Teach Them Diligently

Nashville Homeschool Convention

Teach Them Diligently is a three-day convention that equips you to raise well-rounded children and strengthen your family relationships through Biblical homeschooling.

Date: March 18-20, 2021
Where: GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER and LIVESTREAM WORLDWIDE
2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

Be sure to download the BRAND NEW TTD App to get the most up-to-date event information, easily access your ticket, and so much more! Available in the App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon play Store. Get more details here.

Receive Education

Learn from well-known Christian authors, speakers, and influencers in keynote sessions and workshops.

Build Community

Connect with other homeschool families and make lifelong friends.

Be Empowered

Leave more eager and equipped to pursue God’s calling in your life to “teach them diligently”!

2021 Nashville Convention Speakers

Nashville Convention Programs

Convention Schedule

Click Here To View The TTD Nashville Schedule on a Separate Page

Click here to download a PDF of the schedule.

Nashville Children's Program

At Teach Them Diligently Nashville, we desire for your children to make new friends and learn about Jesus in a safe, welcoming, and fun environment. We are excited to have a large group of adults and college students returning this year to work with the children at TTD. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for your children!

Nashville Mom's Night

Join us on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. (shortly after the last session of the day ends) for a mom’s night celebration! You won’t want to miss this evening of encouragement.

This will be a sweet opportunity to interact, share, pray, and fellowship with other moms. Your heart will be refreshed and stirred.

Nashville Men's Breakfast

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

Please join us as we break bread (and bacon!) together, and spend our Saturday morning dedicated to sharpening and encouraging one another as we discuss God’s Word and plan for our families.

Featured Speaker: Mark Hancock with Trail Life, USA
When: Saturday Morning, 7:30 a.m.
What:
– Full Breakfast + Session: $12 per person (tickets are limited)
– Session Only: $5 per person

Nashville Teen Program (Ages 12-18)

This year, the theme for our Teen Program at TTD will be Youth In Missions. Why it matters, how YOU can be a part of it.

Description of program: Have you ever asked yourself, “Does God have an opinion of what I do with my summer break? How old do I have to be to obey the command of Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations”? And how should I get ready if I feel like God is calling me to the mission field? We will be looking at how the Bible answers these questions and how these answers apply to high school and middle school students in today’s generation.

For nearly 50 years, Teen Mission has been challenging students with the calling that, through Christ, they are to be the change in the culture around them. Join us for a weekend of learning about God, relationship building with other teens and fun!

Thursday Night 6:30 – 8:30pm

Welcome and Ground Rules

Ice Breaker Activity (prize giveaway!)

Spotlight on TMI opportunities- Steve Petersen, TMI staff

Worship w/ Maddi and Brandon Metzler, TMI staff

Teaching: Overcoming Obstacles- Mike Blair, TMI Staff

Main Text: 1 Samuel 17

Small group discussion

Friday Morning 9:00 – 11:10am

Welcome

Ice Breaker Activity (prize giveaway!)

Teaching: Worldviews- Dr. Stephen Carter, Keynote speaker

Q & A w/ Dr. Stephen and Mike Blair

Worship w/ Maddi and Brandon Metzler

Teaching: Power to Change-Linda Maher, TMI Staff

Main Text: Colossians 3:7

Friday Afternoon 1:00 – 5:00pm

Group Activity/Contest

Build a structure with dry noodles and marshmallows (prize giveaway!)

Bush Sunday School activity

Experience some of the games that kids in our Bush Sunday School ministries experience overseas

Teaching: Follow The Science– Dr Stepehn Carter, Keynote speaker

Q & A w/ Dr. Stephen and Mike Blair

Worship w/ Maddi and Brandon Metzler

Teaching: What, Why, How- Mike Blair

Main text: Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Small group discussion

Saturday Morning 9:00 – 11:10am

Welcome

Ice Breaker (prize giveaway!)

Teaching: Follow The Science 2-Dr. Stephen Carter, Keynote speaker

Game Time!

Worship w/ Maddi and Brandon Metzler

Teaching: Resume of Change- Linda Maher

Saturday Afternoon 1:00 – 5:00pm

Welcome Back

Teaching: Follow The Science 3- Dr.Stephen Carter, Keynote speaker

Worship w/ Maddi and Brandon Metzler

Game Time! (Prize giveaways!)

Teaching: What are you waiting for God to Restore?– Mike Blair

Main text: Acts 1:6-10

Small group discussion

Teaching: Go and Be the Change- Linda Maher

Closing thoughts/large group discussion

Call for Teen Volunteers!

