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The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
Homeschool Conferences
The homeschool conference season is upon us. Is your denim jumper ready?
Oh, I'm kidding, I'm a kidder.
No matter what you wear, you're sure to enjoy your local homeschool conference. I've been to both large and smaller conferences, and each time I've been blessed by seeing so many homeschool families, hearing great speakers, and learning about different products.
I usually go with my husband and make it a little weekend getaway if we can. It's a great time for him to see all of the products that I'm always going on about and for him to hear the speakers first-hand instead of just getting my cliff note versions of their presentations. And honestly, when he sees so many other dads there, that encourages him and helps him see just how important he is to our homeschool.
I'm the coordinator for TOS' online Schoolhouse Expo, so of course, I want you to join us for that. (Please, please, come. It's really going to be great!) But I think it's great to go to your local conference too. I'm already looking forward to the CHEK Conference in Louisville, KY, in June. And, hey, it's free for CHEK members. You can't beat free!
Enjoy every minute!
THM Editor
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Mercy Every Minute
Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor
In our little corner of the world, we are preparing for our local homeschool conference. I have attended conventions and conferences for many, many years now. There was a time when I thought I did not need to go any longer because I knew what I was doing or what I wanted to do. I didn't want to go and be persuaded to change my ways or my curriculum. So I skipped a year.
Within months of the conference I became discouraged and needed refreshment. Oh yes, that's why I went before; I was always refreshed and had my vision strengthened by attending. I also remembered a certain book I wanted to look through before I purchased it -- another reason I should have gone. My local support group spent a lot of volunteer time and energy, and I needed to support those efforts with my attendance. Needless to say, but I will anyway, I was sorry I missed that conference, and I haven't missed one since. I even began working at the conferences in any capacity I could, and also tried my hand at speaking a time or two (definitely not my gift). Now, my husband works at the conference, and I man the booth. I am not only always refreshed; I am helping to refresh others. You can, too!
The Winter 2009/10 issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine as well as our website has a great directory of 2010 conferences across the country to choose from. There are so many reasons to attend a conference or convention near you. Here is an article that Amelia Harper from HomeScholar Books and I wrote on "The Value of Homeschool Conventions." I hope it encourages you to attend a conference this year, or reconsider your reasons for not attending. Consider this last paragraph of that article:
Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld, renowned author and homeschool conference speaker wrote an article entitled "The Boom in Homeschool Conventions," in which he summed up their benefits this way: "I could write a book about these wonderful homeschool conventions, the families that attend them, and the fabulous entrepreneurs who offer their products to parents who truly care about their children's well-being and happiness. If you want to see the beautiful benefits of educational freedom, go to a homeschool convention. You'll love it!"
I will be at my local SCOPE conference, and I will also be at the Valley Home Educators conference this year working our TOS booth. If you attend either of these, please come by and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you -- and we can refresh each other in the Lord and in homeschooling (and I'll even give you a freebie if you mention The Homeschool Minute!) We can praise Him together and thank Him together for the freedom to keep our children home where they belong.
"I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people." Psalm 35:18
~ Deborah
Within months of the conference I became discouraged and needed refreshment. Oh yes, that's why I went before; I was always refreshed and had my vision strengthened by attending. I also remembered a certain book I wanted to look through before I purchased it -- another reason I should have gone. My local support group spent a lot of volunteer time and energy, and I needed to support those efforts with my attendance. Needless to say, but I will anyway, I was sorry I missed that conference, and I haven't missed one since. I even began working at the conferences in any capacity I could, and also tried my hand at speaking a time or two (definitely not my gift). Now, my husband works at the conference, and I man the booth. I am not only always refreshed; I am helping to refresh others. You can, too!
The Winter 2009/10 issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine as well as our website has a great directory of 2010 conferences across the country to choose from. There are so many reasons to attend a conference or convention near you. Here is an article that Amelia Harper from HomeScholar Books and I wrote on "The Value of Homeschool Conventions." I hope it encourages you to attend a conference this year, or reconsider your reasons for not attending. Consider this last paragraph of that article:
Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld, renowned author and homeschool conference speaker wrote an article entitled "The Boom in Homeschool Conventions," in which he summed up their benefits this way: "I could write a book about these wonderful homeschool conventions, the families that attend them, and the fabulous entrepreneurs who offer their products to parents who truly care about their children's well-being and happiness. If you want to see the beautiful benefits of educational freedom, go to a homeschool convention. You'll love it!"
I will be at my local SCOPE conference, and I will also be at the Valley Home Educators conference this year working our TOS booth. If you attend either of these, please come by and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you -- and we can refresh each other in the Lord and in homeschooling (and I'll even give you a freebie if you mention The Homeschool Minute!) We can praise Him together and thank Him together for the freedom to keep our children home where they belong.
