Homeschool Conventions: Are they really worth your time?

Homeschool conventions can encourage & inspire. And the vendor hall! But are they right for YOU? And what other ways can you meet your needs?

“Is it worth it to attend a homeschool convention?”
“Is a homeschool convention the best way to look at new curricula?”
“I’m burning out! I need inspiration.”

Homeschool conventions are popular for good reasons. There are no Targets-for-homeschool, so hands-on browsing is difficult, no Oprahs-for-homeschool to inspire you each day, no This Old House-for-homeschool to tell you how to “do homeschool.”

Homeschool conventions can do it all.

In the days before the internet, annual homeschool conventions may be the only times your family met with other homeschool families. And it would undoubtedly be one of the only times you could look at curricula.

The internet has changed all of that. Is it still a must-do? Is it worth it for everyone, even if you have to travel? Keep scrolling for pros & cons + some alternative ideas.

(Going to a convention this year? Grab my free convention pack beforehand.)

I want to shop ’till I drop.

This is a great reason to go to a convention. You’ll find a variety of publishers, including some you may not know. You can thumb through books, handle manipulatives, study supplements. Holding new curricula in my hands gives me a better understanding of it than seeing it online. Some conventions will even offer a shopping-only pass at a reduced price.

Alternative Idea Ask in your local homeschool groups (FB is great for this!). Someone local may have the curriculum you want to see. You could even put together a ‘curriculum fair’ with local moms to display different curricula.  

I can only find Christian homeschool conventions.

In the last decade, local & state-level homeschool conventions have faded away. You’ll still find them here & there, but they’re nothing like they used to be.

In their place, the Great Homeschool Convention company has arisen. And with it, a relatively specific flavor of homeschoolers (& political views). And in recent years, many homeschoolers who use secular curriculum and/or don’t fit “that” mold have found these conventions less welcoming.

If you want to just look at the curriculum, or you don’t mind sorting through workshops and speakers that may not align with your own, then the GHC may still be a good option.

I just moved here. I want to find local resources.

As a military family, I’m all too familiar with moves! Plugging in and making connections can be tricky. And a local convention can be a great way to find out what is going on in the area and meet local homeschool families.

Alternative Idea: Since I originally wrote this post, local Facebook groups have EXPLODED. Don’t stick to just your town — look for other nearby towns & the nearest large city. And, of course, you can come join The Homeschool Breakroom.

Your local library is another excellent resource. If you go on a weekday afternoon, you’re likely to run into other homeschoolers! Ask the librarian if they have any leads for you.

I don’t want to go with the kiddos!

Oh, boy! If grocery shopping with kids is rough, spending hours going from booth to booth with a crowd of people doesn’t sound appealing, does it?!

Most conventions offer childcare rooms for the kiddos if leaving them with someone else isn’t an option.

Alternative Idea  Online conventions are on the rise. They take the hassle out of travel, lifetime passes mean you can watch on your own schedule, and there are no conflicting workshop schedules. 

• Not Back to School Summit
• Canadian Homeschool Conference
• Taylor-Made Homeschool Convention

I’m new & overwhelmed.

While it may seem contradictory, homeschool conventions can make it worse. The vendor halls can be huge, and filled with so many things will look great. Workshop speakers may give opposite recommendations. And the pressure to do it all may leave your shoulders sagging and your mind swirling.

Selecting a few homeschool moms and reading can be a better place to start. It’ll be easier to sort through what you do not want or like, and you’ll be able to have immediate feedback through the conversation.

Alternative Idea

Firstly, if you have a homeschool consignment store in your area, I would head straight there. You’ll be able to look at various programs, do it at your own pace (and in the quiet!), as well as talk to the store owner.

Cathy Duffy’s Top 101 Picks for Homeschool is excellent! Her in-depth reviews include. details like if it is suitable for independent learning or parent-led learning, what type of learner it is suitable for and how much parent involvement is necessary.

I need encouragement. Desperately!

There is something about sitting with a group of women going through the same things that just revives me in a way that books do not. I can walk away with my cup filled just by sitting with them. This can be harder to replicate especially if you thrive from a large group.

Alternative Idea
Schedule a monthly (or weekly!) coffee time with other homeschool moms. And keep scheduling them! A general topic for each month may help entice moms to come. It doesn’t have to be something you would present, just a topic for conversation.

Great podcasts that encourage me

• Circe Institute
• Julie Bogart {Her curriculum is rarely mentioned, the podcasts are truly about homeschooling.  So don’t avoid them just because you don’t use Brave Writer.}
• Susan Wise Bauer lectures and podcast episodes {Again, don’t avoid these just because you don’t use the Well-Trained Mind book.}

No one in my area homeschools older kids. I need to hear from people who do!

Congratulations! You’ve made it this far in your homeschool journey!

Many areas see a massive drop-off around 4th grade, middle school, and then again in high school. As my kiddos have grown, I’ve looked more and more towards those who have gone before me to guide me through homeschooling older grades. I get it.

You’ll find convention workshops for older grades, but the focus is often on younger grades or more general in nature. If you want focused guidance, there are some great sources on the internet.

Alternative Idea 
Well-Trained Mind discussion forums are the best ones I’ve found for middle & high school. From curriculum ideas to non-academic skills, there are awesome resources.

Lee Binz over at The Home Scholar drills it down to just the information you need to know. She regularly offers free webinars, and her Coffee Break books are excellent books you can read in just an hour or two.

A few blogs I enjoy for older kids.

• Starts at Eight
• Blog, She Wrote
• Eva Varga
• Middle Way Mom

(Don’t forget to grab your free convention pack!)