Are you attending a homeschool expo this year? Here are some tips to help you prepare for a homeschool convention, and prevent homeschool curriculum overwhelm.
Convention season is right around the corner, and whether this is your 1st or 10th convention you will want to be prepared. So, what can you do to prepare for a homeschool convention?
Check out the Homeschool Vendors
Be sure you know who is going to be at the convention, and what products they sell. Familiarize yourself with them, and know which ones you want to visit.
Keep in mind that items online may look different in person. But, you can usually see samples, and know what products a company sells by checking out their online shop.
Have a Homeschool Shopping List
Make sure you know what you are looking for before you go. Otherwise, you may end up coming home with an empty wallet and still be missing a Math curriculum…
Go through your curriculum beforehand and get an idea of what you have, and what you will need for next year. What did you love and want to buy again? What did you not like and need to replace? Make your list and you will be ahead of the game before you arrive at the homeschool convention.
Create a Homeschool Curriculum Budget
What do you have to spend? What do you need to get for the money? Having a budget will help keep you from blowing all your money on one subject, and not having anything left for other needed materials. Also, be sure to leave some wiggle room in your budget. You will probably come across some homeschool resources that you weren’t thinking of. Another tip, to help your homeschool budget is to not purchase the first time around the exhibit hall. This limits impulse purchases, or you buying the first history curriculum you see, and then finding a better fit a few aisles away.
Check Out the Homeschool Workshops
Are you planning on homeschooling high school and not sure where to start? You will want to make sure to catch a workshop on the topic at the homeschool convention. New to homeschooling? There will probably be a workshop on that! Go through the workshop topics and speakers and get an idea which ones you will want to attend. Then, plan accordingly.
Homeschool conventions offer encouragement, curriculum, understanding, and fellowship. They can also be overwhelming. Attending a homeschool convention is a BIG deal, but if you prepare for a homeschool convention ahead of time you can help keep your sanity intact!
Misty Bailey is a veteran homeschool mom. She resides with her family in Southern Ohio. She loves helping new homeschoolers and has a Homeschool 101 eBook for those getting started. She shares her struggles with time management, becoming unglued and finding joy in the everyday moments on her blog Joy in the Journey.
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