Homeschool Convention Time

If you find yourself asking "Is it Friday yet?" in your  homeschool, it may be time for a homeschool convention! Every state has a homeschool conference or sometimes called a convention. It is a time to go and refresh, learn new techniques, meet others just like you, meet others that are different than you are and to see what is new in the curriculum world. 

Homeschool conventions are AWESOME, we have been attending since 2008 and we love them. So much fun for Mom, Dad and the kids too. There are topics for all ages, the Homeschooled Young Man enjoyed attending sessions that were taught by his textbook authors. He got to meet the authors, talk shop with them and sometimes even get in on some freebies or new ideas that the authors are kicking around. 

Kids will get interested in their school work when they help pick it out. We started using IEW all because the Homeschooled Young Man sat through Andrew Pudewa's sessions. 

I learned about different teaching ideas, learning styles and methods. I learned how to use my specific name brand curriculum better, during vendor question/answer sessions. I got to touch and feel, look through and read the different textbooks to see if they were a good fit for my learner. I got discount codes for materials. I drooled over the Rainbow Resources booths, I got tons of cool stuff from that place. 

Homeschool conferences are also a great place to invite those interested in learning more about homeschooling, they offer sessions about homeschooling laws, getting started etc. 

The sessions range from any number of the following...

New homeschoolers

Homeschooling laws

Special needs homeschoolers

Keeping toddlers busy while homeschooling

Getting household chores done

High school

Transcipts

College

Non-college bound homeschoolers

Marriage

Meal Planning

Large families

Only children

Car schooling

RV Schooling

Finances

and more!

Start looking now for a homeschool conference near you, they are so worth it!

Moe

Home School Conventions here we come!

Home School Conventions here we come! Now is the time of year to attend a homeschool convention. Get yourself ready for next school year! If you are thinking of home educating your children now is the time to get some good info. Check out this link about how to be organized while attending a convention. the convention notebook

Here are my tips for attending a convention.

Bring about $100 of spending $ and that is all! You can always order things when you get back home. Don't get caught spending tons of money on impulse. Take home catalogs and think things through before buying. Most vendors will give you free shipping the week after the convention if you ask them. Bring a notebook, pens, snacks/drinks and a heavy duty bag to carry all the catalogs in. Wear good shoes for lots of walking. Go early and stay late for the vendor hall, if there is a time slot for classes you are not interested in, hit the vendor hall and walk around. Hit EVERY booth before you buy, since some booths sell the same items at DIFFERENT costs :O) Write down what you find to buy and the booth number so you can go back and find it. Also hit up the used book booths, great stuff is found hidden there. But a set of the convention CD's or MP3's of all the sessions, they are great to listen to through the school year when you feel like giving up. And you can also listen to the classes that you missed out on. Enjoy yourself, conferences are so refreshing!

Post if you get to attend one. This is not looking like a good year for us to attend, I've got something planned every date of a local convention.

Moe