Conference Tips

I went to the Northern Virginia Home Educators Conference last Saturday, and really enjoyed it. They have some great speakers and you can find great products and resources in the exhibit hall. Next year I want to try to go on Friday and Saturday.

This is the second year I've attended, and I thought I might share some things I did that made it more productive, at least for me. There is a lot of stuff going on at the conference, and it can get overwhelming. (This is a regional conference, so I can only imagine how overwhelming the state conference could be.)

Research curriculum choices before you go to the conference. If you're looking for specific materials check on-line and note the price and all the books, workbooks, readers, etc. included in the program. This is especially helpful if you will be buying anything at the used book sale or one of the used book vendors. Last year I purchased a reading curriculum from the used book sale and didn't realize that I was missing one of the student workbooks until we'd actually started lessons in September. This year I had my list handy, so when I found the math curriculum I'd planned to use at a used book vendor, I knew that the teacher's manuals were a good price, but the student text and workbooks (which were written in, make sure you check for this when buying used) were being sold for the same price as a new book. (If it costs the same amount, I'd much rather have a new copy.) I was able to pick-up the Latin curriculum we are going to use at the vendor's booth, and save on the shipping costs of ordering online.

Make a list of what your children will be studying. There are vendors selling books, manipulatives, coloring books, science experiment kits, unit studies, lap book kits, games, and many other supplementary materials.

Don't buy anything your first time around. I mean walk around the exhibit hall one time before you purchase anything. You might see books, games, and science kits about plants--you probably don't want to spend a hundred dollars on materials for one science unit. By delaying your purchase you can decide which resource(s) would be the best choice. Also this gives you a chance to compare prices. For instance, I wanted to pick-up a handwriting curriculum for my youngest son. If I would have purchased at the first or the second booths I visited that had the curriculum I would have paid too much. There was a third booth that had the curriculum for almost $2 less a book!

Decide before you go whether you will listen to the speakers or just want to visit the exhibit hall. There is usually a discounted entrance fee for just visiting the exhibit hall, where the curriculum vendors are set up, but I enjoy listening to the speakers. I have gotten some great ideas about time management, teaching strategies, curriculum development and choices. It is also nice to know there are other people with the same concerns and challenges you are having. Whether it be a curriculum that doesn't fit your child's needs, an experiment or project gone awry, or a feeling of burn-out or being overwhelmed. It is at the smaller speaker sessions where you have the opportunity to hear the speaker and other audience members share their experiences.

If you are interested in more information about the Northern Virginia Home Educators Conference, visit their website at http://www.novaconference.net.