Getting the Most Out of a Homeschool Conference

It is homeschool conference season! The thought of attending such an event can be exciting, nerve-racking, or exhausting. Long days filled with keynote sessions, educational workshops, exhibit hall visits, and breaks with friends can be marvelous. . . and overwhelming.

I was homeschooled as a child and LOVED attending the state convention with my parents as a teen. (Convincing my dad to purchase tons of books for me was definitely a motivator.) I still love attending conferences as a homeschool parent. And now, as a state homeschool organization board member, I also get the wonderful (and daunting) task of helping organize our state convention!

I encourage you to make attending a conference this year a priority! Just as you wouldn’t walk into a job unprepared, I urge you to fully utilize your state’s homeschool convention to prepare yourself for your unique job as the primary educator of your children.

Having attended homeschool conferences as a child, as an exhibitor, an attendee, and an organizer, here are my top tips for making the most of your experience at a homeschool conference!

1. Figure out what you need

Make sure that you’re going to the right conference. Don’t pick one just because of a big-name speaker—determine whether the workshops and resources being offered will meet your needs. And, if you’re a Christian, ask God to guide you in determining how you need to learn and grow this year.

Not sure where to find a homeschool conference? This article has a couple places to start!

2. Stay close to the conference

If you’re travelling to the conference, I highly encourage you to book a hotel close to the event. (Some conventions are even held in hotels and offer group discounts.) This gives you time to unwind, reflect, and relax that you might not otherwise have if you are facing a long and exhausting commute at the end of each day.

3. Assess your needs

One of my favorite things about conferences is the vendor hall, where you can browse through different vendor booths and curriculum.

Before the conference, I recommend making a list of the curriculum you have for each grade level. Consider what is working and what isn’t for each of your children. From here, you can determine what materials you want to examine at each event. You might even make a list of what vendors you want to make a point to visit!

Utilize the vendor hall to its fullest extent, paging through curriculum and examining it carefully to see what will meet your goals. Vendors are there to help and support you!

4. Plan out what sessions to attend

Don’t just focus on big-name speakers. If a topic doesn’t meet your needs, consider a more relevant topic. If the session doesn’t meet your family’s needs this year, select something else. Planning will keep you from feeling overwhelmed, but don’t forget that you can adjust as needed!

5. Don’t over plan your future

During your time at the conference, you will likely encounter many new ideas, things you want to implement, curriculum ideas, and more. It’s good to take these things into consideration, but don’t feel like you need to alter everything at once when you get home. Slowly make a plan for changes. Remember you can write things down and come back to it later!

6. Relax and enjoy!

Soak it all in. Don’t succumb to the comparison monster. Don’t let doubts or “I can’t” be whispered in your ear. Don’t give into the idea of “information overload.” Just take notes and enjoy time with fellow homeschool parents and grow in your journey!