Newsletter #393: 10 Ways To Get the Most from Homeschool Events - Archived Online. Since 1980 The Teaching Home has provided families information, inspiration, and encouragement from a distinctively Christian perspective. Co-Editors: Veteran Homeschool Sisters, Sue Welch and Cindy Short |
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In This Issue
10 Ways To Get the Most
from Homeschool Events
1. Features and Benefitsof a Homeschool Event
2. Who Should Attend with You
3. Ways To Save on Registration
4. How To Prepare
5. Things To Do the Day Before
6. At the Convention
7. In the Exhibit Hall
8. Mind Your Convention Manners
9. Ways To Network
10. Follow-Up Activities (Get the
Last Bit of Good from the Event!)
Sidebar
• List of 2014 State Conventions
• What State Organizations Can Do for You
Upcoming Topics
• (Continuing) Basic Skills Series
• Doing Well on Achievement Tests
• 5-Day Easter Unit Study
Recommended Resources
• Logos Language Institute Free Spanish Intro Audio Download
• Personal Prayer Journal for You or Your Older Child
Greetings,
Unique benefits await you at your local, regional, or state homeschool convention, conference, or book fair. We urge you to attend!
Be sure to get the most out of any homeschool event with the practical suggestions and check-lists in this issue.
A Big Thank You! goes out to the many homeschool leaders who give so much of themselves to make these events possible.
Please Pray. The following request from The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators applies to all state conventions:
"As you can imagine, the task of coordinating a major event is enormous. So many individuals are involved and so much needs to be well coordinated for this event to bless and encourage parents who home educate their children.
"That is why we are asking for prayer partners to lift up the needs of the board, speakers, and volunteers to our wonderful Lord and Savior."
May the Lord richly bless your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a homeschool, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
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1. Features and Benefits
of a Homeschool Event
The opportunities brought together in this once-a-year event can renew and expand your vision for teaching and training your children.
Each year is a new experience, and you will gain something each time you attend!
Homeschool events can broaden your horizons with new ideas, methods, materials, and approaches as well as reminders of the basics.
New homeschoolers, as well as veterans, will be encouraged, rejuvenated, educated and better equipped to homeschool!
1. Keynote Speakers are some of the best speakers in the country. They will inspire and motivate you with the big picture of homeschooling.
2. Workshops are taught by a variety of speakers on topics of their own expertise. They will give you practical how-to training in wide range of topics to make your teaching more efficient.
Vendor workshops are taught by exhibitors who explain their products, demonstrate their use, and provide teaching tips.
3. Exhibit Halls can save you time and money as you shop for curriculum and resources. You will be able to examine, compare, and purchase a vast array of home-education products from many vendors in one place.
You can inspect new products and speak to authors or knowledgeable representatives to ask questions and learn more.
Often you can save money on convention discounts and/or receive free shipping.
4. Networking with other like-minded homeschoolers can offer valuable friendship and support for your entire family.
5. Support Your State Organization and the many services they provide home educators year-round (see "What State Organizations Can Do for You" in left column).
6. Extras. Check to see if any of the following are offered:
•
Used Curriculum Sale – Earn money; buy for less
•
Teens Track or service opportunities
•
Children's Programs - more than just "babysitting"!
•
Tapes of General Sessions and Workshops
•
Goody Bags filled with catalogs and brochures
•
Luncheon or Meeting for Support Group Leaders
•
Graduation Ceremony
•
Boxed Lunch or Snack Bar
•
Special Hotel Room Rates
2. Who Should Attend with You
1. Spouse. It is ideal for a husband and wife to go together to gather information, share perspectives, and focus on family goals and budget.
This is an excellent opportunity for fathers to better understand the issues involved in homeschooling and to talk to other homeschool fathers.
2. Friend. If it is not possible for your spouse to attend, a friend can help you in much the same way.
3. Nursing Babies, of course, stay with Mom.
4. Young Children. Children might not be allowed and will be a distraction; either you will not be able to get all you can out of the convention, or you will not be able to give adequate care to your children.
5. Teens and Older Children. If programs are offered for them, you may want to consider this option. Also, it could be helpful to look at resources together with your older child to see what appeals to him.
Hotel Room. If you need to travel far, you might take a room for overnight, to stow purchases, or to take a rest.
3. Ways To Save on Registration
Check out these cost-cutting possibilities:
1. Preregister. This can save you money that you can spend on buying materials.
2. Volunteer To Work. A few hours or more can be a real help to the organization sponsoring the event, and you might be rewarded by a reduced entrance fee and/or other benefits. You will also get to know some great homeschoolers while working with them.
3. Join Organization. By joining, you help support homeschool efforts in your area, plus you might receive discounts on your convention fee and other benefits.
4. Special Rates for couples, grandparents, teens, children, pastors, and other full-time ministers.
Easy-to-Use Prayer Journal
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4. How To Prepare
The vast array of workshops and exhibit booths, combined with a limited time to take it all in, can be overwhelming when you walk into a convention unprepared.
On the other hand, if you go with a plan and focus on your purpose and priorities, you can spend your time, energy, and money more wisely and get the most out of the convention.
1. Pray for the Lord's promised wisdom in all your decisions.
2. Your Spouse and you should discuss your educational goals, plans, and budget. (See Newsletter #376 on "Setting Goals for Your Homeschool.")
