve time management without sacrificing subject matter and will discuss the advantages of implementing a modified block schedule within the confines of a traditional class schedule.

The Bible as a History Text | David Thigpen: As Christians, the Bible is the absolute and authoritative Word of God. It is central to all that we are and do. How does that look in a history classroom? One can’t miss that the Bible is also a historical document. It provides historical accounts which are intertwined with historical events recorded outside Scripture. Moreover, the Bible indicates that God’s work in history did not stop with the recorded events of the New Testament, as AD 70 is a clear example, but so is 325, 735, 1620, and really any date in history! Because Christians view God as active and present in our world, there is a clear connection between the Christian faith and history which is the essence of a biblical worldview in history. The Bible is not a supplemental material, it is the primary book that supersedes all historical textbooks and ancient works of history.

Big Kids Are Still Kids—Tips for Having an Engaging Classroom | Brittany Hurd: Middle and high school students love to have fun, maybe even more so than elementary kids! In this session, we will explore tips and key components to having an engaging middle and high school classroom. You will leave this session with ideas to implement in your own classroom as soon as you start school this fall!

How Do We Biblically Build Rapport with Students? | Carl Hooker: This session explores the profound significance of building rapport with students from a biblical perspective. Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Scripture, this session delves into the principles and practices that foster authentic connections between educators and their students, enabling a transformative educational experience. Throughout the session, participants will delve into biblical narratives, parables, and teachings that exemplify the essence of relational connection, empathy, and understanding. We’ll examine how Jesus himself engaged with people, demonstrating a profound ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life.

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