Dr. Holly Varnum

Biblical Worldview: Does It Really Make That Much Difference if I’m Teaching in a Christian School?
This title is not a rhetorical question. Sadly, one of the most recent worldview surveys reveals that only about 6% of Americans who self-identify as Christians have a truly biblical worldview. It’s no secret that the world, the flesh, and the devil are vying for the minds of believers, often in such subtle ways that it goes unnoticed until we are in crisis. This session will reveal how these statistics were gathered and give us a clearer picture of how our worldview is manifested in our thoughts, our time, and our choices. The practical application of this content will arm you to motivate your students to prioritize their walk with Christ in all areas of their lives.

Brain Train: Turning Learning into Long-Term Results! (Using Brain Research to Teach to Mastery):
You want your students to retain what they learn, right? What better way to ensure long-term results than to work with our Creator God’s design of the brain and how it learns best? In this session, we will focus on the three main parts of the brain responsible for learning or hindrances to learning, walk through the Learning Retention Pyramid resulting from decades of educational research and compare it to the approach God provided in His Word, unpack a 24-10-7 learning model to maximize learning retention for you and your students.

Oh, Boy! This Is Amazing!
In our society and in education, boys are often challenged and expected to learn in ways that directly oppose how our Creator God wired their brains. In this session, we will uncover what brain research reveals about the minds of boys and how we can best facilitate their education and development to ignite within them a love for learning, attaining goals, and becoming the man God intended them to be.

The Mind of a Girl: Mystery Solved! Well, Almost . . .
Looking at the brain scientifically shows us that God designed the female brain uniquely and specifically with intention, reinforcing what we read in Genesis 5:2, “Male and female created he them.” This session aims to clarify our understanding of how the female brain is wired, considerations for teaching girls according to their bent, and emphasizing the importance of biblical womanhood to understand and empower our girls to be leaders in the roles God has for them.

Unveiling Transgenderism, Brain Research, and God’s Word:
We’re living in a time when identity has become a driving force in our culture, so much so that puberty blockers and the physical mutilation of children are now a political and cultural invasion into our churches, schools, and homes. But it is no surprise to God, who wants us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” in knowing how to navigate this issue. This session will uncover the underlying cause of those who aggressively question and oppose God’s design, help our children see the truth, and find the answers provided in God’s Word.

What’s Your Bent? (Personality Matters when it comes to learning.):
Whenever you are around more than one child, you experience first-hand that they come to us uniquely “crafted” by our Heavenly Father―no two are alike! This fact is especially challenging when teaching a group of unique individuals and trying to plan what to teach. This very hands-on and practical session will: Address the imperative given to us in Proverbs 22:6 to “Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent]” (Amplified Bible), Include several “personality” test options to help you understand your students and how they learn best. (Cautions with some personality tests will also be touched on.), and Provide teaching/learning strategies to help you utilize this information to inform your instructional efforts.

Brain Science: Connecting with Our Sons and Daughters with their Wiring in Mind (Parent Session):
This session will address some of the principles of brain-based learning, how to connect better with your sons and daughters, and how God’s Word shows us how to navigate our feelings, thoughts, and decisions. In our society and in education, boys are often challenged and expected to learn in ways that are in direct opposition to how our Creator God wired their brains. We will uncover what brain research in recent decades has revealed to us about the minds of boys and how we can best facilitate their education and development to ignite within them a love for learning, leading, and attaining goals.

When we actually look at the brain scientifically, it clearly shows us that God designed the female brain uniquely and specifically with intention, reinforcing what we read in Genesis 1:27, “Male and female created he them.” Goals for this part of the session include clarifying our understanding of how the female brain is wired, considerations for understanding the minds of girls, and emphasizing the importance of biblical womanhood to empower our girls to become confident in the roles God has for them.

Critical Thinking in a Relativistic World:
The world our children live in today is quite different from the one we grew up in. They are constantly bombarded with post-modernism, which says whatever you want to believe is your “truth.” Now more than ever, we need to provide them with the tools to discern and combat the lies being hurled at them on a daily basis, even as they are being homeschooled. Join me in this session, where we will identify some of these lies and learn what questions to ask to separate truth from deception.

Teaching with the Brain in Mind (God’s design is amazing!):
It has only been in recent decades–with the development of technology capable of scanning the human brain–that neurologists have been enlightened as to how learning occurs and how we can optimize new knowledge. This session will address some of the principles of brain-based learning, best practices in engaging students for optimal learning, and how God’s Word teaches us to think for learning retention.

Encouragement for Moms: Embracing Your Role and Its Rewards:
Motherhood is one of the most influential and spiritually significant callings God has given. Because our culture is filled with pressure, exhaustion, and competing voices, moms need biblical encouragement and practical wisdom to embrace their role with confidence and hope. This uplifting session reminds mothers that their daily investment in their children matters deeply—not only for today, but for eternity.

Beginning in July 2026, Dr. Holly Varnum will be available for weekend events.