It’s a new year and many of us are planning our calendars. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend adding a Homeschool Convention to your list.
Homeschool Conventions (sometimes referred to as Expos or Conferences) are held every year in all 50 United States and across Canada.
Google “Homeschool Conference and you will find a list of Christian conventions, secular conferences, a mix of both and everything in between. Some are hosted online, but many are in person.
Conferences may be localized, specifically addressing home educators in a particular Province or State, while others are nation-wide.
Why attend a homeschool convention?
In-person conferences provide an opportunity to gather with like-minded families, make new friends, and peruse educational resources prior to purchase. In addition, guest speakers provide valuable information related to parenting, marriage, faith, and family. Special sessions for children and teens may also be available.
Not convinced?
Here’s a list of reasons to attend an in-person homeschool event:
- Speak with vendors, ask specific questions about materials.
- Hand-on experience with educational toys, games, and adjuncts.
- Meet and connect with the authors or publishers of curriculum.
- Examine curriculum in person. Flip through the pages to determine if it is a good fit. This is a wonderful opportunity to see if it reflects your family’s values, and if it will work for multiple ages, interests, and learning styles.
- Take advantage of special conference-attendee discounts.
- Gain access to freebies – copies of catalogs, magazines, and other materials.
- Learn new and exciting techniques and view newly (or yet-to-be) released materials.
- Get advice from well-know experts and leaders – experienced teachers, pastors, psychologists,
- speak to representatives of various homeschooling philosophies, including Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, Waldorf, and more.
- Have fun!
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Books About Homeschooling, for Families New to Home Education
Who should attend a Homeschool Conference?
You! (and me!)
It does not matter if you are a seasoned home educator or new to the idea, all will benefit from attending a convention.
Besides the material and educational aspects listed above, you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded families. You will gain a sense of being a part of the larger community, and perhaps even form long-lasting friendships.
Building a larger network of homeschool friends provides and opportunity to encourage and uplift one another in your homeschool journey.
Here are two of the largest Homeschool Conferences of 2023:
1. Teach Them Diligently
This year’s theme is “For the Heart of Your Homeschool.”
Sponsors include:
The Voice of the Martyrs, Trail Life, Samaritan Ministries, Revelation Media, Liberty University, Cedarville University, and World News Group.
Ticket Information:
Offer military discounts & volunteer subsidies. Volunteers receive free registration with a specific number of volunteer hours, check website for details.
Speakers:
Founders David and Leslie Nunnery speak at each convention.
Other planned speakers include: Todd Friel, Chelsea Cameron, Linda Lacour Hobar (author, The Mystery of History), Kim Sorgius (Not Consumed Ministries), Dr. Mark Hamby (Lamplighter Ministries), and Patti Garibay (American Heritage Girls).
For a complete list of speakers, click here.
Dates and Locations:
Round Rock Texas March 23-25, 2023 Kalahari Resort
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee May 4-6, 2023 Leconte Center
Live-Stream Event:
This year they are offering ticketed live-stream events. The next session is called TTDLive and will be hosted in Cedarville on March 4, 2023
In-person Convention features an exhibit hall (with over 150 exhibitors) to browse and purchase curriculum and resources and over 35 speakers per event on a wide variety of topics.
For more information or to sign up for a Teach Them Diligently Convention, please click here.
2. Great Homeschool Conventions
Sponsors include:
Medi-Share, The Tuttle Twins, and Homeschool+
Ticket Information:
Discounted tickets for pastors and active-duty military. Volunteers who work a 4-hour shift receive a free family pass, check website for details.
Speakers:
Martin Cothran (Memoria Press), Steve Demme (creator Math-U-See), Tim Shoemaker (author), S.D. Smith (author of the Green Ember series), Dr. Carol Swain (founder of Be the People Project). For a complete list of speakers, click here.
CDs of the speaker sessions will be available for purchase.
Dates and Locations:
Missouri March 16-18, 2023
South Carolina March 30-April 1, 2023
Ohio April 13-15, 2023
California June 15-17, 2023
Texas July 6-8, 2023
Features an exhibit hall to browse and purchase curriculum and resources, over 250 workshops, over 100 speakers, a Real Faith for Real World teen track, and a children’s program (both teen and child programs have an additional fee, pre-registration required).
If you’ve attended one of these conventions in the past, I’d love to know what your experiences were! Please share in the comments section.
Not Consumed offers Christian homeschool products with a Reformed worldview.
Christian Homeschool Products from Not Consumed Ministries