We are also seeking a select group of servant-hearted teens who would like to work in the children’s program during the convention.

In addition to being able to serve, the teens who volunteer will also be
able to enjoy the teen program on Thursday night and receive all the
goodies that come with the teen program.

Volunteers must be available to serve the entirety of the children’s program– Friday and Saturday.
Families of teen volunteers will get a rebate for their entire family registration fee. (Teen volunteer families get in free!!)

Please visit the volunteer page to sign up and indicate you would like to serve in the Children’s Program.

Nashville Photography Team

Learn and practice the principles of successful event photography!

Cost: $55 per participant

Love photography? Want to learn how to make the most of your camera or increase your photojournalism skills live, during an actual event?

Under the guidance and instruction of an experienced event photographer, the Photography Team will give photography enthusiasts the opportunity to learn and practice hands-on, the skills needed to cover the TTD Convention!

Through classroom instruction, self-guided assignments, and professional photo critique, you will learn how to effectively capture the moment, create consistently bright and sharp images in difficult lighting situations, and expedite the post-processing workflow to meet time-sensitive deadlines. It doesn’t get more hands-on than this!

The hub of the Photography Team will be in the Exhibit Hall at the Lenspiration booth. Orientation will begin on Thursday night, classroom instruction will be held during most sessions on Friday and Saturday, and assignments will be available to shoot as desired throughout the rest of the event.

IMPORTANT: Once you register, you will need to complete the required Photography Team Preparation Page on Lenspiration’s website and follow the required instructions there to prepare for the Photography Team. The password is: PhotographyTeam

Required Materials

Schedule

Thursday, 6:30pm-8:40pm: Orientation & First session
Friday, 10:20am-5:40pm: Activities planned during sessions (lunch with parents)
Saturday, 10:20am-5:40pm: Activities planned during sessions (lunch with parents) & Conclusion

View the full schedule here

Questions & Answers

How do I know if I'm at the right skill level to join?

First, consider the prerequisites. Do you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera that you can bring? Will you be able to bring a laptop with pre-installed photo editing software?

Secondly, you should be familiar with your camera and how to use it. Are you always shooting in the automatic modes? Are you clueless about aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how to get proper exposure? If so, consider yourself a beginner and take Lenspiration’s Foundations of Photography Course before attending. You can take the course for free by joining the Lenspiration membership, which is free for the first month.

However, if you have had your camera for a while, are moving beyond shooting in the automatic modes, and want to learn how to effectively cover an event, then signing up for the Photography Team is definitely for you!

What if I don't have the required camera?

Lenspiration has equipment available that you can rent for the entire Photography Team on a first come, first served basis. A DSLR camera plus lenses, accessories and a bag can be rented for $30.

Send a request via Lenspiration’s Contact page as soon as possible after you have registered for the event. Payment due at Orientation.

Can I participate in other activities along with the Photography Team?

Yes, but it depends on how much you want to be involved with the Photography Team. Orientation and Conclusion are required and each session typically builds on itself. However, if there are other aspects of the Convention you want to attend, then you have the freedom to do them.

What if more than one person in my family wants to attend, but we only have one camera or laptop?

You can certainly make one camera and one laptop work between two people if they are willing to share and work together. The rate per person stays the same.

Will students be accompanied by an adult at all times?

Not at all times. Students may be asked to fulfill photo assignments of the event on their own.

Is lunch provided?

No. Students will join their families for lunch.

What should I bring with me?

In addition to the required items, bring your typical photography gear and accessories like memory cards, batteries, battery chargers, camera bag, etc. You do not need to bring a tripod.

It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and bring snacks and water.

What do I need to do to prepare for the Photography Team?

You’ll need to follow the required instructions outlined in the Photography Team Preparation Page on the Lenspiration website. Password is: PhotographyTeam

Will I be able to show my pictures to my family?

Yes. Parents and family members are encouraged to attend the Conclusion so they can see the best work of each student who submitted pictures.

How will my pictures be used?

By registering for the Photography Team, you grant Lenspiration and TTD the perpetual right to use, print, and publish for any purpose all images you submit during the Photography Team.

May I keep the pictures I take?

Yes. As the photographer, you retain the copyright to all photos you take during the Photography Team, but like everyone else, you are under obligation to abide by commercial use publishing laws.

To be safe, you will want to get written permission from all recognizable individuals and owners of recognizable property in a photo to use that photo beyond personal or artistic use.

