Midwest Homeschool Convention...

[Tara]

This will be my first time attending a homeschool convention. I enjoyed all the great advice given on a thread a couple of days ago about how to get the most out of a convention.

 

I am mostly looking forward to the encouragement, "shot in the arm" as a friend of mine called it, and to hearing the various speakers in sessions. Jessie Wise, Andrew Peduwa, and Jim Weiss are the ones I'm most looking forward to.

 

My question is for anyone else who may be going, or who has looked at the list of speakers/sessions: are there others speakers who you consider "NOT TO BE MISSED"? I'm not familiar w/all the names, and if there's someone who's especially awesome that I'm not aware of, I want to know!! The list can be found at www.cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com

 

Thank you!

[mcconnellboys]

Amanda Bennett is good if you're interested at all in doing unit studies.

 

They will generally schedule the bigger speakers in one of the two auditorium areas, which will give you a clue as to who they expect to draw the largest crowds.

 

If there's someone you really want to see, try to get into their room early (if it's one of the classrooms), as the rooms are small and can get overly crowded. I don't know if they've thought of any way to overcome that this year; last year was their first year to hold this particular convention.

 

Have fun!

 

Regena

[PeterPan]

Oh my, so the Cincy convention will be your first? What a treat!!! I'll tell you, the vendor's hall is smaller than other conventions like CHEO, but it's really filled with the best of the best. Also, this is in the facilities of a church and christian school, so the gym/vendor's hall is several minutes walk from some of the other buildings, and on a hill to boot. I'm saying if you stack your sessions and leave chunks of time for the vendor's hall, you'll be happier than if you try to squeeze in time between sessions, just because you'll spend time huffing up to the vendor's hall before you even have a chance to look. Or maybe that's my prego tiredness speaking. :)

 

There are so many good speakers and vendor workshops. I guess that's one thing to remember, that half of those are vendor workshops. But you know, I went to some vendor workshops for products I NEVER thought I'd use, probably still won't use, but was totally inspired by how they do things, got lots of great tips, etc. But if you're looking for that inspiration factor, check to make sure it's the AUTHOR of the curriculum speaking, not just a fellow user. I'm not trying to be tacky, but some workshops and reps are better than others. For instance I received pathetic help in the SL booth at the Cincy convention and wouldn't bother to go to their vendor session because of it. But Kathleen, Dr. Cotter's awesomely intelligent daughter, is going to be repping for RightStart math at the Cincy convention this year. She's the author's dd, a real live wire, and worth going to see even if you don't think you want to change your math, kwim? You might come away with new tools, new ideas, and a new perspective on how to approach things. Cindy Wiggers of GeoMatters will be doing workshops, and even if you don't want to use her materials, I'm sure it will be very inspiring. (I listened to her partner Maggie Hogan last year and was blown away!)

 

There are some I'm going to listen to because I'm thinking a little more long-term, like for a year or two from now, the Analytical Grammar workshop, for instance.

 

Are you planning on getting there in time to hear Jessie Wise's first speech on if she could do it all over again? Last year I went to SWB's opening speech, and I have to say if I had driven there ONLY FOR THAT and gone home, it would have been worth it! So I'm guessing JW's is going to be equally a don't miss.

 

A lot of the sessions will be recorded and duplicated, ready for purchase conveniently in one of the main buildings, so you can buy the ones where you couldn't be in both places at once. :)

 

So are you psyched? I SO am. It's a great convention. CHEO is a great convention too, btw. That's the one in Columbus in June. http://www.cheohome.org Chris Klicka of HSLDA will be speaking. I was so touched by his book "The Heart of Homeschooling" that dropped commitments and opportunities to be there. It's going to be great! BTW, last year we all got together, and I assume we will this year. Better bring your own food, at least for the first day. CHEO does a great job with food and has both a hot line and two fast/junk food vendors. Cincy didn't have ANYTHING the first evening, nothing at all. Everybody just starved. (or maybe they had some hotdogs, ick) Then they brought out a grill and started frying burgers, not exactly uh, what I was looking for. There's food up the road, but you're going to be so into it, you're not going to want to leave. If you get there early, check in, pick up your packet of stuff at the check-in, then leave, go eat an early supper somewhere (there's a Subway sandwhich shop east of there), then come back in time for the first session, that works well. At least that's what we did last year. Maybe Cincy will have their food act a little better this year? Don't know. I guess food is important to me, lol. :)

[Tara]

Thanks for the great suggestions and advice. I am getting really psyched about being there. I'm a little nervous, too, b/c we're uncertain what we're going to do w/our children. My dh wants to be there, too, if possible. But if he goes, we have to take our kids along. Is that frowned upon at things like this? Are there many children there? Our kids are well-behaved, but they're kids, ya know?!?

 

I do hope to make it in time for the opening address by Jessie Wise. Looking forward to it much; would have LOVED to hear SWB last year, too.

So, are you saying the ladies from this board meet up w/each other at some point? That is so nice!

One final question....am I correct that this conv. takes place near the Sharonville area? My hubby used to work in that area and always got GREAT deals on hotels through priceline...I mean like $30/nt. Does anybody have some good lodging advice?

 

Thanks, ladies!

[Harriet Vane]

Todd Wilson spoke at my homeschool support group last year and was funny, practical, and very encouraging. His advice is good, very practical, and given in a way that makes you laugh at yourself.

 

I've never heard Jessie Wise speak, but love TWTM so much I cannot wait to hear her in person.

[Sandy in Indy]

I emailed the director today and asked if *we* (WTM board-ers) could have a room Friday afternoon for a get together. I'll let you know what I hear. (I chose 3:30....but if anyone has a better suggestion, let me know.)

