Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Homeschool Convention

I was able to attend the SouthEast Homeschool Convention in Greenville, South Carolina this past weekend...actually, last Thursday through Saturday.

I am so grateful to my husband for taking vacation days from work in order to watch T.  The convention did offer a children's program, but it was so much easier for me...and less expensive  ;o)  ...for my husband to take care of him.  They had a good time together.  They went to the zoo and did all kinds of other fun stuff.

Anyway...back to the convention.  It was awesome!  I attended some terrific workshops:
   o  Stop the Yelling, Lecturing, and Power Struggles
   o  Overcoming Being Overwhelmed
   o  Beginning Reading:  How to Make Sure Your Child Succeeds at Reading
   o  25 Ways to Significantly Cut Your Grocery Bill Without Clipping Coupons
   o  Tuning In to Your Homeschooler's Unique Learning Pathway
   o  Help!  It's 5:00, and We're Still Doing School!
   o  Active Child?  ADHD?  Laying the Groundwork for Solutions
   o  Helping Our Kids See the Glory of God
   o  Mary and Martha Decide to Homeschool:  A Workshop for Mary's Only!
   o  Discovering My Child's Learning Style


I also was able to purchase CDs for the workshops I wanted to attend but wasn't able to...because of too many "good" workshops in the same time slot, or because of a need to browse the exhibit hall.  :)


The exhibit hall had a massive number of exhibitors...170+, I believe!  I enjoyed being able to talk with the vendors and to view their products.  Also, all of the vendors offered some sort of "event special" or discount...a terrific way to save some money on the cost of curriculum or other materials.


Amazingly, I won a drawing for a book from EI School of Biblical Training.  How fun is that?!!


Amazingly, another attendee offered me her ticket to the Tim Hawkins comedy performance.  Apparently, she is a nurse and was called in to work on Saturday evening.  ~How kind of her...and how wonderful that she chose me to whom to give her ticket!  I had never seen Tim Hawkins before; it was a sold-out show, and I saw why.  I laughed for a solid hour and a half!  :)  He was so funny.


I received an e-mail yesterday from Sonlight with the link to an article:  Homeschool Convention Survivor's Guide.  Ummm...it might have been helpful to have had that before the convention!  
;o)

I'm so glad I attended.  Now all I need to do is find the time to:
   o  review the spiral-bound notebook I filled with notes, and
   o  wade through the colossal pile of catalogs, brochures, etc. I picked up/was given!


I love conventions!!