Homeschool convention strategy

[kellycbr]

There is an upcoming Homeschool convention in our area. We are seriously researching homeschool curriculums for our son (7) and daughter (4). Are homeschool conventions worth going to, and do you find good deals when buying curriculums? Does anyone have a good strategy for making the most of your day at these events? We've already narrowed down what we are looking for based on our son's learning style. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

[Karenciavo]

I think they are great for those who are new to homeschooling as long as you have some general idea about what path you'd like to follow in your homeschool. I would go to the convention web site and see who is speaking and what vendors will be there. Make a list of curriculum you would like to look at and go to vendor web sites and see who carries what. If you have any questions about anything you can ask here, we're a very helpful bunch. :)

[Soph the vet]

Knowing which approach to education is helpful as there are many. The first trip to the exhibitor's area can be overwhelming, especially if you aren't sure which approach you will be using (i.e. classical, Charlotte Mason, unschooling, unit studies, a mix, etc.). If you can narrow that down and maybe look at some things online before going then your time might be better spent there.

[Beth in Central TX]

If you want to buy something or if you want a catalog, the vendors usually want your name, address, and e-mail. Therefore, I take a strip of those adhesive mailing labels and print my name, address, & e-mail on them before I go. I stick them in my purse and pull them out when I need them. I don't sign up for everything, but when I do this is a real time saver.

[Stacia]

I look up which vendors will be there. Then, I make a list of the vendors I definitely want to visit & make sure to get to their booths first. I find this to be a great way to preview curriculum I'm interested in. If you're planning to buy, many vendors offer free shipping if you buy during the convention.

 

Also, know that numerous vendors often carry the same items (for example, the Explode the Code workbooks or the Beautiful Feet guides). So, you may want to take a pad of paper w/ you to jot down which vendor had the item at which price, if you're looking for something specific & trying to find the lowest price.

 

The Rainbow Resource booth is always fun to visit, imo, as they have lots of neat books.

 

I like taking a backpack or big tote bag. I have one of those wheeled carts, but they can get cumbersome in crowded/tight areas. If you're planning on purchasing many things, you'll probably want to plan a break at some point to run your stuff out to your car rather than lugging everything around all day.

 

In addition to curriculum, you will find lots of other things there that are great for gifts & so on -- Usborne science kit sets, cool art supplies galore (I love Miller Pads & Paper for that one), books on cd, computer games, etc.... So, if you're planning for gifts for any kids, you might want to take a list of names of gift recipients in case you come across something perfect for them.

 

Take lots of money! There is so much cool stuff to buy that you'll find it hard to resist. :D Have fun!

[Narrow Gate Academy]

There is an upcoming Homeschool convention in our area. We are seriously researching homeschool curriculums for our son (7) and daughter (4). Are homeschool conventions worth going to, and do you find good deals when buying curriculums? Does anyone have a good strategy for making the most of your day at these events? We've already narrowed down what we are looking for based on our son's learning style. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

 

There are some deals, but the main advantage is being able to actually look through the curriculum instead of a brief online sample and having people available to answer your questions. I usually just go for the shopping, but you should certainly check the workshops to see if there is anything that you might find helpful.

 

For the shopping, I go with a list of what I'm interested in with RR prices on it for comparison. On one side are the items I have already decided that I need to buy but haven't been able to find used. I check the used curriculum sale and the vendors who sell used products for these. On the other side are choices of curriculum that I've narrowed down for a given subject but am not sure about which to use. I try to mark a vendor that sells both products first like Rainbow Resource so I can look at them side by side to compare. Then if I'm still undecided or have questions, I go find the vendor that created the product for more information.

[Mom2boys]

If you don't have time to see all you want to in the vendor hall, and hear all the speakers you are interested in, most conventions record all their sessions. You can spend your time in the vendor hall and then purchase cd's of workshops you wanted to attend, and listen to them on the drive home.

[PeterPan]

Ooo, I LOVE going to conventions!!!!! I started going when my dd was just a baby, and I've gone most years ever since. I go to our state convention, a multi-state convention, local homeschool share nights (also fabulous), and have even repped at conventions. Half of why I go is the PEOPLE, the energy. If you're an extrovert, someone who gets recharged and refreshed by being around people, it's like a huge Starbucks moment for you. You might want to go all three days, take a girlfriend, toss the kids, and really make an event of it. (That's what I'm doing this year.) If you're an introvert and find that draining, know yourself and draw some limits.

 

Yes to the wheeled cart. At our state convention you can usually buy them, and you definitely want one to haul your goodies and catalogs.