3. Gather Information (check the sponsoring organization's website – see links in left column). Obtain a convention schedule, workshops, speakers and their topics, list of exhibitors, and exhibit hall floor plan.
4. Select and Prioritize speakers' sessions, workshops, and exhibitors you don't want to miss and conference tapes you might want to buy. Make a list and/or mark your program and exhibit hall floor plan.
5. Compare your agenda with that of your spouse or friend attending with you and see if you can each cover several different sessions and then share their content with each other.
6. Research. Check out publishers' and suppliers' catalogs (in print or online) to plan which materials you would like to examine.
7. Shopping List. Make a list of specific materials or the types of materials you will be looking for. (See Newsletter #377 on "7 Steps to Choosing Curriculum for Your Home School.")
8. Questions. Make a list of questions to ask exhibitors, speakers, and/or other attendees.
5. Things To Do the Day Before
Make these last minute preparations.
1. Family Needs. Spend some special time with your children and husband. Prepare meals and make provision to meet other needs while you are at the convention. Confirm child care arrangements.
2. Directions. Make sure you know exactly how to get to the convention facility and what parking is available.
3. Schedule. Plan to leave in time to be early or on time.
4. Pack items you will take with you.
•
Directions and/or map
•
Name badge or other proof of pre-registration
•
Cash, checks, or debit card
•
Highlighter to mark your program
•
Backpack, tote(s), or small wheeled suitcase
for catalogs, pamphlets, and purchases
•
Steno pad or notebook and pens to take notes
•
Return address labels to use in filling out
forms
•
Wrist watch to keep track of time
•
Comfortable walking shoes
•
Sweater or jacket for too-cold air conditioning
•
Water, snack, and lunch (these may need to be
kept and eaten in your car if the convention
center does not allow outside food brought in)
5. Sleep and Eat. Get a good night's sleep and a good breakfast.
6. At the Convention
Once at the convention, follow your plan.
1. Schedule. If you have not already obtained and marked a schedule and exhibit hall floor plan, do this first.
2. Breaks. Take breaks to rest your feet, reassess your progress, and write notes while your impressions are fresh.
3. Speakers. Don't expect to agree with everything a speaker says. Compare everything to God's Word; accept and use what you can and let the rest go.
4. The Unexpected. Allow some free time to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity.
7. In the Exhibit Hall
1. Work Your Plan. Use your prioritized plan of booth visits and your shopping list to do your "must see" visits first, then go through the exhibit hall finding and learning more new things.
2. Talk to vendors about their products' methods, goals, and philosophy, and how to use them. Refer to your list of questions.
3. Purchases. Use the parcel check or take your purchases to your room or car rather than carrying them around.
4. Busy Exhibitor. If the representatives are busy at a "must see" booth, go on and return later, or ask to be included in the discussion.
5. Sleep on It. If you are attending two days, gather information the first day, and then think and pray about your purchases before making them the next day.
6. Also visit nonprofit and service organizations' booths to find out what they can offer you (e.g., your state organization).
7. Give Feedback. When appropriate, give a vendor a brief, clear, and focused comment about your needs, opinions, and experiences to help them produce better products and services.
8. Mind Your Convention Manners
Observe these guidelines to show consideration to everyone involved at the convention.
1. Convention Rules. Follow the rules set out for the convention regarding food and beverage in exhibit hall (check if bottled water is OK), children, strollers, etc.
2. Exhibitors. Support the ones who help you. Do not take up an exhibitor's time in counseling and explaining his products and then go buy the same product from another exhibitor or from a discount supplier. Exhibitors help make the convention possible.
3. Babies and Children. Immediately remove a crying or disrupting child from a workshop or meeting. Ask your child to give his chair to an adult if there is not enough seating.
9. Ways To Network
1. Meet and talk to other attendees; greet old friends and make new ones.
2. Ask advice. Get feedback on ideas and products and share opinions and experiences. You may get your most valuable information and encouragement from another homeschool mom.
3. Offer to help someone. Hold a baby and give a mother's arms a rest; find a new homeschooler (it will be obvious) and give a word of encouragement; offer to help a speaker or exhibitor.
4. Smile at everyone!
10. Follow-Up Activities
(Get the Last Bit of Good from the Event!)
1. Debriefing. Have a debriefing discussion with your spouse or friend. Discuss the ideas and products you encountered at the convention to help you sort through things, keeping some and discarding others, focusing on how to get the most out of your experience.
2. Just Do It. Return home with at least one new idea that will make a difference in your home school to put into practice. Look over all your notes while they are fresh, and narrow down all the wonderful things you would like to do to no more than six. Then prioritize your list and start on the first one the following week.
3. Be Accountable. Ask your husband or a friend to pray for you and keep you accountable to work on your goal. The results may surprise and encourage you.
4. Share the information you have gathered with your support group or someone who was not able to attend. Let them know if you would recommend that they plan to attend next year.
5. Clean
Up. Sort literature you received
into four categories:
•
Take action
•
Save for future reference or reading
•
Pass on to someone else
•
Toss
6. Thank Yous! Write a thank you note to those who put so much effort into putting on the convention, a speaker that ministered to you, or an exhibitor that took time to help you.
We trust that these suggestions will help you get the most from your homeschool event!