 

Sandy

 

And yes, anything by Jessie Wise is going to be worth hearing. I haven't really looked at the schedule yet to pick out my "must hear"s.

[Laura in OH]

I am psyched for this convention, too! It was great fun putting faces to the cybernames of fellow WTM'ers (including SWB) last year. I wasn't going to go again this year, but saw that JW was speaking on "what she would do if she had to do it over again" and that clinched it :)

 

Last year I brought my then-13yo dd with me (and will again this year -- she asked to go) and she thoroughly enjoyed listening to Jim Weiss. Don't miss him if you're bringing your kids 'cuz they will love him.

 

I never thought I'd get into this convention thing -- I mean, there are an awful lot of denim jumpers there -- but it is so much fun to get together with a bunch of like-minded, nice people. You know, people who get just as excited as you do over a math curriculum :o

 

Hope to see you there!

Laura in OH

[PeterPan]

Ooo Sandy, thanks for taking care of the room again!!! You're such a dear. I was hoping someone would and didn't want to be the one. :)

 

Sharonville I think is a northern suburb of Cincy, correct me if I'm wrong. What you might do is do a google or yahoo maps thing and locate the convention. I'm utterly non-specific about names, but here goes. There's a big road that goes through the middle of Cincy, and the convention is directly off this big road. So if you drop down from the bypass, it's about 1/3 of the way through the city. I found a quiet place to stay north a few minutes, just south of the bypass. It's on the same side of the big road (west) as the convention, so I won't have to fiddle with getting back on, exits, etc. Just look at the map and it will make more sense. :)

 

I took my dd last year, but she was 7 and didn't really get into it. She thought it was cool to meet SWB, but I left her with friends to play the following day while I did workshops. If your dh is willing to go, by all means TAKE HIM!!!! What you might do is take along a teen who can watch them for a few hours and give you guys some time together. ;) You're going to trade off, as there are going to be sessions you want to go to, sessions he'll go to. You can go to those separately and trade off the kids. Some, like the JW speech, you'll want to do together. Others you can divide and conquer. I think your kids are going to get tired though, honestly. It's a long, hard day, with lots of walking and not much food handy. Take your snacks and plan for breaks and naps for the littles. There will be tons of kids. CHEO doesn't allow kids except nursing babies, at least according to the rules. Cincy is different because you get to bring them. Thing is, young kids really aren't going to enjoy walking the vendor's hall, even if they are the most patient, angelic, well-trained beings. I know mine got sick of it in short order, and she's usually quite patient. Do you have a grandma to leave them with or someone in your church you trust?

[Tara]

nt

[angela in ohio]

People I just want to hear speak at least once, just because I think the are cool and I want to see them... Gary DeMar, Dr. Christopher Perrin, Jessie Wise, Andrew Pudewa, Jan Bloom

 

I wish they would designate which are vendor workshops. I went to one that I thought would be a vendor workshop (by the WriteShop author), but was pleasantly suprised tht she had a ton of help for anyone teaching writing and didn't promote her program. Then I went to one that was supposed to be about a more general topic, and it was nothing but an ad for that specific curriculum (and trashing its competition, LOL.)

 

The food, like Elizabeth said, was a disaster. We are planning ahead to feed ourselves and not count on them. There were some issues with the recording company, too, so allow time if you are going to stop by to buy CDs.

 

I hope we can all meet up. I was sick last year (I quit caffeine cold turkey two weeks before and was still really ill that week) and didn't make it.

 

It's so exciting to finally have a convention in Ohio that brings in new names and more academic topics!!

[cbollin]

I'm looking forward to hearing David Hazell of MFW. And Melinda Boring because she has lots of great help for dealing with special needs kids with sensory issues.

 

Oh Elizabeth -- thanks for the tips about the layout of the vendor hall. Sounds very different from Indianapolis.

 

-crystal

[lovemywhirlygirls]

Sandy--when you say you have asked for a room on Friday....is that just for us boarders to meet each other...or is it for the group to get separate time with Jessie? I'm assuming you meant just for us, but wanted to clarify. This will be my first trip to Cincy and my second convention. I'm much more prepared for this convention and you guys have shared some good insights for the first timers here.

[PeterPan]

Not Sandy, but last year SWB was invited and able to make it. I assume Sandy will invite JW, and JW will come if she wants to/can. We would meet regardless, just because it's fun to put names to faces. :)

[Sandy in Indy]

Not Sandy, but last year SWB was invited and able to make it. I assume Sandy will invite JW, and JW will come if she wants to/can. We would meet regardless, just because it's fun to put names to faces. :)

 

Exactly! I had such a good time meeting everyone last year. It will be fun to check in again and put faces to names.

 

I tried to pick a time on Friday that folks might be free...there's only a few workshops in the 2:30-3:30 time...I thought about meeting at 3, but I didn't want anyone to miss something they wanted to see. What do you folks think?

 

And yes, I'll be brave and invite JW to join us.

[angela in ohio]

I tried to pick a time on Friday that folks might be free...there's only a few workshops in the 2:30-3:30 time...I thought about meeting at 3, but I didn't want anyone to miss something they wanted to see. What do you folks think?

 

 

It works for me. I just have to be to the Fellowship Hall by 4:00. :)

[PeterPan]

Yes, 3:30 seems good. Are we going to take a picture again, maybe behind another crazy green wall? I'll be sure to wear something more attractive, maybe a really FRILLY denim maternity jumper. ;) And like Angela, I'll want to scat in time to hear the 4 pm sessions, assuming I'm not DEAD at that point!

[Tara]

Wow......I never dreamed that we may get to meet JW. That would be so incredible. Thanks for heading this up!

[Michelle My Bell]

I'll be there again with my daughter Allison. We are both really excited!

 

Michelle