Homeschool Convention Season: 6 Tips to Make the Most of Your Time

You’re all set to go to your next homeschool convention. With so much to do & see, how do you make the most of your limited time?

You’ve decided that a homeschool convention is right for you, you’ve purchased your ticket, and travel plans are made. Comfy shoes & clothes are laid out, you found a bag for your purchases, and the coffee pot is scheduled to fuel your day.

Now what? pack? And did you remember to share the link with your friends??)

A FREE Homeschool Convention pack

Did you remember to grab my free pack? The 6-page pack will help you plan what you’ll see & do, note pages to keep those wonderful nuggets you heard during the sessions, and more.

Prep, Prep, Prep

Before you arrive at the convention, read through all your workshop choices. Which ones catch your eye? Then go back through and write down the ones you want to hear. Are you going with someone else? Consider splitting up your session times & share what you learned.

Don’t forget a way to jot down all the essential points from a speaker. Be sure to include their workshop name and the speaker’s name if you need to follow up later. Later in the day or after you’re home, reflect on each workshop and brainstorm actionable advice you can implement in your homeschool.

Finally, it’s here!

In your conference notes, keep a list just for book titles, speakers’ blog titles, and other resources you hear mentioned during the workshops. I like to keep a dedicated page, so they don’t get lost in my workshop notes.

{We’ve all spent too much time looking for a note we KNOW we wrote down!}

Shop ’till You Drop?

Who can get through the vendor hall without the temptation to spend hundreds on new curricula?! If you have a chance to look through the vendor list before you go, do it! Check out websites of new-to-you publishers & write down pieces that look interesting. Keep a clear list of the items you know you want to purchase.

As you visit the vendors, write down the ones you want to return to. If you have time, circle back. If not, you have them written down to look at more closely at home. 

You may lose a discount by not buying on the spot. But if you purchase something on the spot that doesn’t work for your family, you didn’t save any money in the long run!

Home, Sweet, Home

A few days after the convention, gather your notes. Make a list of the most important things you learned or want to remember. Then put it in your homeschool binder or another place of prominence.   If you are like me, out of sight is out of mind!

I also find it helpful to make a list of things I want to learn more about, whether it’s a curriculum idea for high school, a great supplement, or a new method of teaching X. That sheet goes near my computer, so I can look them up as I have the time.

Download my homeschool convention pack now.