Once you jump into this homeschooling pool you soon realize there is an even larger pool of amazing curriculum you can choose from!

This post isn’t about planning out curriculum day by day, but focuses on the first stages of planning and choosing your curriculum.

Planning Your Homeschool

I usually start my curriculum search on-line. 

Window shopping on-line is a great starting point to your search without adding the clutter of magazines to your desk or counter tops.

While you are on-line, look up some homeschool bloggers who share the resources they are using or have tried.
This is a great way to find homeschool curriculum companies too as they often work closely with homeschool bloggers.  With the help help of bloggers, curriculum publishers can promote their products as well as educate us on how to effectively use their curriculum.

Need to know where to start to find amazing homeschool bloggers?

Check out iHomeschool Network, they have a team of wonderful homeschool moms who often do reviews and share how they use their curriculum.  As well, you will find many of them offer free or low cost printables which may be all you need for certain subjects.

Once you short list a few curriculum companies, publishers, or educational toy suppliers, you can then seek them out and ask for their catalogues.  Most curriculum publishers also offer sample lessons or assessments which is a great way to see if it is a fit for your child.

If you need to know where or how to request homeschool catalogues, check out this post by Jimmie Lanley  Where to Request Homeshool Catalogue. 

As much as I do search on-line, I love catalouges!

By the time I am done looking through my catalogues, they have sticky tabs everywhere, are highlighted, dog eared, and pen marked.

When I am in planning mode, my catalogues, sticky notes, pen and notepad go everywhere with me!

Get Your Hands On the Books and Materials

Homeschool Conventions are great for us to learn, expand our thoughts, to get encouragement, and also to meet up with friends; but they also have the Vendor Hall!

The first time I stepped across the hallway from the conference rooms to the vendor hall and walked through the doors I was overcome with excitement!

 I love books and games, not to mention all the music, art and science stuff!  I thought to myself — YES! This will be great!

I started out with a spring in my step eager to buy everything in one stop, however, I did become a bit overwhelmed.

Before I let that overwhelming feeling take too strong a hold of me, I zipped outside for a coffee break and began to focus on what our essentials were.

What curriculum did I need and what could I manage without. (Read: Choosing Homeschool Curriculum for more tips)

Yes, the vendor hall is great, you can get your essential supplies and books done in one fell swoop!

Another benefit of the vendor hall at a homeschool convention is you can hold the curriculum in your hands, and take some time to really look at it!

If you are debating between two Math programs or History for instance, the vendor hall is a great place to be.

You have the opportunity to speak with the publishers or representatives and you can look through their program.

Don’t forget other parents who use the curriculum are also there making their purchases.  Don’t be shy, ask if they have a minute to share why they like Math “XYZ”, ask how they use it in their home.

Often other Moms and Dads are willing to take a few moments to help out another homeschooler; after all, we have all been the ones standing there with 2 hands holding 2 different books wondering which one to go with.

Even after 8 1/2 years, I have times where I need to compare and contrast in order to figure out what will work best.  In fact, as I write this I am taking a break from looking through some different Science curriculum I borrowed from a friend and comparing it to what we are currently using.

Whether you are a new homeschooling parent or one who has been at it for a while, no matter what method you follow, we all have to plan our homeschool curriculum and books every year for each of our children.

We all have this in common.

What is your favourite way to plan and organize your homeschool curriculum?

Surviving a Home School Conference

Home School Conferences are an amazing time to reaffirm your commitment to homeschooling.

Let’s face it some years, months or days can be difficult to get through.  Challenges can sometimes leave us feeling tired and weary.  We all need a plan of different actionable tasks to keep us on course, energized and prepared as we ride the ebb and flow of our homeschooling lives.

One part of my action plan is to attend the local Home School Conference.

It is a time  for me to get out, to reconnect and feed my homeschooling vision.  Conference has always left me with a renewed energy and excitement.