 

As far as strategy, well my opinion is to do the entire vendor hall, then go back through over the following days, spending more time at individual booths. Now this is me, but when I go to a convention in the summer, I already have my plans for fall largely made and a big chunk of my materials picked out. This means I'm looking for supplements and fun stuff at this point and FOR NEXT YEAR. I can't emphasize this enough. Don't think short term. Take the time to look at all the things you might like to consider for NEXT year. Look at things you don't even think you'd consider, a totally different approach (textbooks, TOG, MFW, something totally different). That way, when you get midyear and realize you want to take a new direction next year, you've seen a whole bunch of options and can think about them. I love looking at new things and then hearing feedback about them over the course of the year. It makes me really confident when I finally do buy the item.

 

Don't worry about offending vendors. (some of them are real pros and suck you in, making you feel guilty about leaving) And the other vendor thing, and this is just my personal opinion, is to buy from whomever helps you decide. Don't listen to a spiel, find the vendor helpful, use his shelf of books to get ideas, then walk down to Rainbow's big stall for the $1 discount. Even if you pay a little extra, you're paying for the fact that the vendor took the time to show up and PAID to be there and try to explain it to you. If that explain and service was helpful, be willing to plunk out the extra for it, that's my two cents. Oh, and put some money in your budget for fun splurges, as you're going to find some. I always try to bring my dd back something. This year I got her some amazing, unique art supplies from an art supply vendor, and it's been so fun to trickle them out throughout the year. I also try to bring her back a gift from the convention. One year it was a bonnet, another year a puzzle, just something special to let her know I was thinking of her.

 

If you're in any states near Ohio, check this one out http://www.cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com We had a stunning time last year and I expect to again this year! :)

 

PS. Are you a new homeschooler? I noticed you said you've narrowed down what you're considering. When you go to the convention, take advantage of the chance to see everything in person and look through stuff, even things you really DON'T think you'd ever consider. You just never know when that mid-year "this isn't working" stage will hit and you'll want more options. You'll be SO glad you've looked at a broad range of things. Or at least I have always been. Some people get overwhelmed by lots of options, know yourself. But I certainly wouldn't go in, by just what you're thinking, and leave. I'd look at everything, every single thing. Like if you're considering MUS, still look at Rod and Staff, RightStart, Singapore, Horizons, and some of the other biggees. If you think you know your science, still look at some other options. If nothing else, it will leave you more confirmed about what you want so you don't curriculum hop.

[Pongo]

Wheeled cart, water bottles, address labels (so you don't have to write it every time you want to get on a mailing list), list of what you "must" see in order to make a decision, a convention notebook.

 

My convention notebook is a cheap composition book, I write down things I have been dying to see, after I review them I write down what I liked, and dis - liked. I also list any gems I might want to get later.

[Carol in Cal.]

Do you need to get pumped up? They are great for that! Is there someone speaking that you have been just dying to see? Might be a great opportunity!

 

OTOH, if you're going to check out curriculum, do as much as you can before you go. Make a list of the curricula in which you are interested for each category. Check out the websites. Ask people here about their experiences. Then make a to do list of the things that you want to see and how you want to investigate them, and do that first. You can get pretty tired and overwhelmed! After that is finished, then browse generally.

 

Make sure that you decide in advance whether or not you can afford to buy some 'fun stuff.' They seem to have a lot of learning games, archeology kits, etc., that are very appealing. You'll probably never seen such a selection anywhere else!

 

Personally I only go to very targetted homeschooling events, but I really, really enjoy them! During the past year I have been to a classical homeschooling seminar where SWB made 5 (!) presentations in 1 1/2 days, and at which I had a great opportunity to see a lot of curricula that I had wondered about, like Omnibus. I spent a lot of money, and have not been sorry. But I was really, really ready to do this, and I did have a list.

 

I also attended a great seminar by Jennifer Steward to which she brought a lot of her materials. She taught about notebooking, unit studies, confidence in homeschooling, and flapbooks. I had never really been all that interested in these topics until this year, but it was definately the right material at the right time.

 

OTOH, I have never attended my state homeschooling convention even though most of my friends go. And I have never attended CHEA, although I might go this year to investigate homeschooling high school.

 

If I had unlimited funds, and more time, I would probably do more of these--they are not bad! But I have had to learn to be selective, and have really treasured the ones that I have attended because of this.

[kellycbr]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I'm learning to much about homeschooling at this site - its really wonderful. Thanks.

[Cornerstone Classical]

and also, because I'm "visual" I went to amazon and CBD and made a wish list that had pictures of what I was looking for and took it with me so I knew what I was "looking" for....:) and also to compare the price. Which I bought most of my stuff there to save on shipping costs.

[sunflowerlady]

Donna Young's site has some information about planning for the curriculum fairs and conventions. She gives advice and has some printable forms.

 

Check it out at :

 

http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/help/thefair.htm

 

 

Rita