"I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people." Psalm 35:18
~ Deborah
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The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Growing up near Indianapolis, April signaled the start of the greatest spectacle in auto racing:the Indy 500. Now, March/April signals the start of the homeschool convention season. A few days ago we uncovered the Familyman Mobile and are readying it for our time on the road.
I don't know if you've ever been to a big homeschool convention, but if you haven't, you've missed out on a great resource. I know for some homeschool moms it's better than going to Disney World.
Not only can you get hands-on time with just about every kind of homeschool material imaginable and get pumped up by great speakers (check out the Familyman), but you get to rub shoulders with hundreds or thousands of homeschoolers.
Some veteran homeschoolers state, "Yeah, but I don't need that any more."
Baloney!!!! You sure do. In fact, you may need it even more. And even if you didn't there might be some homeschooler there who needs YOU. I can't tell you how many times my wife has encouraged or been encouraged by another mother who happened to be in the nursing mother's room, sitting at a concessions table, or standing in the same booth as my wife.
So ... GO!!!! Find a baby-sitter and Go!! I haven't even talked about the possibility of some much needed 'date-time' with your spouse. Which reminds me, Dad, you need to take the lead and insist that you and your wife attend an upcoming convention.
By the way, if I happen to be at your convention, make sure you stop by and say, "Hey."
Be real
Todd
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist
and
Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant
The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Growing up near Indianapolis, April signaled the start of the greatest spectacle in auto racing:the Indy 500. Now, March/April signals the start of the homeschool convention season. A few days ago we uncovered the Familyman Mobile and are readying it for our time on the road.
I don't know if you've ever been to a big homeschool convention, but if you haven't, you've missed out on a great resource. I know for some homeschool moms it's better than going to Disney World.
Not only can you get hands-on time with just about every kind of homeschool material imaginable and get pumped up by great speakers (check out the Familyman), but you get to rub shoulders with hundreds or thousands of homeschoolers.
Some veteran homeschoolers state, "Yeah, but I don't need that any more."
Baloney!!!! You sure do. In fact, you may need it even more. And even if you didn't there might be some homeschooler there who needs YOU. I can't tell you how many times my wife has encouraged or been encouraged by another mother who happened to be in the nursing mother's room, sitting at a concessions table, or standing in the same booth as my wife.
So ... GO!!!! Find a baby-sitter and Go!! I haven't even talked about the possibility of some much needed 'date-time' with your spouse. Which reminds me, Dad, you need to take the lead and insist that you and your wife attend an upcoming convention.
By the way, if I happen to be at your convention, make sure you stop by and say, "Hey."
Be real
Todd
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It's Just Common SenseRuth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist
and
Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant
I saw my friend Sally walking towards the vendor hall. We greeted each other, hugged, and then she said, "Debbie, I really want to chat, but I have to get to the vendor hall! If I don't run in there now and buy what I planned, I might change my mind!" As she ran off to do her buying, I started to think about what she said. I knew what she meant, because many times I had felt that same sense of stress and confusion while walking the aisles of big fairs.
The difficulty we face is with our critics -- both internal and external. Unless we exhaust ourselves trying to figure out our plan for the next year, we don't feel like we have done our job. Then, even worse, we hear something different from a friend and our big battle with doubt and indecision begins! While learning about curriculum this year, be proactive. Give the decision-making process over to God now and trust that He will speak to you. He may show you what to do weeks ahead of time, or in the middle of a booth, but trust that His answers will come and you can let His peace confirm your path.
Enjoy the fellowship and encouragement curriculum fairs offer. Be ready to learn new things, without fear of distractions. He knows your heart's desires for your children and exactly what they need. Go into the vendor hall confidently, knowing that the Author of all wisdom and knowledge has already gone before you.
~ Debbie
Read more from Debbie at www.debbiestrayer.com.
The difficulty we face is with our critics -- both internal and external. Unless we exhaust ourselves trying to figure out our plan for the next year, we don't feel like we have done our job. Then, even worse, we hear something different from a friend and our big battle with doubt and indecision begins! While learning about curriculum this year, be proactive. Give the decision-making process over to God now and trust that He will speak to you. He may show you what to do weeks ahead of time, or in the middle of a booth, but trust that His answers will come and you can let His peace confirm your path.
Enjoy the fellowship and encouragement curriculum fairs offer. Be ready to learn new things, without fear of distractions. He knows your heart's desires for your children and exactly what they need. Go into the vendor hall confidently, knowing that the Author of all wisdom and knowledge has already gone before you.
~ Debbie
Read more from Debbie at www.debbiestrayer.com.
