Homeschool Conferences

I always leave homeschool conferences with renewed a passion for and commitment to homeschooling. It is encouraging to meet others who share our convictions and experiences, and learn about new products and ideas for our home school.

Homeschooling conferences provide seminars on everything from how to choose a homeschooling curriculum to improving family relationships. Some workshops are conducted by book authors and popular homeschool leaders. At others, curriculum vendors talk about their products and why/how you should use them.

Most conventions will also host homeschool curriculum fairs where you can look at and ask questions about products.

How to Prepare for a Homeschool Convention

Here are some tips for preparing for homeschool conferences:

1. Register early. Send in your registration information as soon as you decide to attend the conference. Some events provide an early bird discount for those who register before a specific date. If you are on a tight budget, you may be able to make arrangements to volunteer in exchange for free admission.

2. Decide who will attend. Some attendees go with friends or homeschooling support groups, but I prefer to take my husband. He usually manages to stay awake for at least half of the workshops.

3. Make arrangements for your children. Some event organizers discourage children from attending, but make provisions for nursing mothers. Others welcome the entire family, and even host events geared toward children. If your older children are attending a conference that does not have events for children, bring along quiet activities and snacks, if they are permitted. Be sure to find out whether or not strollers are allowed.

4. Make travel, mealtime and sleeping arrangements for a multi-day conference. Even though our local, two-day convention is less than an hours drive from our home, my husband and I often spend the night at a nearby hotel while our children spend quality time with grandma. If you need to save money, eat breakfast at home and consider bringing your own lunch to the event. However, make sure to read the conference rules thoroughly. Some conventions have on site food vendors, and discourage attendees from bringing their own meals.

5. Determine your goals for attending the convention. What do you hope to gain by attending the event? New homeschoolers often want to examine curriculum and find information on homeschooling methods while experienced home educators may seek homeschool encouragement or new teaching tips. Pace yourself so you don't become overwhelmed. Focus on attending seminars that you feel are most relevant to your stage of homeschooling.

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