Where can I learn more details and/or ask additional questions?

Please visit Lenspiration’s Photography Team Details page for more information or to ask questions.

Photography Team Leadership

James Staddon is a former homeschool student, professional photographer and full-time photography educator from Salem, West Virginia.

With a background in graphic design, his keen interest and endless preoccupation with photography eventually led him to start up Lenspiration in 2009 to provide budding photographers with a family-friendly environment to learn photography.

James has been leading Photography Teams at homeschool events across the country since 2014. Through his business and workshops, he loves to see inspiration planted, nurtured, and expressed for the glory of God in the work of other photographers.

190330-James Staddon_7452-Canon EOS 7D Mark II

190330-James Staddon_7339-Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Nashville Event Details

Pricing

Visit our registration page to view the current convention prices. Additional programs, such as the children’s program, may cost a fee.

Hotels

The best hotel choice for Teach Them Diligently Nashville is to stay at the convention venue, the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center with a discounted TTD rate. Read more about the Gaylord Opryland below.

Meals

Meals are not included in the price of the convention. However, there are a variety of conveniently located restaurants both inside and outside the convention center premises. See below for more restaurant information.

Featured Nashville Convention Exhibitors

Nashville Convention Venue & Hotel: Gaylord Opryland

Centrally located and close to everything, Gaylord Opryland offers more than any other Nashville hotel—indeed, more than any hotel in the Southeast. When you combine one of the best Christian family events with an amazing hotel like Gaylord Opryland, you get an experience that is one of a kind.

Just for Teach Them Diligently, the Gaylord Opryland is offering rooms at a steeply discounted price to make attending the conference as affordable, convenient, and enjoyable as possible for your family. Just a tip, by securing a room in the same building as the Convention, you will have the flexibility to enjoy additional amenities at the hotel, easily bring young children back to the room for a break, and even bring food into your room for snacks and meals.

Gaylord Opryland is a smoke-free facility and guest rooms include:
- Mini-fridge and coffee maker
- In-room wired and wireless high-speed internet access
- Hair dryer
- Ironing board/iron
- Indoor pool & fitness center access
Check-in: 4:00 p.m., Check-out: 11:00 a.m.

Special arrangements for late check-out may be made based on availability, and/or luggage can be stored for individuals with later departures.

The Teach Them Diligently pricing is an enormous discount over Gaylord Opryland’s normal rates, and you will not find a better combination of affordability, comfort, or convenience in Nashville. If staying overnight at the hotel, parking is discounted to $7 per day instead of the usual $29.

See pricing and reserve your DISCOUNTED room at the Gaylord Opryland by clicking this special link or calling (888) 777-6779 and mentioning Teach Them Diligently. *When reserving your room, note only the number of adults. The Opryland is aware of our family sizes, and children can stay free with their parents. You do not have to note the number of children who will be staying with you.

If using a debit card, a deposit equal to one night’s room and tax will be charged at time of booking (not applicable for credit card). If reservations are not canceled 72 hours prior to arrival, this deposit will be retained.

These rates are only available for rooms booked by Wednesday, March 17th, 2021

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR HOTEL NOW

Still not sure why it’s better to stay at a TTD hotel? Check out this blog post.

Nashville Meal Options

Teach Them Diligently attendees have a variety of options for meals both at the Gaylord Opryland and nearby at Opry Mills. For information or directions, stop by the Teach Them Diligently Info Desk at the convention.

*Note about gluten and food allergies – All restaurants on-site at the Gaylord Opryland offer gluten free options. They do have seasonal menus and do not list all gluten free options on the menus, but gluten free bread options are available in each outlet with gluten free pasta available in in-room dining and Ravello. Each restaurant staff member has been trained to communicate and guide guests around most food allergies. When in doubt, we pull in a Chef to discuss at the table.

DELTA MARKETPLACE

Delta Marketplace is perfect for guests on-the-go. It is open 24/7 and serves breakfast items, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, soups, chips, a wide array of coffee and beverages, snacks and more. Delta Marketplace is located on Delta Island.

ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS ON-SITE

A list of all Gaylord Opryland restaurants can be found here.

OPRY MILLS

A short walk or shuttle ride to Opry Mills offeres a host of other options from fast food to sit-down dining. A list of restaurants at Opry Mills can be found here. (click the ‘dining’ tab)

Our Sponsors

Don't miss out on this life-changing opportunity for you and your children!

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house.

Deuteronomy 6:7