 Home School Conference Provides You With:

• A chance to connect and re-connect with other home school families.

• A chance to meet with your local home school board and their office staff.

• A chance to look through and get your hands on some amazing curriculum.

• A chance to take in some great seminars and keynote speakers.

• A chance to look at and learn about some great games.

• A chance to network and reach out to some newbie homeschoolers.

I try to go to conference every year, but admit  there have been times where I have taken a year off.

Although I may feel like I don’t need to go every year, as I may not be needing any curriculum etc., I do notice a difference in my energy level whenever I have skipped attending a conference.

There is something to be said about connecting with those you may only have a chance to talk with via chat rooms or social media.  The smiling faces and the hugs, the shared cups of coffee as you encourage one another  sharing your joys and maybe even troubles.

Keynote speakers are there to encourage you and cheer you on.  They share their own  personal journey, all the ups and downs, the happy and sometimes sad times; the great speakers are those who share from their heart.  There is no mistaking their genuine feelings of wanting to help and encourage you, it is contagious and you cannot help but grow from that experience!

As great and awesome as conference can be, it can also leave you exhausted and somewhat bewildered.  Here are some tips to survival  I have learned along the way.

Tips to Survive a Homeschool Conference

14 Tips to Survive Home School Conference:

1. Wear comfortable shoes,  even take an extra pair to change into half way through the day.

2. Take a back pack, or even a rolling suitcase to carry all your books/games/curriculum you purchase.

3. Don’t forget to hydrate! Take a bottle of water.  Also step outside from time to time to get fresh air.

4. Pack a lunch or some small healthy snacks to keep up your energy.

5. Spend a few moments the night before to read through the schedule and highlight any seminars that are an absolute for you to attend.  Plan your shopping and visiting around those keynote speakers.

6. A few days prior to conference take a bit of time to research some of your top picks for any curriculum or materials you may need.  Make a list of your Must Have purchases and another list for products or materials you need to take a closer look at.

7. I like to make my Must Have purchases right away, this helps me to feel at ease knowing I have not forgotten any essentials and clears my mind allowing me to focus on any sessions I want to get to; as well as any curriculum I may need to further research.

8. If you are feeling lost and worry starts to creep in, it is time to reach out to some veteran homeschoolers and get some advice. I also recommend getting outside away from it all for 5 minutes, it does you a world of good.

9. If you really are not sure about a product, it is probably best to keep it on your list and not in your home.  If later on you decide it is something you need,  you can always order.  Yes you have to pay shipping, but sometimes that is a good trade off v.s. making a panic purchase and never using that resource.

10. Take notes, I love going home and reading over what was shared and often speakers share so much that taking notes helps keep all the important points handy.

11. Don’t stress out about curriculum.  Instead go home with some great games and great novels to read aloud to your children.  I found some great historically accurate fiction novels this year.  The kids love them and are learning so much!  Again looking back to tip #9…you can always mail order the curriculum at a later date.

12. Step out of your comfort zone and open your mind to look at different curriculum, books, or methods of homeschooling.

13. Make it a point to meet someone new, it is fun!  Network and build up your own support system.

14. Have fun!  This is a time for your personal development and for you to take it all in and re-energize.

This past year conference was amazing and although exhausted from all the walking, talking and shopping I squeezed into 2 days, I came home  full of  so much positive energy!  I made some great purchases including some new games, amazing living books, and our math books for fall.

My excitement was contagious, the kids dove into their new books with an eagerness that had honestly been lacking for a little while.

Home School Conference is a great time to re-group, re-energize, re-connect and make new contacts; it is also a time of renewal, self growth and we must not forget the shopping!  Even if you feel you do not need anything new, then go with the mindset that you are there to support homeschooling.

You just might be the veteran mom or dad  someone new and bewildered reaches out to!

I hope you have an amazing time at your home school conference and that you make a commitment to yourself and your family to go.

It is absolutely worth it!